The Eagles should get creative with DeSean Jackson.


The Eagles are heading into their third straight divisional game, their second at home, and are looking at a very good opportunity to get on a roll at the half-way point of the season.

The Dallas Cowboys present a particularly unusual problem for defenses because of their inconsistencies. One week they can win a game by running the ball, then the next week the running game will completely disappear. The case is the same with the passing game and the play of Tony Romo as well, so it's difficult to prepare for this team.

Millions will tune in to this game on Sunday night expecting a shootout in the same fashion of Week Two of last season, but it wouldn't be surprising to see this game come down to defense and whoever holds the ball last.

Let's see what the Eagles have to do Sunday night to ensure those millions of viewers see them win.

Jay Ratliff vs. Jamaal Jackson

This isn't a matchup that will get hyped up in the same way that DeSean Jackson vs. Terrence Newman will, but it could wind up being the most important matchup of the entire game.

Ratliff is unusual in that he does not play both 'A' gaps. Instead, he will pick and choose a gap to shoot before the play and attack that gap. What his job becomes then is to get penetration rather than to eat space as is the job description of a more conventional nose tackle.

What Ratliff does sounds more like the job of a nose tackle in a 3-5 system you'd find in high school or college football.

Jackson is most likely going to have to get help from either guard, depending on the gap that Ratliff shoots. What will, or should, happen is that the guard would chip Ratliff with the hope to turn his shoulders square to Jackson, allowing him to gain the leverage and stop Ratliff's penetration.

The trick for the guard will then to be able to get off the combo block on Ratliff and watch for the blitzing inside linebacker, which the Cowboys will do a lot of if for no other reason than to have a man in the other 'A' gap.

On running plays, it will be imperative that the guard first help Jackson blow Ratliff off the ball before coming off the block to get a hat on the linebacker. If the Eagles linemen can do that, Philly should be able to have their way on offense.

Coverage Must Be Perfect

Personally, I don't believe that the Cowboys' receiving corps' is as good as most would say. Miles Austin is riding a three-game career, Patrick Crayton is nothing more than a good slot but below average starting receiver, and then there's Roy Williams.

Why people still refuse to call him a bust at this point is beyond me, but let me just go on record as slapping that title on him right now. He has a lot of raw talent, but the reputation of him as lazy with little work ethic seems to have certainly been warranted.

He obviously doesn't do what needs to be done in order to make himself better, and it certainly shows in his lack of production and Romo's lack of faith in him.

That said, they are big-play receivers if the coverage on them is lax. They all have the speed necessary to get down the field and make a secondary look foolish as they showed against Tampa Bay.

Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown should be able to shut these receivers down, but they will have to work for it. If they can harrass and abuse these receivers, they may even be able to come up with a few turnovers.

Avoid the Shootout at All Costs

This Cowboys defense is not good enough to stop this Eagles offense -- if Reid is willing to do what it takes as far as the playcalling is concerned.

The way you beat the Cowboys is by keeping that offense and sidelines and beating the Cowboys defense until they can't move. You have to tire them out both physically and mentally, then take advantage of them with the big play.

However, if Reid comes out and wants to immediately take shots down the field, the defense is going to start pinning their ears back and attacking McNabb. It's something that will eventually work as DeMarcus Ware will be difficult to stop if he's able to just attack McNabb with reckless abandon.

Short passes, screen plays, and more importantly, running the football then hitting that defense with the big play is what will win this game for the Birds. Getting into a shootout plays right into the hands of Romo who likes to move around and make plays through the air.

Keep him off the field, win the time of possession battle, and the Eagles should be able to move to 6-2 and a game atop the NFC East.
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Allowing this on Sunday will result in an L for Philly.


Usually Brian Westbrook is the man being spied upon. In fact, the NFC East foes of the Eagles have adopted the saying of "22 eyes on 36," because of what he can do to a team if not properly accounted for.

But this week, it will be Westbrook who does the spying. No matter where DeMarcus Ware goes, Westbrook must follow him and make sure he can't get his hands on Donovan McNabb.

Andy Reid's balance from last week's game against the Giants will most likely disappear because he feels more comfortable passing the ball with Westbrook blocking for McNabb, so B-West will have to do just that because McNabb will probably be asked to throw 35-40 times.

Everyone would love to see Westbrook and McCoy rush the ball a combined 35-40 times, but it's unlikely to happen. Therefore, the main focus falls on protecting your quarterback. In order to that, Westbrook must be allowed to move to whichever side Ware happens to be prowling on that particular play.

Ware is a guy that Wade Phillips likes to move around and use in different places on the field, so keeping track of him may be a chore on its own.

But instead of keeping Westbrook on a certain side of the formation in order to block, let's say, on the weak side, he simply has to be allowed to follow Ware, no matter which side of the field he is on.

Jason Peters is struggling as of late, allowing two sacks this past Sunday, and Winston Justice, though playin fairly well this season, is not ready to handle Ware on his own. It's not a jab at either tackle, but there's not one single player in the league who can handle Ware by themselves.

Westbrook is a fantastic pass-blocker, and with his help the Eagles offense should be able to shut Ware out of the game entirely.

Ware is the key to this offense either crumbling or succeeding, and both teams know that. The rest of that Dallas defense is not overly impressive, so containing Ware should allow the Eagles to have their way.
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Could DeMarcus Ware prematurely leave Jones and the Cowboys?


According to Len Pasquarelli of ESPN, the Cowboys and DeMarcus Ware are nowhere close to agreeing on a new deal for the All-Pro pass-rusher.

