Posted: Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 12:27 PM | 30 comments |
 

Eagles' Biggest Worry: Pass Rush
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If we could all stop talking about Donovan McNabb for 5 seconds, the real problem for the Eagles should be self-evident: they need to start rushing the passer or they will die.

That's it.

We can spin this and torture this forever and it still comes down to getting the quarterback. The Eagles know that. They have spent a jillion dollars over the last few years trying to accomplish it. But they didn't get to Tony Romo enough on Monday night and that's why Romo was able to convert all of those third downs and throw all of those daggers downfield. The coverage wasn't great but the pressure wasn't adequate. We can chicken-and-egg this thing if you want, but most people believe that it starts and ends with the pass rush in the NFL. And the Eagles didn't sack Romo on Monday night.

Trent Cole is a good player. He got some pressures, caused some penalties. The Eagles did pressure Romo into one turnover, the hurried throw that Asante Samuel intercepted. It isn't as if they had no pressure -- because it also should be noted that Romo deals with the heat pretty well (except when he acts like a knucklehead, like he did in the end zone with that fumble).

But it isn't enough; this a recording. They are not getting enough pressure from the tackles on pass plays and they are not getting enough from the left defensive end. They need more from Darren Howard. They need something from Chris Clemons. They need to hope that Victor Abiamiri and his hand injury heal quickly, and that he has the upside they perceive.

That's it.
Posted by Rich Hofmann @ 12:27 PM  Permalink | 30 comments
30
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:05 PM, 09/17/2008
    Where were all the genius blitzes from Jim Johnson?
    — Bama
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:12 PM, 09/17/2008
    We don't even know what we will get from Abiamiri. the problem with this defense is our DT can't pressure the qb unless the ends force them to step up. Bunkley and Patterson, while good against the run they SUCK at pass rushing.
    — prez_beck
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:14 PM, 09/17/2008
    It is sad because the Giants have a bunch of FA Draft Tackles and they get better pressure on the qb than our pair of first round draft picks. Man... maybe we need to bring Corey simon out of retirement.
    — prez_beck
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:31 PM, 09/17/2008
    Amen. The Defense was totally to blame. Where were the blitzes? Why was Consodine on the field? Why was Dawkins covering TO and Whitten? Where was the threesome of Sheppard,Brown,Samuel? It was sick to see Consodine out there...nothing personal just football.
    — bleedinggreen
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:39 PM, 09/17/2008
    There will be No blitzes or championships because the Eagles are not financially committed to winning one, but they are in just competing. When you have the opportunity to pickup players to enhance team performance and you don't what does that say about a organization. It's sad because what they have done is convinced the fans that, as long as they make it to the playoffs... That's called progress! And the fans are conditioned for that. Admit It!!! Think about it!
    — haans
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:03 PM, 09/17/2008
    Eagles pass rush (an oxymoron?). Patterson and Bunkley seem ordinary...don't expect too much. Maybe when the Notre Dame connection (Abiamiri and Laws) gets back from injuries, but that's like expecting something spectaular from something that hasn't even happened yet. Howard hot and cold, great play then disappears. Clemons a question mark. With no pass rush, our LBs, Safeties, and CBs are exposed even more than usual. I related Monday nite to basketball: a team with a halfcourt game trying to run with a team that runs the floor great. A good pass rush was our only hope, and it never showed up.
    — Could Not Hold Tongue
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:04 PM, 09/17/2008
    Can't blitz when you've got TO and Witten on offense. Just can't take that chance. Line needs to get pressure in cases like that. You'll see more blitzes this week against Pittsburgh.
    — mjb
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:34 PM, 09/17/2008
    I don't agree with this assessment. Maybe I'd feel different if I watched the game again. My feeling was that they were getting pressure on Romo most of the game. Not every pass play but most. If the QB gets the ball out quick, it’s tough to get sacks or hurries. I believe Dallas called plays to get the ball out quick. That’s hard to sustain but they did. Also, I thought the Eagle's philosophy is to collapse the pocket with speed rushers at the ends that both contain the QB as well as force them to step up. The tackles need to push the pocket back so that if the Ends force the QB to step up, it’s into the arms of the Tackles. Romo was pretty much contained to the pocket, stepped up several times and rushed his pass/threw off the timing of the play on several other plays. I thought the Secondary made several bad reads and blew coverage and it resulted in big plays. And of course, when the Cowboys happen to call for a screen pass to the side of the defense that is blitzing, you’re probably going to give up a big play.
    — MikeP
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:49 PM, 09/17/2008
    The Eagles need to splurge on a quality free-agent DE, or else make it a priority in the draft. With all the talk about improving the lines, the Eagle have repeatedly failed to accurately assess personnel at the DE position (we'll wait and see on Abiamiri). If Abiamiri doesn't make an impact this season, the Eagles need to go all out to address this problem. Another quality DE and the Eagles are a vastly improved team.
    — p-diddy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:52 PM, 09/17/2008
    9 blitzes the entire game??? Hands down Garrett out-coached Johnson!!
    — coachpenna
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:18 PM, 09/17/2008
    THEY INTERCEPTED ONCE, THEY KNOCKED DOWN THE QB IN THE ENDZONE AND GOT A TOUCHDOWN, THEY PRESSURED ROMO ON DALLAS'S LAST OFFENSIVE PLAY (ROMO OVERTHREW WIDE OPEN BARBER) GIVING THEM THE BALL WITH 2:39 TO GO. WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK ONE SACK MORE WOULD HAVE DONE? A WAIST OF TIME "BLOG", I WON'T CALL IT AN ARTICLE.
    — JACK V
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:19 PM, 09/17/2008
    Been saying EXACTLY that since training camp begun. So has Jim Johnson. If they COULD do it they WOULD do it. Sigh.
    — TBear
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:24 PM, 09/17/2008
    Either Johnson's scheme is flawed or his players are simply innifficent. Look at Spagnola with the Giants. They lost Umeniora and still manage to sack the QB. Is the Giants line that much better, or is Spagnola a better coach?
    — GANick
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:35 PM, 09/17/2008
    JJ said he's very excited about this D... hummmm why?
    — osi is hurt boohoo


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About Rich Hofmann
Rich Hofmann arrived at the Daily News in 1980 for a job whose status was officially designated as "full-time, temporary." A senior at Penn at the time, he was hired to fill in on the copy desk during a staff illness. The notion of him covering the Eagles or being a columnist did not exist in anyone's imagination. It was supposed to be six weeks and out, but he never left. It is only one of the reasons why so many people have concerns about him as a potential house guest. Rich has blogged the postseasons of the Flyers and Eagles. E-mail Rich at hofmanr@phillynews.com

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