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There is perhaps no more hated rival of the Dallas Cowboys than the Philadelphia Eagles. Once you add in the fact the NFL’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year, DeMarco Murray, is making his first trip back to Dallas as a member of the Eagles, and the idea that this game likely represents the last opportunity each of these teams has to salvage their chances to compete in the NFC East, it is safe to say that the Week 9 matchup between the teams has a bit of hype from fans of both teams.
However, once the teams step on the field none of the external stuff matters. It comes down to the game plans, and the execution of those plans.
Let’s take a look at some things that could show up in the Dallas game plan this week.
Offensive Game Plan
The Cowboys will go into this game determined to run the ball. Besides being considered the safer alternative to passing, rushing successfully keeps the game clock running and helps a team control the ball and keep their drives going. However, accomplishing this goal on Sunday in Philadelphia will require some persistence.
The Eagles’ base 3-4 defense presents challenges for opponents attempting to run the ball on early downs. Not only is the 3-4 scheme itself a difficult front to run against, but the Eagles’ personnel makes it even harder. The Eagles defense features guys like Bennie Logan and Fletcher Cox along the defensive line, as well as Mychal Kendricks, Kiko Alonso and DeMeco Ryans at linebacker who are all very stout run defenders.
Without Tony Romo, Scott Linehan and this Cowboys offense are going to have to find other ways to attack the defense in order to keep their opponents honest, thus allowing maximum room for running.
One way that the Cowboys offense can help get their base run game going is to force the Eagles defenders to run laterally, while maintaining the threat of the inside run.
A few things the Cowboys have done on offense over the past few weeks should help them accomplishing this task.
One of these is using rookie wide receiver Lucky Whitehead in Jet motion across the formation. The Cowboys showed this wrinkle for the first time in the Week 7 game against the New York Giants, and continued to do so against the Seahawks in Week 8.
Using this type of action with a player of Whitehead’s ability immediately creates conflict in the defense, which is what you have to do against players of the quality that this Philadelphia team deploys on the defensive front. You can exploit this conflict by using the jet sweep to create misdirection, open up inside rush lanes or get the ball quickly to the edges of the defense.
Another thing the Cowboys have done that should be a part of their game plan in the running game is pulling their athletic offensive linemen around the formation to get Darren McFadden started on the edges. With guards like Zack Martin and La’el Collins you have two special athletes who are capable of getting out in space and blocking linebackers and defensive backs.
If Linehan can put his tight ends, or even wide receivers in position to block down on the defensive ends and outside linebackers in the Eagles’ 3-4 defense, and seal those guys to the inside, they could spring some big plays with Darren McFadden running downhill in space with a lineman or two out leading the way.
The Cowboys also need to find a way to exploit the mismatch on the outside between Dez Bryant and Eagles cornerback Byron Maxwell. The Eagles defense has been notoriously stubborn under coordinator Bill Davis in playing straight up man coverage regardless of situations where their defenders are overmatched. Matt Cassel has to identify those opportunities for Bryant, and find ways to get him the ball against a corner who has struggled against lesser weapons this year.
Defensive Game Plan
Defensively for Dallas, it all starts with matching Philadelphia’s tempo. Chip Kelly is famous for his proficiency as a play-caller in a fast-paced spread offense. The Eagles offense moves very quickly from play to play, which creates a unique challenge for opposing defenses.
Schematically the Eagles aren’t doing much that is extremely complex, they are simply banking on the idea that by moving ultra-fast they can keep their opponent from always lining up and getting the defense called and ready to play. Once they’ve done that they can hone in on what the defense is doing, and attack it with simple plays they can execute at high speeds and frequencies.
The Cowboys are fortunate to have a player like Byron Jones who provides the run support ability of a traditional safety, while possessing the man coverage skills of a true cornerback to help match up with the Eagles personnel and tempo in the run and pass game.
Dallas plans will feature the use of fewer defensive schemes than normal to help them streamline their communications to keep up with the pace of the Eagles offense.
Prediction:
The Cowboys defense will be on a mission to generate takeaways against a team that is fifth in the NFL in turning it over, with 15 in seven games. The front four’s ability to generate pressure against a porous offensive line, which could be without its best player, Jason Peters (who didn’t practice this week due to a back injury), should enable them to do just that.
