Washington vs. Eagles: Breaking Down Philadelphia's Game Plan
Given the current state of their offensive line, it’s impressive the Philadelphia Eagles are 2-0 at all, let alone own the NFL’s No. 1 offense entering Week 3. Then again, they have yet to face an established pass-rusher still in his prime.
That changes on Sunday when Philadelphia hosts Washington and NFL sack leader Ryan Kerrigan. The fourth-year outside linebacker officially put the league on notice last week, accounting for four of the defense’s 10 quarterback takedowns in a 41-10 demolition of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
With third-string right tackle Andrew Gardner expected to make his second career start for the Eagles, quarterback Nick Foles likely has his work cut out for him.
TOP NEWS
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Colts Release Kenny Moore
Projecting Every NFL Team's Starting Lineup 🔮
Rookie WRs Who Will Outplay Their Draft Value 📈
| 2014 | 2 | 7 | 4.0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 | 16 | 66 | 8.5 | 0 | 4 |
| 2012 | 16 | 54 | 8.5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2011 | 16 | 63 | 7.5 | 1 | 4 |
Gardner will be going primarily against Kerrigan, whose brief history in the league is one of devastation and opportunism. The 16th overall pick of the draft in 2011, Kerrigan recorded 24.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and two interceptions over his first three seasons, returning both picks for touchdowns.
Gardner hasn’t done an abysmal job since taking over for an injured Allen Barbre late in second quarter against Jacksonville in Week 1, though he hasn’t exactly inspired confidence, either. He’s allowed pressure on Foles against lesser defenders than Kerrigan, anyway.
Considering Barbre was already filling in for Lane Johnson, who’s out serving a four-game suspension, you can probably guess how enormous the drop-off in talent is right now.
To make matters worse, All-Pro left guard Evan Mathis is on the shelf with an injury as well, his duties falling to Dennis Kelly. A 2012 fifth-round pick, at least Kelly had starting experience prior to Monday night.
| 2014 | 2 | 8 | 2.5 | 0 |
| 2013 (DAL) | 15 | 41 | 11.0 | 2 |
| 2012 (DAL) | 16 | 51 | 4.0 | 0 |
| 2011 (DAL) | 13 | 28 | 4.5 | 1 |
This week, Kelly could see a lot of veteran defensive end Jason Hatcher, long of the Dallas Cowboys. Hatcher, 32, parlayed a career-high 11 sacks last season into a fat new contract from Washington, where he’s seemingly picked up right where he left off with 2.5 more trips to the quarterback so far.
Jeff McLane for the Philadelphia Inquirer reports Gardner and Kelly appear to be in line to start again on Sunday. However, the good news is if either player struggles with his assignment, Matt Tobin should be available for the first time this season after suffering a high ankle sprain in Philadelphia’s final exhibition game.
Metrics site Pro Football Focus (subscription required) awarded Tobin the highest cumulative grade of any offensive lineman in the NFL this preseason. Had the second-year player been healthy, he undoubtedly would’ve been first in line at left guard, where he practiced all summer.
Having played tackle in college at Iowa and last season for the Eagles, Tobin likely would’ve been the first option there as well.
Continuity is important along the offensive line, as is conditioning, which is why I suspect the Eagles are sticking with Kelly and Gardner for now. With starting nose tackle Barry Cofield out for Washington, perhaps center Jason Kelce can help Kelly with double-teams as is necessary, while tight end Brent Celek along with running backs LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles can provide some assistance to Gardner off the edge.
At the first sign of trouble at either spot, though, the Eagles should consider switching to Tobin. Pressure has played a role in Foles’ disappointing performance this season, and the offense hasn’t even had to deal with Pro Bowl pass-rushers in the vein of Kerrigan and Hatcher. If that tandem is allowed to disrupt Philadelphia’s passing attack on Sunday, Washington will have a great shot at an upset.
Don't Count Smith Out—Count On Him
Could Eagles first-round pick Marcus Smith go from the inactive list one week to a key part of the game plan the next—and at an entirely new position no less? The idea isn’t nearly as far-fetched as it may sound.
Philadelphia’s defense is in a world of hurt if Mychal Kendricks isn’t over a heel injury by Sunday, which early reports from Reuben Frank for CSNPhilly.com suggest the interior linebacker will not be ready. Frank later adds that Emmanuel Acho, and mercifully not Casey Matthews, would start in Kendricks’ place.
Acho may start and Matthews may see some snaps, but just to be on the safe side, the Eagles also have Smith practicing at interior linebacker for the first time, according to Geoff Mosher for CSNPhilly.com.
| 2013 | 14 | 33 | 14.5 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 2012 | 13 | 16 | 4.0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 2011 | 10 | 9 | 5.5 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Smith has been the subject of criticism ever since he was selected 26th overall selection in May’s draft. The outside linebacker was viewed as a reach then, and his inability to carve out a role of any sort in the defense has done little to dispel that notion.
The 2013 AAC Defensive Player of the Year dressed but didn’t play in Week 1. He was a healthy scratch in Week 2. Who knows what Week 3 might yield.
Head coach Chip Kelly tells Mosher that Smith practicing on the inside is strictly depth-related. That being said, the Eagles would be wise to arrange a small package of plays to help bolster the overall level of talent and athleticism on the field.
Kendricks’ absence would be an issue even if the Eagles had reliable depth behind him, which they don't. He has a rare combination of speed, power, agility and instinct that Acho, Matthews and few linebackers around the NFL possess.
Out of any linebacker on the roster, though, Smith comes closest—and believe it or not, the skill set he demonstrated in preseason games could translate well on the inside under the right circumstances.
The main reason Smith isn’t playing is he’s shown nothing in a pass-rushing capacity off the edge, which is sort of the job he was hired for. However, as we showed back in August, the rookie wasn’t ineffective against the run, while he actually looked quite good in coverage in particular.
Notice how Smith doesn’t take the bait on this high-low concept on the pass pattern. He understands his assignment is the underneath zone, stays with it despite the Chicago Bears wideout streaking past him, and winds up stopping the underneath receiver—an impressive open-field tackle, mind you—for no gain.
There was another play where Smith was running almost step-for-step with Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl wide receiver Antonio Brown, using those 34-inch arms to make it difficult to see the incoming pass. Brown made the catch because he’s a great player, and frankly that's a mismatch, but it still goes to show what kind of ability the 22-year-old linebacker has.
Acho and Matthews can’t cover guys like that. Nor can starter DeMeco Ryans, for that matter.
With Alfred Morris currently ripping off 4.9 yards per carry and backup quarterback Kirk Cousins at the helm, Washington will probably try to take advantage of Kendricks’ absence through an added emphasis on the running game. I wouldn’t expect to see Smith on many first and second downs.
Deploying Smith in a few obvious passing situations could pay dividends, however. Who knows, sending him on one or two disguised blitzes could even make the light bulb turn on for the young linebacker.
I doubt it would be much more than five or 10 snaps for Smith, if he gets into the game at all. That being said, just one sack, just one pass breakup or who knows, an interception, could be the play that holds off a Washington football club that could give a banged-up Eagles squad fits on Sunday.
It’s certainly more than I would expect from Acho or Matthews.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
