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That was mainly Sims.
Eagles Stuff...
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Eagles are a new look for Cowboys
October, 16, 2013
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- For more than a decade, the Dallas Cowboys knew what they were going to get from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Andy Reid was the head coach. They ran a West Coast offense and they were a pressure-happy, 4-3 defense.
That has all changed with Chip Kelly running the Eagles' show with his high-tempo offense from Oregon, and they now run a 3-4 scheme on defense.
The Cowboys get their first up-close look at the Eagles Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
“It is a little different,” coach Jason Garrett said. “Typically you would know your division opponents a little bit more. It feels a little more like another kind of game, a conference game or a game with an AFC team.”
In the offseason the Cowboys studied Oregon, but they have four preseason games and six regular-season games to get a feel for what Kelly likes to do with the Eagles.
“I think you see a lot of things you saw at the college level, but I think there have been some adjustments they've made as well,” Garrett said. “The field is different in the NFL. The hashmarks make a difference. In college football you have a wide side of the field you have to contend with. In the NFL not quite as much. But you see a lot of the same formation he used in college and a lot of the same schemes, particularly in the running game.”
October, 16, 2013
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- For more than a decade, the Dallas Cowboys knew what they were going to get from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Andy Reid was the head coach. They ran a West Coast offense and they were a pressure-happy, 4-3 defense.
That has all changed with Chip Kelly running the Eagles' show with his high-tempo offense from Oregon, and they now run a 3-4 scheme on defense.
The Cowboys get their first up-close look at the Eagles Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
“It is a little different,” coach Jason Garrett said. “Typically you would know your division opponents a little bit more. It feels a little more like another kind of game, a conference game or a game with an AFC team.”
In the offseason the Cowboys studied Oregon, but they have four preseason games and six regular-season games to get a feel for what Kelly likes to do with the Eagles.
“I think you see a lot of things you saw at the college level, but I think there have been some adjustments they've made as well,” Garrett said. “The field is different in the NFL. The hashmarks make a difference. In college football you have a wide side of the field you have to contend with. In the NFL not quite as much. But you see a lot of the same formation he used in college and a lot of the same schemes, particularly in the running game.”
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He is also putting up elite DT numbers so far this season. He already has 5 sacks, a forced fumble, and 3 tackles for loss. When you play like an elite player you have the ability to also step up as a team leader.
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Broaddus: Eagles Defense Brings Lots Of Different Looks
Posted 2 hours ago
Bryan Broaddus Football Analyst/Scout
There was once a time in this league where you had to deal with Jim Johnson and his attacking Philadelphia Eagles 4-3 scheme.
Johnson was a master of putting all kinds of pressure on an offense, but he is no longer with us and longtime coach Andy Reid has moved on to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Eagles under Chip Kelly are now a 3 – 4 scheme – one that is a very active group up front. There is a great deal of movement on the front, with several different looks in the way they position their players.
The idea is not to give you the same look consistently. The linebackers are aggressive in the way they attack the line, and you will see snaps where the safety is down to help in the running game or in coverage.
Defensive Line
Isaac Sopoaga anchors the nose and can be a hard guy to move one-on-one. Where Sopoaga can also cause problems is he is not one of those nose men that sit down and try to take up space. You will see him work wide to the tackle box and get in on plays to the edge. Their best defensive lineman, in my opinion, is Fletcher Cox who lines up at end.
When Cox was drafted out of Mississippi State, I thought he would be outstanding as a 3-4 defensive end. But in his rookie season, they played him as a tackle. This is a much better fit for him, and he is playing at a much higher level. He is extremely long and powerful. When on the move, he can cause some issues. When he gets a step, he can push inside, get his arms up and affect the flight of the ball. He is solid in the running game, as well. He is not one of those guys that just gets washed out of the play. He has the anchor to hold things down and stack blockers.
Linebackers
The linebackers on this defense are aggressive and active. Connor Barwin is their best rush man and when they get in the nickel, he is going to put his hand on the ground and get up the field. Defensive coordinator Billy Davis likes to line him up in different spots to take advantage of his ability to create problems. He is very effective when he is used in the twist games to get a pass rush.
Mychal Kendricks and DeMeco Ryans play on the inside and do a great job of rallying to the ball. Kendricks is interesting to me because I don’t think he has ideal height, but he is fearless in the way he attacks the offensive scheme. He has a really nice feel of where he fits, and when the ball comes at him, he can make the wrap up tackle.
Where these Cowboys offensive linemen have to be careful is in the way they handle Kendricks because of the way he runs. If you think he is going to be in a spot when the ball is snapped, you are wrong. He is not one of those defensive players that is killing grass just standing around.
DeMeco Ryans is a very similar player to Kendricks, but I always viewed him as a better player in a 4 – 3 scheme than 3 – 4 because there are times where he does get hooked up on blocks. He has nice awareness and lateral quickness, but getting off blocks is not one of his best strengths.
Defensive Backs
The secondary is where the Eagles have had their biggest issues. If I am Jason Garrett and Bill Callahan, I am very aggressive in the way they attack this group. Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher are the corners with Nate Allen and Patrick Chung as the safeties.
When they go to their nickel package, Brandon Boykin comes into the game and plays the slot. In the games I was able to study, I thought this was a group that played with some softness and overall was not the best tackling secondary that the Cowboys have faced this season.
I just do not see a group that really wants to make hits -- Cary Williams and Nate Allen tend to go low as tacklers. Bradley Fletcher will play press coverage, but I did not see him get physical with his jam or re-route.
The Giants took several shots down the field with Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, and they had some successes that went right through the Philadelphia coverage.
Receivers will be able to get inside on them and run routes without any problems. They will use the safety blitz when lined up in the box, and they will also combo routes with the corners and safeties. On the goal line, Cary Williams was beaten on the fade by Vincent Jackson of the Buccaneers, just because he wasn’t very physical.
This Cowboys offense will need to be ready for movement up front from the defensive line, along with the linebackers trying to be disruptive as well, with an occasional safety blitz to try and cause problems.
