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They give us the edge at QB, WR, OL, LB, DB, ST, Coach and Overall
They give NO the edge at DL
They say the RB are even
Earlier this week, our scouts filed their advance scouting report on this week's matchup between the Eagles and Saints. Now they're back with a second look.
With as much passing as the Eagles do, look for Saints' defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs to play more middle open or two deep zone defenses, so his physical corners can jam the receivers with help over the top. Gibbs knows he can ill afford to give up the big play on the outside lanes.
If the Saints' defense cannot handle Eagles' running back Brian Westbrook as a receiver, Gibbs will bring in his nickel package to get a better cover guy on him. Gibbs can run all of his third down coverages and pressure package without having to worry about matchups on his linebackers.
• Saints' head coach Sean Payton is all about creating mismatches in the passing game to improve his odds of winning the down. Payton will try to get Eagles' linebackers Matt McCoy and Jeremiah Trotter in zone coverage matched up on his receivers or running back Reggie Bush, by giving his players catch and run routes. Also, the Saints will get Eagles' nickel back Joselio Hanson in the game by going to three-wide receiver formations early in the game. Hanson has been the target of a number balls thrown at him, and is allowing over 60 percent of the passes to be caught.
• The Eagles platoon their defensive line, replacing all four players with a fresh group. The starting defensive line for the Eagles has combined for 14.5 sacks, led by defensive end Trent Cole. The second unit for the Eagles only has three sacks.
The Saints' offense will mix up their play calling with short, quick timing routes, runs and play action, when the Eagles first group is in the game, and will take shots down the field against the Eagles' second unit in the hopes of giving Brees more time to throw the ball deep.
• Gibbs has to instill some discipline in his linebackers and safeties this week to hold their water on any play action fakes. They must read their keys and not be too aggressive to stop the run. The Eagles run the ball approximately 30 percent of the time in the first half, but do an excellent job with play action passes. It is off the play action pass that the Eagles have gotten most of their explosive plays in the passing game.
• Andy Reid will change up this week and open the game up by running the football against a Saints' defense that has struggled to stop the run the past two weeks. The Saints' defense is giving up 123 yards rushing and this could be a big day for Westbrook and Buckhalter. Reid will try to spread out the Saints' defense by going to some three-wide receiver formations to soften up the box for the run.
He could also go with a two-halfback personnel group which has Westbrook and Buckhalter in the game at the same time. Westbrook lines up in the slot as a receiver, making the defense adjust to this formation and possibly giving Reid what he wants -- either a good number count to run the ball or single coverage on his receivers.
• The Saints' offensive coaches do a nice job of self scouting themselves and maintaining a good balance between the run and the pass on first and second down. The Eagles need to stop the Saints' running attack, which is averaging 111 yards a game behind the legs of Deuce McAllister and Bush.
This will cause Saints' QB Drew Brees to hold on to the ball a little longer and give the excellent Eagles' pass rush a chance to get pressure on him. Eagles' defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will mix in his zone pressure package to keep Brees from being too comfortable in the pocket, forcing him to rush his throws.
• The Saints' pass offense is centered around three players -- Bush, Colston and Horn -- and these players account for close to 89 percent of the Saints' pass offense. The Eagles must take these three players away from Brees and force him to throw to tight end Ernie Conwell, who is more of a blocking tight end. Conwell and backup tight end Mark Campbell have seen the ball thrown their way 15 times in five games, just three times a game. It is safe to say that the tight end position is not featured much in the Saints' offense.
Special Teams
The Eagles' punt coverage unit will have its hand full this week covering Reggie Bush. Bush scored his first NFL touchdown off a punt return last week. The punt team for the Eagles needs to maintain its lane discipline while it is running downfield, and converge on the ball without leaving any gaps Bush can leak through.
Eagles' punter Dirk Johnson should get good hang time in the dome in New Orleans, which would cause Bush to fair catch the punts. Johnson is averaging 37.8 net yards a punt, with a long of 56 yards. The Eagles' punt coverage unit is giving up only 3.8 yards a return, with a long of 11 yards. This game will be a good test.
While Bush is dangerous returning punts, the same can't be said of kickoff return man Aaron Stecker. His longest return has been for 28 yards, and he will be hardpressed to get much more than that against the Eagles' kickoff team.
Matchups
• Philadelphia RDE Trent Cole vs. New Orleans LOT Jammal Brown
• Philadelphia TE L.J. Smith vs. New Orleans OLB Scott Fujita
• Philadelphia CB Sheldon Brown vs. New Orleans WR Marques Colston
• Philadelphia ROG Shawn Andrews vs. New Orleans DT Brian Young
• Philadelphia RB Brian Westbrook vs. New Orleans MLB Mark Simoneau
Scouts' Edge
This is the best team the Saints have faced so far this season, and this game will be a good test for them. The Eagles have a high-powered offense that can run and pass the ball at will. The Saints' defense has yet to face an offense with so many weapons, and could be outmanned at the skill positions.
Turnovers will play a key role as they always do. The Eagles' defense is back to full strength now that cornerback Lito Sheppard is healthy, and gives the secondary a much needed boost, as he will be able to handle the Saints' offense.
