There are quite a few questions which concern the Birds defense as they get ready to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars today.
How much of a difference will the presence of Stewart Bradley make in the play of the Eagles run defense?
I don’t think he’s going to make a big difference in the run defense because middle linebackers are dependent upon the guys in front of them. The key will be the play of Eagles defensive tackles, Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley. If the big guys are getting handled, the Birds are going to have trouble with Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jaguars running game.
I don’t think Bradley will get a lot of help from the other linebackers, but he might get it defensive ends Juqua Parker and Trent Cole. I expect to see Parker out there for additional plays this week because rookie Brandon Graham had some problems last week against the running game.
The defensive line will make the difference in the running game, not Bradley.
Will Bradley make a difference in the Eagles pass coverage of the Jaguars tight ends and running backs?
Bradley will line up in the middle and most of the day he’ll have his eyes on Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew or Jaguars tight end Mercedes Lewis. I think he’ll make the Birds defense better against the screens and plays over the middle to the tight end.
Bradley has the height to battle Lewis and he has the agility to cover Jones-Drew. They’ll put the big middle linebacker on either one of these key Jaguars weapons and it will help the Birds turn their pass rush loose on the Jaguars.
Will the Eagles small cornerbacks be able to handle the size of the Jaguars wide receivers?
The Jaguars wide receivers aren’t anything to write home about, but they do have some receivers who are very tall. I think it will give the Birds some trouble because of the way referees like to call interference penalties.
Even if they don’t catch the ball, their height will be a factor because of interference penalties. If I were the Jags I would attack Ellis Hobbs because he will get interference penalties.
Will the Eagles pass rush be able to get to Jaguars quarterback David Gerrard?
The Birds will get to Gerrard if the team’s offense puts some points on the board. The Eagles are a team which is built to play with a lead. If they get a good lead against the Jaguars, the Birds pass rush will get it’s hands on Gerrard.
The LB’s need to be very disciplined in their positioning,
MJD is a cutback runner when he’s at his best, he probably is not 100% of have the burst he had a season or 2 ago, but he’s low to the ground and very strong. The Backside LB’s need to stay at home nad be ready to takle MJD when he cutsback, The DE’s nees to keep their lanes and not go too wide or come in to tight..The Jags have a big OL who are young and prone to penalties and missed assignments,but they are also physical and will smack you in the mouth when they have a chance.. I disagree a bit with G, and think the LB’s will be the key to winning this game and stoppin the Jags Offense.. Though a good perfomance from the DL is critical in keeping MJD in check..
They must get pressure up the middle on passing downs and force Garrard to move around in the pocket which is not his strength, he’s a big,strong target who does not go down easliy so when given the chance, the Eagles D will have to hit him hard and low to get him to the ground..
Not sure if there will be a posting for our picks for this week, so here it goes
Paulman’s Week #3 NFL Picks (Overall record of 16-16 thru 2 weeks)
Giants over Tenneesee (though I am pulling for the Titans)
Pittsurgh over Tamp Bay
Cincinnati over Carolina
Baltimore over Cleveland
SF 49ers over KC Chiefs
Dallas over Houston (though I am pulling for the Texans)
Minnesota over Detroit
New England over Buffalo (lock of the week)
NO Saints over Atlanta
St Louis Rams over Washington (upset of the week)
Oakland over Arizona
San Diego over Seattle
Indinapolis over Denver
NY Jets over Miami
Bears over the Packers
Eagles 24 – Jaguars 16
Enjoy the games
G, please open a game day thread for users to discuss the game as it happens.
one thing for our defense can do is stop being soooo agressive on our blitzes!! Stop rushing 7 or 8 men on 3rd down!! All the qb is going to do is burn us in the flats just like javid best did last week and get a huge gain!! We did so much this off season addressing our front line that maybe mcdermott should let them do the job up front (like the Colts front four) to get pressure!!!!! Trent Cole is a beast and goes hard on every down!! Brandon graham could be our Dwight Freeney on the field let him work!! And Juqua Parker is playing very well he’s solid!!! If daryl tapp is going to contribute anytime soon he can help as well and I like Antwan Barnes, his speed is great and he goes hard 2!!!
Hobbs’ got it started.
