• March 29, 2024

Eagles “D” Must Stop Jets Running Game First, Then Take It To Sanchez

The Eagles defense is going to be seriously tested by the Mark Sanchez-led New York Jets offense.   The two things that this defense does poorly are the two that the Jets offense does best.  New York runs the football with a passion and they throw the football to the tight end often and effectively.

South Jersey native Shonn Green and LaDainian Tomlinson are the running backs that the Jets use with Greene getting the bulk of the carries.  He’s a between the tackles pounder who is thickly built with strong legs and tremendous intensity.  Greene has carried the ball 207 times for 868 yards which is a 4.2 yards per carry average.

Greene might not break off the long 40 or 50 yard run, but he wears you down with that big and physical offensive line in front of him.  If the Birds defensive front doesn’t show up with a seriousness about the desire to stop them, the Jets will run the ball down their throats.

Once the Jets get their running game going, they’ll start  calling some play action passes to speedy tight end Dustin Keller, who leads the team in receptions with 47 for 620 yards and four touchdowns. Keller and Sanchez have a tremendous chemistry and the quarterback gets in trouble he’ll start looking for number 81. is their big tight end that Sanchez looks to a lot when he is in trouble.

To stop the Jets running game,  I think the Eagles defense will need to stack the line of scrimmage early in the game and focus on stopping the run exclusively. Bringing more people into the box will put the corners on an island but with a suspect quarterback like Sanchez, Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo should feel comfortable with one on one coverage outside.

Greene is a tough back to stop but if the Eagles play like they did against the Dolphins and everybody pursues to the football it should be a successful day.

They want to force Sanchez to beat them throwing the football.  It’s not that he can’t do the job, but he hasn’t be consistent especially when under pass rush pressure.  Many times when he is under pressure he panics and just throws the ball up which could give the Birds the opportunity to come down with some turnovers.

Wide receiver Santonio Holmes is the deep threat, who has the ability to make the big play.  He has a good feel for getting open versus zone or man-to-man coverages.  Although not very big, Holmes has shown the willing to come across the middle and make the big catch.  He has 43 catches for 564 yards but an impressive seven touchdowns.

Plaxico Burress lines up on the other side and of course he’s got the tremendous size and toughness.  Burress has 37 catches for 513 yards along with seven touchdowns.  When they get in the red zone, he becomes more of a target for Sanchez.

The Eagles will have their hands full on Sunday with this tough offense which has one of the better offensive lines in football.   The defensive line must take over the game like they did a week ago and they should be able to get the job done.

Eagles Pro Bowl defensive end Trent Cole says the Birds will be ready for Sanchez to try to escape, “I mean, that’s a guy you have to watch out for because that’s a guy who can run out of the pocket very quick. He can bail out and he can run, so you have to watch out for that. That’s one thing, you have to keep this man contained, keep him in the pocket, keep him in that little circle.”

Cole and Jason Babin must win their battles and get to Sanchez once the stop that running game.  The Eagles offense could help the defense out tremendously be putting some points on the board early to make the Jets throw the ball more than they would like to.

Malik Utendahl

I am a college student at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.. follow me on twitter @The_U93

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jott1972
jott1972
December 18, 2011 10:24 am

tough game..Eagles lose in the 4th quarter…Dustin Keller 8 catches 80 yds 2 TDs…. Greene 80 tough yards and a score….

Jets 28
Eagles 24

jott1972
jott1972
December 18, 2011 10:26 am

Andy Reid steps down at the end of the season – mutual agreement with team and moves onto San Diego where he takes most of his coaches and Castillo, who becomes his OL coach…
Eagles put full court press on Brian Billick and he becomes the next head coach.

navyeaglefan
navyeaglefan
December 18, 2011 12:28 pm

Damn Jott – Billick is one of the few talking bobble heads that do games that actually knows what he is talking about and can correctly relate it to the game – you just know they are going to move Tony Suriguso to be coor analyst in his place – worse- Joe Theisman makes a comeback

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 12:52 pm

Coach AR will be back in 2012 without a doubt.. Lurie & Banner are going to give him 1 last season (2012) to finish what he started.. Coach AR is not a quitter and the Front Office will give him every opportunity to right what was wrong for 2011.. Another mediocre/miss playoff Season in 2012, then the entire Staff will be gone.. Remember that the entire Coachign Staff is under contract for 2012 (MM,Castillo,Washburn,Mudd,Lynne,etc,etc) and that this Eagle Staff is the highest paid in the NFL, Owner Lurie is not going to pay off $10-$12 Million in Coaches Salaries after 1 poor season and then also Pay an entrie New Staff to come, it’s not going to happen, no way, no how..
I do believe Coach Ar will make some changes (Secondary Coach Lynne will get terminated and I would not doubt to see Coach MM take another position on his own like Penn State or maybe the SD Chargers job himself..)

