The usual crowd of reporters waited patiently at Michael Vick’s locker as the Eagles signal caller and his fellow quarterbacks finished up yet another meeting in preparation for the battle against Redskins on Monday Night football.
In the last game, the Skins were very aware of finding a way to stop Vick from getting the ball deep to DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, while at the same time preventing him from hurting them with his scrambles. They wanted to force him to be patient and settle for completing passes underneath to the running backs or tight ends.
Washington defensive coordinator Jim Haslett jumped into a loose two-deep zone and dared the Eagles to beat them deep. Vick is aware of what they did the last time, so he’ll be ready for that, but he has no idea what they’re going to do this time around.
“In this league, any team can come out and play a different coverage at any given time, and if that’s the way they feel they can stop you or slow you down then that’s what they’re going to do”, Vick said today. “It’s up to you to make adjustments and do things the right way. So, they may play Cover-2, they may play Cover-3 all game—you never know. We’re just preparing for whatever they try to do, and try to have something that we can do to offset what they’re trying to do.”
I could see the Skins playing more two-deep zone, but I think they will mix it up with more man-to-man coverages this time around. I would also expect them to stay in the zone but come with a zone blitz so that they prevent the deep throw but try to force Vick to throw under some intense pressure.
Vick will need to be patient, by taking the short throws, but he also need to go after some intermediate routes to Maclin, Brent Celek and Jason Avant. Those plays were there the last time, but Vick got hurt before he could get to them.
The Eagles lefthander must realize that it won’t be as easy to scramble against the zone. All of the Skins defenders will see him when he breaks the pocket and they’re in a zone.
In the last game, Vick took off through the middle of the Skins defense. He finished the run on the one yard line, but many Eagles fans thought if he had slid he wouldn’t have missed three games during the middle of the season.
Vick doesn’t think sliding is a legitimate option for him.
As in last match-up with the Skins,
The middle of the field in 8-15 yard routes will be open as well as the swing passes and the bubble routes if the Eagles choose to throw them. A big key will the O/Line be able to pass protect well enough that TE CElek and RB McCoy/Schmitt can get out in oassing routes.. If they have to stay in and pass protcet most of the time, then it could be a problem for the Eagle to susatin long drives. McCoy/HArrison running te ball effectively will also be key.. Eagles need a fast start and maybe coming out in a hurry-up,quicker pace will throw the Redskins off a bit and then attack them deep as their Safety’s starting biting up/in
Can’t wait to be at Fed-Ex Field for this game on Monday night…
Mike….stay away from London Fletcher…they guy crushes people!! Ask Westbrook, if he can remember.
Eagles can play with any team in the league
Beat the Falcons Colts and should have won against the Titans and the Skins and the Packers game was close
Barring any more injuries to the O line IMHO Vick’s comment about the Super Bowl was not wrong
The games against the Giants will be the deciding factor
Right on, rcp, the Giants games will be huge
Eagles don’t need to worry about the Giants until they play them, This game vs the Redskins is the biggest game of the Season. If the Eagles don’t beat the Redskins, they will have an improbable chance to make the playoffs period..They would lose any Tie Breakers to the Redskins based on a 0-2 Head to Head record and fall to 3rd place in the NFC East..Eagles need to be at least 4-2 in the NFC East and beat NFC Conference teams (Bears & Vikings) to finish with 11 wins which would land them in the playoffs. At 10-6 record is not a given to make the playoffs since the Giants,Falcons,Packers,Saints will probably have better overall records and the Eagles don’t want to tie with the Bears,Redskins,Bucs where it would come down to Tie-Breakers for it would not favor them.. Beat the teams that you play this week is how they have to approach it for the remainder of the Season..
If the Eagles don’t beat the skins the season is over –They should have no problems with them
The D ought to be able to defend against McNabb and the Skins running game is shot
Erocks top 3 match ups that favor the Birds.
