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Eagles must find way to get Jackson ballBy Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer
It is now accepted as fact in some places that the Dallas Cowboys have discovered the secret to shutting down DeSean Jackson, and that it is a formula guaranteed to beat the Philadelphia Eagles.
The numbers support this view, too.
In two games against Dallas, Jackson has caught just five passes for 76 yards without a touchdown. Jackson, named to his first Pro Bowl last week, averaged 77.8 receiving yards per game this season and often covers close to 76 yards on one breathtaking play.
Not against the Cowboys. The second-year receiver's longest reception in the Eagles' two losses to Dallas was for 32 yards midway through the second quarter of Sunday's game at Cowboys Stadium. Four of his five receptions against Dallas this season have been for fewer than 10 yards.
"They're doing a great job putting a safety over the top and just doing little things like that," Jackson said when asked about the Cowboys' blanket coverage. "At the end of the day, I feel I'm still open and we have schemes to get me open, and that's what we have to work on."
Jackson is right. There was one play Sunday that could have changed the perception of the Cowboys' coverage against the Eagles' swiftest receiver. It could have also changed the outcome of the game.
On the second play of the second quarter, cornerback Terence Newman wasn't able to run with Jackson, and a good throw by quarterback Donovan McNabb would have resulted in a 63-yard touchdown that would have tied the game at 7-7.
Instead, the drive eventually stalled, and the Cowboys scored again against an Eagles defense that definitely has plenty to fix before Saturday night's rematch in a first-round playoff game. But the fact remains that it was a missed opportunity by the Eagles and not great coverage by the Cowboys that spoiled that play.
Jackson also dropped two passes on the Eagles' final possession of the first half.
If McNabb is on target on the deep ball and Jackson catches the other two passes, we're talking about another huge day for the wide receiver instead of the semi-controversial remarks the Eagles' two biggest offensive stars made after the 24-0 loss.
Jackson said the Eagles' missed opportunities had "a lot" to do with the ugly loss.
"We weren't able to capitalize on a couple of opportunities down the field, and we had a couple drops and missed throws," Jackson said. "It was the whole nine yards. We'll put it back together."
One big play against the Cowboys in the rematch could change a lot in this three-round battle that has so far been dominated by Dallas.
"That's a part of what we do," Jackson said. "Striking people with big plays, and we take energy away from opposing defenses and opposing teams. That definitely helps out our game, and we have to get back to it."
That hasn't happened in the first two games against Dallas this season, but it did happen in the Eagles' first game against the Cowboys last season. Last season, in just his second NFL game, Jackson caught six passes for 110 yards in a Monday Night Football shoot-out won by Dallas. You may remember that Jackson should have had 111 yards and a touchdown, but he unwisely dropped the football a yard shy of the end zone that night.
It could be argued that this year's version of the Cowboys' defense is better than last year's version. Indeed, Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg would probably be willing to lead that argument.
"They have one of the very best [defensive] fronts in the league," Mornhinweg said. "They have some excellent cover guys; great ability at the corner spots. They have some linebackers that have great instincts, and they are fast, and they fly around.
"They have enough schematically as well to put a little heat on you with some blitzes and some changes on coverage as well. That doesn't prevent the big plays. We've had some opportunities in the past ball games, but we just haven't connected. The Cowboys get just a little bit more pressure than other teams would – a man in the quarterback's face or they bump [the receivers] at the line of scrimmage just a little bit better than other teams. They do some things just a little bit better than some other defenses, and they've had great success."
But even after a beating just a few days ago, Mornhinweg and Jackson said they think they can gain a large measure of redemption in the only game that matters now.
"Our players don't lack any confidence," Mornhinweg said.
That's especially true about the speedy little receiver who'll be wearing No. 10. Before the Eagles cleared Dallas-Fort Worth airspace Sunday, Jackson had sent out some colorful comments via his Twitter account, proclaiming things would be different Saturday night.
Told his tweet may serve as bulletin-board fodder for the Cowboys, Jackson shrugged.
"That's cool," he said. "Use it to your motivation. At the end of the day, we still have a job to go out there and win the game. I don't think they need any extra motivation. They're probably feeling pretty good about themselves. We'll put it together and definitely expect a different team to go out there this week."
