The Truth about Philly no one talks about

[ejthedj]

I hear all the media pundits talk about Philly's aggressive defense. Rod Woodson even said, "We know they play good defense."

Well, I think this is based more on reputation than reality. In fact, Philly's defense is well below average on pressure and points per game. In fact, most of their stats come from feasting against poor offenses.

Check their last 8 games:

vs Dal, 20 points, 1 turnover, 4 sacks, -2.5 on pts/gm average
vs SD, 31 points, 0 turnovers, 2 sacks, +2.3 pts/gm average
vs Chi, 24 points, 1 turnover, 1 sack, + 4.7 pts/gm average
vs Wash, 24 points, 2 turnovers, 1 sack, +7.6 pts/gm average
vs Atl, 7 points, 3 turnovers, 2 sacks, -15.9 pts/gm average
vs NYG, 38 points, 4 turnovers, 3 sacks, +11.7 pts/gm average
vs SF, 13 points, 4 turnovers, 3 sacks, -7.1 pts/gm average
vs Den, 27 points, 1 turnover, 3 sacks, +6.9 pts/gm average

So, in the last 8 games, they average 2.2 sacks per game, 2 turnovers, and giving up 23 points. Below average at best, except the turnovers.

If you subtract the game against Atl (with Redman, no Turner) and San Fran (another awful offense), then in the past 6 games they have given up an average of 27.33 points, they have 9 turnovers (1.33 a game), and they have 13 sacks, about 2.1 a game. Plus, they are giving up a little over 5 points more than these teams averages.

1 turnover, 2 sacks, and giving up 27.33 points a game. Not so good.

On the other hand, our defense has been playing great.

In our past 8 games:
vs Wash, 0 pts, 1 to, 4 sacks, -16.4 average
vs NO, 17 points, 3 to, 4 sacks, -16.3 ave
vs SD, 20 points, 1 to, 1 sack, -8.7 ave
vs NYG 31 points, 2 TO, 1 sack, +4.7 ave
vs OAK 7 points, 1 TO, 3 sacks, -5.3 ave
vs Wash 6 pts, 1 TO, 1 sack, -10.4 ave
vs GB, 17 pts, 0 TO, 4 sacks, -11.5 ave
vs PHI, 17 pts, 2 TO, 3 sacks, -11.6 ave.

We are averaging 2.6 sacks, 1.3 TO, and 14.35 pts/game, with an average of -9.3 pts/game less than the opposing team's average.

To be fair, we can count out the bad offenses (Wash x's 2 and Oak) and then add Atlanta to make it 6 games, too.

Our D gets better in most scenarios here. We go up in points (20.5 pts/game) but we average 2.9 sacks/game and 1.9 turnovers.

That also includes playing the top 4 scoring offenses and five of the top eight. Philly has only played SD (#2) and the Giants (#8).

If defense still matters, we have a big edge.

 

[NeonNinja]

You can beat their corners with double moves all game long, they constantly peak into the backfield and jump short routes.

 

[lspain1]

This is a good post ejthedj and illusrates we CAN beat this Eagles team. I really think our defense will show up. That said, I worry about our offense that has sometimes been stymied this season. Will Romo play well? We'll see.

 

[Biggems]

the middle of this D is uncharacteristically soft.

We need to attack the middle with our running game, crossing routes and slants with our WRs, and Witten.

when Tony is feeling the pressure, he needs to hit the open lanes with feet ablazing.

we need to be able to read the blitzes so that Romo can attack those areas with quick passes.

 

[Biggems]

as far as our D goes......keep Jackson in front of them and cover the screen passes. We do this and we should be fine.

 

[Biggems]

This is a good post ejthedj and illusrates we CAN beat this Eagles team. I really think our defense will show up. That said, I worry about our offense that has sometimes been stymied this season. Will Romo play well? We'll see.

i believe the 20-16 victory at the Linc is an even bigger illustration that we CAN beat the Eagles.

 

[Deep_South]

i believe the 20-16 victory at the Linc is an even bigger illustration that we CAN beat the Eagles.

I don't think this even happened since none of the media pundits are talking about it. Now, the 44-6 lost that happened LAST YEAR gets mentioned daily.

 

[Manster54]

You can beat their corners with double moves all game long, they constantly peak into the backfield and jump short routes.