The Cowboys would love to lock Ware up for about six-seven years, no matter what the dollar amount. Ware, on the other hand, is not looking for this to be his last big deal, as he wants more around the area of three years in order to hit the market one more time.

What Ware doesn't seem to understand is that Jerry Jones will pay him whatever he wants. Literally, whatever he wants. He will make him the highest paid player in the league if that's what it takes. Higher than any left tackle, defensive end, or even quarterback.

As long as that deal says six or seven years, Jones will sign off on it and Ware will make his money.

It's like saying well you can have $20 million in guarantees now, and again in three years, or just sign a six-year deal and take the $40 million in guarantees right now.

Ware is seeing dollar signs and getting greedy, without realizing that a six-year $100 million deal with $40 million in guaranteed money is best for both side. He gets the money that he's looking for, and the Cowboys get peace of mind.

If Ware will sign the longer deal, he will surpass Albert Haynesworth money. He could probably even surpass Matthew Stafford guaranteed money, but only if he's willing to commit to the Cowboys for the amount of time that they want, not that he wants.

I think we'll probably see this get done for about a six-year deal, but with Ware being able to opt out of the last two if he reaches certain levels in his play such as Pro Bowls, All-Pro teams, certain number of sacks, snaps played, etc.

Of course, as an optimistic Eagles fan, we could just hope that the Cowboys severely mess this whole thing up,Ware leaves and heads off into the AFC.
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Shawne Merriman is deadly off the edge.


An outside linebacker in the 3-4 has a lot of the same responsibilities as a defensive end in the 4-3.

They must be quick, fast, agile, intelligent, and able to secure the edge.

Just like a defensive end in the 4-3, outside linebackers in the 3-4 will make their money in sacks, and just overall pressure on the quarterback. The 3-4 is set up to confuse the offensive linemen, allowing the linebackers to come in clean.

However, just like a defensive end, they must also be able to play and stop the run. That reason, among others, is why you will not see a guy like Jerry Porter on this list. He is purely a pass-rush specialist and is no longer expected to play the run.

These guys are the most well-rounded, and obviously the best at what they do.



5. LaMarr Woodley (Pittsburgh Steelers)

15 games started, 15.5 sacks, 1 INT, 3 forced fumbles, 1 TD, 55 tackles

This might be a few too years early for Woodley, but given what he showed last year, he deserves to be on this list.

As it stands, he has more sacks than games started. Either way, that's impressive.

He's an astounding athlete with the ability to stop on a dime, and leave you some change while he's at it. He disrupts backfields and will scare a quarterback, and the offensive coordinator while he's at it.

This kid has future defensive player of the year written all over him.

4. Terrell Suggs (Baltimore Ravens)

80 games started, 53 sacks, 5 INT, 15 forced fumbles, 2 TD, 263 tackles, 3-time Pro Bowler

Suggs is versatile enough to play standing up, or with his hand on the ground and not miss a beat.

He's probably the only guy on this list who could be thrown into a 4-3 to play defensive end and not have any trouble.

In fact, he challenged the NFL to be classified as a defensive end when he was franchised (because they make more than linebackers) because he played more than 50 percent of his snaps with his hand on the ground.

He's phenomenal at stopping the run, and at rushing the passer. He's coming off of a Pro Bowl year and will look to carry that momentum into an ever better 2009 season.

3. James Harrison (Pittsburgh Steelers)
39 games started, 28.5 sacks, 3 INT, 14 forced fumbles, 1 TD, 222 tackles, 2-time Pro Bowler and 1-time All-Pro

There are probably countless enraged Steelers fans reading this, but let me explain.

While Harrison has been great over the past two seasons, he has only done it for these past two seasons, after four years of mediocrity, and that's being nice.

His ranking is not really as much of a knock on him as it is a testament to the two guys ahead of him.

Yes, Harrison was the defensive player of the year last season (and probably should have been the Super Bowl MVP), but the guys ahead of him have been doing it longer, and in my opinion, one was passed over for defensive player of the year.

Is the suspense killing you yet?
2. Shawne Merriman (San Diego Chargers)

38 games started, 39.5 sacks, 1 INT, 8 forced fumbles, 147 tackles, 3-time Pro Bowler and 1-time All-Pro

In three seasons, Merriman has already placed himself among the elite in the league, and perhaps of all time if he keeps this pace going.

Like Woodley, he has more sacks than games started, but has done it two years longer than Woodley.

He was the defensive rookie of the year back in 2005, and should have won defensive player of the year in 2006, but was passed up because of politics. By politics, I mean a crying Jason Taylor that Merriman shouldn't win it because he was suspended four games for performance enhancers.

He was suspended for four games, and still finished the season with 17 sacks. Had it not been for missing those four games, he would probably have broken Michael Strahan's single-season sack record.

Merriman is a once-in-a-generation athlete.

1. DeMarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys)
64 games started, 53.5 sacks, 1 INT, 18 forced fumbles, 2 TDs, 235 tackles, 3-time Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro

Last season, Ware had 20 sacks. That alone should have been enough to earn him defensive player of the year, but add on the six forced fumbles and in my mind, it's not even a competition.

Ware came in as a starter since day one, and has not missed a game since. 64 consecutive starts, or four full years, has put him as the very best outside linebacker in the game today. That includes any 4-3 linebacker.

Even when the Dallas defense would struggle, this guy always came through. He's an incredible athlete, and even at 6'4 and 245 pounds, is probably the fastest guy on this list, and maybe at the entire position.

He currently has a streak of three consecutive Pro Bowls, and two consecutive selections to the All-Pro team. Something tells me that this streak won't be ending any time soon.
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