All in one - random thoughts on Eagles and Carter

[JBS]

As opposed to creating two threads, I just decided I would throw everything that is running through my head right now into one thread.

Matchup vs the Eagles

My initial thoughts - Our rushing offense is going to be a major key in this game

1) I think people are underrated the Eagles run D

- As another poster pointed out (forget who) - the eagles do not consistently give up chunks on the ground..they are susceptible to big plays on the ground though.

- The Eagles run D improved IMMENSELY last week. Many are contributing this to going away from the wide 9 defensive line set up.

- Our run game obviously is poor.

I think if we can run the ball well - we will win the game. Philly has a tremendous trio of CBs - so the outside of the field is likely to be taken away. Jason Witten is going to have a big game in the middle of the field though, so that will help our pass attack.

Defensively - Do we blitz or do we send 4?

- People have this misconception (Sal Pal) that Ryan and the boys love to blitz. The reality is that over the last few weeks, we havent blitzed much at all.

- Vick is atrocious at reading the blitz. He is easily fooled and his mistaked are often made (like most qbs) while under duress. The problem with blitzing Vick, is if it does not work/get to him, our defense will be susceptible to a plethora of big plays. Dump offs to Mccoy, Jackson or Maclin deep down the field, and of course, Vick breaking out with his legs if the defenders dont stay in their gaps.

- Like I mentioned above, Ryan has not been blitzing much lately. If I had to guess, I imagine this will be our game plan this sunday as well. We are going to limit the big plays the eagles hit us with, we are going to force them to drive down the field methodically and punch the ball in on long drives. The eagles are prone to make mistakes on long drives and they also struggle with redzone efficiency.

This is going to sound cliche and it is - but the turnover battle is going to decide this game. If we can run the ball and limit mistakes, we will win. If we cannot run the ball and the burden is on Tony it is going to be very difficult to win. The Eagles and Mike Vick will turn the ball over, we just have to make sure we dont do the same thing.

Bruce Carter

-I do not think there is ENOUGH hype going around for this guy. I forget where I read it, but I read the other day that Jason Garrett is in absolute love with this kid.

-Yes, it is only logical to assume Carter will only be playing on special teams. However, with the way Ryan plays every single player on defense, I full expect Carter to work his way into the rotation. Not suggesting its this week, but this season FOR SURE.

-Scott Wright was comparing Bruce Carter to Zach Brown (a highly touted UNC LB). Wright said that had it not been for Carter's injury he would have been a top 25 player. Most of us already knew this, but I get the feeling we all have forgotten it.

Get excited for Bruce Carter - if this kid is ANYTHING close to Sean Lee, our LBs are going to be absolutely INSANE.

 

[fortdick]

Gap integrity and outside contain. Shoot Lee every now and then and some safety/corner blitz's on occasion should rattle Vick. Ratliff may have a big game.

 

[realtick]

I don't appreciate the fact you fooled me into reading about two things when I thought I'd be getting just one.

j/k

I don't think we'll shy away from their corners at all. They have some names but haven't been playing all that well as a unit thus far.

The player I'm most worried about is Shady McCoy; he's the real deal. McCoy is very elusive and can do a lot of damage cutting back (which he loves to do) on an aggressive defense that gets sloppy with technique and not maintaining its gaps.

I'm not that worried about Jackson & Maclin; we're healthy and playing well.

 

[AsthmaField]

I think there is a chance that Carter might be in on defense some simply as a spy on Vick. He has insane speed for a LB and for a few snaps I can see him mirroring the QB in case he runs.

He wouldn't have to know much other than if Vick crosses the line of scrimmage... put him down.

Just a hunch.

 

[CCBoy]

I don't appreciate the fact you fooled me into reading about two things when I thought I'd be getting just one.

j/k

I don't think we'll shy away from their corners at all. They have some names but haven't been playing all that well as a unit thus far.

The player I'm most worried about is Shady McCoy; he's the real deal. McCoy is very elusive and can do a lot of damage cutting back (which he loves to do) on an aggressive defense that gets sloppy with technique and not maintaining its gaps.

I'm not that worried about Jackson & Maclin; we're healthy and playing well.

Pretty much agree, realtick.

As couchscout pointed out, the five corners that Dallas has, can put a damper on any team's current set of wide receivers. Jenkins and Scandrick are playing at a very high level. And they are making plays now as well.

I think that Elam and Sensabaugh match well to the threats, both vertically in the deep hitting plays as well as in run support. They are both playing physically this year.