There will be opportunities to run the ball if you catch them moving the front, then secure the linebackers. But when throwing the ball, if the protection is accounted for, there are some plays to be made on a secondary that has had its issues with coverage and has been soft.
Posted 2 hours ago
Bryan Broaddus Football Analyst/Scout
There was once a time in this league where you had to deal with Jim Johnson and his attacking Philadelphia Eagles 4-3 scheme.
Johnson was a master of putting all kinds of pressure on an offense, but he is no longer with us and longtime coach Andy Reid has moved on to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Eagles under Chip Kelly are now a 3 – 4 scheme – one that is a very active group up front. There is a great deal of movement on the front, with several different looks in the way they position their players.
The idea is not to give you the same look consistently. The linebackers are aggressive in the way they attack the line, and you will see snaps where the safety is down to help in the running game or in coverage.
Defensive Line
Isaac Sopoaga anchors the nose and can be a hard guy to move one-on-one. Where Sopoaga can also cause problems is he is not one of those nose men that sit down and try to take up space. You will see him work wide to the tackle box and get in on plays to the edge. Their best defensive lineman, in my opinion, is Fletcher Cox who lines up at end.
When Cox was drafted out of Mississippi State, I thought he would be outstanding as a 3-4 defensive end. But in his rookie season, they played him as a tackle. This is a much better fit for him, and he is playing at a much higher level. He is extremely long and powerful. When on the move, he can cause some issues. When he gets a step, he can push inside, get his arms up and affect the flight of the ball. He is solid in the running game, as well. He is not one of those guys that just gets washed out of the play. He has the anchor to hold things down and stack blockers.
Linebackers
The linebackers on this defense are aggressive and active. Connor Barwin is their best rush man and when they get in the nickel, he is going to put his hand on the ground and get up the field. Defensive coordinator Billy Davis likes to line him up in different spots to take advantage of his ability to create problems. He is very effective when he is used in the twist games to get a pass rush.
Mychal Kendricks and DeMeco Ryans play on the inside and do a great job of rallying to the ball. Kendricks is interesting to me because I don’t think he has ideal height, but he is fearless in the way he attacks the offensive scheme. He has a really nice feel of where he fits, and when the ball comes at him, he can make the wrap up tackle.
Where these Cowboys offensive linemen have to be careful is in the way they handle Kendricks because of the way he runs. If you think he is going to be in a spot when the ball is snapped, you are wrong. He is not one of those defensive players that is killing grass just standing around.
DeMeco Ryans is a very similar player to Kendricks, but I always viewed him as a better player in a 4 – 3 scheme than 3 – 4 because there are times where he does get hooked up on blocks. He has nice awareness and lateral quickness, but getting off blocks is not one of his best strengths.
Defensive Backs
The secondary is where the Eagles have had their biggest issues. If I am Jason Garrett and Bill Callahan, I am very aggressive in the way they attack this group. Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher are the corners with Nate Allen and Patrick Chung as the safeties.
When they go to their nickel package, Brandon Boykin comes into the game and plays the slot. In the games I was able to study, I thought this was a group that played with some softness and overall was not the best tackling secondary that the Cowboys have faced this season.
I just do not see a group that really wants to make hits -- Cary Williams and Nate Allen tend to go low as tacklers. Bradley Fletcher will play press coverage, but I did not see him get physical with his jam or re-route.
The Giants took several shots down the field with Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, and they had some successes that went right through the Philadelphia coverage.
Receivers will be able to get inside on them and run routes without any problems. They will use the safety blitz when lined up in the box, and they will also combo routes with the corners and safeties. On the goal line, Cary Williams was beaten on the fade by Vincent Jackson of the Buccaneers, just because he wasn’t very physical.
This Cowboys offense will need to be ready for movement up front from the defensive line, along with the linebackers trying to be disruptive as well, with an occasional safety blitz to try and cause problems.
There will be opportunities to run the ball if you catch them moving the front, then secure the linebackers. But when throwing the ball, if the protection is accounted for, there are some plays to be made on a secondary that has had its issues with coverage and has been soft.
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Broaddus: Eagles Offense Has Old Names In New Roles
Posted 6 hours ago
Bryan Broaddus Football Analyst/Scout
There clearly is a philosophy transition from what we have seen with this current Philadelphia Eagles squad from what they were under Andy Reid. Many of the key players are still in place, but how they are used in the scheme is completely different. It’s an offensive attack that is more wide open formation-wise and, plays are coming off with 16 to 18 seconds still left on the play clock.
Quarterback
Michael Vick was the opening day starter and held the job for Chip Kelly until a hamstring injury knocked him out of the Giants game two weeks ago. Nick Foles took the controls last weekend in Tampa, and he was able to get a victory on the road with an efficient performance.
The way this attack operates between Vick and Foles is night and day. Foles is more interested in beating you with his arm, rather than his legs. Vick is just the opposite, even though he is trying to be more of a passer – which, at times, he has been able to do.
Under Kelly, the Eagles are running a read-option scheme Depending on which games you study, that style, which we saw him run successfully in the college ranks at Oregon, looks better under Vick. Even with Foles in there now, you still see the ball handling, but the threat of the explosive quarterback run is not there.
This is where Vick would break down a defense with his ability to just take off on the play and run 40 yards like he did two weeks ago against the Giants.
Running Back
With no disrespect to DeSean Jackson and the way he plays in this scheme, LeSean McCoy is Philly’s biggest offensive threat.
This offense likes to spread the field out, then attack with their running game and take advantage of the space they are creating. McCoy is the perfect runner for this offense because of his ability to make explosive cuts with the ball in his hands.
Depending on which side of the quarterback he lines up on, he can take the ball in the direction of the blocking or he will just allow the flow to go one way, then he will attack the area where the defenders have left. He can get the ball quickly to the second level and into the secondary.
