Philadelphia Eagles: 5 Keys to a win versus Los Angeles in Week 2
By Hunter Doyle
3. This Philadelphia Eagles defense needs to stay disciplined.
Sean McVay is the master of misdirection. He’s going to keep defenses guessing and get guys to bite on fakes. Not only will teams get tricked during the play but also before the snap. Dallas jumped offsides three times on Sunday night before the first half was even over.
The Eagles have done a good job with the misdirection in the first two matchups versus the Rams but that obviously doesn’t guarantee them a win in this one. Their linebacker core looks a lot different than it did in those matchups. With the jet motions and reverses that McVay likes to run, the Eagles will need to contain the edge at all times to force the Rams’ running game back towards the inside. Anything to the outside could go for a big gain. McVay runs multiple plays out of the same formations, so the Eagles will need to make sure everyone knows their responsibilities.
It’ll also be important for the front seven to recognize screen passes as they develop. The Eagles’ defensive line can’t get too aggressive because, if they do, the Rams’ running backs will be in open space with multiple offensive linemen leading the way. Brandon Graham and the guys up front need to be careful.
Nathan Gerry could also play a big role in this game. He looked good in the season opener and one of his strengths is diagnosing a play before it happens. Since he’s a former safety, that’s to be expected. Although he didn’t play as much in the last two matchups versus Los Angeles, he saw how their offense runs. He knows what to expect coming into this matchup and if he can scan the field and close quickly when he sees where the ball is going that could be huge for the Eagles.