Eagles tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson know they can’t give Vikings the edge

Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson are the Eagles' offensive tackles. They have to stop edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith. The Vikings have had an extra day to prepare after their 23-7 victory over Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay.

The offensive line was dominant when running the ball last week. The line didn't do well in pass pro, but it was effective when it came to rushing the passer. It was bad in communication, though. The offensive coordinator Jeff Stoutland will go over the material from the film with the line during the week, and the offensive linemen will have to improve on their performance.

Mailata is a former rugby player from Australia who was drafted by the Eagles in 2018's seventh round. He is studying the Vikings' defensive scheme. Johnson explains the reasons why the defensive line is so formidable. The Vikings run a defensive system similar to the Jonathan Gannon setup. The offensive line communication is the biggest problem at Detroit. If they're not on the same call, the team is not going to do well. It's about getting off the snap, getting in good position and playing heads up. Ian Ian's team plays the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. They practice against the system they practice with every day. Their defensive coordinator is Vic Fangio.

Sirianni and Gannon were on the staff of former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer. They know some of the Minnesota defensive personnel. Siriani calls Johnson "the best right tackle in the league" and also lauded Mailata.

Les Bowen is a freelance columnist who covers the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL for NJ Advance Media.