He is dangerous catching the ball in space off the screen, and Kelly is not afraid to get it to him in this manor at any point on the field. If the Eagles anticipate a blitzh, Kelly will set up the screen to McCoy and just gash the defense with it. I am not sure how Monte Kiffin plans to handle him in this game, but he cannot allow him to take this game over with the big plays that he is capable of making.
Receiver
These defensive players are well aware of what DeSean Jackson brings to this matchup on the outside. Jackson is back to his old tricks as a vertical player in this offense, but Kelly has brought back the college element to his game -- quick screens to maximize his ability to get the ball in space.
If I were these Cowboys defensive coaches, I would consider putting Orlando Scandrick on him the entire game and seeing how that matchup plays out. Scandrick is the only defensive back that has the traits that could handle a steady diet of Jackson.
Riley Cooper is the starter opposite Jackson and he has already had his share of battles with Morris Claiborne. Despite what you might think about Cooper off the field, there is a reason that he is starting here.
There is a great deal of toughness to his game, and like I was talking about Eric Decker a couple of weeks ago, Cooper is the same type of player. No matter where the ball is thrown, he is going to find a way to come down with it. He can run vertical routes, he can work underneath, he blocks -- there are several things on the field that he does well. He is sneaky-fast and his size makes him tough to fight for those contested balls.
Tight End
It will be another difficult matchup for the Cowboys linebackers and safeties in having to figure out a way to handle these Eagles tight ends.
Veteran Brent Celek has always been a thorn in the side of Dallas since he came into the league in 2007. He still has the ability to get down the field, find a soft spot in the defense and make a clutch catch.
Zach Ertz is a rookie out of Stanford, and some of those traits that he had in college like outstanding hands and route running he carried with him. What has been really impressive about Ertz has been his ability to adjust to the balls that are less than perfect. He will put himself in some awkward positions to make sure he secures the ball.
Offensive Line
In 2012, the Philadelphia Eagles had one of the worst offensive lines in the league, largely due to injuries, but there were some questions about the skill level as well.
The front office went out and addressed those issues by drafting Lane Johnson out of Oklahoma in the first round of last spring’s draft. Johnson is very athletic but doesn’t have a great deal of strength at this point, and you can see it in his play. His technique and his effort are good, but you do see him give ground both blocking for the run and pass. Johnson has played both as a guard and a tackle this season.
Jason Peters is the starter on the left side at tackle and has been steady there. Evan Mathis is next to him at guard, and, like Peters has been good. Mathis is not the most powerful player, but it’s rare that you see him on the ground. He is a much better pass blocker than run. Their best offensive linemen in my view, is center, Jason Kelce.
When the Eagles are really running the ball with McCoy, it is usually Kelce who is either making a nice reach block or getting to the second level to handle a linebacker. Like Mathis, he does a really nice job of playing on his feet and sustaining his block.
Posted 6 hours ago
Bryan Broaddus Football Analyst/Scout
There clearly is a philosophy transition from what we have seen with this current Philadelphia Eagles squad from what they were under Andy Reid. Many of the key players are still in place, but how they are used in the scheme is completely different. It’s an offensive attack that is more wide open formation-wise and, plays are coming off with 16 to 18 seconds still left on the play clock.
Quarterback
Michael Vick was the opening day starter and held the job for Chip Kelly until a hamstring injury knocked him out of the Giants game two weeks ago. Nick Foles took the controls last weekend in Tampa, and he was able to get a victory on the road with an efficient performance.
The way this attack operates between Vick and Foles is night and day. Foles is more interested in beating you with his arm, rather than his legs. Vick is just the opposite, even though he is trying to be more of a passer – which, at times, he has been able to do.
Under Kelly, the Eagles are running a read-option scheme Depending on which games you study, that style, which we saw him run successfully in the college ranks at Oregon, looks better under Vick. Even with Foles in there now, you still see the ball handling, but the threat of the explosive quarterback run is not there.
This is where Vick would break down a defense with his ability to just take off on the play and run 40 yards like he did two weeks ago against the Giants.
Running Back
With no disrespect to DeSean Jackson and the way he plays in this scheme, LeSean McCoy is Philly’s biggest offensive threat.
This offense likes to spread the field out, then attack with their running game and take advantage of the space they are creating. McCoy is the perfect runner for this offense because of his ability to make explosive cuts with the ball in his hands.
Depending on which side of the quarterback he lines up on, he can take the ball in the direction of the blocking or he will just allow the flow to go one way, then he will attack the area where the defenders have left. He can get the ball quickly to the second level and into the secondary.
He is dangerous catching the ball in space off the screen, and Kelly is not afraid to get it to him in this manor at any point on the field. If the Eagles anticipate a blitzh, Kelly will set up the screen to McCoy and just gash the defense with it. I am not sure how Monte Kiffin plans to handle him in this game, but he cannot allow him to take this game over with the big plays that he is capable of making.
Receiver
These defensive players are well aware of what DeSean Jackson brings to this matchup on the outside. Jackson is back to his old tricks as a vertical player in this offense, but Kelly has brought back the college element to his game -- quick screens to maximize his ability to get the ball in space.
If I were these Cowboys defensive coaches, I would consider putting Orlando Scandrick on him the entire game and seeing how that matchup plays out. Scandrick is the only defensive back that has the traits that could handle a steady diet of Jackson.
Riley Cooper is the starter opposite Jackson and he has already had his share of battles with Morris Claiborne. Despite what you might think about Cooper off the field, there is a reason that he is starting here.
There is a great deal of toughness to his game, and like I was talking about Eric Decker a couple of weeks ago, Cooper is the same type of player. No matter where the ball is thrown, he is going to find a way to come down with it. He can run vertical routes, he can work underneath, he blocks -- there are several things on the field that he does well. He is sneaky-fast and his size makes him tough to fight for those contested balls.
Tight End
It will be another difficult matchup for the Cowboys linebackers and safeties in having to figure out a way to handle these Eagles tight ends.
