Doomsday101
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It was the focal point of Jim Johnson's off-season: Overhaul the front seven of the defense. Add some pieces, move others around, count on some kids to step forward. Seven games into the season, the results have been more than encouraging and game eight offers the Eagles' most difficult challenge. Dallas plays straight-ahead, physical football. Nothing fancy. Nothing flashy.
What separates the Cowboys from the previous seven offenses the Eagles played is the complete picture Dallas brings to Philadelphia on Sunday. The offensive line is experienced, very strong, and big and athletic. Quarterback Tony Romo moves around the pocket well, has poise and great leadership skills and a big-time arm and touch. The running game is marvelous. Tight end Jason Witten and wide receiver Terrell Owens are Pro Bowl players. Patrick Crayton is a very dangerous threat.
Dallas averages 32.4 points per game, second in the NFL. The Cowboys can bring it.
The front seven, the front four specifically, needs to make sure that doesn't happen.
"We know what they can do," said tackle Mike Patterson. "They do a lot of things well. They're fast. We have to get them out of their rhythm."
The front four has certainly changed its personality in the last couple of seasons. Free agency was supposed to fill a couple of the needs -- the Eagles signed Jevon Kearse in 2004 and Darren Howard in 2006 -- but the production hasn't met the expectations. Kearse still starts at left end and he has 3 1/2 sacks, but Juqua Thomas (four sacks) gets just as many reps these days. Howard, who started off his 2006 season so well, has seen his role change dramatically. Howard gets a dozen or two snaps each game, not as a defensive end as much as a nickel pass rusher.
End Trent Cole is the face of the line with his rise this season. Cole leads the NFL in quarterback sacks, he has a growing reputation, he is a marked man each week now. He has a name. He has a game.
And Cole has the task Sunday of going against veteran Flozell Adams. The Eagles have to win that battle and force the Cowboys to slide their protection that way. Then they have to win the battles up and down the line.
Along with Cole, the front four is defined by Patterson, the third-year player who is coming into his own this season and who is developing into an upper-echelon player. Brodrick Bunkley continues to impress and seems to have the ceiling that suggests that, some day, he can be a Pro Bowl-level player.
Those three players -- Cole, Patterson, Bunkley -- form the core of the front four. Kearse and Thomas are playing well at the left end position. Howard and Montae Reagor are working as the nickel tackles. LaJuan Ramsey is the third tackle and he continues to push for more playing time. Adding depth are two players who are not dressing much -- veteran Kimo von Oelhoffen and rookie Victor Abiamiri -- and the Eagles think both can help if needed.
It's a good group, one that has 24 sacks and that has played the run well. The Eagles lead the league in sacks per pass play. Cole is the motor that energizes everyone and is he the one who has to have a big day Sunday against Adams, against Romo, against the Dallas running game. Cole, who signed a contract extension last season, is continuing to do what he has done to reach this point.
"Experience. I'm growing in this league and finding out how to do what I'm doing and keep doing it, keep rolling. I'm learning difference ways on how to attack the opponent and basically beat the opponent," said Cole. "Preparation is the key. It's a year-round thing. You have to stay on it, keep in the weight room, watch film and that's what you have to do.""
I know the big story is the return of Brian Dawkins to the starting lineup. That is exciting. Dawkins takes the intensity level to a new height and if he is able to beat off some rust and play his game, Dawkins will certainly be a factor. And the linebackers and the rest of the secondary has to play sound, aggressive, intelligent football on Sunday.
But the line is the key here. The Eagles need to push and force Romo into some mistakes. They have to bottle up Marion Barber and Julius Jones. They have to take it to the Cowboys. This young and emerging defensive line has to win the trench war and take Dallas out of its game.
It is time to carve a national rep here. Cole and the kids have to get after the Cowboys.
What separates the Cowboys from the previous seven offenses the Eagles played is the complete picture Dallas brings to Philadelphia on Sunday. The offensive line is experienced, very strong, and big and athletic. Quarterback Tony Romo moves around the pocket well, has poise and great leadership skills and a big-time arm and touch. The running game is marvelous. Tight end Jason Witten and wide receiver Terrell Owens are Pro Bowl players. Patrick Crayton is a very dangerous threat.
Dallas averages 32.4 points per game, second in the NFL. The Cowboys can bring it.
The front seven, the front four specifically, needs to make sure that doesn't happen.
"We know what they can do," said tackle Mike Patterson. "They do a lot of things well. They're fast. We have to get them out of their rhythm."
The front four has certainly changed its personality in the last couple of seasons. Free agency was supposed to fill a couple of the needs -- the Eagles signed Jevon Kearse in 2004 and Darren Howard in 2006 -- but the production hasn't met the expectations. Kearse still starts at left end and he has 3 1/2 sacks, but Juqua Thomas (four sacks) gets just as many reps these days. Howard, who started off his 2006 season so well, has seen his role change dramatically. Howard gets a dozen or two snaps each game, not as a defensive end as much as a nickel pass rusher.
End Trent Cole is the face of the line with his rise this season. Cole leads the NFL in quarterback sacks, he has a growing reputation, he is a marked man each week now. He has a name. He has a game.
And Cole has the task Sunday of going against veteran Flozell Adams. The Eagles have to win that battle and force the Cowboys to slide their protection that way. Then they have to win the battles up and down the line.
Along with Cole, the front four is defined by Patterson, the third-year player who is coming into his own this season and who is developing into an upper-echelon player. Brodrick Bunkley continues to impress and seems to have the ceiling that suggests that, some day, he can be a Pro Bowl-level player.
Those three players -- Cole, Patterson, Bunkley -- form the core of the front four. Kearse and Thomas are playing well at the left end position. Howard and Montae Reagor are working as the nickel tackles. LaJuan Ramsey is the third tackle and he continues to push for more playing time. Adding depth are two players who are not dressing much -- veteran Kimo von Oelhoffen and rookie Victor Abiamiri -- and the Eagles think both can help if needed.
It's a good group, one that has 24 sacks and that has played the run well. The Eagles lead the league in sacks per pass play. Cole is the motor that energizes everyone and is he the one who has to have a big day Sunday against Adams, against Romo, against the Dallas running game. Cole, who signed a contract extension last season, is continuing to do what he has done to reach this point.
"Experience. I'm growing in this league and finding out how to do what I'm doing and keep doing it, keep rolling. I'm learning difference ways on how to attack the opponent and basically beat the opponent," said Cole. "Preparation is the key. It's a year-round thing. You have to stay on it, keep in the weight room, watch film and that's what you have to do.""
I know the big story is the return of Brian Dawkins to the starting lineup. That is exciting. Dawkins takes the intensity level to a new height and if he is able to beat off some rust and play his game, Dawkins will certainly be a factor. And the linebackers and the rest of the secondary has to play sound, aggressive, intelligent football on Sunday.
But the line is the key here. The Eagles need to push and force Romo into some mistakes. They have to bottle up Marion Barber and Julius Jones. They have to take it to the Cowboys. This young and emerging defensive line has to win the trench war and take Dallas out of its game.
It is time to carve a national rep here. Cole and the kids have to get after the Cowboys.
