The Eagles know that the first thing they must do defensively is stop the Cowboys running game. If the past Eagles-Cowboys game has anything to do with it, the formula for stopping that ground attack will involve Jeremiah Trotter.
The Cowboys made running the ball look easy when they Akeem Jordan was manning the middle linebacker position. They’re going to have to go with Trotter.
In the second half with Trotter in a middle linebacker, the Eagles run defense allowed 68 yards on 10 carries but 49 of them were on an option play toss to Felix Jones. On the other nine plays, the Birds “D” allowed 19 yards.
Since stopping the run is a must, I think we’re going to see plenty of Trot tonight.
Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said as much when asked about using Trotter despite his weaknesses versus the pass.
“That’s the slippery slope you’re looking at there, understanding our players and what they bring to the table,” McDermott explained. “Trotter is a heck of a competitor. I think we all noticed a difference when he was in the game the other night. He plays with great intensity. We just have to make sure that we scheme around that going into this weekend.”
I thnk scheming around that means giving Trotter some help in his pass coverage. I think it’s a great idea because it could force the Cowboys to throw more than they want to, which is going to open the door to turnovers.
You’re going to see a lot of Trotter tonight.
Pluse, I don’t think it was a coincidence that the Eagles had three abbreviated practices this week in their indoor practice facility. The turf surface inside the facility is hard on the legs of veteran players.
You know Trotter with his damaged knee which couldn’t pass an NFL medical exam doesn’t need to be on the turf.
As for Trotter and his pass coverage limitations, he thinks everybody is making too much out of it. He explained what happened on a 25 yard pass play to Cowboys Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten.
“I was helping out,” he said. “I was just trying to hold it off until I got help. Considering that I didn’t get any help, I thought I did a pretty good job of chasing him down [and forcing him out of bounds].
“But I expect that. If it were anybody else, they would have said Witten made a great play. But because it’s me, they say, ‘Oh, it’s not his strong point.’ But that’s OK. I’ll take the blame for it. I don’t mind the critics, man. But I can play the pass. I know I can. I’ve just got to go out and do a good job. I was out there a lot Sunday and that wasn’t the only time they passed the ball on us.”
I agree with Trot. Witten beat quite a few Eagles last Saturday, not ot mention all the guys he beat during the season this year.
The Eagles don’t have any other legitimate option but to go to Trottter at middle linebacker.