Veteran Brent Celek has always been a thorn in the side of Dallas since he came into the league in 2007. He still has the ability to get down the field, find a soft spot in the defense and make a clutch catch.
Zach Ertz is a rookie out of Stanford, and some of those traits that he had in college like outstanding hands and route running he carried with him. What has been really impressive about Ertz has been his ability to adjust to the balls that are less than perfect. He will put himself in some awkward positions to make sure he secures the ball.
Offensive Line
In 2012, the Philadelphia Eagles had one of the worst offensive lines in the league, largely due to injuries, but there were some questions about the skill level as well.
The front office went out and addressed those issues by drafting Lane Johnson out of Oklahoma in the first round of last spring’s draft. Johnson is very athletic but doesn’t have a great deal of strength at this point, and you can see it in his play. His technique and his effort are good, but you do see him give ground both blocking for the run and pass. Johnson has played both as a guard and a tackle this season.
Jason Peters is the starter on the left side at tackle and has been steady there. Evan Mathis is next to him at guard, and, like Peters has been good. Mathis is not the most powerful player, but it’s rare that you see him on the ground. He is a much better pass blocker than run. Their best offensive linemen in my view, is center, Jason Kelce.
When the Eagles are really running the ball with McCoy, it is usually Kelce who is either making a nice reach block or getting to the second level to handle a linebacker. Like Mathis, he does a really nice job of playing on his feet and sustaining his block.
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Is Kelly-Kiffin history relevant for Sunday?
October, 17, 2013
By Tim MacMahon | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas – The most attractive thing to Chip Kelly about the Philadelphia Eagles job might have been the chance to face Monte Kiffin’s defense twice a year.
That’s just a joke. Kelly made a point to say he has the “utmost respect” for Kiffin, theDallas Cowboys’ 73-year-old defensive coordinator, who had a heck of a track record in Tampa before his stint on his son’s staffs at the college level.
But could you blame Kelly for wanting to see as much of Kiffin as possible? Just look at the stats from the three times they faced each other in Oregon-USC games:
Is any of this relevant to Sunday’s Cowboys-Eagles game?
Kiffin said he wasn’t too sure, although he had high praise for Kelly's coaching ability. Kelly downplayed it, diplomatically, pointing out that he never saw anyone like Sean Lee while studying the USC defense the last few years.
“Football is a players’ game,” Kelly said. “I was fortunate when I was at Oregon to have just some outstanding players.”
Of course, the Oregon offenses didn’t feature LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson, either. Those Philly playmakers rank first in the NFL in rushing yards and second in receiving yards, respectively, this season.
Kelly added that another reason he doesn’t “draw that much parallel” is that Kiffin’s USC and Dallas defenses have significant schematic differences. The Cowboys don’t play nearly as much traditional Tampa 2 as Kiffin did with the Trojans.
On the other hand, Kiffin sees a scheme that is frighteningly familiar when he watches Kelly’s Philadelphia offense, which ranks third in the NFL with 449.8 yards per game. The Eagles aren't likely to have much of a quarterback run-game element with Nick Folesreplacing the injured Michael Vick, but that fell well down Kiffin’s list of problems with the Ducks the last few years.
“He didn’t change a whole lot,” said Kiffin, who quickly shot down a suggestion that the narrower hashmarks in the NFL adversely affects Kelly’s scheme. “He said it the other day in the paper: He’s going to run his offense. He doesn’t care what you’re doing on defense. That’s what he does. That’s why he’s a good coach.”
Asked why Kelly had so much success against him at the college level, Kiffin didn’t delve into any X’s and O’s. He couldn’t have offered a much less complicated explanation.
“They just did a good job,” Kiffin said. “Hopefully, we come out and play better, that’s for sure.”
For better or worse, Kiffin will only have to wait a couple of months for a rematch with Kelly, now that they’re coaching NFC East rivals.
October, 17, 2013
By Tim MacMahon | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas – The most attractive thing to Chip Kelly about the Philadelphia Eagles job might have been the chance to face Monte Kiffin’s defense twice a year.
That’s just a joke. Kelly made a point to say he has the “utmost respect” for Kiffin, theDallas Cowboys’ 73-year-old defensive coordinator, who had a heck of a track record in Tampa before his stint on his son’s staffs at the college level.
But could you blame Kelly for wanting to see as much of Kiffin as possible? Just look at the stats from the three times they faced each other in Oregon-USC games:
- Oregon averaged 50 points and 601 yards in the three games, capped by a 62-point, 730-yard performance last season. USC did beat Kelly’s Ducks in 2011, managing to hold Oregon to only 35 points and 474 yards.
- The Ducks averaged 285.6 yards on 68.9 percent passing in the three games. Oregon threw for nine touchdowns against Kiffin’s USC defenses, including four in each of the wins. Then-freshman Marcus Mariota threw for 304 yards on 20-of-23 passing in last season’s Oregon-USC shootout.
- Oregon averaged 315.3 yards on the ground and ran for 11 touchdowns against Kiffin’s USC defenses, gaining more than 6 yards per carry. Kenjon Barner trampled the Trojans for 321 yards and five scores on 38 carries last season.
Is any of this relevant to Sunday’s Cowboys-Eagles game?
Kiffin said he wasn’t too sure, although he had high praise for Kelly's coaching ability. Kelly downplayed it, diplomatically, pointing out that he never saw anyone like Sean Lee while studying the USC defense the last few years.
“Football is a players’ game,” Kelly said. “I was fortunate when I was at Oregon to have just some outstanding players.”
Of course, the Oregon offenses didn’t feature LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson, either. Those Philly playmakers rank first in the NFL in rushing yards and second in receiving yards, respectively, this season.
Kelly added that another reason he doesn’t “draw that much parallel” is that Kiffin’s USC and Dallas defenses have significant schematic differences. The Cowboys don’t play nearly as much traditional Tampa 2 as Kiffin did with the Trojans.