IF the quarterback has time to let the pattern develop...

 

[ejthedj]

I'm saying it: Eagles D is way overrated!

 

[Bizwah]

I've always said the Philly defense is greater than the sum of its parts.

They aren't nearly as talented as they're made out to be.....but they scheme very, very well.

They'll have a specific plan for Romo and Co. They'll know our tendencies and formations.

We have to be ready to counter their counter.

I'm confident in our team. I think they're very good. But we just seem to be out-coached, out hustled, and out-played in our second games with the Eagles.

 

[ejthedj]

I've always said the Philly defense is greater than the sum of its parts.

They aren't nearly as talented as they're made out to be.....but they scheme very, very well.

They'll have a specific plan for Romo and Co. They'll know our tendencies and formations.

We have to be ready to counter their counter.

I'm confident in our team. I think they're very good. But we just seem to be out-coached, out hustled, and out-played in our second games with the Eagles.

No Philly used to have a defense greater than the sum of their parts. My point is this year, esp the second half, they are not very good.

If we don't turn the ball over, we win.

 

[Zman5]

Too be fair, I've also heard some pundits say we have edge on defense and they have edge on offense which I tend to agree.

 

[jobberone]

How we handle the pressure will make the difference. That and our red zone offense and short yardage offense. The D will take care of things if the O does its job and we don't turn the ball over too much.

 

[Don Corleone]

Too be fair, I've also heard some pundits say we have edge on defense and they have edge on offense which I tend to agree.

...and that's what the game will boil down to. I like our defense at home to rise to the occassion.

No team sans the Giants has been able to put up ridiculous points on our defense.

 

[amuze]

Umm, we already beat this Eagles team IN Philly. We got this. The December jinx is in the past and nobody, not even BSPN, is talking about that anymore.

Looking forward to a home playoff game. Going to be GREAT for my sports bar since I'm 1.5 miles from the stadium. Go COWBOYS!

 

[ejthedj]

Umm, we already beat this Eagles team IN Philly. We got this. The December jinx is in the past and nobody, not even BSPN, is talking about that anymore.

Looking forward to a home playoff game. Going to be GREAT for my sports bar since I'm 1.5 miles from the stadium. Go COWBOYS!

I'm not guaranteeing or predicting a win. Just a place where we have a huge advantage

 

[sonnyboy]

No Philly used to have a defense greater than the sum of their parts. My point is this year, esp the second half, they are not very good.

If we don't turn the ball over, we win.

You beat me to it.
I've often expressed this opinion of the eagles defense under Jim Johnson.

Johnson was so good at understanding/breaking down the opposing offense's protection scheme.

Everything they did started with pressure. They blitzed and stunted to create pressure better than any defense I can remember with fewer players actually rushing the passer.
They'd get more rushers free and more rushers in advantageous match-ups than anyone I can remember.

McDermott hasn't been nearly as effective.

 

[Deep_South]

The Cowboys are 3 point favorites which means the mediots should all have their life savings on the game.

 

[Eskimo]

You can beat their corners with double moves all game long, they constantly peak into the backfield and jump short routes.

I think I've seen Roy do that all of once this year. Miles beat Brown and the safety on a double move back in the first game and that was a thing of beauty. I do think Crayton and Miles are better at this than Roy. I think Ogletree is, too. I do wonder if he plays a bigger role here as he did get those two bubble screens against the Eagles in the last game.

 

[CCBoy]

Thanks for a nicely reasoned opening post...

I know, unless one writes a min-series to appear in a halfweek run, one can't cover all aspects that can come to mind in discussion of affecting aspects.

It is revealing as general indicators of effect, and your research did a good job at identification of tendencies in the Philadelphia defense.

That in combination with game changing events, the Philadelphia defense has been successful in securing a win in most games, is cause additionally.

This might also indicate that although some of the 'bling' has been overcome
by talent behind it's line of scrimmage. This may not remove the very real and relevant strength presented in your opening post.

The affect that sacks/pressure and turnovers have on opponents to score ENOUGH to overccome the Eagle's ability to score as well, IS significant.

DON'T turnover the ball, and FORCE the Eagle offense to travel the length of the field WITHOUT large plays, discounts the very strengths of the Eagle team.