Beating Filly & What It Could Mean

[Hostile]

Yes, I purposely misspelled it in the title.

The Eagles OL has been sporadic all year. Especially in their run blocking. Brian Westbrook is their engine, but he is their 2nd leading rusher due to his being banged up this year. All 3 of our backs have more rushing yards than the Eagles best weapon. Here are the rushing comparisons for the top 3 rushers for both teams.

LeSean McCoy...70 carries for 296 yards, 4.2 avg., 2 TDs
Brian Westbrook...41 carries for 197 yards, 4.8 avg., 1 TD
Leonard Weaver...12 carries for 91 yards, 7.6 avg., 1 TD

You also need to be aware of McNabb on scrambles and DeSean Jackson on reverses. Overall the Eagles have 7 rushing TDs this year. Only McCoy has more than 1. Their OL has not been solid in opening up the run.


Marion Barber...86 carries for 397 yards, 4.6 avg., 4 TDs
Felix Jones...37 carries for 288 yards, 7.8 avg., 1 TD
Tashard Choice...48 carries for 236 yards, 4.9 avg., 2 TDs


A big time key to beating the Eagles lies in getting McNabb to hurry his throws. The Eagles get rolling when they can give him time and beat you deep. Dallas cannot allow him time. When he is rushed he is not an accurate passer. When he has time, he will kill you. Remember the 15 second scramble play a few years ago?

To this end look for the Cowboys CBs to want to jam Maclin and Jackson at the LOS as opposed to giving these speedsters cushions to simply take off. At least I hope this is what we do. I think we are far better at press man coverage than we are in any other coverage scheme. Both our CBs have been playing physical lately. This is where it could really pay off. DeSean Jackson is not big. He cannot get physical with our CBs. If they force him to, they will neutralize his asset, which is pure speed. Jeremy Maclin is a bit bigger, but he is still not a physical WR.

Jamming them at the LOS could give the pass rush the head start they need to get to McNabb who is elusive, but does get sacked. He has taken 14 sacks this year so far. Now Romo has taken 13, so you might say they are comparable. No they aren't. Romo has dropped back to pass 230 times, McNabb has dropped back to pass 133 times. So in 97 fewer passes he has been sacked more often.

McNabb gets sacked more because he takes more 7 step drops. The reason is simple, he likes throwing the deep ball to those track star WRs. Take that away and he becomes very ordinary as a passer.

The weapon we have to watch is Brent Celek, the Eagles TE. He is quietly having an outstanding season. Gerald Sensabuagh, guys like Celek, Tony Gonzalez, and John Carlson are why you are vital to this Defense. Can you perform the hat trick and contain yet another solid TE? We hope so. Celek and Westbrook are McNabb's safety valve options in the passing game. If the run game is not there for the Eagles Andy Reid will throw a lot. He has this entire decade. People think Garrett relies too heavily on the pass. Reid can make Garrett look conservative.

If ever there was a game where I would like to see us become conservative and run the ball for 300 yards and use the short pass, this is it. We have lamented the lack of sacks and takeaways this year. Let me show you just how wide the chasm to the Eagles is right now in these categories.

Eagles...23 sacks, 14 INTs, 8 Forced Fumbles
Cowboys...17 sacks, 4 INTs, 8 Forced Fumbles

I would like to see Tony have a 4th straight game of no picks, and I can think of no better way than for him not to need to throw it except short routes. I would like to see us run effectively to neutralize Trent Cole and their pass rush. Use Draw Plays and Screens to take advantage of their aggressiveness. Ride Jason Witten like the thoroughbred he is.

Bryan Broaddus brought this up last night. Put Roy out wide right where Asante Samuel is. Keep a TE on the right side and run right. Asante has made it clear that he does not like to tackle. Pull Kyle Kosier right and run right on them all night long. Watch Asante try and bring down the Barberian. This would be a dream of mine. If we can establish the run and control the clock all night and wear down their defense while keeping that pass rush off Tony...

...well, let's just say if we do those things I think it would mean we take over sole possession of the lead in the NFC East. I think that is huge. I definitely don't think we can afford to be 0-2 in the Division if we have any hopes of winning it. Luckily we still have 2 more games with the patsy Commanders, but this is too good an opportunity to pass us by.

We could lose this game very easily. The Eagles are no joke. We can win it too and the way to do it is to do what Jimmy Johnson says, punch these guys right in the mouth. They'll bleed. Just ask Oakland.

 

[Aven8]

I totally agree with everything you said Hos. The reality however is I think Jason will get cute and want to throw at will. Last week Romo had like 25 attempts at the half...yes I know it's the Seahawks, but still.

I hope we go with your gameplan and the likes of Trent Cole and there smallish defense gets mauled!!!!

 

[CATCH17]

IMO this is the week Felix Jones will have his coming out party.

Its a low risk trying to get him the ball and he can make a big play any time he touches the ball.

We're on the road so we don't want to just try and throw the ball around the lot. Especially early in the game.

So I think this is the week we see Felix have close to 150 Total yards and he carries us to a W.

 

[Smith22]

Pressuring McNabb will be key. I also agree with the previous poster about Felix. It seems we have been working Felix back into the mix slowly, and now would be the perfect time for him to hit 5th gear.

 

[jobberone]

I totally agree with everything you said Hos. The reality however is I think Jason will get cute and want to throw at will. Last week Romo had like 25 attempts at the half...yes I know it's the Seahawks, but still.

I hope we go with your gameplan and the likes of Trent Cole and there smallish defense gets mauled!!!!