Rocko
Rocko
December 18, 2011 1:21 pm

Pauly:
I agree with you whole heartedly on that one buddy. They’re going to let AR finish out the last year of his contract. though I may not agree with their philosophy, they’re going to let reid finish out.

drummerwinslow
December 18, 2011 1:31 pm

Vinnie, this is for you, Kolb’s biggest fan:

Much was made of the trade acquisition and subsequent signing of Kevin Kolb by the Arizona Cardinals this offseason, and the team did so with the intention of having the quarterback be its starter for years to come. And he could well do so.

But it’s worth noting that if Kolb’s production doesn’t improve in the near future, the Cardinals could move on with minimal financial and salary-cap ramifications, according to the quarterback’s contract.

Kolb missed significant time earlier this season with foot and ankle injuries, and he isn’t likely to play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns as he recovers from a concussion.

Kolb will earn a $10 million signing bonus and $2 million salary in 2011. He’s due a $7 million roster bonus this March, which conceivably could be declined by the Cardinals, meaning they would could get out of Kolb’s deal after paying him just $12 million over one year.

Kolb has a $1 million salary in 2012, bringing his total compensation for that year to $8 million, and $20 million over the first two years of the deal.

With a $9 million salary and $2 million roster bonus due to Kolb in 2013, the Cardinals again have another chance to move on with limited finacial ramifications at the beginning of that league year.

If Kolb were released in 2013 — when the salary cap projects to jump considerably — he would count just $6 million in dead cap space. He would count $8 million against the salary cap if released in 2012, but the team would save $8 million in real dollars by not owing him his $7 million roster bonus and $1 million salary.

Kolb currently is set to count $10.5 million against the 2012 cap

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 1:32 pm

Coach AR is signed thru 2013 but the remainder of the Staff is only thru 2012 which makes it very difficult to hire a Staff when most know in the business that you are a lame duck positon..
If Eagles don’t make a Serious SB run in 2012, then it’s a clean sweep..
AR will not finish he contract out at that point and be bought out of his final year Chances are, if Reid fails again in 2012, then it really wouldn’t make sense to push him upstairs as a lot of others have stated.. If he won a SB, then I could see him moving upstaris, but not in failing.. ..

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 1:35 pm

Top 3 Busts of the 2012 NFL Season

#1) QB Mike Vick
#2) QB Kevin Kolb
#3) QB Donovan McNabb

Does anyone see a pattern or a connection with these Players..

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 1:46 pm

Could probably throw in CB Nnamdi Asomugah in my Bust lists but don’t want to be labled as an Eagle Hater…

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 3:41 pm

No to change the Subject
Anyone see the stats J Pierre-Paul is putting up today in a losing effort
16 Takcles – 11 Solo’s, 1 Sack and 2 Tackles for losses for a DE which is unbelievable …

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 3:44 pm

Seahawks beating the Bears and will join the Falcons as the NFC Wild-Card favorites as the Giants continue to lose and fade out… Also the Lions have at Oakland, SD Chargers and finish at GB PAckers can could easily finish at 9-7 or 8-8 if they were lose in Oakland today..

MaybeTheyCan
MaybeTheyCan
December 18, 2011 4:03 pm

The NFC East stinks sooooo bad. I doubt it matters what team from this division makes it to the playoffs, they’ll be easy pickins’.

drummerwinslow
December 18, 2011 4:11 pm

Maybe

I remember when Reid’s team used to dominate a weak NFC East, but since he lost Rhodes players, this team has been soft like the coach’s belly.

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 4:17 pm

Eagles are 3-1 versus the NFC East and 2-7 versus the rest of the NFL…
Redskins are 2-3 versus the NFC East and 3-6 versus everyone else

The Packers lost and the Colts won.. If anyone bet a double-header on these 2 games would have hit a goldmine today..
Giants lose, Bears lose,Bills lose and the Seahawks, Panthers,Dolphins all win.. An Eagles loss today knockes them out officially and probably lands them with a Top #10 Draft Selection..

vinnietheevictor
vinnietheevictor
December 18, 2011 4:24 pm

nice start for vick. Beautiful throw to maclin…must have been the deodorant the oline wears

Hey…Matthews with a nice play…i thought he sucked?

MaybeTheyCan
MaybeTheyCan
December 18, 2011 4:26 pm

drummer – I, and probably most of us, remember when the Eagles dominated the weak NFC East however, IMO, more credit is given to the “Rhodes Players” than is due.

Rocko
Rocko
December 18, 2011 4:28 pm

Good Job Coleman, Parker and I got my eye on you Casey; pick your weight up buddy.

MaybeTheyCan
MaybeTheyCan
December 18, 2011 4:28 pm

Nice to see a defensive thouchdown. The Eagles O needs all the help they can get with Vick being the turn-over machine he’s been this season.

vinnietheevictor
vinnietheevictor
December 18, 2011 4:33 pm

figured forst turnover would be a samchez pick in the first half…that’s coming soon thoogh….

Eagles’ D will do a good job today I think…NYJ O is not altogether impressive to say the least…

Rocko
Rocko
December 18, 2011 4:37 pm

Curtish Marsh? Come on man

Rocko
Rocko
December 18, 2011 4:38 pm

Thank you Asante!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

vinnietheevictor
vinnietheevictor
December 18, 2011 4:38 pm

Eagles’ D has done its job.

