Did Sunday's win over the Dolphins get you excited? Are you looking at potential playoff scenarios? The situation remains very fluid, but there is hope. I'm going to set logic aside and let myself get excited. There are only three weeks left in the regular season. We'll then have months and months of offseason talk, but no games. You have to enjoy the season while it's here, even if things aren't what we hoped for.
It is much better to be 8-5 at this time of the year and worrying about whether you are going to have a bye or not. Unfortunately, the Eagles blew some games early in the season and now sit at 5-8. That leaves them on the outside looking in, but due to the mediocre records of most NFC teams, the Eagles are still alive in their bid to make the playoffs.
The Eagles need help, but first and foremost, the team must keep winning. Sunday's challenge is the New York Jets. They are 8-5 and boast a three-game winning streak. They also are the kind of team that has given the Eagles fits. The Jets love to pound the ball with big running back Shonn Greene. While the Eagles run defense has definitely improved, the team did struggle against the last physical runner they faced, Seattle's Marshawn Lynch. I bet Juan Castillo and the defense are looking forward to getting a chance to show they can handle a tough, physical back.
The key to stopping Greene is swarming to the ball. He breaks tackles. You cannot count on the first guy bringing him down cleanly. Missed tackles have been an issue for the Eagles for much of the year. The defense must fly to the ball so that there will be multiple guys around Greene and he will have limited yards after contact. It also helps a great deal if the defensive line can get penetration and slow Greene down in the backfield. He's very much a downhill runner. If you keep him from getting going, he's going to be easier to tackle. Power runners need a head of steam to be at their best.
The Jets run game isn't limited to Greene. Veteran back LaDainian Tomlinson must also be accounted for. He is used in a lot of passing situations. The Jets will run draw plays with him, use him as an extra blocker, or throw passes to him. He's good enough to do all three things well. Tomlinson also acts as the Wildcat quarterback on some plays. Rookie receiver Jeremy Kerley gets mixed as the Wildcat quarterback from time to time.
There is one final running threat - quarterback Mark Sanchez. He has run for five touchdowns this year and is one of the reasons the Jets are so good in the red zone. They lead the league in red zone efficiency. Sanchez also is a very good passer in the red zone. He's able to get the ball to his star wideouts. Santonio Holmes has very good hands and exceptional body control. He can adjust to the ball and pluck it with ease. He's able to tap his toes and stay in bounds if needed. Unfortunately, I think we all remember how good Plaxico Burress can be in the red zone from his days with the Giants. He gave Sheldon Brown fits for years. Holmes and Burress each have seven touchdown catches this year.
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| Tommy Lawlor, goeagles99 on the Discussion Boards, is an amateur football scout and devoted Eagles fan. He was a finalist for Philadelphia's Most Influential Blogger Award and is the Editor of IgglesBlitz.com |
The good news is that the Eagles defense is coming off their best showing of the season. They had nine sacks and three takeaways at Miami. The Dolphins scored just one touchdown and that came on a short field after a blocked punt. Miami had success running, but that was Reggie Bush going up against the nickel defense in the second half. At that point, Castillo was focused on not letting Miami throw the ball. This week the focus will be on stopping the Jets ground game. The goal will be to force Sanchez to throw the ball. In games where he has 35 or more pass attempts, the Jets are just 2-4.
The Eagles offense was great for part of the Miami game, but disappeared in the second half. That won't cut it this week. The Jets are a better team and have a better quarterback in Sanchez. He's still highly inconsistent, but can have a big game and can also lead the team on comebacks. You can't sit on a lead against the Jets.
The question many have is which receiver will get the free trip to Revis Island. Cornerback Darrelle Revis is the top cover guy in the NFL. He is famed for shutting down one opposing receiver. I bet he'll take Jeremy Maclin, but we won't know for sure until Sunday. Revis is an amazing player, but you still must look his way. Stevie Johnson of the Bills was able to beat him several times this season. Maclin and DeSean Jackson are physically talented enough to beat any corner in the league.
