You’ve got to give Eagles defensive cordinator Sean McDermott credit for a great game plan today versus Peyton Manning and the Colts today. McDermott and the Birds seemed to throw everything in the book at the Hall of Fame bound quarterback.
He had me sweating there at the end when he was trying to blitz the great Indy quarterback, but there’s no question that he kept him off balance for the most part.
Manning decided to go to the quick screens to the wide receivers and they ran them time and time again.
“I think he changed things up well. When you play Peyton [Manning], you’re literally talking about a guy who is going to go down as maybe the best quarterback to ever play the game”, Reid told reporters in his news conference following the game. “You have to be like a catcher and dial up the right pitches. I think Sean did that, and then the guys executed and made some plays in there.”
According to Asante Samuel the key to the defensive game plan against Indy and Manning was trying to change things up as much as possible. They showed blitz then jumped out of it. They would creep into the blitz from a distance.
They jumped into a 46 defense look, but they did it by sliding the line.
Numerous times McDermott had Trent Cole, Mike Patterson or other defensive linemen dropping out to cover the pass.
Sometimes the defensive backs were blitzing off the corner but disguising it until the last second. They were blitzing from their spots in the secondary. They weren’t getting there, but it provided a different look.
I don’t want to hear about Samuel’s tackling any more, even though it has improved. This guy is a big time player and has made big plays for the Birds the entire time he’s been here. The guy has made plays against each and every quarterback.
A few years back when he was with the Patriots, I saw him pick Manning’s pocket during the playoffs. He picked off a pass intended for Marvin Harrison and ran it back for a score. Manning didn’t know what had hit him.
He collects his interceptions, so he had the two interceptions sitting on the table in front of him as he did the interview.
Samuel played safety on the final play. He was over the top of the two receivers to Manning’s right. As he dropped into the coverage, the Pro Bowl corner left the outside receiver because he was reading Manning’s eyes. He realized the outside guy was a just a decoy, so he left him and focused on the inside guy.
Manning let the ball go and Samuel easily picked off the pass that was to the tight end down the seam. It ended all of the Colts’ hopes.
Asante studies other team’s and isn’t afraid to take a chance to make a play. He as the type of confidence on the defensive side which the young guys feed off of.
You’ve also got to give first time starter, cornerback Dimitri Patterson a lot of credit for the outstanding job he did in battling Pro Bowl wide receiver Reggie Wayne. They went after him but he didn’t back off one bit. He competed each and every play, which is what you have to do versus Manning.
Ernie Sims had a great sack where he ran over the running back who was trying to pick him up. They need more plays like that from Sims.
Rookie Brandon Graham didn’t come down with any sacks but he did put good pressure on Peyton Manning on big plays.
Nice job by the entire Eagles defensive line, which registered a couple of sacks against Manning who had only be sacked seven times in seven games.
Darryl Tapp got him a sack with a nice pass rush where he stayed with it and the coverage made Manning hold on to the ball.
I was waiting for the implosion like the Titans game but it never came. Good job by the D-line to get pressure, and if the blitz was working well. A blitz is only good if you create the pressure and ours was doing fine.
Boy am I glad Dallas Clark is hurt. And Collie could not go on. And Wayne has a tight hamstring. And Addai didn’t play. A win is a win, now they need to beat the Skins.
Good overall game plan and execution by the Eagles Defense but still lots of areas to work on and improve> I am not sure why the Colts got away from the “Bubble Routes,Screens and the Running game” in the 2nd Half for it wasn’t like the Eagles D were stopping it…
A great game by the CB’s and S Mickell, the sexcondary & LB’s all tackled well all game..
I though LB Sims played hjis best game as an Eagle but don’t like LB Bradley in COverage at all.. We all know that P Maning is All-World, but to allow Justin Thamme to run you all over the field and make 11 catches (and he dropped 3-4-5 more that could have been big plays) is just an embarrasment. Bradley needs to be on the Sidelines on 3rd Down of obvious passing situations and bring in a S/DB or one of the fast LB on the Te (Sims/Clayton), but Bradley continually runs with his back to the Qb (which is a no-no) and has no idea when and where the pass is coming from which is inexcusable in coverage…Bradley’s game has slipped a little and he is not the player he was 2 years ago before his injury
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Pauly boy is hilarious! Eagles D played great. Even Sean McDermott called a good game which is suprising. But to confuse and contain Manning like the Eagles did is a good job. Manning is the Jordan of the NFL. It does not matter who he plays with he makes everyone better. As long as his OL is helathy which they were he is going to give the Colts a chance to win. Vick and Desean looked great! Props to Ernie Sims who is getting better each and every week! I liked what I saw!
