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Slowing Ware critical for Eagles: Without Brian Westbrook last Sunday against the Giants, the Eagles -- led by fullback Leonard Weaver and rookie running back LeSean McCoy -- ran the ball for 180 yards, their second-highest team rushing total for the season.
So, why rush to get Westbrook back for the Sunday night matchup against Dallas? Two words: DeMarcus Ware. The Cowboys pass-rusher has five sacks in his last three games. Dallas has 17 sacks in its last 18 quarters of football.
McCoy's pass-blocking has improved dramatically since training camp, but Westbrook's knowledge of the Eagles' protection schemes and his intuitive blitz pickup skills are impossible to duplicate, especially against a Cowboys defense that is complicated and playing at a high level right now. Finding Ware is the key.
Mark J. Rebilas/US Presswire
After a slow start, DeMarcus Ware has been a force in the Cowboys' three-game winning streak, totaling five sacks.
"He flops sides," said head coach Andy Reid. "They're playing a 3-4 personnel defense and they move him around. He's big, fast and quick, he has a great feel for the game. He has great leverage."
What's more, the Eagles' left offensive tackle, Jason Peters, the team's big offseason free-agent signing, has struggled lately. Against the Giants, he gave up two sacks and was called for holding inside New York's 10-yard line. And, at right tackle, the Eagles are loath to leave Winston Justice on his own. So, Westbrook will be there to chip and double-team and keep quarterback Donovan McNabb clean.
But Westbrook, who is expected to play Sunday if there is no setback in his concussion symptoms, says he can't be everywhere at once.
"It's important for everybody to understand the protection," Westbrook said. "[The Cowboys] have some guys that can come off the edge, DeMarcus Ware in particular, that do a great job coming off of the edge, attacking the quarterback. Keith Brooking has done a great job of rushing up the middle too. For us, we have to understand the protection, understand that they want to pressure the quarterback and allow those guys outside to play man-to-man and we have to go out there and try to make plays. That's the biggest thing for us, that we don't allow the pressure to get to us."
-- Sal Paolantonio
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/notebook?page=sundaycountdown09
So, why rush to get Westbrook back for the Sunday night matchup against Dallas? Two words: DeMarcus Ware. The Cowboys pass-rusher has five sacks in his last three games. Dallas has 17 sacks in its last 18 quarters of football.
McCoy's pass-blocking has improved dramatically since training camp, but Westbrook's knowledge of the Eagles' protection schemes and his intuitive blitz pickup skills are impossible to duplicate, especially against a Cowboys defense that is complicated and playing at a high level right now. Finding Ware is the key.

After a slow start, DeMarcus Ware has been a force in the Cowboys' three-game winning streak, totaling five sacks.
"He flops sides," said head coach Andy Reid. "They're playing a 3-4 personnel defense and they move him around. He's big, fast and quick, he has a great feel for the game. He has great leverage."
What's more, the Eagles' left offensive tackle, Jason Peters, the team's big offseason free-agent signing, has struggled lately. Against the Giants, he gave up two sacks and was called for holding inside New York's 10-yard line. And, at right tackle, the Eagles are loath to leave Winston Justice on his own. So, Westbrook will be there to chip and double-team and keep quarterback Donovan McNabb clean.
But Westbrook, who is expected to play Sunday if there is no setback in his concussion symptoms, says he can't be everywhere at once.
"It's important for everybody to understand the protection," Westbrook said. "[The Cowboys] have some guys that can come off the edge, DeMarcus Ware in particular, that do a great job coming off of the edge, attacking the quarterback. Keith Brooking has done a great job of rushing up the middle too. For us, we have to understand the protection, understand that they want to pressure the quarterback and allow those guys outside to play man-to-man and we have to go out there and try to make plays. That's the biggest thing for us, that we don't allow the pressure to get to us."
-- Sal Paolantonio
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/notebook?page=sundaycountdown09