The Problem On D Was Simple. The Players Weren't Prepared For What Philly Did...

[CaptainAmerica]

....all this talk about how bad the LBers played, etc. is directing the blame totally at the players and missing the fact that the problem lies in our pre-game defensive preparation.

Our guys on D were hesitating on defense and a step slow all night because Philly and Reid had us off-balance with the emphasis on running and the short throws to the backs and TEs.

It was obvious that what we prepared for is not what the players were seeing in the game. IMO, pre-game preparation was the main problem, and then when you combine that with the complete lack of fire and emotion the team played with, in large part, I believe because of Parcells' somber emotional state, you had the recipe for a bad defensive game.

If you think I'm off base, think back to what the sideline reporter said after the half when she said that Parcells said something like, "we had to prepare for what they've done all year". Well what they did last night on offense was not at all what they've done all year.

We were very fortunate to get out of there with that W.

 

[Hoov]

true, and add the fact that we were coming off a bye and the fact that parcells also had them preparing for detroit and denver. I dont see how that doesnt get confusing.

 

[Juke99]

I dunno....it's not like they did anything unusual...yes, they ran more often but at this stage of the season, we don't know how to stop a running play?

If they did something like come out in a 4 wide set...or run a no huddle, yeah, then I'd be inclined to agree with you.

But these were vanilla running plays. Nothing unusual.

I think the Eagles line simply man-handled us.

 

[conner01]

we played defense to stop their pass game not their run game. they out game planeed us just like we did them last time. it happens. thats why it's so hard to beat a team twice in a year.there nfl teams too and they adjust

 

[StanleySpadowski]

Philadelphia out-coached Dallas across the board. No doubt about that. They simply didn't have the talent (especially at WR) nor the discipline (false start #69 offense) to take advantage of it.

They saw some things on film that they clearly thought they could take advantage of and did. Look at the play where they motioned Lewis left while Shanle's attention was elsewhere. Anyone besides a TE they picked up off his couch within the last week takes a nice gain and turns it into something huge.


They also gave every other team in the league a blueprint for beating the Cowboys' offense. Double Glenn every play, threaten both tackles early forcing more max protects and let Bledoe try to beat you without Glenn.

 

[AbeBeta]

Our D held them to 20 points.

The D put us in position to win a tough road game.

Oh yeah, then our D WON the game.

A little perspective is useful sometimes.

 

[LeonDixson]

I dunno....it's not like they did anything unusual...yes, they ran more often but at this stage of the season, we don't know how to stop a running play?

If they did something like come out in a 4 wide set...or run a no huddle, yeah, then I'd be inclined to agree with you.

But these were vanilla running plays. Nothing unusual.

I think the Eagles line simply man-handled us.

You are exactly right, Juke. In fact both their offensive and defensive lines manhandled us. It was like men lining up against boys. I couldn't believe it. Our lines are better than that.

 

[alancdc]

Being here in Carolina I thought all week that it was just like when New Orleans came in here week one and beat the Panthers after all that had happened to them over the summer. Nobody was beating New Orleans that Sunday, and I felt like Philly would be playing of the same emotion last night. ANYBODY would have had a tough time beating them last night. We got their last best shot of the season last night, and, thank heavens, the football god's gave us one back. One more from them and we will be even for the year.

 

[TheHustler]

I dunno....it's not like they did anything unusual...yes, they ran more often but at this stage of the season, we don't know how to stop a running play?

If they did something like come out in a 4 wide set...or run a no huddle, yeah, then I'd be inclined to agree with you.

But these were vanilla running plays. Nothing unusual.

I think the Eagles line simply man-handled us.

We came out prepared for 70% pass and we didn't adjust. Simple as that.

 

[Juke99]

We came out prepared for 70% pass and we didn't adjust. Simple as that.

What does that mean?

A run play is a run play is a run play.

We weren't in nickel...

I just don't agree. I've already watched the game again...we got blown off the line...on both sides of the ball. And they had a rookie starting at center.

I'm as thrilled as anyone with the W but it was a blow out on the lines last night.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Well, I agree with Juke. I mean, honestly, did we not know that since TO is gone, Westbrook and Shelton would become primary in there offense? I mean, we only heard it on ESPN all week. Hell, even average Philly fans came on this board and told us the same. How are we not going to know this? Offensively, did we not know that they were going to come after Bledsoe?

For most of the game, we got handled on both sides. Impressive how quickly we drove on them with four minutes left but still, we didn't come to play. They did. We got luck.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Our D held them to 20 points.

The D put us in position to win a tough road game.

Oh yeah, then our D WON the game.

A little perspective is useful sometimes.

Even more so with out the spin control. We got handled. Brown catches that ball and it's all over regardless. We got lucky. BP said it best. We were fortunate. We were lucky to win this game.

 

[AbeBeta]

We came out prepared for 70% pass and we didn't adjust. Simple as that.