My biggest concern in the game is handling the Jets blitz package. Michael Vick has struggled with the blitz at times. He's also had some success, but I don't know if he's faced anyone quite like the Jets. They don't necessarily blitz for sacks. They love to force quarterbacks to throw early. This can be effective if the quarterback dumps the ball to an underneath receiver and he's then tackled for just a short gain. The Jets also love to run complex coverages behind the blitz that can lead to interceptions. This two-part strategy works well. The Jets are second in the NFL in third-down defense. They also have 15 interceptions.
The Jets love to use overload blitzes where they attack one side of the offense. Vick has to read this before the snap and plan accordingly. The tricky part is that the Jets are great at last second shifts. That means Vick has to make sure he's seeing what he thought he saw initially. If not, he'll throw to a receiver he expected to be open, but there could be a Jets defender waiting for the ball.
The line must do a good job of protecting Vick. I think the line will do fine when the Jets rush only three or four. Dealing with the overload blitzes will be tougher. Last week there was confusion on some plays and that led to rushers coming free and pressuring Vick. The Dolphins have a better front seven than the Jets, but aren't as good at designing, selling and executing blitzes. The skill players must also make good reads. They need to know who to block. Howard Mudd did face the Jets a couple of times in his final year with the Colts. He also dealt with Rex Ryan's blitzes when Ryan ran the Ravens defense. Mudd will have a good idea of what to look for.
The real key for the Eagles on offense is LeSean McCoy. The Jets only have a mediocre run defense (14th in the league). Some teams have had a lot of success against them. The Raiders used speed to run all over the Jets. McCoy is fast enough to also get loose and have a good day. If the line can win up front, McCoy should have a favorable matchup with the Jets linebackers. They don't have anyone who is as athletic as Karlos Dansby, the guy who gave McCoy fits last week. Screen passes are another great way to get the ball to McCoy. If the Jets limit McCoy to 38 yards rushing, I don't think the Eagles have much of a chance to win. Luckily, I don't see the Jets doing that.
The passing game will have some chances to make things happen. Vick and the receivers must make them pay in those situations. Vick was rusty last week. That rust is gone and this is a crucial game against a talented defense. Vick must be smart and also needs to get the job done. He hasn't had the kind of season he (or anyone) expected. Vick can change some of that with a strong finish in the final three games.
Special teams will have a big challenge. Joe McKnight leads the NFL in kickoff return average at 32.4 yards per return. This would be a great week to have Colt Anderson, but he's on injured reserve so someone else must step up. Tom Nelson is his replacement. He was solid last week, but will need to play better on Sunday against a more dynamic returner. The Eagles punt protection also must be better. Chas Henry had one punt blocked and another pressured last week. The Jets used a blocked punt to beat Dallas back in the season opener so they can do it.
Tough game for the Eagles, but I get the feeling the team will play well. A lot of the Eagles home losses have been against teams that were perceived to be "lesser" by the fans, media and players. The Jets are a big-name team that no one takes lightly. That just might be the kind of challenge this Eagles team needs to keep them playing good football.
WHY YOU'RE NOW A BUCS FAN
We were all going to cheer against the Cowboys and Giants this weekend anyway, but now there is extra motivation. The Eagles need at least one of them to lose in order to stay alive in the NFC East hunt.
Dallas is at Tampa. Dallas should win that game easily, but didn't you think that about Dallas going up against Arizona? Dallas is just 2-4 on the road this year. Tampa is highly unpredictable because rumors came out this week about the coach potentially being fired. Whether they are true or not, the rumors will have an effect on the players. That could bring out the best in them or cause them to collapse like a house of cards. Keep your fingers crossed that the Bucs play their best.
The Giants host the Skins. On paper, the Giants look like a much better team. Once again, this is a weird situation. The Giants are just 3-3 at home. Plus, the fact this is a division game means that anything can happen. The Skins beat the Giants in the season opener. The Giants are good when they're focused, but this is the kind of oddball game that has brought out the worst in them in recent years. The Giants also are famous for late-season collapses. Again, keep your fingers crossed.
The Eagles' 1-4 start put them in this situation, having to sit around and hope other teams help them out. It is frustrating, but as long as there's a chance you must try to enjoy the games. For this weekend: Go Bucs! Go Skins! Go Eagles!
For more dead-on analysis from Tommy Lawlor, check out the Fan-Demonium archive.