Talk about bad defense….how ’bout Patriots. Terrible.

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 4:39 pm

I told everyone the Jets would come out trying to pass..
Most opposing Coaches know that if you can score and jump ahead of the Eagles early at the Linc, that the Home Town Fans will turn on the Eagles and make it very difficult for the Eagles players to overcome..

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 4:44 pm

Here we go, the dreaded Red-Zone.. Eagles can put a lot of pressure on the Jets with a TD here..

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 4:44 pm

Woops, my bad, just outside the Red-Zone ..26 YArd Line

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 4:47 pm

Nice TD Pass, Vick looking good so far as the Eagles have come ready to play.. Today has seen many upsets.. so no reason to think the Eagles can’t win versus the tight, afraid to make a mistake QB Sanchez… Jets would be smart to pound the rock until the EAgles stop it.. 1st Down Defense is the key to make the jets have to get into their passing game

vinnietheevictor
vinnietheevictor
December 18, 2011 4:54 pm

well……the throw to celek was a little late resulting in another whammo hit…but nice that Vick actually stood in the pocket

WIth games against romo and Grossman coming up…is Babin going to set the sack record????

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 4:55 pm

Eagles GM Roseman just tweeted that the Eagles has extended DC Castillo’s Contract and have sime signed thru the 2017 Season irregardless of what happens to Coach AR…

Rocko
Rocko
December 18, 2011 4:56 pm

Is it time to trade Cole. I think we may need to trade him and put another bad boy on the right side of the defense and he wears down too quick toward seasons end. Good job Babin with 17 sacks.

vinnietheevictor
vinnietheevictor
December 18, 2011 5:00 pm

Andy, I supposedly only make terrible challenges Reid, with another good challenge

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 5:06 pm

GM Roseman tweets that new contracts for both Castillo and AR will be signed during Half-time.. Details after the game…

vinnietheevictor
vinnietheevictor
December 18, 2011 5:06 pm

VIck. Wow. I thought he was dead. He could have just stepped up into pocket of course, but always rolls out…….

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 5:07 pm

No go for the jugular, no playing for FG’s, toss a ball into the End-Zone..
D-JAx right past Rivas…

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 5:08 pm

Why send the slowest WR on a deep pattern.. WHere’s D-Jax or even Cooper.

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 5:09 pm

Now your talking.. Bring Cooper ion and toss an Alley Opp to the End-Zone
or a DOuble Te Set and do that dealy pass to the TE Celek or Harbor..

Rocko
Rocko
December 18, 2011 5:11 pm

Vinnie shut up you Bum. You show Vick and Desean no respect. Great job Vick and Desean! you guys deserve the best and thanks for the great play. Good job as well defense and the rest of the team!

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 5:11 pm

Now we’ll see if the Jets have any heart.. Eagles moving the ball up and down the field on them.. Eagles Defense has held the Jets Offense to 38 Total yards on 14 Plays so far…

MaybeTheyCan
MaybeTheyCan
December 18, 2011 5:12 pm

Lookks like both the Offense and and the Defense came ready to play. Nice to see for a change. Still less than 1-1/2 qtrs in so, lots of game time left and we need to see if they can keep their game on.

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 5:14 pm

Was just thinking that it would be nice if the Eagles played a team every week that had one of Buddy Ryan’s kid’s coaching them… Eagles have outscored Ryans Son’s 55-7 in about 77 minutes fo Football this year…

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 5:18 pm

Don’t let up.. keep the foot on the pedal. hit HArbor in th emiddle over the JEts back-up Safety

vinnietheevictor
vinnietheevictor
December 18, 2011 5:19 pm

game now over. Nice effort from Jets. Bulolies alwys fold. Backups please.

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 5:20 pm

or even a handoff to McCoy up the middle too… ha ha … Eagles are stomping them.. I loved Buddy Ryan but I love even more to see his loud-mouth kids teams get their asses handed to them..

vinnietheevictor
vinnietheevictor
December 18, 2011 5:21 pm

bullies

Rocko
Rocko
December 18, 2011 5:22 pm

Steve Van Who? Great job o-line and McCoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Set new records baby!

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 5:24 pm

Would not be surprised to see Jet’s back-up QB here.. (Brunnell)

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 5:25 pm

Now tighten up Eagles D, keep them to a FG

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 5:26 pm

I like this Phillip Hunt, seems to be around the QB and Ball a lot..

MaybeTheyCan
MaybeTheyCan
December 18, 2011 5:26 pm

Rocko – show some respect to one of the greatest Eagles of all time man. He did that in far shorter season and when the D could do nearly anything they wantedto the O including head-slaps, crack-backs, prety much everything the D can’t get away with today.

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 5:27 pm

2nd Timeout.. It’s 3rd and 11 and nothing wrong wuith using one, get the right personnel out there …

paulman
paulman
December 18, 2011 5:30 pm

Ok all you Coach wanna-be’s. .What do you if your the Jets.. Go for 4th & 11 and try to kick FG and get some points on the board…