What kind of game plan will the Eagles defense see on Sunday from the Rams offense? I think the answer to that question can be found in comments made by Rams rookie tight end Lance Kendricks when he was talking about the Birds defense.
“They run a lot of post safety coverage but I think the main thing is just playing fast and establishing the run,” Kendricks said. “That’s what coach Spags preaches all the time. I think if we get that done we’ll be able to get the ball wherever we need to get it to.”
“Establishing the run” is the statement that makes it very clear what the Rams will don on Sunday.
Eagles head coach Andy Reid is an offensive minded coach, while Spagnuolo is a defensive-minded coach.
Reid believes in putting the pressure on his offense. He and Marty Mornhinweg believe they can put together an offensive game plan each week, which will allow their offense to immediately get ahead of their opponents, week in and week out. That’s the reason, Reid has designed a defense to play with the lead.
Spagnuolo believes he can put together a defensive game plan to stop anybody, so he loves to see his offense control the ball by establishing the run. The Rams are going to give the Birds a big dose of Steven Jackson.
They may throw the ball on first down at times to keep the Eagles defense honest, but their offensive game plan will
center on the running of Jackson. Casey Matthews, Jamar Chaney and Moise Fokou must recognize the blocking scheme then attack the line of scrimmage to stop Jackson.
They may get burnt by a play action pass here or there, but they can’t let the Rams run the football.
If St. Louis is able to establish their ground game, then they will have Sam Bradford getting the ball to his inside receivers, slot man Danny Amendola and tight end Lance Kendricks.
Amendola is a good football player, who is a poor man’s Wes Welker. He’s small and he’s as quick as a cat with great hands. Joselio Hanson or Domininique Rodgers-Cromartie will be matched up Amendola.
I expect the Rams to try and get the ball to Amendola because they can put him in motion, send him inside or outside on either side, plus run pick plays for him. The diminutive receiver and Bradford have great chemistry.
The other target for Bradford will be the rookie tight end Kendricks. Play action passes to the tight end fits well to a running game and they’re very tough to stop. You know that tight ends have had their way with the Eagles defense for years.
So you’ve got it and I hope the Eagles have it. They must stop Jackson, Bradford, Amendola and Kendricks, but not necessarily in that order.
The Rams have no choice but to heavily depend on the run. They don’t have the offensive personnel where passing the ball is favorable to them against our team. And our LBs still have to prove themselves so this is the best way the Rams can go. I think we see them have a little success at first and then we calm down and control most of the game. I don’t think we’ll run them out the building but I do think in the end, it’ll be clear who the better team is. I don’t get why people are so nervous about this game. It’s not a gimme but I just think we’ll start the game off a little slow and then take control in the 3rd then for the rest of the game. At least a 10 point win.
G:
Wouldn’t you do the same to the Birds’ “D”. I know you’ve pointed this out in past posts. Running the ball right at the Birds “D” has been their Achilles’ heel.
I have seen the “D” on the field for 60%-70% of the game before during Reid’s tenure and it has always been absolutely flabbergasting. I never get more angry at Reid than when he knows he should run the ball in a game for many reasons and he stubbornly refuses to do so.
I hope the LB’s kick some butt this Sunday. I don’t know if they can yet. I’m looking forward to the game.
Nsid – yeah, about the run d – sure it was horrendous during Reid’s tenure (remember that god awful colts game years ago!?!?!? UCK) but recently that just hasn’t been a problem. Sure, teams have run on us at times. But in the past 2-3 years, the run d has not been a major problem at all.
How is it that the majority of Andy’s protege’s are more run oriented than him, EXCEPT for Marty, who is technically not one of his protege’s. Andy has a level of arrogance when it comes to passing. To win the SB there has to be more balance this year.
I forgotten that Spags “owned” Reid when he was in New York. However, if I recall, it wasn’t so much with the run, as much as it was play-calling that set our defense up. I recall him using short passes, and inside-out passing (hitting the outsides and then the middle or vice verse) to set up the deep pass and the run.
Ah ha! It wasn’t Spags who owned Reid on offense, but I do recall that Spags had Reid’s number.
even with a rookie mlb and a new d-cord our run defense will be top 15 worst case scenario…idky people are making it sound like our run defense is horrendous….plus with our offense we should be able to play with the lead a lot therefore we wont really need to bother having an average run defense bcs majority of the time people will be passing against us…and i would take that any day…
and as for this weekend…do u really think the rams will just march all over our Defense? HELLS NO!…soo stop panicking people and have some faith in your team!!!
They must stop Jackson, Bradford, Amendola and Kendricks, …One Stud and a hopeful..yeah I’m worried
drummer – I’m confused by your post – Spags was the D coordinator in NY, not O…?
Don’t Forget about RB Cadillac Williams (finally healthy in 3 years) and Jerious Norwood (their 3rd Down Pass receiving threat)
At WR, Brandon Gibson, and the 6’5″ Danario Alexander were the favorite targets of QB Bradford during the camp/preseason.(Amendola has dropped to #4 on thier WR chart)
I am sorry didn’t we stop the majority of big name runners that we faced last season, that is not a statement, it is a question. Did we? (minus Starks inthe playoffs of course)
mono – it certainly wasn’t a major problem last year if you ask me. I say the big problems last year were CB (DUH) and OL. That’s about it. Sure we had young safeties but their youth was exacerbated by Hobbs/Patterson/Hanson not cutting it at RCB.
Run D was not a problem last year. It was like the pimple on a guy with a gunshot wound. What’s really the problem there….
Schill, yeah the LB core was great last year. Also what about the lack of pass rush, the second half of the year? You forget to mention that. They are basically the same at LB, maybe even worse. The D-Line, is improved though, thank God! Schill, open your eyes & see what everyone else sees. Stop f#@#ing being argumentative with everyone who you don’t agree with. You are not right about everything. Your wrong most of the time. I’m beginning to believe, that you do it on purpose, to get your jollies off. Especially after what you said the other day, about getting a adrenaline rush out of all this. Move out of your Parents basement & go into the real world. There’s girls, hobbies, places to see, people to meet. Take your girlfriend from SF, WMonnell, with you. Get a life dudes! Your pathetic! I feel sorry for you!