Can Anyone Beat The Eagles?

by thePurpleLion on Nov 3, 2011 11:47 AM EDT

I was thinking about how the Bears must be feeling about this game this week. So, lets put ourselves in the shoes of our opponents this week. We all know that there are three phases of the game to plan for: offense, defense, and special teams. With the new rules, special teams is hardly a threat anymore. Our defense is pretty transparent if you have seen any of the Eagles games this season. The new secondary scheme has them playing lights out with plenty of talent and depth at CB. Over the top throws against our safeties would be probably an obvious choice if quaterbacks can get the time to throw them. Our defensive line is getting to quarterbacks regularly with the new wide 9 sets and, as of lately, the running game has been limited as well. Our obvious weakness comes from our linebackers who seem to rotate their positions regularly. They have struggled against tight ends, slot receivers, and running backs. Accordingly, most teams could target short throws over the middle, longer passes over the corners, or establishing the run and using play action.

So what about our offense? How are teams supposed to gameplan against an offense that seemed to be unstoppable last week. The Cowboys saw an offense that was just plain brilliant in every way. The playcalling was good, from both the coaches and audibles by Vick at the line. LeSean McCoy is getting accolades from, what seems to be, every pundit and analyst out there. Safeties are playing "500 yards" deep to prevent Desean Jackson from burning them. Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant are reaping the benefits of deeper safeties creating mismatches against linebackers. The offensive line took care of their assignments and nullified the blitzes. Brent Celek was able to finally get involved as he was not needed as much as a blocker.

Seems like every aspect of our offense is unstoppable. How do you try to stop this offense? Complicate your defensive scheme in hopes to confuse Vick? Focus the majority of your attention on stopping the run? or the pass? Play zone and hope for turnovers? Blitz without end and hope you get to Vick before he can make a play?

What would you do?

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Can anyone beat the Packers?

Answer that one and you’ll get you’re answer :-)

Formerly BWestFactor
FLY #7 FLY !

by ShadyMcVickFactor on Nov 3, 2011 11:51 AM EDT reply actions

Not being a homer here but I think we’re the last team Green Bay wants to see in the playoffs

Follow @kjbrophy

by The Legend on Nov 3, 2011 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

You missed the point. He asked who can beat the Eagles, well the Packers can obvisouly beat the Eagles. Just like we can beat them, they can beat us.

Formerly BWestFactor
FLY #7 FLY !

by ShadyMcVickFactor on Nov 3, 2011 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Packers vs Eagles would be a damn good matchup now that our D exists.

Defensive player of the year for 2011 is...

Wild_Eagle!

Yes, Wild_Eagle's infamous reputation did help him get this award. But he shows that he walks the talk that he serves...with his keyboard. Wild_Eagle protects the motherland (BGN) from the evils of noobs, douche-bags, and other assholes. Although he may be crude and unnecessary, all great defenders draws the yellow flag from time to time.

-Awarded by Number5

Wild_Eagles’ Heart is scarier than Hell, you lose. - d-jackfan10 at the troll known as vicksuck!

Follow @CptRedBeard_5OH

by wild_eagle on Nov 3, 2011 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

Ask:

Atlanta
New York
San Francisco
Buffalo

That doesnt meant we cant play with anyone but i dont think 2 wins means we should start acting like we are the best team in football, we are still 3-4.

by Mc5 on Nov 3, 2011 12:00 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Like most, I see this team as one that has been improving every week.

Last week being the epitome of success. The Eagles showed little if any weakness offensively.

I understand we are 3-4, and dont claim to be the best team in football, but do you really see that pattern of losing the way we did going forward? I dont. In the past two weeks I have seen a team that has gotten smarter, closer, and tougher. Think about these things that didnt work in the past that we were able to do in the past 2 games …
- a very successful passing attack.
- a very successful running attack.
- little if any pressure on Vick.
- very few mistakes.
- very few turnovers.
- very few penalties.
- celek catching passes.
- defense stopping the run.
- our secondary getting turnovers.
- our linebackers not blowing plays.
- better tackling.
- etc. etc. etc. …

believe me, I dont want to start boasting here, but if you were the bears, and you saw what you saw last week and the week before from your opponent, how would you prepare?

"Obviously, I lobbied for him to be here. But what a difference a year makes." -- Donovan McNabb

by thePurpleLion on Nov 3, 2011 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

the bears are in trouble against our offense as they generally play their safeties in a deep cover set, like the cowboys did last week. This allows us to run, check down and keep our defense off the field. If we score, they need to pass, which we are clearly built to shut down.

Writing off special teams is silly, clearly the Bears have the best special teams unit in the league and have for several years. Not to say DeSean can’t take one deep but the Bears have the advantage here.

If the Bears can create turn overs and run it down our throats/ drop off passes to Forte (which is the strength of their offense) and they will. They have a very legimate shot at taking us down.

by jho on Nov 3, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree. Most of what forte and hester can do against out defense will determine our play calling on offense, and ultimately our success against the bears D. Every week, there are tricky circumstances that can cause your team to lose. Just ask the saints.

I like turtles.

by Bleediots on Nov 3, 2011 6:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Turnovers dude….

THEY HAPPEN!!!

I think that maybe your short term memory is foggy ;-)

Formerly BWestFactor
FLY #7 FLY !

by ShadyMcVickFactor on Nov 3, 2011 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

The epitome in week 8?

Don’t you wanna peak in a couple of months?

I know what you mean, though, it was almost a perfect game.

And I think you should calm down a bit, so much football to play.

"We borrowed golf from the Scottish as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good." Horace Hutchinson

NYG 30 NE 29

by tommy d. on Nov 6, 2011 9:48 PM EST up reply actions

Damn

Beat me to it! Was gonna post this exact same thing.

