I spent a few minutes talking to Eagles fullback Leonard Weaver and he told me he was very impressed with the play of the Cowboys defensive front. He said inside backers Keith Brooking and Bradie James are playing very well.
Weaver who is a very smart football player both on and off the field, made it very plain. The Eagles will have to play very well to get the W.
He said this Cowboys defense is playing with confidence and passion. They’re physical and quick with a group of experienced and poised players leading the way.
Left guard Todd Herremans said the Cowboys aren’t the usual 3-4 team which has a massive run stopping nose tackle who is built like a Sub-zero refrigerator and can’t be moved off the line of scrimmage.
Dallas nose tackle Jay Ratliff is a very unusual nose guard in that he isn’t just a run stopper but more of a pass rusher. Herremans said they have to be on top of their game.
I hope the Birds give center Nick Cole the chance to fire out at Ratliff, who is listed at about 300 pounds, and blow him off the football. I said I don’t like the matchup of Ratliff on right guard Max Jean-Gilles but I do like the Ratliff versus Cole battle.
Andy Reid talked about Cole’s athleticism on Monday because he doesn’t look very athletic but I think he can give Ratliff a run for his money because he’s built low to the ground and strong as an ox. He can match Ratliff’s quickness but he’s got to be sure he snaps the ball first.
The running game has to be an integral part of the Eagles offensive game plan. I want them to pound the football against that 3-4 defense of the Cowboys.
If they could get the running going, it would force Dallas to abandon their game plan of focusing on the Eagles passing game.
Eagles right tackle is confident Jean-Gilles can get in there at the right guard spot and not miss a beat. I wish I was so confident but I would feel better if I was sure that the Birds were going to pound the ball at the Cowboys.
I would love to see them call some runs up the gut and let both Cole and Jean-Gilles fire off on Ratliff and blow him into the secondary.
The weakness of the 3-4 defense is inside, if you can push the nose tackle off the ball, the guards can come off of the double-team and get into the inside linebackers.
Cole is listed at 350 and Jean-Gilles is listed at 360. They should be able to beat up on Ratliff with Weaver eitther running in behind them or lead blocking for BWest or McCoy.
Wouldn’t it be great if the Birds got their power running game going and the Cowboys had bring a safety up in the box and it left DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin one on one with their corners.