You know what, this has nothing to do with the subject..but to all u bums and u know who you are..who said maclin will be the number one this year cuz he is tougher and has better hands because he is bigger..well u know what, u guys are dumb as shit..Maclin is softer than dog shit, and has hands like reggie brown…like i said DeSean is our TRUE
NUMBER ONE RECEIVER….as i sat on here and argued for a week dfending 10
The defense is going to be ok – if they don’t relax like they did last week. The played GB tough – until Bradley went out and shut down Detroit most of the game (until they relaxed). Will be interesting to see them vs 5 next week.
Silencer – I’m not a big fan of Maclin, either. When I see him play, I immediately think of Reggie Brown. There was a lot of mention of Maclin as a superstar, which I questioned, and up to this point, my questions have not been answered.
With that said, I also questioned Vick, but he is clearly light-years better than he was as a Falcon. Someone coached him up. Either McNabb, Reid, someone on Reid’s staff or all of the above. Whomever is responsible for his progress deserves some recognition.
Dixie – The defense didn’t impress me today. They looked good in the opener, until the Bradley injury. Since, then, however, they’ve been mediocre, at best.
Does anyone think we can get a 5th rounder for Kolb?
Just wondering! LOL!!!
All jokes aside, he carries a nice clipboard.
Does anyone still think the D can’t stop the run? Or that Maclin is disappointing? Pman, what were you saying about tappp? Does everyone still think hobbs sucks? Doesn’t laws prove, as justice did, that closing the book too early on a guy can be foolish?
Silence, one other thing. Because of his lack of size, I don’t see Jackson as a No. 1. He’s definitely one of the top receivers in the league and when you add his special teams play, he’s worth a No. 1 pick. However, in my opinion, a No. 1 receiver should be able to go across the middle, as well as go deep I doubt that Jackson could make a living in the middle of the field.
T.O. was a great No. 1. He had size, strength and (deep speed). Because he could break tackles, he was a threat to turn a quick slant into a 90-yard TD , and no one could jam him at the line of scrimmage. If only he had a brain, he’d have been the total package.
We covered the tight end. McDemott might not be so bad eh? And, does anyone see a weakness in Vick right now? All I can say is that he needs to find the right touch on rb dumpoffs n such…
To the maclin haters, the man has scored a TD in every game this season so far, and two during the Jag game and he has taken some manly man hits, so there you go. Some Eagles fans are so quick to pull their daggers out a nd kill a man. LONG LIVE THE EAGLES, and my D.
Good point Schiller, beautiful man. welcome to Getridadelphia. Haaaa peace fellas going to drink some koolaid and enjoy the Jags win before anybody here brings me down.
Hey I was sitting with another Eagle Fan and he was complaining about the game…..uh okay go figure see what I am saying “US EAGLES FANS” can be strange. I said you bro’ we are winning, doing good, so chill out and enjoy. He finally did so thats good.
Pauman’s Stars of the Game Defensively
#1) T Laws – was all over the place making plays and getting penetration on almost every snap
#2) S Bradley – A night and day difference when he’s playing, played a outstanding game
#3) Q Mickell – played his best game in 2 years, great in run support and did a godo job in coverage and tackling
#4) D Tapp – He was agressive,physical and pretty quick to the ball during his play, If he and Laws can play at this high level even on a rotational basis, this bodes very well for this D/Line
#5) A Jordan – played well against the run and in coverage
#6) N Allen – it seems like he’s always in the proper position, has a calm,confidence about his game..
#7) T Cole,B Graham,J Parker – relentless pass rush all game long
#8) D/C – McDermott – had multiple looks, lots of pressure up the middle, some blitzes from the outside by Sims,Allen & Mickell, rotated players in and out and Defense stayed fresh all game in hoy,humid conditions. Great scheme by the Secondary, not many Jaguar WR’s were running open all game, and if they were, QB Garrard did not have time to survey the field to find them..Hobbs and Samuel were solid.
A great all-around game by the entire Defense and their coaches.. Congrats for they took a beating all week by many in the media,posters (inlcuding myself), and bring on the Redksins..
How bout the young stand in for weaver. Consistent pass catching plays for schmidty. As a pitt guy, I hated him in college, but he’s a pretty solid fullback…