I like the prospect of a young and 'lite' center having to feel outmuscled by a very quick and even 'larger' Jay Ratliff. Add in a returning Jason Hatcher, as well as a pocket collapsing presence of Marcus Spears and Kenyon Coleman. That should allow for DeMarcus Ware to get into the blindside of Michael Vick. Then one can usually count on some intense heat out of Anthony Spencer as well as a little 'outside' pressure by Scandrick, Ball, or a safety as well.

As to slipping through a seam, I have confidence in Sean Lee keeping up with him there. But in the future, being able to add in Carter for the mix should prove an 'ideal' bane for Vick. This Cowboys defense runs very well, and that in itself is a remedy for both Vick and McCoy.

 

[Frozen700]

I think there is a chance that Carter might be in on defense some simply as a spy on Vick. He has insane speed for a LB and for a few snaps I can see him mirroring the QB in case he runs.

He wouldn't have to know much other than if Vick crosses the line of scrimmage... put him down.

Just a hunch.

yeah he is super fast...he has free safety type speed...

man i hope we spy vick with him

 

[pugilist]

i think if we can stay disciplined on our blitzes and be aware of the screens (RB with McCoy, WR with Maclin / Desean) we'll ultimately shut down philly's offense.. our defense has been very susceptible to screen plays this season

 

[Stautner]

yeah he is super fast...he has free safety type speed...

man i hope we spy vick with him

I don't. Athleticism isn't all that counts. I don't want a raw *** rookie who has zero NFL experience, zero experience in Ryan's defense, and zero experience playing and communiticating with his teammates being put in that kind of role. Spying Vick is not something a raw rookie with no NFL training camp, practice time or game time should be expected to handle. Think of it this way - what is the one thing you hear from every NFL rookie when they get their first chance to practice and play at the NFL level? It's always that they weren't prepared for the speed of the game. That would be especially true if your first action was trying to spy Michael Vick.

 

[JonJon]

I think there is a chance that Carter might be in on defense some simply as a spy on Vick. He has insane speed for a LB and for a few snaps I can see him mirroring the QB in case he runs.

He wouldn't have to know much other than if Vick crosses the line of scrimmage... put him down.

Just a hunch.

I think there is a small possibly this may be true. He may come in on 3rd and long situations for this purpose, to ensure Vick doesn't scamper for the first down.

 

[realtick]

Pretty much agree, realtick.

As couchscout pointed out, the five corners that Dallas has, can put a damper on any team's current set of wide receivers. Jenkins and Scandrick are playing at a very high level. And they are making plays now as well.

I think that Elam and Sensabaugh match well to the threats, both vertically in the deep hitting plays as well as in run support. They are both playing physically this year.

Agreed. The Philly receivers are indeed dangerous, but they are also inconsistent. Jackson is prone to disappearing and Maclin can be corralled.

In my mind it's all about containing McCoy on the rush as well as screens.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

i think if we can stay disciplined on our blitzes and be aware of the screens (RB with McCoy, WR with Maclin / Desean) we'll ultimately shut down philly's offense.. our defense has been very susceptible to screen plays this season

^^ THIS ^^

I had assumed Rob Ryan's #1 task this off season was to devise a scheme that would stop the Eagles, and the Eagles move the chains with McCoy via dump pass or screen. So far the dump pass and screen has been a real problem for the Cowboys and I wonder if we just don't have the personnel or Ryan just didn't game plan for the screen in those other games.

As for our run game, I don't see this OL getting the job done on the road against Jenkins, Cole, et al. Once again Romo will have to pull a rabbit out of the hat with 2 deep over/under coverages and good corners. A tough task, but if the Cowboys' defense can hold the Eagles to less than 20 we may have a chance...

 

[Stautner]

^^ THIS ^^

I had assumed Rob Ryan's #1 task this off season was to devise a scheme that would stop the Eagles, and the Eagles move the chains with McCoy via dump pass or screen. So far the dump pass and screen has been a real problem for the Cowboys and I wonder if we just don't have the personnel or Ryan just didn't game plan for the screen in those other games.

As for our run game, I don't see this OL getting the job done on the road against Jenkins, Cole, et al. Once again Romo will have to pull a rabbit out of the hat with 2 deep over/under coverages and good corners. A tough task, but if the Cowboys' defense can hold the Eagles to less than 20 we may have a chance...

