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The Eagles beat the Colts, 36-10, in their preseason opener. Here’s what I noted.
MOST TELLING STAT: 60%
Although the Eagles' defense played without four key defenders, most of their starters played every snap in the Colts' first two drives. After allowing 16 yards on the first series, Philadelphia gave up a 68-yard drive in the second series. Why? The Colts' third-down conversion rate was 60%.
The Eagles gave up an average of 2.5 yards on both first and second down in the first two drives, but allowed 8.6 yards per play on third down. A big reason for the starting defense's success on early downs was Bennie Logan. The nose tackle helped force Andrew Luck out of the pocket on the first snap and tackled the Colts' running back for no gain on second down.
Logan recorded two more tackles on the Colts' second series, including one tackle-for-loss. He got into the backfield immediately and disrupted the play twice and consistently stood the center up at the point of attack. He was never pushed far off the line of scrimmage, even when he battled double-teams.
DID YOU NOTICE?
Rookie defensive back Eric Rowe had an up-and-down game. He forced a turnover by stripping a Colts' receiver after a completion, and stood up a ball carrier before Chris Maragos came in to cause another fumble (though the Colts recovered it).
However, Rowe forced the turnover after he got beat and gave up a big play. On the drive before that, he allowed the receiver to create a lot of separation over the middle. If Luck didn't throw the ball elsewhere, Rowe would've given up the first down.
He had his highs and lows in the run game, as well. Early in the game when he was the outside corner, he got sucked into the play and allowed the running back to get wide of him. However, he also made multiple tackles after shedding a blocker and didn't give up the outside when it was his responsibility on almost every run play
Read more at http://www.phillymag.com/birds247/20...lyPByKIc42r.99
MOST TELLING STAT: 60%
Although the Eagles' defense played without four key defenders, most of their starters played every snap in the Colts' first two drives. After allowing 16 yards on the first series, Philadelphia gave up a 68-yard drive in the second series. Why? The Colts' third-down conversion rate was 60%.
The Eagles gave up an average of 2.5 yards on both first and second down in the first two drives, but allowed 8.6 yards per play on third down. A big reason for the starting defense's success on early downs was Bennie Logan. The nose tackle helped force Andrew Luck out of the pocket on the first snap and tackled the Colts' running back for no gain on second down.
Logan recorded two more tackles on the Colts' second series, including one tackle-for-loss. He got into the backfield immediately and disrupted the play twice and consistently stood the center up at the point of attack. He was never pushed far off the line of scrimmage, even when he battled double-teams.
DID YOU NOTICE?
Rookie defensive back Eric Rowe had an up-and-down game. He forced a turnover by stripping a Colts' receiver after a completion, and stood up a ball carrier before Chris Maragos came in to cause another fumble (though the Colts recovered it).
However, Rowe forced the turnover after he got beat and gave up a big play. On the drive before that, he allowed the receiver to create a lot of separation over the middle. If Luck didn't throw the ball elsewhere, Rowe would've given up the first down.
He had his highs and lows in the run game, as well. Early in the game when he was the outside corner, he got sucked into the play and allowed the running back to get wide of him. However, he also made multiple tackles after shedding a blocker and didn't give up the outside when it was his responsibility on almost every run play
Read more at http://www.phillymag.com/birds247/20...lyPByKIc42r.99
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