All the penalties made for a screwed up game but it is a win
Oh I forgot to mentioon the refs robbed the Eagles on Numerous bad calls. I guess you cannot hit a WR across the middle anymore? Also hit to the head on 4th and 18 with the pocket colapsing? Really? I loved to see the Eagles overcome bad calls and still win! They won and penalties were way off balanced. Which shows they have alot of potential
The Eagles should have “2” wins in the column for this game….
They had to beat the Colts and the Refs…without the Refs the Colts don’t score….Period.
Manning is a bitch and highly overrated. Vick throws to a guy in the middle and he gets hit and the announcer say, “He can’t lead his receiver in the middle like that”. What? Manning throws and got his receiver murdered and the same announcer didn’t mention Mannings name..He went into a helmet to helmet rant knowing the player was hit into the safety. I seen series when Manning was looking for a flag after incompletions. pathetic…we kicked their ass and I don’t want to hear the injury excuse. Our offensive line is below average. remember? Our secondary is young and inexperienced besides Samuel …Remember? We kicked manning’s ass and sent his coward ass back to Indy with his personal referees who obviously were for Indy. Michael Vick was the best QB on the field tonight…was he not? yeah Vick shined over the Golden Boy……We have a bright future in Michael Vick
For the gentleman who disagreed that Jackson is tough. I’m not the only one who thinks so.
This is from Phil Sheridan. He agrees with me.
The touchdown pass is good for the stats. The long pass is good for the highlight reels. But the most important work Vick and Jackson did came in the fourth quarter, when the outcome was very much in doubt.
On a possession that ate up nearly seven crucial minutes, Vick found Jackson twice to convert third downs. On third and 10, Vick bolted for a first down.
Later, clinging to a two-point lead, the Eagles got the ball at their own 20 with 1 minute, 49 seconds to play. Manning was on the sideline, waiting for the chance to engineer a game-winning drive.
First down, Jackson ran an end-around for 11 yards. Next play, Jackson ran again.
“I told Coach Marty [Mornhinweg] and Coach Reid, ‘Let’s call that reverse.’ After we ran it the first time, I said ‘Let’s run it again.’ I was feeling so confident at that point.”
There aren’t many players who can single-handedly control this team-oriented game. There are fewer who can convince their coaches to trust them to do it. And there are fewer still who can deliver.
Jackson just may be fearless. At the moment, he’s also close to peerless.
If he is so fearless why does he shy away from the hit? Once in the redskins game short of the 1st down marker and you could probably even say he done it today after he got the first down on the reverse in the 4th quarter. Im not doubting his skills at all, hes a great player, I just think we differ on what we consider toughness.
Songs
Where ya been, man?
Godson
I’m with you. Our defense. with a rookie safety and replacement corner completely shut down Peyton Manning. Were it not for the refs, they might not have scored. Who shuts down the Colts? Who? What defense fares any better than we did?
Paul
They got away form the bubble screens because the middle was open. The only problem was once we laid out Austin Collie, their receivers were frightened. It was like Halloween all over again.
The Colts didn’t go away from the running game. They’re not a running team. They didn’t run it any more in the first half than they did in the second.
He’s fearless and smart. There’s a difference in being fearless and being a fool.
Dictionary definition of “tough”
1. Able to withstand great strain without tearing or breaking; strong and resilient: a tough all-weather fabric.
2. Hard to cut or chew: tough meat.
3. Physically hardy; rugged: tough mountaineers; a tough cop.
4. Severe; harsh: a tough winter.
5.
a. Aggressive; pugnacious.
b. Inclined to violent or disruptive behavior; rowdy or rough: a tough street group.
Which one is DJax? Cause I have seen him knocked out of many games with his weak neck so that scratched option 1.. He aint number 3 because physically he is smaller than some kickers. And he aint number 5 because he is not aggressive when shying away fron contact.
Man, to get hit the way he did and then come back and ask for the ball, that takes courage.
