Eagles Defense Must Follow Up Chiefs Game With Another Solid Performance

The Eagles defense played very well against the Kansas Chiefs in comparison to the San Diego game, but they weren’t able to get off the field with the game on the line in the fourth quarter.  The pass rush of defense came life and registered five sacks.  They’ve got to do a better job of adjusting to plays that are successful against them early in the game.  Communication is the key.

It was good to see second-year defensive tackle Fletcher Cox use a arm over to beat the first pick in the draft, Chiefs right tackle Eric Fisher, inside then come off the corner on a pass rush and run down Alex Smith as he tried to escape.  Cox will need to get in the face of Denver quarterback Peyton Manning, if the Birds are to have any chance of pulling the upset.

Does anybody in the NFL get off on the ball like Birds second year defensive end Vinny Curry?  I don’t think so.  Two times Curry beat the Chiefs by hitting the gap inside of the offense tackle.  This young man has a great will to make it in the National Football League.

He finally got the chance to show what he could do on the football field during a real game.  The second-year pass rusher registered the first sack of his career, then a play or two after that Curry drew a holding call because he was getting off the ball like he was shot out of a cannon.  He needs to be on the field as much as possible against the Broncos.

I would like to see them use him inside at the tackle position.  His ability to get off on the snap of the ball, might allow him to get some quick pressure in the face of Manning.  The best pressure against Manning is up the middle, which will force him to move from his comfortable spot in the pocket.

Big defensive lineman Clifton Geathers made a nice stop on a running play in the first half.  He showed good quickness and athleticism in making the play. I would like to see Geathers use his 6’8 height to knock down some passes.

Safety Nate Allen had his best game of the year.  He registered a sack in the second series on third down with the Chiefs in the red zone.  Allen did a good job of tackling in the open field.  He was attacking plays which he saw developing.

Unfortunately Allen came up a step slow on what was one of the most important plays of the game.  He wasn’t aggressive enough on a 3rd and ten play with Kansas City on the five yard line.  Allen was doubling the Chiefs most effective receiver in the game, Donnie Avery, but he didn’t go up and take away the ten yard throw.  Alex Smith hadn’t thrown the ball down the field one time during the entire game.  Allen has to believe what he sees and not play careful.  From now on, Allen must attack the play and try to pick off the pass.

Outside linebacker Brandon Graham came up with a sack and he overpowered Chiefs offensive tackle Brandon Albert.  Graham should get snaps in the Broncos game because it will allow them to keep the defensive line fresh.  Blitzing Manning on regular basis isn’t a good idea.  The Birds will need to get there with their four pass rushers.

There was one play which the Birds defense had trouble with all night long.  It was a screen play to wide receiver Donnie Avery.  It’s an unusual screen, which is thrown across the line of scrimmage.  The other wide receivers pretend that they’re running routes, when they’re merely blocking for Avery.

The Eagles defensive back who is covering Avery has to alert his teammates when they line up in a formation, where they can run the route.  The defensive backs then have to fight off of the blocks and get to the ball.