Cooley has a history of gouging the Eagles' defense.


No matter how many times we see it happen, Sean McDermott refuses to fix it. Tight ends gouge the Eagles' defense play after play, game after game, and he seems to stick his head in the sand and ignore it hoping that the problem will just go away.

But, of course, it doesn't. And at least once or twice per season, a big game by a tight end winds up being the deciding factor in a loss -- usually in an important NFC East matchup.

This season will likely be no different. Chris Cooley is coming to town in Week 4 against the Eagles, and he's due for a big game. He's got a Hall of Fame quarterback in Donovan McNabb throwing to him, and doesn't need much of an excuse to put up big numbers against the Eagles.

So why do the Eagles always give up big games to tight ends? Well, quite simply, it's a flaw in how the Birds defend them coming off the line.

More specifically, they don't defend them coming off the line. The SAM linebacker, whomever that may be from year to year, is always told to play five yards or so off the tight end and just try to catch him in his break. But, as we can see, this doesn't work.

The 'backer has to get up in the tight end's face and hit him as soon as he comes off the line. This will throw the tight end off the route and make it much easier for the SAM to stick with him.

Tight ends are just too athletic, and asking a linebacker to keep up with them out of their break is unrealistic even for the most athletic of linebackers.

And did I mention the Birds handed Cooley -- arguably one of the best tight ends -- a Hall of Fame quarterback to throw to him? I did? Well, yeah, that should make Akeem Jordan's job a lot easier, especially since McNabb understands the defense's weakness covering tight ends better than anyone the team will face.

Don't be surprised if Stewart Bradley is manned up on Cooley all game long, but if someone isn't chipping Cooley off the line expect him to have a huge day and likely be the deciding factor in whether or not McNabb truly enjoys his return to Philadelphia.
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If the Eagles can't stop Cooley, they will lose in D.C.


There's no doubt that a win over a division opponent after the putrid game against the Raiders would certainly help this team to rebound. It would put them at 4-2, a 1-0 record in the division, and only one loss against an NFC opponent heading into a streak of divisional games.

The next three weeks will either make or break the Eagles' season. They must win at least two of these next three games in order to stay competitive, and if they come away with less than that it will be extremely difficult to make a playoff push with all of the good teams in the NFC this year.

The Saints, Giants, Vikings, and 49ers are looking to win their respective divisions, with the Falcons most likely earning a wildcard spot. The Eagles could find themselves fighting for that sixth and final playoff spot at the end of the year if they're unable to produce in these next three weeks.

They're already reeling, and a loss could completely destroy the season.

So how do they make sure they pull of the win against the 'Skins at FedEx field? Well, that's what we're hear to examine, so let's get to it.


Run the Ball, Run the Ball, Then Run Some More

Last week, Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy had a combined total of 11 rushing attempts. Eleven attempts for two very talented and explosive running backs is just unacceptable. What makes it worse it that the passing game was not working, yet they stuck with it.

If Reid would stick with the run when it's not working the same way he'll stick with the pass, the Eagles could be a very good running team. However, when you only do it every once in a while, no one is in a rhythm. The linemen are so used to dropping back that the mentality needed for running the ball just isn't there.

It's especially important for a back like McCoy who looks like he needs to get into a rhythm running the football.

And why did they even sign Weaver? He's rarely on the field, and when he is they're not running the ball anyway. If you're going to bring in a fullback and pass the ball, why not just keep him on the sideline and use another receiver, or another tight end?

He was brought in to make the running game more effective, and McCoy was drafted because he had great running ability and could really make a difference for this offense. They were brought in for a reason, so use them for that reason rather than just trying to throw them the ball.

Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, then play-action. Not the other way around.


Use the Screen Pass to Back Up the Corners

The Redskins corners, Carlos Rogers and DeAngelo Hall, play the Eagles receivers very tight. They use that bump and run coverage on the Eagles undersized-but-speedy receivers in an effort to throw them off their patterns, which causes McNabb to hold the ball longer than usual, which creates more sacks, hits, and throws the entire passing game out of rhythm.

It wouldn't be such a problem if Reid would just stick to the run, but as we all know, that doesn't happen and most likely never will happen.

While I'm just about sick of the passing game, and at this point would welcome a game where the Eagles just ran the ball every single play, the screen is invaluable to this team. I hate the term "extended handoff," but if Reid wants to run a screen play instead of a draw or just a simple run, I'm all for it.

Hopefully by doing this it will keep the Eagles out of third and 10+ yards situations. In that situation this year, the Eagles are 0 for 15. That's incredibly disturbing not only because they don't have a single first down in that situation, but just the fact that they've been in that situation 15 times. That's three times a game, which is far too many times to be in third and 10 or more.

Todd Herremans' return should help the screen game immensely, so there's no reason not to run it anymore.


Find a Way to Stop Chris Cooley

Will Witherspoon was brought in not only because of the injury to Omar Gaither that possibly could sideline him the year, but because of his skill in pass coverage, particularly on the tight end. It's an area in which the Eagles have struggled ever since Jim Johnson took over the defense.

His blitzing defense just didn't plan for the tight end, and now with McDermott's defense being essentially the same thing, the tight end is still an area of concern. With the all-star tight ends in this division, that's just not an option any longer.

The defense can no longer afford to give up 100 yards and two touchdowns to the tight end every week and expect to win. It killed them last week against the Raiders, so it can definitely come back to bite them against the likes of Chris Cooley and the Redskins, and Jason Witten and the Cowboys.