To weigh 170 lbs. and catch punts with your head in the air while the biggest, fastest and meanest athletes on the planet come barreling at full speed, that takes courage.
Is he not an aggressive?
Definitions of All-Pro on the Web:
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season.
You’ve got to be tough to be the best in the NFL.
Fearless
unafraid(p): oblivious of dangers or perils or camly resolute in facing them
audacious: invulnerable to fear or intimidation; “audacious explorers”; “fearless reporters and photographers”; “intrepid pioneers”
mimitaro
Oh, I see you left some out, i.e., “severely testing stamina or resolution”
Definitions of tough on the Web:
not given to gentleness or sentimentality; “a tough character”
rugged: very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution; “a rugged competitive examination”; “the rugged conditions of frontier life”; “the competition was tough”; “it’s a tough life”; “it was a tough job”
physically toughened; “the tough bottoms of his feet”
sturdy: substantially made or constructed; “sturdy steel shelves”; “sturdy canvas”; “a tough all-weather fabric”; “some plastics are as tough as metal”
ruffianly: violent and lawless; “the more ruffianly element”; “tough street gangs”
bad: feeling physical discomfort or pain (`tough’ is occasionally used colloquially for `bad’); “my throat feels bad”; “she felt bad all over”; “he was feeling tough after a restless night”
street fighter: someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing
resistant to cutting or chewing
hood: an aggressive and violent young criminal
hard: unfortunate or hard to bear; “had hard luck”; “a tough break”
bully: a cruel and brutal fellow
baffling: making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe; “a baffling problem”; “I faced the knotty problem of what to have for breakfast”; “a problematic situation at home”
Who the hell is Phil Sheridan anyway? Heres a better stat – DJax Madden 11 “toughness rating” is 72.
Good enough for the 47th toughest player of the 53 man eagles roster. And sadly less tough than Rocca, LOL!
I was immensely impressed by Patterson. He was tested time and time again. Each time the ball was thrown in his direction, I got nervous. I followed the flight of the ball, the receiver would come into view on my TV screen and Patterson would be right there with him. It was a great relief to see him in good position and then to make a play on the ball.
Who are you?
Sheridan is paid to cover sports. You blog about sports. If he’s nobody, what does that make you?
Madden 11? A game? Are you serious?
To semi-quote Iverson, We’re talking about real life, not a game, not a game. Real Life.
Madden 11 developers are football nuts who study players tendencies. Though a game, it provides great insight on players.
Quote Micah Warren:
what was DeSean Jackson doing out there exactly? I’m not going to fault his lack of production so much because Kolb just didn’t do a good job of finding him when he was open (that’s what happens when you aren’t on a check-down route). However, what is with all the diving to the ground? I have no problem with a small receiver getting down and avoiding contact. Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce used to do it all the time. But, today he looked flat-out scared to get tackled. It reminded me of when I was 10-years old playing tackle football with the kids who were 14 and 15. I was half their size and wanted no parts of getting tackled. It’s ok to get down, DeSean, but that just looked terrible.
Quote Garry Cobb re Jackson and Maclin:
They’re not nearly as good in the classic west coast offense, when they’re asked to catch short passes and take a pounding from a tough defense. A defense can beat them up and intimidate them, when they’re catching a lot of short passes. We saw this happen during the preseason.
Back to the receivers, Jackson and Maclin aren’t made for the west coast offense. Remember how both of them were knocked out of the game by physical play during the preseason. If you make short passes the main part of the Eagles offense, it will expose the inability of both Jackson and Maclin to thrive against a physical secondary.
If either Jackson or Maclin had been hit like Brent Celek was on the Vick throw down the middle at the end of the half, they wouldn’t have come back into the game. Notice how Jackson is going out of his way to avoid contact. He’s getting on the ground at times rather than risk getting hit. I think it makes sense, but you can’t run an offense dependent on short throws with your top receiver getting on the ground rather taking the hit.
Quote Cobb:
There’s one thing that a football player can always smell and its a football player who doesn’t want to get hit. Jackson, Maclin and Kolb don’t like to get hit.
I dunno how many have to say it. The dudes good, but not tough.
mimi…..the argument is stupid but i’ll chime in.
fragile and tough are two separate things. Desean is a tough little man in a big man’s game….but fragile when a good hit is put on him.
