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Dallas
Nov. 9, 2007
Cowboys’ Henry works his way back into lineup
Updated as of 11:30 p.m. EST Sunday, Nov. 11
CB Anthony Henry is getting back into starting shape — and could be there when the Cowboys play the Commanders in Week 11. Henry played in nickel defense and should continue to see his role grow as he works his way back into the lineup following a high ankle sprain he suffered against the Rams in Week Four. Until that point, Terence Newman will continue to play Henry’s RCB spot; after Henry returns to the starting lineup, Newman should move back to the left side. Despite working only in subpackages, Henry did get his fifth interception of the season at the end of the win over the Eagles in Week Nine. Henry was having a fine season before going down and has played with far more confidence than he did in 2006. Getting him back will put less strain on the safeties, who occasionally have been miscast in coverage roles (see New England game). When teams spread the Cowboys out, having Henry out there makes the coaches feel a lot better about using their entire arsenal of coverages.
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NY Giants
Nov. 14, 2007
Giants’ pass protection vs. Dallas might not signal alarms
There is no question that the five sacks the Cowboys had against the Giants in Week 10 were a surprise, even if that unit had three sacks in each of the previous six games. The Giants felt very good about their protection coming in, and they should have — QB Eli Manning had gone down only eight times in the previous eight games. The game tape revealed that the Cowboys out-quicked the Giants on a few plays, getting upfield and in better position than the Giants’ blockers. But the Giants also failed to do two things: Use more max-protection schemes and get up to the line quicker, enabling Manning to read the Cowboys’ rush tendencies pre-snap. The Giants couldn’t really slant the protection in any one direction, because five different Cowboys all had sacks from different spots. There was no one glaring weakness; it was a group failure. And with TE Jeremy Shockey heavily involved in the passing game, it was tough to leave him home. Also ORT Kareem McKenzie’s back problem forced him to miss almost a quarter. The problems don’t appear to be too much of a long-term concern, although the Giants’ next four opponents all have excellent D-lines.
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Philadelphia
Nov. 14, 2007
Eagles’ pass rush starting to slow
The numbers are skewed because of the 10-sack game against the Lions in Week Three, so the Eagles’ 25 team sacks appear to be quite healthy for a team total, tied for seventh in the NFL. A closer look reveals there might be a concern. In the six games since, the Eagles have tallied one, three, one, four, zero and one sacks. The totals for the past two games, vs. the Cowboys and Commanders, are especially disturbing because of the number of combined times the teams passed in those games — 60. The reasons are many. DE Jevon Kearse is hurting. His surgically repaired knee has given him trouble, so the team is keeping him as fresh as possible (he only played about a dozen snaps against the Commanders). DT Mike Patterson is playing on a tender ankle and is doing a whale of a job, but his explosion is limited. That means that the team's best rusher, DE Trent Cole, gets extra attention, and it’s no secret that he has worn down in the second halves of seasons before. Juqua Thomas, who fills in for both ends, has been quiet of late with only one sack in his past six games. And the lack of pressure is affecting the play in the secondary. The Eagles have only one interception in the past four games.
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Washington
Nov. 9, 2007
Torrance, Eubanks open some eyes for Commanders
The Commanders have lost CB Carlos Rogers (knee) for the season, leaving the secondary shorthanded, but there are some who believe that young CBs Leigh Torrance and John Eubanks are making the most of their trial by fire. Both are raw — no question about it — but the team likes their speed and feistiness. Torrance especially has stood up well. He stepped into a fire storm against the Patriots when Fred Smoot was inactive and Rogers injured his knee in the first quarter. That elevated Torrance to the No. 2 corner, and despite the Patriots’ 52 points and Tom Brady’s 306 passing yards, Commanders sources say that Torrance played quite well in the game, as he finished with seven tackles. Against the Jets, both Torrance and Eubanks were active ahead of David Macklin, who had been expected to be the Commanders’ fourth cornerback this season. Another reason for that move is that the two young corners also make their impacts felt on special teams.
