Eagles Defense Wants To Get To Manning Like They Did In 2010

Eagles defensive coordinator Billy Davis has spent a lot of time looking at the 2010 battle between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Indianapolis Colts.  In the contest a few years ago, the Eagles defense was on top of their game. Birds cornerback Asante Samuel picked off Manning twice and the Michael Vick-led Birds beat Indy 26-24.

The defense was able to put consistent pass rush pressure on Manning, with three sacks and six hits on him.  The pass coverage made him pull the ball down quite a few times and that what’s let the pass rush got there.  Like any other quarterback, Manning feels the pressure when you put a lick or two on him.  Normally the clock in the quarterback’s head speeds up when you get some hits on him.  He’ll also start seeing ghosts.  The Birds must make Manning feel the heat.

“Everybody, individually, has to step up,” linebacker Trent Cole said yesterday. “They have to do what they’re supposed to do, play their keys and we have to apply that right pressure up front and jump on top of (Manning).”

“They executed well, and within their scheme I think they presented Peyton some looks that he wasn’t familiar with, and I think it slowed him down a little bit,” said Davis, who is in the midst of prepping this defense for a big test against Manning in Denver.

“I’ve studied that plan thoroughly, implemented parts of it.”

Samuel was always a tremendous ballhawk and he left Manning shaking his head that day, when he came out of nowhere to pick off those two passes.  The big play cornerback was great at anticipating and reading routes.  He would read the route, then jump in front of the receiver at the last second and pick off the ball.

I see some of those same qualities in Birds cornerback Brandon Boykin.  He’s the quickest defender they have and he’s capable of making the big play on the ball.  I’m interested in seeing if he can slow down Broncos outstanding slot receiver Wes Welker.  They’ll be match man-to-man for most of the day.

“That’s huge, being able to tackle, because he does get the ball out (quickly),” Boykin said.  “It might be a one-on-one situation in the flat or across the middle – a broken tackle can take it from a 5-yard gain to a 25- or 30-yard gain, and that has happened a lot of times. (Tackling is) very important for us, knowing that (Manning) will get it out quick. The rush might not get there, but we have to trust ourselves to make those tackles.”

Boykin puts a focus on tackling which is sure to be a very important with the Broncos big physical receivers.

“I think the biggest thing about playing well against Peyton Manning — it’s a real simple thing — is the execution of your techniques within your call,” Davis said. “He has seen every coverage you can throw at him. He has seen disguises and people holding onto their two-shell and dropping down late every week. Everybody’s always got something. The teams that beat him execute at a very high rate and they get the turnovers. If you’re going to have success against a Peyton Manning offense or slow it down at least, turnovers are a huge part of that equation.”

I want to see the Eagles jam the Broncos receivers at the line of scrimmage to mess up the timing between Manning and his pass catchers.  Jamming the receivers will also give the pass rush a split second or two to get there.

“One of the great things about coaching or playing in the NFL is these challenges,” said Davis, “when you’re playing against the best quarterback on the planet right now, the high efficiency they’re playing at. And the players and coaches both, we have pretty solid egos ourselves, and we’re not going to back down from any challenge. Our players in the locker room are very anxious to accept the challenge, and let’s go see what we can do against a great offense.”

The Birds defense has go into the game with the confidence that they can do the job and not be in awe of Manning.