On the other hand, Kiffin sees a scheme that is frighteningly familiar when he watches Kelly’s Philadelphia offense, which ranks third in the NFL with 449.8 yards per game. The Eagles aren't likely to have much of a quarterback run-game element with Nick Folesreplacing the injured Michael Vick, but that fell well down Kiffin’s list of problems with the Ducks the last few years.
“He didn’t change a whole lot,” said Kiffin, who quickly shot down a suggestion that the narrower hashmarks in the NFL adversely affects Kelly’s scheme. “He said it the other day in the paper: He’s going to run his offense. He doesn’t care what you’re doing on defense. That’s what he does. That’s why he’s a good coach.”
Asked why Kelly had so much success against him at the college level, Kiffin didn’t delve into any X’s and O’s. He couldn’t have offered a much less complicated explanation.
“They just did a good job,” Kiffin said. “Hopefully, we come out and play better, that’s for sure.”
For better or worse, Kiffin will only have to wait a couple of months for a rematch with Kelly, now that they’re coaching NFC East rivals.
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I'm very worried about our DBs in this matchup.
Everyone knows the pattern with this team. You tell the players they are playing well, they play poorly the falling week and vice versa.
Well this week the DBs have been receiving a lot of praise.
As far as covering Desean Jackson is concerned. I'd use bracket coverage on him all day and make the other receivers beat me.
Everyone knows the pattern with this team. You tell the players they are playing well, they play poorly the falling week and vice versa.
Well this week the DBs have been receiving a lot of praise.
As far as covering Desean Jackson is concerned. I'd use bracket coverage on him all day and make the other receivers beat me.
D
Deuce
Guest
Any one of those matchups could get exposed. Cooper will catch jump balls all day over Scandrick, McCoy will make any player on the field his bitch and I don't trust any help over the top to stop Jackson.
Simpleton
DCC 4Life
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Yea, exactly, I don't see how this juggernaut offense can be stopped.
If we had a halfway healthy/decent DL I wouldn't expect them to score more than 17-20.
D
Deuce
Guest
If it were for Foles and their OL, they do have matchup nightmares. Considering our pass rush is non-existant for long periods of time, I am concerned.
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Foles might be the best QB I have seen since Charlie Frye.
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Kiffin Sees A Lot Of The Same When Watching Kelly In NFL
Posted 23 minutes ago
Rowan Kavner
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas – Eagles head coach Chip Kelly and Cowboys defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin should know each other’s tendencies well, even if they have different viewpoints on how those tendencies have translated to the NFL.
Kiffin and Kelly faced off three times while Kiffin coached the defense at USC and Kelly was the head coach at Oregon. The Ducks won two out of three of those matchups, with Oregon’s highly touted offense putting up 62 points and 730 total yards of offense in 2012 against the Trojans.
“Chip Kelly’s the best,” Kiffin said. “He really is. Some coaches talk a lot but they don’t put it on tape. Coach Kelly puts it on tape. They know what they’re doing, I don’t care if it’s high school, college or pro.”
After starting 1-3, the Eagles are now tied for first in the division with the Cowboys and boast the No. 1 rushing offense, No. 3 total offense and No. 4 scoring offense in the league.
Kiffin doesn’t see much of a difference in how Kelly’s running his fast-paced offense now compared to how he ran it at Oregon. He said he’s still seen Kelly run the spread option and sees a lot of similarities in the passing game and the way he attacks. Obviously, the running attack is more explosive with Michael Vick than Nick Foles, but Kiffin still sees a similar system.
“He didn’t change a whole lot,” Kiffin said. “He said it the other day in the paper, he’s going to run his offense. He doesn’t care what you’re doing on defense, and that’s what he does. That’s why he’s good.”
While Kiffin’s seen a lot of the same, Kelly offers a different viewpoint on what he’s viewed of Kiffin’s defense from college to the NFL.
"I've got the utmost respect for Monte, in terms of him as a football coach,” Kelly said. “It's been just unbelievable just to compete against him. But when you turn the tape on of what he's doing in Dallas, it's different than what he was doing at S.C., and so I don't draw much parallel from the opportunity when we were both at the college level to compete against each other.”
Both coaches noted how the personnel changes are significant now, but Kelly was more emphatic about the differences between the two levels. The Eagles’ head coach said there hasn’t been much studying of USC tape.
If there’s no parallel between the two, that’s probably a good thing for the Cowboys. In the 62-51 loss for the Trojans and Kiffin last year, Oregon passed for four touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing for 426 yards. The Trojans did get the best of the Ducks the year prior, however, holding Oregon to 35 points in a win.
“Hopefully, we come out and play better, that’s for sure,” Kiffin said. “The 10-2 year that we had at USC, we were a big underdog up there that year, and they had a home streak going, and we did play (well). We beat him up there, we got him. But he got us two out of three.”
Kiffin has a chance to even that series of the last three years with Kelly this weekend by starting off on the right foot against the former Oregon head coach at the pro level, where Kiffin has much more experience. The defensive coordinator’s preparing his defense for just how quickly the ball will move.
“It’s fast,” said rookie safety J.J. Wilcox. “They snap the ball every 15 seconds. It’s fast, but we have to go in there, know that, expect that. It’s going to be a hard environment.”
Posted 23 minutes ago
Rowan Kavner
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas – Eagles head coach Chip Kelly and Cowboys defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin should know each other’s tendencies well, even if they have different viewpoints on how those tendencies have translated to the NFL.
Kiffin and Kelly faced off three times while Kiffin coached the defense at USC and Kelly was the head coach at Oregon. The Ducks won two out of three of those matchups, with Oregon’s highly touted offense putting up 62 points and 730 total yards of offense in 2012 against the Trojans.
“Chip Kelly’s the best,” Kiffin said. “He really is. Some coaches talk a lot but they don’t put it on tape. Coach Kelly puts it on tape. They know what they’re doing, I don’t care if it’s high school, college or pro.”
After starting 1-3, the Eagles are now tied for first in the division with the Cowboys and boast the No. 1 rushing offense, No. 3 total offense and No. 4 scoring offense in the league.