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http://www.profootballweekly.com/NR...674B56895%7d&mode=nfceast&NRQUERYTERMINATOR=1
Nov. 9, 2007
Cowboys’ Henry works his way back into lineup
Updated as of 11:30 p.m. EST Sunday, Nov. 11
CB Anthony Henry is getting back into starting shape — and could be there when the Cowboys play the Commanders in Week 11. Henry played in nickel defense and should continue to see his role grow as he works his way back into the lineup following a high ankle sprain he suffered against the Rams in Week Four. Until that point, Terence Newman will continue to play Henry’s RCB spot; after Henry returns to the starting lineup, Newman should move back to the left side. Despite working only in subpackages, Henry did get his fifth interception of the season at the end of the win over the Eagles in Week Nine. Henry was having a fine season before going down and has played with far more confidence than he did in 2006. Getting him back will put less strain on the safeties, who occasionally have been miscast in coverage roles (see New England game). When teams spread the Cowboys out, having Henry out there makes the coaches feel a lot better about using their entire arsenal of coverages.
View all WWHI for Dallas
NY Giants
Nov. 14, 2007
Giants’ pass protection vs. Dallas might not signal alarms
There is no question that the five sacks the Cowboys had against the Giants in Week 10 were a surprise, even if that unit had three sacks in each of the previous six games. The Giants felt very good about their protection coming in, and they should have — QB Eli Manning had gone down only eight times in the previous eight games. The game tape revealed that the Cowboys out-quicked the Giants on a few plays, getting upfield and in better position than the Giants’ blockers. But the Giants also failed to do two things: Use more max-protection schemes and get up to the line quicker, enabling Manning to read the Cowboys’ rush tendencies pre-snap. The Giants couldn’t really slant the protection in any one direction, because five different Cowboys all had sacks from different spots. There was no one glaring weakness; it was a group failure. And with TE Jeremy Shockey heavily involved in the passing game, it was tough to leave him home. Also ORT Kareem McKenzie’s back problem forced him to miss almost a quarter. The problems don’t appear to be too much of a long-term concern, although the Giants’ next four opponents all have excellent D-lines.
View all WWHI for NY Giants
Philadelphia
Nov. 14, 2007
Eagles’ pass rush starting to slow
The numbers are skewed because of the 10-sack game against the Lions in Week Three, so the Eagles’ 25 team sacks appear to be quite healthy for a team total, tied for seventh in the NFL. A closer look reveals there might be a concern. In the six games since, the Eagles have tallied one, three, one, four, zero and one sacks. The totals for the past two games, vs. the Cowboys and Commanders, are especially disturbing because of the number of combined times the teams passed in those games — 60. The reasons are many. DE Jevon Kearse is hurting. His surgically repaired knee has given him trouble, so the team is keeping him as fresh as possible (he only played about a dozen snaps against the Commanders). DT Mike Patterson is playing on a tender ankle and is doing a whale of a job, but his explosion is limited. That means that the team's best rusher, DE Trent Cole, gets extra attention, and it’s no secret that he has worn down in the second halves of seasons before. Juqua Thomas, who fills in for both ends, has been quiet of late with only one sack in his past six games. And the lack of pressure is affecting the play in the secondary. The Eagles have only one interception in the past four games.
View all WWHI for Philadelphia
Washington
Nov. 9, 2007
Torrance, Eubanks open some eyes for Commanders
The Commanders have lost CB Carlos Rogers (knee) for the season, leaving the secondary shorthanded, but there are some who believe that young CBs Leigh Torrance and John Eubanks are making the most of their trial by fire. Both are raw — no question about it — but the team likes their speed and feistiness. Torrance especially has stood up well. He stepped into a fire storm against the Patriots when Fred Smoot was inactive and Rogers injured his knee in the first quarter. That elevated Torrance to the No. 2 corner, and despite the Patriots’ 52 points and Tom Brady’s 306 passing yards, Commanders sources say that Torrance played quite well in the game, as he finished with seven tackles. Against the Jets, both Torrance and Eubanks were active ahead of David Macklin, who had been expected to be the Commanders’ fourth cornerback this season. Another reason for that move is that the two young corners also make their impacts felt on special teams.
View all WWHI for Washington
http://www.profootballweekly.com/NR...674B56895%7d&mode=nfceast&NRQUERYTERMINATOR=1