They may have to employ a bracket coverage of Cooley to stop him, but if that's what it takes, then they have to do it. The Redskins' receivers, Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El, should be no match for Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown, so putting a safety over top to watch the tight end should not hurt them on the outside.

I don't know if that's their plan, but there needs to be some sort of plan or Cooley will exploit the defense and could single-handedly win this game for the 'Skins.
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Witten continuing to run after having his helmet knocked off.


Originally, tight ends were really just a sixth lineman.

They were there to block, mainly because throwing the ball was not nearly as common even 30 years ago as it is today.

Today, tight ends are expected to have perhaps the best skill-set of any position on the field. They are expected to be able to block like a tackle, but catch like a wide receiver. Since the decline of the H-back, they are the true utility players on offense.

Let's also not forget to throw in that many of them are expected to play an H-back type of role from time to time.

To be the best at the tight end position one must have natural size. Most are in the 6'3"-6'6" range and between 230-250 pounds. That's not exactly an easy body type to find. Then, if you do find someone like that, they also must have the natural ability to block and catch the football.

It goes without saying, good tight ends are tough to come by.

The respective teams of these players, however, have tested the odds and hit the jackpot.



5. Chris Cooley (Washington Redskins)

73 games started, 314 receptions, 3,457 yards, 11 YPR, 28 TDs, 2-time Pro Bowler

Originally, this spot was going to go to Owen Daniels. However after looking at the numbers and some film a second time, I decided to go with Cooley.

Cooley has averaged around seven touchdowns a year, where Daniels has average around four. Daniels brought in 70 receptions last year, a great number for a tight end. However, Cooley racked up 83 receptions.

The only stat that Daniels had over Cooley was that Daniels had two touchdowns last year, where Cooley only had one.

However, looking at the entire career, Cooley has played in much more of a run-first type of offense where Daniels has had a wide-open passing attack, which gives him more of an opportunity.

Cooley also plays the H-back position on occasion, and plays it well. Daniels is not asked to do that, so the advantage has to go to Cooley.

Overall, Cooley is a very complete tight end with good natural ball-catching ability. He's a very good blocker and a good route-runner. He's also now made back-to-back Pro Bowls and if the Redskins can decide on how to deal with the quarterback position, he will more than likely be headed to more.



4. Dallas Clark (Indianapolis Colts)

79 games started, 256 receptions, 3,082 yards, 12 YPR, 31 TDs

Playing in the same conference as Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez has not been good to Dallas Clark as far as gaining the recognition to get a Pro Bowl nod goes.

Because those guys would always get in, he would get snubbed. Even after having 58 receptions and 11 touchdowns in 2007, Clark still could not find his way into the Pro Bowl.

Even last year with 77 receptions and six touchdowns should have earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl, but again no dice.

With Gonzalez out of the conference, I expect Clark to make his first Pro Bowl about four years too late, but better late than never.

He is Peyton Manning's go-to guy. Even above Reggie Wayne or when Marvin Harrison was in Indy, Clark was still Manning's go-to guy.

Look for big things out of Dallas Clark, even playing in the toughest division in football, the AFC South.



3. Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys)

85 games started, 429 receptions, 4,935 yards, 11.5 YPR, 25 TDs, 5-time Pro Bowler and 1-time All-Pro

As far as toughness goes, there may not be a tight end in the league tougher than Jason Witten.

He brings back visions of Mike Ditka and Mark Bavaro because of the hard-nosed way in which he plays the game.

The most famous example would have to be during a night game against the Eagles in which he was hit by two Eagles, bounced off the hit, but lost his helmet. He continued to run down the field, nearly scoring before finally being brought down.

That, my friends, takes guts.

On top of the toughness he's a very good blocker. He is probably the best blocker on this list but, while he can catch very well, does not have the pass-catching ability of the other guys.

Witten will be a focal point of the Cowboys offense this season with the departure of Terrell Owens, so don't be surprised to see his receptions in the triple-digits, and his touchdowns in double-digits.



2. Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers)

89 games started, 400 receptions, 5,066 yards, 12.7 YPR, 51 TDs, 5-time Pro Bowler and 3-time All-Pro

Antonio Gates is the best tight end to ever play for the San Diego Chargers. And yes, that includes Hall-of-Famer Kellen Winslow.

His basketball background makes him great at being able to use his body to shield away a defender and make the tough grab. Whether it's a linebacker, safety, or corner he beats every single one of them.

Even while nursing a nagging injury last season he was able to haul in 60 receptions, eight touchdowns, and make the Pro Bowl. With numbers like that, the AFC West does not want to see this guy healthy.

For that matter, neither does the rest of the league.

Of all the offensive weapons that the Chargers possess, Gates is probably the best of the bunch.



1. Tony Gonzalez (Atlanta Falcons)

174 games started, 916 receptions, 10,940 yards, 11.9 YPR, 76 TDs, 10-time Pro Bowler and 5-time All-Pro

This is a fairly obvious pick, but the right one.

Gonzalez is the best tight end to ever play the game, and is still the best doing it. Nearly 100 receptions, over 1,000 yards, and 10 touchdowns certainly warrant a first place spot on this list.

He already holds the record for receptions, yards, and touchdowns by a tight end. Each year that he plays is only adding on to records that will never be broken.

He will most likely go over 1,000 receptions for his career, which is an incredible feat even for a wide receiver, much less a tight end.

He's already reached double-digit Pro Bowls, but that was all in the AFC. I'm sure he'd love to wear a blue jersey for the NFC this year, and most likely will do just that.

He wants to win a Super Bowl before his career is over, and him being on the field gives the Falcons a much better chance to win their first, and his first.
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