Vick vs. Skins db’s..could see a 300 plus day on these bums…take allota chances and Mikes arm is live right now..and see above…HE’LL BE READY!!
Trent vs. Trent…i like Trent over any tackle right now.
Sante vs. Don…Sante is running receivers routes for them..incredible job shading last week and is layin it on the line…play like a champion Sante.
Erocks top 3 that favor the Deadskins…
This is tough cause i think we got these guys this time.
TE’s vs. our backers…this could be a matchup Don tries too exploit…get em goin early and get those weasals off his tip(friggin toolshed Shanahans)…plus our backers can be had on 75% of pass plays.
Landry vs. our wides…run some early screens too get him guessin and give one of the big and uglys a chance too tag him…dude will merck one of our wides…so Marty needs too keep Djax get snacks outside the numbers.
Too me the Skins are bums…they let the Lions and Rams beat them and i dont give crap about bad breaks and or a solid effort by bad teams.They lost.Smack them and tell the Giants too come too town for a beatdown.
Birds 45- Skins 21
“In the last game, the Skins were very aware of finding a way to stop Vick from getting the ball deep to DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, while at the same time preventing him from hurting them with his scrambles”.
G, if memory serves me correctly, didn’t Vick scramble for a long run (the play where he was injured) that was called back for holding? So while you say they prevented him from hurting them with his scramble, I have to disagree because if they play the same type of defense again, these same plays are there to be made. Vick just has to protect himself. He only played 1 quarter last game too so in my opinion, the Redskins didn’t prevent anything. Just so happens that when Vick saw something in their defense he got hurt. Those plays will be there. They cannot play it safe all game because Vick will hurt them sooner or later. Last time, he just wasn’t in the game long enough. Please don’t act like Washington is a shut down defense.
I would be more concerned about our defensive backs play. Last time we played them, there were several deep plays they could have had except McNabb either just missed the throw or their receiver fell down. We know McNabb will throw the ball down field and that will put more pressure on our DBs and also on Bradley since he will probably be matched up with Cooley most often. And even though he’s not playing well, I’m pretty sure he’s going to get ready for this game. Asante’s strength is playing the intermediate routes but he is liable to get beat one on one deep so I hope our defense shows up. The problem with them has been consistency. Good one game, bad the next. If they can stay consistent and play a solid game and limit the big plays, we should win because McNabb is not going to beat you dinking and dunking down the field. And lastly, let’s not make Torrain look like Adrian Peterson this time.
Paulman’s NFL picks for Week #10 (Overall Record of 69-48)
Falcons over Ravens (Falcons at home won 26-21 Thursday night)
Buffalo over Lions (Buffalo has played hard and is overdue to get their 1st Win)
Vikings over Bears (Vikings start their 2nd half charge over the overrated Bears)
Jets over the Browns (Browns are playing hard for Coach Magini, Jet’s Offense finally gets untracked)
Colts over the Bengals (Colts get much needed win over the very disappointing Bengals)
Dolphins over the Titans (Dolphins get a much needed win at home to keep slim playoff hopes alive)
Bucs over Panthers (Tampa Bay wins big over the most offenesivley challenged team in the NFL)
Jags over Texans (Never know which team shows up to play from either club, taking the home team(
Broncos over the Chiefs (Broncos are rested and will put some points on the board)
Giants over Cowboys (Closer game than many think at the Meadowlands, but Giants win)
Cardinals over Seahawks (another close game and picking the home team)
49ers over Rams (49ers are ready to play some good ball behind QB Troy Smith at home)
Steelers overPAts (game of heavy hitting in PIttsburgh, Pats Offense will struggle to score points)
Eagles over Redskins (26-13) – Eagles with too much firepower, jump out early and run the ball more in the 2nd half to wear out the Redskins, McNabb forced to throw about 50 passes with mixed results and gets a lot of pressure and throws 2 Ints.
Enjoy the games
This is going to be our statement game about who the F we are. Eagles in an all out route.