Drummer I have to agree with you! DJ is fearless and courageous and intelligent enough to know at 170 pounds you avoid hits from a 340 pound train any way you can. A man who makes play after play after 3 weeks on injured list against NFL sized defenders is tough minded, courageous fearless and smart. And mimitaro I don’t know you and I don’t want to offend you but your argument about Jackson not being tough and inferrence that he is a coward is just plain smelly.
Mimitaro – Nobody LIKES TO GET HIT. Jackson and Vick should do all they can to avoid hits. However since both continue top put themselves in a position go get smacked. That qualifies for tough. If you ask to run a reverse you know there is a good chance you are going to get hammered. Its almost a 100% chance on a punt return. Yet Jackson goes out there. If he told Andrew Reid he did not want to return punts I am sure Andy would understand the value of not risking getting his star hurt. He’s out there because he wants to be. That makes him tough. He gets down fast because he’s not stupid. It’s the law of physics. He will lose any high speed collision. Read the Art of War. If overmatched run. If equal stay and fight. He uses his best asset (speed) which is what he is supposed to do.
Thank you guys for making sense of it all.
The Jackson being tough is just plain foolish. The Eagles need him on the field, I do not want him taking unnecessary hits for 1 extra yard. Vick the same. Being tough, are you kidding, he’s like the smallest guy on the field. And quoting MADDEN, really??? My son plays madden, you know where he puts Jackson, in the slot, for his Speed…LOL Again, I want Jackson on the field, he can get grass burns as long as he wants to as long as he’s on the field.
G:
The last time these two teams played against each other the Colts SHREDDED the Birds. This time the Eagles’ defense played pretty well. Bradley is exactly as good as he was two years ago, and he still can’t cover a TE. But they shouldn’t be asking him to do so. It’s a hole in the defense. Enough said. Very good game by Graham who covered Tamme downfield (I guess as an option to alleviate the defect outlined in my previous point,) and is starting to show some moves. Vick and the offense looked very good as well. I will criticize Samuel EVERY time he ducks a tackle G. Count on it! He’s a smart, prepared player. He is appearing to earn his money. He’s been tackling better this year. The Eagles are lucky to have him and I cheer him. Don’t go to the: “I don’t want to hear about…” It’s an incentive to go there. He misses another tackle on a sweep in the playoffs? Tell me you don’t want to hear about it then, G.
G:
LeSean McCoy is a really good NFL running back. He exploited everything in front of him yesterday.
Unsung heroes Defensivley were Tapp, Laws,Coleman & Hanson,Graham who I thought all played very well when they were out there…
The Stars of the Defense yesterday were CB’s D Patterson & A Samuel as well as LB Sims and
S Mickell (LB Sims have played a little better each week and has put together 2-3 solid games in a row which is needed and great to see) and of course T Cole who just brings it on every play
It should be a Law on the GCobb site that any poster who refers to the Madden game as validation for an argument should be suspended for at least 1 week. This is certainly a VIOLATION.
Hey is it me or is Bunkley not healthy enough to play! He was a non-factor in the game and I think Dixon should be the man this year!!! There was alot of one-on-one’s with Bunkley and no penetration from him!!! And Stewart Bradley I think the Birdz should keep him in on 1st and 2nd down!! He just doesn’t have the speed after just one year after a serious injury. I’ll look at one of the young guys like Clayton and Cheaney to become more of a presence on 3rd down! Garcon limited numbers on the field good job by asante and what about Hanson…. You know what all season i’ve trashed him all year but he’s come around so far this season so far!!! D. Patterson what a game!! Nice way to step up and play!!! Ellis Hobbs who? lol go Birds
jroc- I agree with your Dixon and Bardley points. I want Dixon playing more and we need to find a way to get a linebacker who can cover a tightend in pass coverage, not just run behind him. The problem with paying a team like the colts is that even if we wanted to get Bradley off the field on 3rd downs, they run a no-huddle that often prevents the substitution of players.
Green Fan your correct on that! That F***ing Peyton Manning was pissing me off yesterday! They gave us no time on the field to make adjustments which was a good game plan!!! I’m suprised they didnt run the stretch run against us!!! That use to kill us back some time and that Peyton playaction pass! OMG!!!!