How will the Denver Broncos secondary try to defense Eagles big play wide receiver DeSean Jackson? Will it be mainly man-to- man or zone?
Will they risk leaving Champ Bailey on him with no help deep or will they put two defenders on him and have Bailey single cover the other Eagles wide out?
The answers to these questions will be the key to the Eagles upcoming game agianst the Broncos.
The explosiveness of Jackson and the Eagles ability to strike deep from any where on the field will limit the coverages and blitzes the Broncos will employ on Sunday.
The health of Jeremy Maclin will be a key to making Denver pay for doing so much to stop Jackson. Maclin will start but he’s got to make a play or two early to stop the Broncos from doubling DeSean.
The insertion of Brian Westbrook back into the fold will watched by Denver in much the same way. if Westbrook can do something early it will force the Broncos to reduce their attention to Jackson.
Another factor in the coverage of Jackson will be the Eagles ability to run the football. If they start hurting the Broncos on the ground they will be forced to move one of their safeties up into box to help their run defense.
When the game starts this feeling out period will begin.
Perennial All-Pro cornerback Bailey has made it a habit of single-covering top wide receivers all throughout his career but I doubt they’ll leave him alone on Jackson very long because Bailey can’t run with the 2nd year Eagles wide out.
I expect him to try to use his superior size and strength to beat up Jackson and delay his release off the line.
Maybe they’ll ask their other corner Andre Goodman to shadow Jackson and give him help deep from the safety and ask Bailey to single cover Jeremy Maclin, Reggie Brown or Kevin Curtis by himself.
Jackson has shown the ability to outrun double coverage if he’s able to get a free release off the line of scrimmage.
This is gong to be an important factor in how the Eagles run their offense the rest of the season and in the playoffs.
They must come out each week and immediately find out how teams are going to defense Jackson.
Will they play more man to man or zone? Will they leave him one on one with a cornerback without help?
Expect the Birds to come out and move Jackson around and see how the Broncos react.
I want to see the Eagles give Donovan McNabb the freedom to change a play at the line of scrimmage if he sees an opportunity to get the ball to Jackson deep.
They should have that as an option every time they walk up to the line of scrimmage. It will limit opposing defenses’ ability to use certain coverages and open up other players for big days.
I want to see the Eagles come out and find out immediately what the Broncos are doing to cover Jackson, then immediately go after their throats.
I don’t think we’re going to beg Andy to do just that.
