Why The Eagles Will Kill Oakland

[PhillyPhreak54]

After watching Oakland the last two weeks I have a few observations as to why I think the Birds could possibly drop another 40+ on a team this week.

1. Take a look at the Raiders OLBs. They are playing Grant Irons and Tyler Brayton at OLB. Both of those guys are converted DEs who are too slow to play OLB in a 4-3 defense. Brian Westbrook should probably just motion out of the backfield 20 times on Sunday. Why? Becacuse can you see those lumbering fools trying to cover Westbrook? Ha! And Little John Smith is going to feast on those clowns too.

2. Oh, so you say "well, their OLBs won't be covering Westbrook"? Well let SS Derrick Gibson and/or FS Stuart Schweigert try to cover Westbrook and/or Smith.

3. TO will likely be shadowed by Charles Woodson, which doesn't scare me. But if Woodson isn't on TO or when Andy moves him around in formations (and you know he will) then TO will get to feast on Gibson, Schweigert, Nnamdi Asomugha, Renaldo Hill, Fabian Washington and Stanford Routt. My point? Oakland's secondary sucks.

4. The Raiders run defense is pretty decent. Although they miss a lot of tackles at times. But if the Eagles get Westbrook to those edges like today - big plays are there to be had.

5. Kerry Collins is still as unreliable as ever. The blitz and regular pass rush is going to force him away from that deep ball. He better be ready for a lot of 3 step drops because that is all he's going to have time to complete. Randy Moss has been shut down twice by Jim Johnson's system. That will not change.

The only thing that I see as a concern this week are:

1. Chris Carr's returns. Harbaugh's boys better be disciplined this week. That guy is fast and he can take punts or kicks to the house in a blink.

2. Ted Washington against Hank Fraley/Artis Hicks. That slab of beef is the kind of DT that the Birds struggle to contain. Although he'll never catch Donovan, he could create trouble.

3. LaMont Jordan is a pounding back. The Birds need a lead early to take him out of the game so they can get after Kerry.

[SD_Eagle5]

I didn't catch the last minute of the KC/Oak game, but one of my roomates (KC/Birds fan) said Sharpe said "The Raiders are going to get embarrassed by the Eagles next week" at the end of the game. Kind of a bold statement if that is what he said.

Anyways, agree on all points Phreak. Burgess looked half decent tonight for the Raiders.

I know we're deep, but when are we going to see Moats, McCoy, and Herremans activated? It'd be nice to see them in mop up duty.

[PhillyPhreak54]

I believe McCoy was active today...just didn't get it.

Speaking of Burgess...they'd be better off playing him at OLB than either one of those tanks they have out there now.

They still overpaid for him though.

[WEST is GOD]

The Raiders can stop the run, they showed that the first 2 weeks, but I do think we could throw on them all day.

[SD_Eagle5]

Speaking of Burgess...they'd be better off playing him at OLB than either one of those tanks they have out there now.

They still overpaid for him though.

They're playing him as a third down DE sort of the same way we did his first season here.

[pinoyboy2pt0]

Burgess is looking decent over there.  Not sure if they put him at ROLB or LOLB...but they flop him back and forth between RDE and LDE. 

One thing I noticed watching 2 weeks of Raiders...

ROB RYAN WILL NOT BRING THE BLITZ!!!

This reason, and this reason alone is why I think we'll put up at least 30+

He likes to drop'm back instead of bringing'm.  It's going to look like a long day for the Oakland pass D (unless McNabb brings his C- game)

I have a feeling Reid will abandon the run early bc Oak's run D is looking solid...and once our RB's have something like 5 rushes for 14 yards, Reid will just get a hard on and pass for the rest of the game.  Although I think we can be as unbalanced as we were on Monday night and still pull this game out bc R.R. does not blitz.

[bobbyinlondon]

I didn't catch the last minute of the KC/Oak game, but one of my roomates (KC/Birds fan) said Sharpe said "The Raiders are going to get embarrassed by the Eagles next week" at the end of the game. Kind of a bold statement if that is what he said.

Anyways, agree on all points Phreak. Burgess looked half decent tonight for the Raiders.

I know we're deep, but when are we going to see Moats, McCoy, and Herremans activated? It'd be nice to see them in mop up duty.

Moats. I've read, is having toruble with blitz pickups and because he wasn't a prolific return man like Westbrook was in college, he might not get in until the Eagles nab a playoff spot late in the year; that's when you're likely to see Herremans and Armstrong as well.

[henchmanUK]

Why The Eagles Will Kill Oakland

[shorebird]

I agree that we're gonna' have to watch out for Carr, he's got blazin' speed, and Lamont Jordan could be a big factor if we allow the Raiders to stay close.

I don't think that the Raiders will be close though, McNabb and co. will eat that secondary with bread.

[SunMo]

2. Oh, so you say "well, their OLBs won't be covering Westbrook"? Well let SS Derrick Gibson and/or FS Stuart Schweigert try to cover Westbrook and/or Smith.

he's target #1 with Westbrook or LJ.  he has gotten absolutely abused the 1st 2 games of this season.

[Zanshin]

They're playing him as a third down DE sort of the same way we did his first season here.

That's a ridiculous amount of money to spend on a part-time specialist.  That couldn't have been the plan when they picked him up.

[SD_Eagle5]

They're playing him as a third down DE sort of the same way we did his first season here.

That's a ridiculous amount of money to spend on a part-time specialist.  That couldn't have been the plan when they picked him up.

I'm sure they envisioned him as an every down DE when they first signed him. Not all Defensive Coordinators will sacrifice play against the run for added pass rush like JJ will. Phreak hit the nail on the head saying he'd be better off as an OLB. He can't hold the point of attack on run plays for shtein.

[Zanshin]

Yeah, but it was weird when they signed him...because he was never an every down sort of guy.  And they still play some 3-4, which he totally isn't suited for unless he's playing as a rush LB.  Was just a odd signing to me, for that kind of money in that kind of defense.

[Larry]

All we have to do is protect the ball and not make mistakes.

Allow Oakland to shoot itself in the foot because they always do.

[PhillyGirl]

Kerry Collins will be sacked 5 times next week. Will fumble twice....at the least.

I cannot WAIT to face this team. Moss might have his one TD grab (that will be on the highlights all night), but TO will have 2...at the least.   

And Sapp will be owned.