Kiffin doesn’t see much of a difference in how Kelly’s running his fast-paced offense now compared to how he ran it at Oregon. He said he’s still seen Kelly run the spread option and sees a lot of similarities in the passing game and the way he attacks. Obviously, the running attack is more explosive with Michael Vick than Nick Foles, but Kiffin still sees a similar system.
“He didn’t change a whole lot,” Kiffin said. “He said it the other day in the paper, he’s going to run his offense. He doesn’t care what you’re doing on defense, and that’s what he does. That’s why he’s good.”
While Kiffin’s seen a lot of the same, Kelly offers a different viewpoint on what he’s viewed of Kiffin’s defense from college to the NFL.
"I've got the utmost respect for Monte, in terms of him as a football coach,” Kelly said. “It's been just unbelievable just to compete against him. But when you turn the tape on of what he's doing in Dallas, it's different than what he was doing at S.C., and so I don't draw much parallel from the opportunity when we were both at the college level to compete against each other.”
Both coaches noted how the personnel changes are significant now, but Kelly was more emphatic about the differences between the two levels. The Eagles’ head coach said there hasn’t been much studying of USC tape.
If there’s no parallel between the two, that’s probably a good thing for the Cowboys. In the 62-51 loss for the Trojans and Kiffin last year, Oregon passed for four touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing for 426 yards. The Trojans did get the best of the Ducks the year prior, however, holding Oregon to 35 points in a win.
“Hopefully, we come out and play better, that’s for sure,” Kiffin said. “The 10-2 year that we had at USC, we were a big underdog up there that year, and they had a home streak going, and we did play (well). We beat him up there, we got him. But he got us two out of three.”
Kiffin has a chance to even that series of the last three years with Kelly this weekend by starting off on the right foot against the former Oregon head coach at the pro level, where Kiffin has much more experience. The defensive coordinator’s preparing his defense for just how quickly the ball will move.
“It’s fast,” said rookie safety J.J. Wilcox. “They snap the ball every 15 seconds. It’s fast, but we have to go in there, know that, expect that. It’s going to be a hard environment.”
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Double Coverage: Cowboys at Eagles
October, 17, 2013
By Phil Sheridan and Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
There was a time when the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys both had a good chance of being undefeated going into an October showdown. That time may be long gone, but this meeting between a pair of 3-3 teams still has a lot of cachet.
The winner will have sole possession of first place in the NFC East. With Washington (1-4) and the New York Giants (0-6) already wrecked on the side of the road, this game will establish pole position for the race ahead.
Todd Archer, who covers the Cowboys for ESPN.com's NFL Nation, and Philadelphia counterpart Phil Sheridan discussed some of the big questions going into the game.
Sheridan:DeMarcus Ware and DeMarco Murray -- whether they're out or just limited by injury -- which can the Cowboys least afford to lose and why?
Archer: To me, the easy answer is Ware because they really don't have much of a pass rush without him. The Cowboys can get by without Murray because of Tony Romo and the passing game. Ware has several little injuries this year with a stinger, a back strain, dehydration, getting poked in the eye and now this quad strain. He says he is a fast healer, but I don't think he'll heal fast enough for this week and the Cowboys will have to get by with what Jerry Jones called the "no-names," like George Selvie, Kyle Wilber and Caesar Rayford.
I'll go with the either/or as well: Michael Vick or Nick Foles? If both are healthy, whom does Chip Kelly eventually roll with?
Sheridan: I wish I knew what Chipper is really thinking. Ultimately, I think he has to get an extended look at Foles this season. Vick's injury opened the door, and Foles certainly took a confident stride through it Sunday, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors in Tampa. But part of being a successful NFL quarterback is coming back, week after week, through nagging injuries and fatigue. Kelly has to know whether Foles can do that before this season is over. Combine that with the fact that Foles may actually run the offense more effectively and I think it may be a while before we see Vick again.
Foles had a good day in Tampa. Now he faces the godfather of the Tampa 2. How is Monte Kiffin's defense coming together after six games?
Archer: To be kind, not well. The Cowboys have allowed three 400-yard passers this season. They allowed 216 rushing yards last week against Washington. They likely won't have Ware, so that will hinder the pass rush. The Cowboys aren't really the true Tampa 2 scheme that Kiffin ran so well in Tampa. First off, he doesn't have Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks or John Lynch, but the Cowboys are mixing their coverages a lot more because of their cornerbacks. They paid a lot of money for Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and Orlando Scandrick and have tried to play more man-to-man lately. They were fairly effective against the Redskins, and that helped the pass rush. They'll have to be that effective this week too.
I mentioned the 216 rushing yards, and LeSean McCoy is on the docket for the Dallas D. He's off to a great start and seems to be a perfect fit in this offense. True?
Sheridan: One hundred percent true, although McCoy might be a pretty good fit in any offense that involves a football. Some of the Broncos, who don't see him often, were comparing him to Barry Sanders, and it's not as big a reach as you might think at first. He's quick, he's strong, he changes direction almost magically, and his instincts are remarkable. For a few weeks, the Eagles were piling up rushing yards without getting enough points. Against Tampa Bay, McCoy went for 116 yards and there was a 31 on the scoreboard. That's where the Eagles need to be.
Let's turn to the Dallas offense. Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis said this week what a lot of people think, that Romo is capable of making a big play or a big mistake at any time. How is the franchise quarterback's confidence this year?
Archer: I wonder if Davis has seen Romo play much this year. Maybe he just saw the end of the Broncos game when he had the interception, but Romo has only three picks on the year. One was a busted route by a rookie receiver, and another was a tipped ball. I think his involvement in the game plan really has Romo tuned into the opposing defenses and what they're trying to do. He is not forcing throws (no, I'm not forgetting the late Broncos interception), and he is being more patient than ever. This is his offense in a lot of ways, and he doesn't want to screw it up. That being said, the offense has not performed well in its first two road games, scoring 16 and 14 points against Kansas City and San Diego. In the last two games, the Cowboys have spread it out more, and without Murray this week, I think you'll see more spread looks Sunday.
