After the first series I told some friends whom, I was looking at the game with that the Eagles defense was headed for a bad day. What I saw on the first drive was an inability to get off of blocks.
You’ve got to be quick on defense in getting rid of the blockers. You can’t stay on blocks and expect to have any success.
The first long Marion Barber run was a classic case of defenders being unable to get off of blocks. he went through a big hole and the Eagles defenders looked like scout team which was just giving the offense a look.
This also pointed toward not being ready to play. It takes a lot of energy and focus to get off of blocks with immediacy.
The Dallas offensive line is huge but the Eagles have to get their hands on the blockers and shed them in order to get off and make the play.
I saw Trent Cole and Mike Patterson shed some blocks on occassion but for the most part, the Eagles defense played like blockikng dummies.
Usually if you start out the game not getting off blocks, it gets worse as the game progresses because you get fatigued.
There’s also a problem with their linebackers not attacking the run other than Jeremiah Trotter. Will Witherspoon is a great athlete but he doesn’t do a good job of attacking the blocking versus the run.
They’re going to have to go back to Dallas like they’re going to have a fist fight. They’ve got to play mean and angry.