Philly came out for their most emotional game of the year. They all had a rough week and came out looking to bust us in the mouth.

We took their best shot and didn't get knocked out. We got run over but managed to hold them to 6 points in the 2nd half.

We let them run -- they did but couldn't score that way.

 

[TheHustler]

What does that mean?

A run play is a run play is a run play.

We weren't in nickel...

I just don't agree. I've already watched the game again...we got blown off the line...on both sides of the ball. And they had a rookie starting at center.

I'm as thrilled as anyone with the W but it was a blow out on the lines last night.

True, but on any given play, regardless of the lineup on defense, 3-4, 4-3, nickel, dime, the players are supposed to one of any number of things first, blitz, run blitz, drop back into zone, man up with a man, etc. I suspect on a lot of the plays called, defending the run wasn't the first priority.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Philly came out for their most emotional game of the year. They all had a rough week and came out looking to bust us in the mouth.

We took their best shot and didn't get knocked out. We got run over but managed to hold them to 6 points in the 2nd half.

We let them run -- they did but couldn't score that way.

I agree with this to some extent. I think we hung in and gave ourselves a slight chance to win at the end but honestly, we got handled. The last 2 minutes of the game tell the story. Brown catches that ball or McNappie doesn't get his privates caught in the grind stone and they probably drive on us for a FG. It's relative, thats true but honestly, I think we got handled.

 

[JackMagist]

The problem on D was the same as the problem on O; the players came out flat. The team played flat for most of the first half.

But still the Defense managed to keep the Eagles from running up a big score while getting no help from the Offense. The Defense played a very good game considering how poorly the Offense played for the first 56 minutes of the game. They were on the field a lot and were getting worn down with the Offense going 3 and out consistently. They kept us within striking distance of the Eagles and we finally did strike with the TD pass to Glenn. Then the D (in the person of Roy Williams) won the game for us. I'll take this kind of performance from the Defense every time.

With the exception of the one TD drive early the Offense was just out of sync. The running game wasn't working, the pass protection was breaking down, the receivers weren't getting open, and Bledsoe was off target on the deep passes when he had the shot. Bledsoe had Terry Glenn open deep twice and just missed him both times. Thankfully they woke up late in the game and got us in position for the win on Roy's INT.

It's like I told an opponent at the pool hall the other night after he scratched on the eight ball to give me the win and I was taking his $10 bill and tucking it in my pocket, "It's not the way I like to win 'em..."

He interrupted (a bit impatiently it seemed to me) to say, "But you'll take it right?"

And I just smiled and said, "That's right."

 

[joseephuss]

What does that mean?

A run play is a run play is a run play.

We weren't in nickel...

I just don't agree. I've already watched the game again...we got blown off the line...on both sides of the ball. And they had a rookie starting at center.

I'm as thrilled as anyone with the W but it was a blow out on the lines last night.

I am not sure I get it either. Several times the d-line stuffed the middle. The running backs then bounced it outside. Looked like the linebackers were just slow and poor at tackling.

Philly did the same thing they did all season. They pass the ball to T.O., their tight ends and to Westbrook. They didn't have the T.O. part, but they kept on trying to hit their tight ends and running backs. That is their passing game and Dallas was prepared for that.

Their offensive line played a good game. The type of game that everyone had come to expect from them, yet has been lacking this season. Sometimes the line is going to get beat. That happened last night.

In the end, the defense did what it had to do. Bledsoe put them in a bad spot and that led to 1 TD. They muscled up and gave up only 2 FGs in the 2nd half and scored the game winning TD. It wasn't their best performance, but it wasn't atrociuos either.

 

[AmericasTeam31]

It seemed like we were saying (I've said this in another thread) if Philly is gonna beat us, they are gonna have to drive down the field on us ALL NIGHT. They knew Reid would ditch the running game at some point. They gave them nothing downfield, that's why they had so many dump passes. McNabb would scramble, and draw a man to him and throw it over him for 5 yards. There were times where we looked confused defensively, sure, but every team looks that way sometime.

 

[Juke99]

True, but on any given play, regardless of the lineup on defense, 3-4, 4-3, nickel, dime, the players are supposed to one of any number of things first, blitz, run blitz, drop back into zone, man up with a man, etc. I suspect on a lot of the plays called, defending the run wasn't the first priority.

While I agree, to a degree, ultimately I just see it as a bad night for both lines.

Even in running situations...we got our rear ends handed to us on defense.

 

[AbeBeta]

Even more so with out the spin control. We got handled. Brown catches that ball and it's all over regardless. We got lucky. BP said it best. We were fortunate. We were lucky to win this game.

We were lucky -- but Philly was lucky they recovered their own fumble when Ellis sacked McNabb. Just as we were lucky that MBIII fell on his fumble and Brown dropped the ball.

My point was the D put us in the position to have a shot.