For so long we've been used to seeing a Jim Johnson-type defense in Philly, but Davis has a different style. What has or hasn't happened so far in the Eagles' move to the 3-4?
Sheridan: It is a process, as Davis and Kelly constantly remind us. It's a tough transition when you have players better suited to a 4-3. It's even tougher with players who aren't suited to any defensive scheme at all. The Eagles seemed to have a few of those while giving up 33 passing touchdowns last year. They made a lot of changes in the secondary, but it has still been vulnerable -- especially on third down. The defense seemed to make progress against the Giants and Bucs, but those are two winless teams. It will be a big deal if the Eagles can continue to make progress against a quarterback like Romo.
The number of home games in a row the Eagles have lost. They lost their last six under Andy Reid in 2012 and their first two under Chip Kelly this season.
Archer: Bryant has carried over his success from the second half of last season to this season, at least in terms of touchdowns. He is a nightmare for cornerbacks in the red zone. He's just too big and physical down there for them to handle. He's almost too physical and might get a pass interference penalty one of these days. But Romo is so confident in him down tight that he'll just throw it up knowing Bryant will get it or nobody else will. What's strange, however, is that Bryant has had three games in which he has averaged less than 10 yards per catch. If teams want to take him out with help, they can. And that's where Austin comes in. He's just not healthy yet but was off to a good start before injuring his hamstring. Rookie Terrance Williams has really caught on lately and helped make up for Austin's absence/lack of production. When he's right, Austin is dangerous in the slot and outside and is a tough matchup.
Let's stick with the receivers. Is DeSean Jackson, well, DeSean Jackson again?
Sheridan: DeSean Jackson is DeSean Jackson, only better. He seems to have matured almost overnight. He says he worked out and added a little muscle mass during the offseason. Not sure whether it's that or Foles or Kelly's offensive approach, but Jackson is suddenly a factor in the red zone. He was always a deep threat but disappeared inside the 20. He has red zone scores in each of the last two games. He'll never be the kind of receiver you described Bryant as being, but he's added a better understanding of the game to his gift of speed.
Both teams are 3-3. It's not exactly the 1990s, when they might both be undefeated when they met in October, but this will still decide who is in first place in the NFC East. Do you think the Cowboys have what it takes to knuckle down and win the division in a decidedly down year?
Archer: I think they do, but if there's one thing I've figured out in covering this team, it is to never come to expect anything. They are just too up and down. There's no doubt the NFC East is down, but the prevailing wisdom is that the Cowboys are infinitely more talented than every other team in the division, so they should run away with it. I don't know about that. They're good at the top but not so much in the middle and bottom. They have a ton of questions on defense. They can't afford injuries. They might have the best chance to win the NFC East, but it's not a lock. This game, to me, is huge. If they can get to 3-0 in the division, it gets a little easier. If they lose, they're riding that 8-8 bus again.
Is Kelly in this for the long haul?
Sheridan: Here's another case where I wish I knew what was going on inside Kelly's head. He's good at talking about football, what he's trying to do and why. He doesn't entertain any questions that appear to be probing into his personal life or his feelings about anything. I think he's learned the NFL is difficult in different ways from the college game. Whether he enjoys being out of his comfort zone and sees it as a challenge to excel at this level or whether he can't wait to get back to a college gig, I have no idea. He just doesn't share that kind of thing. I can say that neither extreme would surprise me. More to the point, I think he can be a very good NFL coach. His offense certainly works in the league.
October, 17, 2013
By Phil Sheridan and Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
There was a time when the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys both had a good chance of being undefeated going into an October showdown. That time may be long gone, but this meeting between a pair of 3-3 teams still has a lot of cachet.
The winner will have sole possession of first place in the NFC East. With Washington (1-4) and the New York Giants (0-6) already wrecked on the side of the road, this game will establish pole position for the race ahead.
Todd Archer, who covers the Cowboys for ESPN.com's NFL Nation, and Philadelphia counterpart Phil Sheridan discussed some of the big questions going into the game.
Sheridan:DeMarcus Ware and DeMarco Murray -- whether they're out or just limited by injury -- which can the Cowboys least afford to lose and why?
Archer: To me, the easy answer is Ware because they really don't have much of a pass rush without him. The Cowboys can get by without Murray because of Tony Romo and the passing game. Ware has several little injuries this year with a stinger, a back strain, dehydration, getting poked in the eye and now this quad strain. He says he is a fast healer, but I don't think he'll heal fast enough for this week and the Cowboys will have to get by with what Jerry Jones called the "no-names," like George Selvie, Kyle Wilber and Caesar Rayford.
I'll go with the either/or as well: Michael Vick or Nick Foles? If both are healthy, whom does Chip Kelly eventually roll with?
Sheridan: I wish I knew what Chipper is really thinking. Ultimately, I think he has to get an extended look at Foles this season. Vick's injury opened the door, and Foles certainly took a confident stride through it Sunday, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors in Tampa. But part of being a successful NFL quarterback is coming back, week after week, through nagging injuries and fatigue. Kelly has to know whether Foles can do that before this season is over. Combine that with the fact that Foles may actually run the offense more effectively and I think it may be a while before we see Vick again.
Foles had a good day in Tampa. Now he faces the godfather of the Tampa 2. How is Monte Kiffin's defense coming together after six games?
Archer: To be kind, not well. The Cowboys have allowed three 400-yard passers this season. They allowed 216 rushing yards last week against Washington. They likely won't have Ware, so that will hinder the pass rush. The Cowboys aren't really the true Tampa 2 scheme that Kiffin ran so well in Tampa. First off, he doesn't have Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks or John Lynch, but the Cowboys are mixing their coverages a lot more because of their cornerbacks. They paid a lot of money for Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and Orlando Scandrick and have tried to play more man-to-man lately. They were fairly effective against the Redskins, and that helped the pass rush. They'll have to be that effective this week too.
