What Would Make The Eagles The Type Of Team To Win This Weekend?

I’ve heard former Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson talk about how he built that great Dallas offensive line which blocked for Emmitt Smith and helped them win three Super Bowl titles.  He said he simply tried to put together an offensive line that could block the Eagles defensive line of Reggie White, Jerome Brown, and Clyde Simmons.  He knew if he could put together a line that could block that line he would probably have a championship level squad.

I think that’s a good concept for the Birds to use in putting together a roster that could go up to Seattle and beat the Seahawks as well as go out to San Francisco and beat the 49ers.  I don’t think they’re at a level now to do that, but that has to be the goal.

Both of the teams in the NFC Championship game have tremendous defenses.  I would give the Niners a slight edge in the front seven and I would give the Seattle the edge in the secondary.

Could the Eagles offense as it is currently constructed be able to move the football consistently against the Seattle defense or its counterpart in San Francisco?  The Eagles must draft with the thought in mind of beating the Niners, the Seahawks, the Panthers, the Saints and maybe the Packers also.

I was very impressed with the way the Birds were winning the battles at the line of scrimmage during the season, but then those last two games happened.  Remember they were beaten up front by the Cowboys in both of their battles this year.

It’s on my mind, so I know it has to be on Kelly’s mind.  He has to be wrestling with the degree that he needs to improve his offensive and defensive lines.  I went into the last two games of the season thinking the Birds had the best offensive line in the game.  Despite the great regular season, the Birds were unable to run the football effectively against New Orleans.

I was really concerned that the Eagles guys upfront were outplayed by the offensive and defensive lines of both the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints in the last two games of the season.

After looking at the video of the Eagles battle with the Saints, the defensive line wasn’t manhandled like I thought.  The main reason the Birds run defense didn’t get the job done was because they spent most of the game in nickel.  Brandon Boykin was on the field most of the time instead of nose tackle Bennie Logan.  New Orleans  took advantage of the match ups and ran for 185 yards.

I know it’s a difficult time for Chip Kelly and his players to look at television each day this week and see nothing but news about  the upcoming NFC and AFC Championship games. I’m sure the coach is thinking about what his game plan would be against the two outstanding defenses in the NFC, while Birds defensive coordinator Billy Davis is probably wondering how he would try to stop running games of the Seahawks and 49ers.

Eagles GM Howie Roseman has to look at the Seattle roster and think about what type of receiver can get off the bump-and-run and beat Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas.   Roseman will be looking for difference-makers.  Players, who can enforce their will on their opponents in a playoff situation.

What kind of team would you want to take up to Seattle this weekend to play the Seahawks?  Do you see anybody in free agency or in the draft who would make the Eagles good enough to win games against Seattle or San Francisco?

You would definitely want to go in there with a strong running game.  The NFC playoffs have been very run-oriented, so far.  The team that runs the football most effectively wins the game.

The Northwest is much like the Northeast of the country in that during the winter or playoff period, you must be able to run the football.  Each year during late December and throughout the month of January, the weather becomes m0re of a factor.

I think that weather factor makes your punter and kicker more important than usual.  If either one struggles in the elements, it could cost you the football game.