Ryans number one task was to devise a scheme that would make the Cowboys defense successful regardless of who we play. The goal isn't to be able to beat the Eagles, it's to be able to beat any opponent. The base defense should be the same, with weekly tweaks directed at dealing with the specific opponent for that week.

 

[visionary]

Agreed. The Philly receivers are indeed dangerous, but they are also inconsistent. Jackson is prone to disappearing and Maclin can be corralled.

In my mind it's all about containing McCoy on the rush as well as screens.

i would probably double cover jackson and have the corner/safety hit him hard a few times and clean his clock
that seems to take him out

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Ryans number one task was to devise a scheme that would make the Cowboys defense successful regardless of who we play. The goal isn't to be able to beat the Eagles, it's to be able to beat any opponent. The base defense should be the same, with weekly tweaks directed at dealing with the specific opponent for that week.

Honestly, some of you people are just twisting things out of context to create strawman arguments. No **** sherlock, his schemes need to defend against everybody, but most franchises (if not all) make beating the division leaders a priority.

Sheesh

 

[Stautner]

Honestly, some of you people are just twisting things out of context to create strawman arguments. No **** sherlock, his schemes need to defend against everybody, but most franchises (if not all) make beating the division leaders a priority.

Sheesh

Yes, beating the division rivals is a priority - No **** Sherlock ....... but that's not what you said.

You said his number one priority was to develop a scheme to beat the Eagles, and that clearly was not his number one priority. His number one priority was to install his system, period, and how to use that system to defeat an individual opponnet comes next.

You don't take as your number one priority how to beat an individual opponent then hope you can adjust from there to win the other 14 games, you install a system first then adjust within that system to beat an individual opponent.

 

[newlander]

ESPECIALLY with regard to NOt blitzing...we really shouldn't need to. A) their Oline isn't that good B) Vick struggles IMMENSELy reading zones C) see A and B....don't blitz if you don't have to. Rob will mix it up: amoeba and then some. NOt hard to confuse Vick as he's dumb as a fence post.

As opposed to creating two threads, I just decided I would throw everything that is running through my head right now into one thread.

Matchup vs the Eagles

My initial thoughts - Our rushing offense is going to be a major key in this game

1) I think people are underrated the Eagles run D

- As another poster pointed out (forget who) - the eagles do not consistently give up chunks on the ground..they are susceptible to big plays on the ground though.

- The Eagles run D improved IMMENSELY last week. Many are contributing this to going away from the wide 9 defensive line set up.

- Our run game obviously is poor.

I think if we can run the ball well - we will win the game. Philly has a tremendous trio of CBs - so the outside of the field is likely to be taken away. Jason Witten is going to have a big game in the middle of the field though, so that will help our pass attack.

Defensively - Do we blitz or do we send 4?

- People have this misconception (Sal Pal) that Ryan and the boys love to blitz. The reality is that over the last few weeks, we havent blitzed much at all.

- Vick is atrocious at reading the blitz. He is easily fooled and his mistaked are often made (like most qbs) while under duress. The problem with blitzing Vick, is if it does not work/get to him, our defense will be susceptible to a plethora of big plays. Dump offs to Mccoy, Jackson or Maclin deep down the field, and of course, Vick breaking out with his legs if the defenders dont stay in their gaps.

- Like I mentioned above, Ryan has not been blitzing much lately. If I had to guess, I imagine this will be our game plan this sunday as well. We are going to limit the big plays the eagles hit us with, we are going to force them to drive down the field methodically and punch the ball in on long drives. The eagles are prone to make mistakes on long drives and they also struggle with redzone efficiency.

This is going to sound cliche and it is - but the turnover battle is going to decide this game. If we can run the ball and limit mistakes, we will win. If we cannot run the ball and the burden is on Tony it is going to be very difficult to win. The Eagles and Mike Vick will turn the ball over, we just have to make sure we dont do the same thing.

Bruce Carter

-I do not think there is ENOUGH hype going around for this guy. I forget where I read it, but I read the other day that Jason Garrett is in absolute love with this kid.

-Yes, it is only logical to assume Carter will only be playing on special teams. However, with the way Ryan plays every single player on defense, I full expect Carter to work his way into the rotation. Not suggesting its this week, but this season FOR SURE.

-Scott Wright was comparing Bruce Carter to Zach Brown (a highly touted UNC LB). Wright said that had it not been for Carter's injury he would have been a top 25 player. Most of us already knew this, but I get the feeling we all have forgotten it.

Get excited for Bruce Carter - if this kid is ANYTHING close to Sean Lee, our LBs are going to be absolutely INSANE.