I mentioned the 216 rushing yards, and LeSean McCoy is on the docket for the Dallas D. He's off to a great start and seems to be a perfect fit in this offense. True?
Sheridan: One hundred percent true, although McCoy might be a pretty good fit in any offense that involves a football. Some of the Broncos, who don't see him often, were comparing him to Barry Sanders, and it's not as big a reach as you might think at first. He's quick, he's strong, he changes direction almost magically, and his instincts are remarkable. For a few weeks, the Eagles were piling up rushing yards without getting enough points. Against Tampa Bay, McCoy went for 116 yards and there was a 31 on the scoreboard. That's where the Eagles need to be.
Let's turn to the Dallas offense. Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis said this week what a lot of people think, that Romo is capable of making a big play or a big mistake at any time. How is the franchise quarterback's confidence this year?
Archer: I wonder if Davis has seen Romo play much this year. Maybe he just saw the end of the Broncos game when he had the interception, but Romo has only three picks on the year. One was a busted route by a rookie receiver, and another was a tipped ball. I think his involvement in the game plan really has Romo tuned into the opposing defenses and what they're trying to do. He is not forcing throws (no, I'm not forgetting the late Broncos interception), and he is being more patient than ever. This is his offense in a lot of ways, and he doesn't want to screw it up. That being said, the offense has not performed well in its first two road games, scoring 16 and 14 points against Kansas City and San Diego. In the last two games, the Cowboys have spread it out more, and without Murray this week, I think you'll see more spread looks Sunday.
For so long we've been used to seeing a Jim Johnson-type defense in Philly, but Davis has a different style. What has or hasn't happened so far in the Eagles' move to the 3-4?
Sheridan: It is a process, as Davis and Kelly constantly remind us. It's a tough transition when you have players better suited to a 4-3. It's even tougher with players who aren't suited to any defensive scheme at all. The Eagles seemed to have a few of those while giving up 33 passing touchdowns last year. They made a lot of changes in the secondary, but it has still been vulnerable -- especially on third down. The defense seemed to make progress against the Giants and Bucs, but those are two winless teams. It will be a big deal if the Eagles can continue to make progress against a quarterback like Romo.
The number of home games in a row the Eagles have lost. They lost their last six under Andy Reid in 2012 and their first two under Chip Kelly this season.
Archer: Bryant has carried over his success from the second half of last season to this season, at least in terms of touchdowns. He is a nightmare for cornerbacks in the red zone. He's just too big and physical down there for them to handle. He's almost too physical and might get a pass interference penalty one of these days. But Romo is so confident in him down tight that he'll just throw it up knowing Bryant will get it or nobody else will. What's strange, however, is that Bryant has had three games in which he has averaged less than 10 yards per catch. If teams want to take him out with help, they can. And that's where Austin comes in. He's just not healthy yet but was off to a good start before injuring his hamstring. Rookie Terrance Williams has really caught on lately and helped make up for Austin's absence/lack of production. When he's right, Austin is dangerous in the slot and outside and is a tough matchup.
Let's stick with the receivers. Is DeSean Jackson, well, DeSean Jackson again?
Sheridan: DeSean Jackson is DeSean Jackson, only better. He seems to have matured almost overnight. He says he worked out and added a little muscle mass during the offseason. Not sure whether it's that or Foles or Kelly's offensive approach, but Jackson is suddenly a factor in the red zone. He was always a deep threat but disappeared inside the 20. He has red zone scores in each of the last two games. He'll never be the kind of receiver you described Bryant as being, but he's added a better understanding of the game to his gift of speed.
Both teams are 3-3. It's not exactly the 1990s, when they might both be undefeated when they met in October, but this will still decide who is in first place in the NFC East. Do you think the Cowboys have what it takes to knuckle down and win the division in a decidedly down year?
Archer: I think they do, but if there's one thing I've figured out in covering this team, it is to never come to expect anything. They are just too up and down. There's no doubt the NFC East is down, but the prevailing wisdom is that the Cowboys are infinitely more talented than every other team in the division, so they should run away with it. I don't know about that. They're good at the top but not so much in the middle and bottom. They have a ton of questions on defense. They can't afford injuries. They might have the best chance to win the NFC East, but it's not a lock. This game, to me, is huge. If they can get to 3-0 in the division, it gets a little easier. If they lose, they're riding that 8-8 bus again.
Is Kelly in this for the long haul?
Sheridan: Here's another case where I wish I knew what was going on inside Kelly's head. He's good at talking about football, what he's trying to do and why. He doesn't entertain any questions that appear to be probing into his personal life or his feelings about anything. I think he's learned the NFL is difficult in different ways from the college game. Whether he enjoys being out of his comfort zone and sees it as a challenge to excel at this level or whether he can't wait to get back to a college gig, I have no idea. He just doesn't share that kind of thing. I can say that neither extreme would surprise me. More to the point, I think he can be a very good NFL coach. His offense certainly works in the league.
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Nope, he has played us twice and lost both times. Both games were in 2012, although admittedly his stats weren't bad in either game.
Genghis Khan
The worst version of myself
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Well their defense sucks so that doesn't help. But their offense has moved the ball a ton this season it just has had problems in the red zone getting TDs. Plus their kicker has missed a few FGs. But that was under Vick. Under Foles they have gotten TDs and put up points. Foles has actually looked very good so far, though admittedly with a small sample size.
Put that together with how much the yokels here will be up for this game and there is little chance we will win if i know the Cowboys. No way we match their intensity.
Genghis Khan
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No, Foles was rookie last year and we swept them.
You are probably thinking of Koy Detmer or AJ Feeley. Or Jeff Garthia.
Smitty
DCC 4Life
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Or Kevin Kolb.No, Foles was rookie last year and we swept them.
You are probably thinking of Koy Detmer or AJ Feeley. Or Jeff Garthia.