El Donkerino (if you're not into the whole brevity thing).
I miss me some Brian Dawkins :(

by El Donkerino on Nov 3, 2011 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

agreed

JoeD AKA The Voice Of Reason

by Joe_D on Nov 3, 2011 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

holy crap guys

we lost a couple games and it’s “The season is over with! Fire all the coaches! What a disaster!” Then we win 2 and it’s “Can anyone beat us? We’re the best team ever!”

by smeagle on Nov 3, 2011 1:41 PM EDT reply actions

goldfish

by jho on Nov 3, 2011 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

That is what it's like here.

Interesting dynamic.

"We borrowed golf from the Scottish as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good." Horace Hutchinson

NYG 30 NE 29

by tommy d. on Nov 6, 2011 9:49 PM EST up reply actions

I wouldn't get too cocky against the Bears

they’ve usually found ways to beat us recently. Last year we were on a serious roll and they beat us handily (say what you want about the field).

I think they respect us, but I doubt they’re scared.

by DLawrence55 on Nov 3, 2011 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

Bingo.

Defensive player of the year for 2011 is...

Wild_Eagle!

-Awarded by Number5

Wild_Eagles’ Heart is scarier than Hell, you lose. - d-jackfan10 at the troll known as vicksuck!

Follow @CptRedBeard_5OH

by wild_eagle on Nov 3, 2011 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

This. Is. Ridiculous.

With the new rules, special teams is hardly a threat anymore.

/See what I did there?

www.twitter.com/DaneNoble

by Dane Noble on Nov 3, 2011 2:44 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs

I would say

that there’s a probability of 0.428571428571… that a randomly chose team will defeat the Eagles.

"Descartes commanded the future from his study more than Napoleon did from his throne."

by Euler.is.a.Pimp on Nov 3, 2011 3:40 PM EDT reply actions

but how do you think the Bears will prepare.

Not many of you have given an answer.

"Obviously, I lobbied for him to be here. But what a difference a year makes." -- Donovan McNabb

by thePurpleLion on Nov 3, 2011 3:50 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Same way they did last year

And for my going-out-on-a-limb prediciton? they’ll give Forte a new contract on Friday or Saturday to juice it up

by DLawrence55 on Nov 3, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

The Bears will use the same formula on D that they always use:

Keep the safeties deep, give up nothing over the top. Generate pressure with the front four, keep RAC and long running plays to a minium with their outstanding LBs. Keep everything in front of you, concentrate on stripping the ball, and force teams to beat you with long drives. If the other team can put together a series of 14-play drives and score when they get to the red zone, you tip your cap to them — but over the course of the game you try to make the other team beat themselves.

It has worked against us in the last few years because (a) we’ve played on their sloppy and dreadfully slow turf in Chicago, and (b) we haven’t scored at the end of our long drives. It will be interesting to see if they can contain our O on a faster track.

by Clyde Simmons 96 on Nov 3, 2011 3:59 PM EDT reply actions

I hear Forte's gonna lay a goose egg to piss of management

Whos your Daddy?

by Memstyle on Nov 3, 2011 4:09 PM EDT reply actions

Or he's gonna bust it up

To show them what they’ll be missing when they don’t extend him

by DLawrence55 on Nov 4, 2011 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Mc5 beat me to it.
Let’s not start this shit again.

AR should have to wear a Flava Flav necklace until he learns how to manage a fucking clock.
I am the proud target of temper tantrums.

by KByars on Nov 3, 2011 4:21 PM EDT reply actions

The Eagles have a .429 winning percentage.

The 2010 Washington Nationals had a .426 winning percentage. Did anyone on the Nats blog post “Can Anybody beat the Nationals?”

God Damn you, Andy Reid.

by EvilBanner on Nov 3, 2011 5:14 PM EDT reply actions

pffftt

We have a .003 higher percentage!!

Just wait until December..

by maximdim on Nov 4, 2011 7:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

little early

i think its funny how much the attitude has changed around here…i still think we shouldnt get too cocky and just enjoy the ride. if we can beat the giants in 3 weeks and head into our game against the pats at 6-4, then we can start feeling confident in this team. i agree they looked great but i think we just need to think one game at a time.

LeSean McCoy is the best thing to hit Philadelphia since Ben Franklin

by griffeagles on Nov 3, 2011 5:28 PM EDT reply actions

Just enjoy the ride. Exactly.

"We borrowed golf from the Scottish as we borrowed whiskey. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good." Horace Hutchinson

NYG 30 NE 29

by tommy d. on Nov 6, 2011 9:51 PM EST up reply actions

Hey, mental mistakes can hurt any team. regardless of talent, scheme, coaching. Talent and scheming might overcome mental errors and good coaching can help prevent them by making proper technique drilled into their brains.

Look at Kurt Coleman who bit on Romo’s pump fake. He knew to stay deep on the wr but maybe was thinking about how he forgot to buy kitty litter, then saw Romo’s fake stuttered and bam out of position to defend pass.

by Mtn-Green on Nov 3, 2011 7:14 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Any one can beat anyone on any given week

That’s how the NFL is. Do I believe we will win, yes. Do I believe our offense is very difficult to stop, yes. Do I believe we can be beat, yes. I also believe we can beat anyone.

We have all the talent, this team goes as far as our coaching takes us. Last week great schemes, great win. It’s really that simple, we can beat anyone if we don’t beat ourselves, not many teams can say that. For your question can anyone beat us, yes.

Stats won't get you in the playoffs. Winning will get you in the playoffs
-Michael Vick-

by the-vet on Nov 3, 2011 7:50 PM EDT reply actions