Yesterday we saw why the Eagles brought back Jeremiah Trotter. I thought the plays on the goalline stand were the biggest plays in the game.
The clock was running out in the second quarter and the Birds were leading 13-0 with the Falcons sitting on the Eagles two yard line.
If the Eagles had let Atlanta score it would have made the score 13-7 and in danger of losing the game in the second half if the Falcons could score another touchdown.
On second down, Trotter instinctively left his position in the end zone and walked up in the A gap, which is in between the right guard and center. He then attacked on the snap of the ball.
The Axeman knocked the center backward into the fullback and left Snelling the ball carrier without any blocking and the other Eagles lit him up.
On third down, Trotter stayed in his middle linebacker spot at about four yards off the ball, until the ball was snapped. Once he saw movement he took off from his position and leaped over the low-blocking offensive linemen and hit the fullback in the backfield.
Again, Snelling was stripped of blocking and easy prey for the rest of the Birds defenders. The Eagles had four guys in the offensive backfield and tackled Snelling for a loss.
On fourth down, Trotter again walked up into the A gap before the snap and was able to get three yards into the backfield during the play which forced Snelling to change direction.
He was tripped and falling as he got to the one yard line. Safety Quintin Mikell popped him as he was headed to the ground to make sure he was going to score.
For all intents and purposes. the game was all over with that play.
Trotter has always been able to beat up on centers and guards by attacking the line of scrimmage. He makes the Eagles much more physical against the run and that’s why they brought him back.
The Falcons and their fans were down emotionally and still trailing by two scores as compared to being down a score with the momentum on their side starting the second half.