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20100107_Eagles_must_find_way_to_get_Jackson_ball.html
Inquirer Staff Writer
It is now accepted as fact in some places that the Dallas Cowboys have discovered the secret to shutting down DeSean Jackson, and that it is a formula guaranteed to beat the Philadelphia Eagles.
The numbers support this view, too.
In two games against Dallas, Jackson has caught just five passes for 76 yards without a touchdown. Jackson, named to his first Pro Bowl last week, averaged 77.8 receiving yards per game this season and often covers close to 76 yards on one breathtaking play.
Not against the Cowboys. The second-year receiver's longest reception in the Eagles' two losses to Dallas was for 32 yards midway through the second quarter of Sunday's game at Cowboys Stadium. Four of his five receptions against Dallas this season have been for fewer than 10 yards.
"They're doing a great job putting a safety over the top and just doing little things like that," Jackson said when asked about the Cowboys' blanket coverage. "At the end of the day, I feel I'm still open and we have schemes to get me open, and that's what we have to work on."
Jackson is right. There was one play Sunday that could have changed the perception of the Cowboys' coverage against the Eagles' swiftest receiver. It could have also changed the outcome of the game.
On the second play of the second quarter, cornerback Terence Newman wasn't able to run with Jackson, and a good throw by quarterback Donovan McNabb would have resulted in a 63-yard touchdown that would have tied the game at 7-7.
Instead, the drive eventually stalled, and the Cowboys scored again against an Eagles defense that definitely has plenty to fix before Saturday night's rematch in a first-round playoff game. But the fact remains that it was a missed opportunity by the Eagles and not great coverage by the Cowboys that spoiled that play.
Jackson also dropped two passes on the Eagles' final possession of the first half.
If McNabb is on target on the deep ball and Jackson catches the other two passes, we're talking about another huge day for the wide receiver instead of the semi-controversial remarks the Eagles' two biggest offensive stars made after the 24-0 loss.
Jackson said the Eagles' missed opportunities had "a lot" to do with the ugly loss.
"We weren't able to capitalize on a couple of opportunities down the field, and we had a couple drops and missed throws," Jackson said. "It was the whole nine yards. We'll put it back together."
One big play against the Cowboys in the rematch could change a lot in this three-round battle that has so far been dominated by Dallas.
"That's a part of what we do," Jackson said. "Striking people with big plays, and we take energy away from opposing defenses and opposing teams. That definitely helps out our game, and we have to get back to it."
That hasn't happened in the first two games against Dallas this season, but it did happen in the Eagles' first game against the Cowboys last season. Last season, in just his second NFL game, Jackson caught six passes for 110 yards in a Monday Night Football shoot-out won by Dallas. You may remember that Jackson should have had 111 yards and a touchdown, but he unwisely dropped the football a yard shy of the end zone that night.
It could be argued that this year's version of the Cowboys' defense is better than last year's version. Indeed, Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg would probably be willing to lead that argument.
"They have one of the very best [defensive] fronts in the league," Mornhinweg said. "They have some excellent cover guys; great ability at the corner spots. They have some linebackers that have great instincts, and they are fast, and they fly around.
"They have enough schematically as well to put a little heat on you with some blitzes and some changes on coverage as well. That doesn't prevent the big plays. We've had some opportunities in the past ball games, but we just haven't connected. The Cowboys get just a little bit more pressure than other teams would – a man in the quarterback's face or they bump [the receivers] at the line of scrimmage just a little bit better than other teams. They do some things just a little bit better than some other defenses, and they've had great success."
But even after a beating just a few days ago, Mornhinweg and Jackson said they think they can gain a large measure of redemption in the only game that matters now.
"Our players don't lack any confidence," Mornhinweg said.
That's especially true about the speedy little receiver who'll be wearing No. 10. Before the Eagles cleared Dallas-Fort Worth airspace Sunday, Jackson had sent out some colorful comments via his Twitter account, proclaiming things would be different Saturday night.
Told his tweet may serve as bulletin-board fodder for the Cowboys, Jackson shrugged.
"That's cool," he said. "Use it to your motivation. At the end of the day, we still have a job to go out there and win the game. I don't think they need any extra motivation. They're probably feeling pretty good about themselves. We'll put it together and definitely expect a different team to go out there this week."
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20100107_Eagles_must_find_way_to_get_Jackson_ball.html