Prediction: Eagles 31, Saints 24
They give NO the edge at DL
They say the RB are even
Earlier this week, our scouts filed their advance scouting report on this week's matchup between the Eagles and Saints. Now they're back with a second look.
With as much passing as the Eagles do, look for Saints' defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs to play more middle open or two deep zone defenses, so his physical corners can jam the receivers with help over the top. Gibbs knows he can ill afford to give up the big play on the outside lanes.
If the Saints' defense cannot handle Eagles' running back Brian Westbrook as a receiver, Gibbs will bring in his nickel package to get a better cover guy on him. Gibbs can run all of his third down coverages and pressure package without having to worry about matchups on his linebackers.
• Saints' head coach Sean Payton is all about creating mismatches in the passing game to improve his odds of winning the down. Payton will try to get Eagles' linebackers Matt McCoy and Jeremiah Trotter in zone coverage matched up on his receivers or running back Reggie Bush, by giving his players catch and run routes. Also, the Saints will get Eagles' nickel back Joselio Hanson in the game by going to three-wide receiver formations early in the game. Hanson has been the target of a number balls thrown at him, and is allowing over 60 percent of the passes to be caught.
• The Eagles platoon their defensive line, replacing all four players with a fresh group. The starting defensive line for the Eagles has combined for 14.5 sacks, led by defensive end Trent Cole. The second unit for the Eagles only has three sacks.
The Saints' offense will mix up their play calling with short, quick timing routes, runs and play action, when the Eagles first group is in the game, and will take shots down the field against the Eagles' second unit in the hopes of giving Brees more time to throw the ball deep.
• Gibbs has to instill some discipline in his linebackers and safeties this week to hold their water on any play action fakes. They must read their keys and not be too aggressive to stop the run. The Eagles run the ball approximately 30 percent of the time in the first half, but do an excellent job with play action passes. It is off the play action pass that the Eagles have gotten most of their explosive plays in the passing game.
• Andy Reid will change up this week and open the game up by running the football against a Saints' defense that has struggled to stop the run the past two weeks. The Saints' defense is giving up 123 yards rushing and this could be a big day for Westbrook and Buckhalter. Reid will try to spread out the Saints' defense by going to some three-wide receiver formations to soften up the box for the run.
He could also go with a two-halfback personnel group which has Westbrook and Buckhalter in the game at the same time. Westbrook lines up in the slot as a receiver, making the defense adjust to this formation and possibly giving Reid what he wants -- either a good number count to run the ball or single coverage on his receivers.
• The Saints' offensive coaches do a nice job of self scouting themselves and maintaining a good balance between the run and the pass on first and second down. The Eagles need to stop the Saints' running attack, which is averaging 111 yards a game behind the legs of Deuce McAllister and Bush.
This will cause Saints' QB Drew Brees to hold on to the ball a little longer and give the excellent Eagles' pass rush a chance to get pressure on him. Eagles' defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will mix in his zone pressure package to keep Brees from being too comfortable in the pocket, forcing him to rush his throws.
• The Saints' pass offense is centered around three players -- Bush, Colston and Horn -- and these players account for close to 89 percent of the Saints' pass offense. The Eagles must take these three players away from Brees and force him to throw to tight end Ernie Conwell, who is more of a blocking tight end. Conwell and backup tight end Mark Campbell have seen the ball thrown their way 15 times in five games, just three times a game. It is safe to say that the tight end position is not featured much in the Saints' offense.
Special Teams
The Eagles' punt coverage unit will have its hand full this week covering Reggie Bush. Bush scored his first NFL touchdown off a punt return last week. The punt team for the Eagles needs to maintain its lane discipline while it is running downfield, and converge on the ball without leaving any gaps Bush can leak through.
Eagles' punter Dirk Johnson should get good hang time in the dome in New Orleans, which would cause Bush to fair catch the punts. Johnson is averaging 37.8 net yards a punt, with a long of 56 yards. The Eagles' punt coverage unit is giving up only 3.8 yards a return, with a long of 11 yards. This game will be a good test.
While Bush is dangerous returning punts, the same can't be said of kickoff return man Aaron Stecker. His longest return has been for 28 yards, and he will be hardpressed to get much more than that against the Eagles' kickoff team.
Matchups
• Philadelphia RDE Trent Cole vs. New Orleans LOT Jammal Brown
• Philadelphia TE L.J. Smith vs. New Orleans OLB Scott Fujita
• Philadelphia CB Sheldon Brown vs. New Orleans WR Marques Colston
• Philadelphia ROG Shawn Andrews vs. New Orleans DT Brian Young
• Philadelphia RB Brian Westbrook vs. New Orleans MLB Mark Simoneau
Scouts' Edge
This is the best team the Saints have faced so far this season, and this game will be a good test for them. The Eagles have a high-powered offense that can run and pass the ball at will. The Saints' defense has yet to face an offense with so many weapons, and could be outmanned at the skill positions.
Turnovers will play a key role as they always do. The Eagles' defense is back to full strength now that cornerback Lito Sheppard is healthy, and gives the secondary a much needed boost, as he will be able to handle the Saints' offense.
Prediction: Eagles 31, Saints 24
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