Defensive game plan vs. Eagles

[jbcjr14]

Its going to be tough to get a W in Philly this week. The extra day is HUGE for preparation and the D will certainly need it. They must get pressure on McNabb from all points. Not just contain from the outside, but up the middle in his face as well. The Eagles Oline is still one of the leagues best and we should not forget that!

If I am the Eagles I am thinking Westbrook and LJ Smith across the middle on crossing routes and play action drag routes. This type of stuff is something the Skins have been struggling with for 3 years now.

[Texanskin]

I say put Rocky Mac as a shadow to Westbrook. Play bump and run on receivers(Safties over the top), get pressure on the inside....walk away with the win!!!

[Monksdown]

Containment, containment, containment. Task a linebacker every play to watch the running back. We need our DE/LB to contain Donavon's legs. When things break down, he'll move out of the pocket, reset, and find an opening.

This is our first divisional game. We need to hit them in the mouth on every play. Show them that it's going to cost them for every first down. And then contain the big play. We'll give them 2-3 big plays.

Hit them, hit them, hit them.

[sandtrapjack]

I watched the Philly-GB game and the Packers had Hunter shadowing Westbrook all day, followed him in motion and everything. It seriously minimized his effectiveness.

A few times they motioned Westbrook out wide to set up a mismatch, but the safety would cheat a little closer and help out the DB there, and Hunter or Hawk would harass Smith.

If the Washington defense can minimize the effectiveness of Westbrook, then, they will always keep the offense within striking distance.

Hopefully Williams will use his extensive blitz packages to keep LJ Smith in to block, and keep him out of pass patterns.

The Green Bay offense failed to score a TD against the Eagles, but still won the game.

[JWsleep]

I agree that we must contain Westbrook and especially in the underneath passing game. That's gonna require a different strategy from week 1. JLac thinks McNabb will pass 40 times, which will put a lot of pressure on our safeties and CBs. Now we'll really see how our upgrades work. Big game for Laron. Plus, we've gotta get some pressure (just like every week!).

As usual, ball control will help--if we can run the ball effectively and convert 3rd downs, we can keep McNabb and co on the bench. It will be a tough game. Glad we got the W against Miami--creates a much better mind-set going into Philly!

[DGreene28]

Originally Posted by Chief X_Phackter

Shadowing a player just doesn't work. All you do is take a top player on the defense out of 90% of the plays because it isn't too hard for the offense to catch on to that.

Landry just needs to play within the scheme and he will make plays.

Guess you don't remember Lavar shadowing McNabb about 5 or so years ago with great success. I'm sure one of Landry's jobs will be to stick to Westbrook like glue

[Cowell]

If that is his job, this will be good a good test of how fast Landry really is and how well his cover skills really are. If he does end up shadowing Westbrook I think it will be a great matchup.

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Westbrook will eat us up underneath if we give that up the short stuff like we did last week.

I agree......The Eagles thrive on that short passing game. We'll need our track shoes because they'll throw 40 times or more. We didn't look good defending the intermediate passes on Sunday, save for a few drops by Miami, the outcome could have been much different.

[DirteePosse]

The NFC East is a beast. We will do a great job of closing in on McNabb and eventually sacking him.

[NicknacK89]

i actually think people think the nfc east is better than it really is... the afc west to me seems 10 times better

[BrudLee]

Originally Posted by NicknacK89

i actually think people think the nfc east is better than it really is... the afc west to me seems 10 times better

The AFC West has the Chiefs and the Raiders in it. This year, that's not a good thing...

[Cowell]

Well the NFC East is a lot like the SEC is college football. All the teams really hate each other and beat each other up. It's not that we have the best teams, it's the fact that we have the best rivalries and no one really ever wins the division by a long shot.

[Chief X_Phackter]

Originally Posted by DGreene28

Guess you don't remember Lavar shadowing McNabb about 5 or so years ago with great success. I'm sure one of Landry's jobs will be to stick to Westbrook like glue

You're right, I don't remember.

Just because it worked once, doesn't mean it is the best option. They'll recognize that, and find a way to get the ball to a different weapon. It takes more than one player to stop an offense.

By the way, if Landry is to "stick to Westbrook like glue" as you say, then that will be his only job. Why limit him like that?

[hagams]

I'm not so sure about sending so many blitz's at them. Westbrooke is probably the best receiving back in the NFL. If we start sending too many people at MCnads, he'll suck the defense in and drop the pass to westbrook. I'm more concerned with coverage that anything else. We have to shadow Westbrook on every down, and make the QB look down field. If he's not completely healthy he'll be looking for short quick passes to avoid the scramble.
I do want to see more from our FS/SS positions. We need to go out, and crack some heads and earn some respect. Get thier receivers scared to catch the ball.
Most important, we need to generate pressure from our d-line. If they can't get through, we'll have to start more blitzes, and I don't think that's the answer.

Redskins, 24 Eagles 17.

[sandtrapjack]

I wouldn't take Landry out of the secondary to shadow Westbrook, a LB (Rocky?) can cover Westbrook in short patterns, which is where he thrives.

By minimizing Westbrook and Smith, McNabb completed less than 50% of his passes on Sunday against the Packers.

It is going to be a tough task to do at Lincoln Financial though.