If they use the RBs, WRs on bubble screens, and the TEs underneath, he can throw the ball 25 times in the first half. I'd prefer them to run the ball to demoralize the defense and wear them down. But short throws are not a problem for me.

Bring the defense up then burn them long. We have the horses to do that.

 

[TD-33]

I was thinking it would be best to go to philthy determined to run the ball at them. Start Felix and spell him with Choice. Run, Run, Run with Barber starting the 2nd half. Only when they are biting on the run do you go play-action.
That helps keep TR clean and let him get comfortable, why shouldn't Garrett be able to tell Houck that the game is on the OL to open up holes and lean on the defense?
If Dallas can establish the run it rests the defense and keeps the chunky crew off the field. We are supposed to have this "huge" OL and 3 strong running backs with 2 very good blocking TE so why would you be pass-happy when their secondary is a strength?
At least that's the way I see it.

 

[newlander]

great points HOS; GOTTA get to McNabb or we're toast: no question about it. My biggest worry? Ken Hamlin and Bobby Carpenter: they will have to cover big parts of the middle of the field against faster, more elusive receivers in Jackson, Maclin and Celek: huge trouble if we don't get to McNabb: thats' the ball game in a nut shell. We will score: not at will but we'll put up 28 IMO. Felix will be huge in beating the blitz as will Choice and/or Austin: quick/short precise routes to set up the run w/ Barber and Co.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

if we play hard and protect the ball, we win--if we let philly continue their sack and INT parade, we lose--knee-jerk pundits have crowned the Eagles after the NY game (forgetting the Raiders) but i think they are vulnerable--I hope we don't run the same lazy draws we have been running lately because the Eagles will blitz them into 2 yard losses

not a lot is said about special teams--Philly depends on big returns and short fields--we must make them drive the field--and I hope Felix returns kickoffs

 

[thechosen1n2]

Hos, I think this game will determine the winner of the NFC East. Im not sure who wins, but I think we are a better team. That doesnt matter though, because I knew we were better than the Midgets in week 1. (by the way I still think we are better).

This game is very Important to us considering we dont have a division win, and a loss will push us back to 3rd in the Division. If we win this game we will go 12-4/11-5 and possibly fight for a 1st round bye. If we lose, its gonna be a tough road.

 

[elcowboi]

Honestly if we win they would just say that the Eagles o-line is hurting and how they really miss Brian Dawkins and Johnson. They will probably say this wasn't a good Eagles team to begin with. I seriously doubt they will give us our dues even if we beat Philly.

 

[thechosen1n2]

Honestly if we win they would just say that the Eagles o-line is hurting and how they really miss Brian Dawkins and Johnson. They will probably say this wasn't a good Eagles team to begin with. I seriously doubt they will give us our dues even if we beat Philly.

I dont care if they give us our dues, as long as we get that Division title.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Been wieghing winning and losing this game all week long.

I see both sides with catch-22 writen all over them.

In the end it's been forever since the last time Dallas rallied late in the Season....and that is really what we all want to see.

 

[JohnsKey19]

if we play hard and protect the ball, we win--if we let philly continue their sack and INT parade, we lose--knee-jerk pundits have crowned the Eagles after the NY game (forgetting the Raiders) but i think they are vulnerable--I hope we don't run the same lazy draws we have been running lately because the Eagles will blitz them into 2 yard losses

not a lot is said about special teams--Philly depends on big returns and short fields--we must make them drive the field--and I hope Felix returns kickoffs

Thank you. We need to shelve that draw play. At least wait until later in the game, assuming we're up and the defense is somewhat on their heels.

 

[thechosen1n2]

Been wieghing winning and losng this game all week long.

I see two sides with catch-22 writen all over them.

In the end it's been forever since the last time Dallas rallied late in the Season....and that is really what we all want to see.

I dont care about them rallying, I just care about them playin well, whether that means maintaining or rallying. I prefer maintaining. We dont need to lose and keep the Giants in this race when they have already beat us, or should i say we beat ourselves while playing them.

There is no benefit to us losing this game.

 

[elcowboi]

I dont care if they give us our dues, as long as we get that Division title.

I hear ya on that. I would take that anyday.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

dang, the Eagle's D has 14 INTs already??

 

[HoosierCowboy]

I dont care about them rallying, I just care about them playin well, whether that means maintaining or rallying. I prefer maintaining. We dont need to lose and keep the Giants in this race when they have already beat us, or should i say we beat ourselves while playing them.

There is no benefit to us losing this game.

if we get rocked i won't be able to spin that positively
if we lose a close game that we could have won, I'll be upset but encouraged

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

There is no benefit to us losing this game.

I disagree, when disecting the big picture there could be alot of benefit mainly because winning a Div. game in Novemeber really means little compared to winning Div. games in December and going into the Play-Offs rolling hot.

 

[Hostile]

I dont care about them rallying, I just care about them playin well, whether that means maintaining or rallying. I prefer maintaining. We dont need to lose and keep the Giants in this race when they have already beat us, or should i say we beat ourselves while playing them.

There is no benefit to us losing this game.

I absolutely 100% agree. I don't even want to amplify that comment. I just agree.

 

[thechosen1n2]

if we get rocked i won't be able to spin that positively
if we lose a close game that we could have won, I'll be upset but encouraged

Encouraged that we played well, but no 0-2 in the division will be rough. That will dang near make every other division game a must win. We dont need that. Tie Breakers will not be in our favor.