If the Cowboys can win the turnover battle and run the ball successfully enough to keep Matt Cassel from being forced to carry the offense, Dallas can come away with a victory.
Prediction: Cowboys 17, Eagles 13
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However, once the teams step on the field none of the external stuff matters. It comes down to the game plans, and the execution of those plans.
Let’s take a look at some things that could show up in the Dallas game plan this week.
Offensive Game Plan
The Cowboys will go into this game determined to run the ball. Besides being considered the safer alternative to passing, rushing successfully keeps the game clock running and helps a team control the ball and keep their drives going. However, accomplishing this goal on Sunday in Philadelphia will require some persistence.
The Eagles’ base 3-4 defense presents challenges for opponents attempting to run the ball on early downs. Not only is the 3-4 scheme itself a difficult front to run against, but the Eagles’ personnel makes it even harder. The Eagles defense features guys like Bennie Logan and Fletcher Cox along the defensive line, as well as Mychal Kendricks, Kiko Alonso and DeMeco Ryans at linebacker who are all very stout run defenders.
Without Tony Romo, Scott Linehan and this Cowboys offense are going to have to find other ways to attack the defense in order to keep their opponents honest, thus allowing maximum room for running.
One way that the Cowboys offense can help get their base run game going is to force the Eagles defenders to run laterally, while maintaining the threat of the inside run.
A few things the Cowboys have done on offense over the past few weeks should help them accomplishing this task.
One of these is using rookie wide receiver Lucky Whitehead in Jet motion across the formation. The Cowboys showed this wrinkle for the first time in the Week 7 game against the New York Giants, and continued to do so against the Seahawks in Week 8.
Using this type of action with a player of Whitehead’s ability immediately creates conflict in the defense, which is what you have to do against players of the quality that this Philadelphia team deploys on the defensive front. You can exploit this conflict by using the jet sweep to create misdirection, open up inside rush lanes or get the ball quickly to the edges of the defense.
Another thing the Cowboys have done that should be a part of their game plan in the running game is pulling their athletic offensive linemen around the formation to get Darren McFadden started on the edges. With guards like Zack Martin and La’el Collins you have two special athletes who are capable of getting out in space and blocking linebackers and defensive backs.
If Linehan can put his tight ends, or even wide receivers in position to block down on the defensive ends and outside linebackers in the Eagles’ 3-4 defense, and seal those guys to the inside, they could spring some big plays with Darren McFadden running downhill in space with a lineman or two out leading the way.
The Cowboys also need to find a way to exploit the mismatch on the outside between Dez Bryant and Eagles cornerback Byron Maxwell. The Eagles defense has been notoriously stubborn under coordinator Bill Davis in playing straight up man coverage regardless of situations where their defenders are overmatched. Matt Cassel has to identify those opportunities for Bryant, and find ways to get him the ball against a corner who has struggled against lesser weapons this year.
Defensive Game Plan
Defensively for Dallas, it all starts with matching Philadelphia’s tempo. Chip Kelly is famous for his proficiency as a play-caller in a fast-paced spread offense. The Eagles offense moves very quickly from play to play, which creates a unique challenge for opposing defenses.
Schematically the Eagles aren’t doing much that is extremely complex, they are simply banking on the idea that by moving ultra-fast they can keep their opponent from always lining up and getting the defense called and ready to play. Once they’ve done that they can hone in on what the defense is doing, and attack it with simple plays they can execute at high speeds and frequencies.
The Cowboys are fortunate to have a player like Byron Jones who provides the run support ability of a traditional safety, while possessing the man coverage skills of a true cornerback to help match up with the Eagles personnel and tempo in the run and pass game.
Dallas plans will feature the use of fewer defensive schemes than normal to help them streamline their communications to keep up with the pace of the Eagles offense.
Prediction:
The Cowboys defense will be on a mission to generate takeaways against a team that is fifth in the NFL in turning it over, with 15 in seven games. The front four’s ability to generate pressure against a porous offensive line, which could be without its best player, Jason Peters (who didn’t practice this week due to a back injury), should enable them to do just that.
If the Cowboys can win the turnover battle and run the ball successfully enough to keep Matt Cassel from being forced to carry the offense, Dallas can come away with a victory.
Prediction: Cowboys 17, Eagles 13
Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com
Continue reading...