I’m not the most important fan of Eagles sport previews, primarily as a result of I don’t have the time to observe much more movie in the course of the season. Nevertheless it’s the playoffs! Let’s get into the Rams.
Rams Offense vs. Eagles Protection
It is a very various Rams’ offense that may win in quite a few methods. I might describe them as a superb, not nice, workforce. The numbers again that up.
Sean McVay is a incredible offensive thoughts. He’s modified the Rams’ offense rather a lot over the previous few years, and it’s much more a number of than it was once. Nevertheless, a leopard doesn’t change its spots. It’s nonetheless a Sean McVay offense. You’ll be able to count on to see a whole lot of 11 personnel, movement, and play-action. The Eagles noticed the same offense this previous week which ought to assist them put together for this one. The Eagles have to be disciplined to take care of the play motion bootlegs.
Let’s deal with the passing sport first. Matthew Stafford has celebrity potential. The arm expertise and funky arm angles he can throw from are uncommon. If the Rams’ offensive line retains him clear, he will likely be exhausting to cease. Nevertheless, Stafford is a statue within the pocket and doesn’t need to get hit. If the Eagles can get stress early, Stafford will actually battle. The Rams have been 0/8 in opposition to the Eagles on third down in week 12 as a result of the Eagles did a superb job getting after Stafford.
Regardless of what I simply stated, the Eagles mustn’t blitz Stafford rather a lot. Stafford is just too sensible and he can shred the blitz. Brian Flores blitzed him rather a lot final week, and Stafford made him pay. One of the simplest ways to get after Stafford is with simulated stress, reminiscent of ‘Whip’, a Vic Fangio favourite! Annoyingly, Nakobe Dean is normally the blitzing linebacker on Whip, which makes his harm much more annoying.
8) Nakobe Dean once more on Whip! Sweat does sufficient dropping into protection and Dean fully blows up the again. Fangio’s protection is ideal for Dean as a result of it permits him to blitz a couple of instances a sport and Dean is taking full benefit of this freedom. Have a look at the protection too! pic.twitter.com/eU0ydVMID6
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) November 26, 2024
The Rams use a whole lot of condensed splits. They’ll take a look at the Eagles’ protection in the course of the sphere rather a lot, and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see how the Eagles cope with out Nakobe Dean. Count on to see a whole lot of this. Puka Nacua is superb. He’s excellent at taking part in by way of contact and has nice fingers. He’s a superb run blocker, and the Rams will use him within the C-gap too.
2) That is the right name by the Rams in opposition to this protection. Puka Nacua has nice leverage in opposition to Quinyon Mitchell and he nonetheless solely simply beats him. That is the signal of an excellent cornerback. Quinyon cannot cowl this rather a lot higher. Additionally, I might love Jordan Davis to have the option… pic.twitter.com/YscRr89uus
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) November 26, 2024
One of the best offensive minds know go after a weak spot. The Eagles might have a weak spot at linebacker on this one. I count on the Rams to run a whole lot of Hello-Lo ideas from bunches/stacks to check Oren Burks/Jeremiah Trotter Jr. The Rams completely love focusing on the center of the sphere and I count on them to do it this week.
The Eagles had an issue with missed tackles within the open area this previous week. Control brief throws to Puka Nacua on this one. Fortunately, Cooper Kupp doesn’t break tackles like he used to!
Let’s speak operating sport. The McVay operating sport was once all about zone runs, particularly outdoors zone. They’re nonetheless a zone operating workforce, however they run much more hole scheme than they did a couple of years in the past. They pull their guards much more and like to run duo. When the Eagles performed the Rams in week 12, the Rams had a whole lot of success early on operating the soccer.
Nevertheless, the Eagles made a schematic change instantly. They went to a 5-man entrance in the course of the first drive, which nullified the Rams’ operating sport. The issue is that the Eagles kicked Brandon Graham inside and moved Zack Baun to EDGE. Sadly, the Eagles received’t have the ability to do that this week. I count on to see just a little bit extra Jordan Davis this week.
Eagles Protection All22 vs. Rams. 1) The factor I loved probably the most was how rapidly Fangio adjusted. The Rams had a couple of good runs on the primary drive and the Eagles immediately went to their 5-man entrance with Baun dropping all the way down to EDGE and BG kicking inside. It is a incredible play by… pic.twitter.com/pCAKdfBdQg
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) November 26, 2024
I’m unhappy about Brandon Graham once more.
9) Ah man, the Eagles are actually going to overlook BG’s potential to kick inside. It has been so efficient this yr. He blows up this run.
I hope he does come again subsequent yr, but when that is the final play I put up of BG, it has been a pleasure to observe him. An Eagles legend. This workforce… pic.twitter.com/zLkKac6bp2
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) November 26, 2024
The Rams’ operating sport is led by Kyren Williams, who has developed into an awesome again. He’s affected person behind the road of scrimmage, and he breaks a whole lot of tackles. He lacks the explosiveness that Saquon Barkley has, however he’s a tricky inside runner who will take a look at the Eagles potential to deal with within the open area. If the Eagles cease the run on early downs, then I feel they’ve an awesome likelihood of stopping this Rams’ offense on third down. Exterior of Nacua, the receiving core doesn’t scare me an excessive amount of.
Eagles Offense vs. Rams Protection
I feel the sport plan this week will likely be similar to this previous week. Sorry for these of you who need to see an aggressive passing sport, however it won’t be this week. If the Eagles’ offense performs as much as their potential, they need to rating some factors this week. This Rams’ protection is ok, however it isn’t particular. I will likely be disillusioned if the Eagles don’t play properly on offense this week.
The massive factor in regards to the Rams’ protection is that they need to reside in a lightweight field world. It is rather, very exhausting to cease this Eagles’ operating sport with a lightweight field. The Eagles’ run sport, particularly with Jalen Hurts’ mobility, is hard to cease with out stacking the field. The Rams didn’t do properly in Week 12.
4) Give me your finest Jurgens/Becton nicknames. They deserve a reputation. A number of the combo blocks on this sport have been out of this world. Each single lineman was dominant within the run sport. It was pretty much as good because it will get.
Have a look at the energy of Becton! pic.twitter.com/xx2YvKL4ZK
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) November 25, 2024
Paradoxically, stacking the field didn’t work for the Rams both. The Eagles ran a whole lot of zone runs when the Rams performed gentle containers. So, the Rams began stacking the field and placing extra males on the road of scrimmage. Once they did this, the Eagles went to their favourite operating play that excels in opposition to a heavy entrance. Counter.
13) Let’s finish with the MVP of the league: Saquon Barkley. The Eagles ran a ton of counter on this one and it labored right here once more. The difficulty with stacking the field is one missed deal with and Barkley is off. Nobody can catch him. The Eagles OL do a incredible job ‘pinning’ the Rams DL… pic.twitter.com/CUWELk7voU
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) November 25, 2024
I count on the Eagles to lean into the operating sport this week. I don’t see a purpose why Saquon Barkley mustn’t have one other huge sport. For these of you who’ve forgotten, Saquon Barkley rushed for 255 yards when these two groups met in Week 12
The Rams don’t blitz rather a lot, so I wouldn’t count on them to blitz the Eagles an excessive amount of.
When the Rams blitzed the Eagles in Week 12, the Eagles regarded comfy. Hurts had a number of good throws to the center of the sphere in opposition to the Rams. Nevertheless, after I went again and watched this one, I nonetheless was not impressed with the Eagles’ passing ideas, which isn’t shocking, sadly!
12) As soon as once more, good luck blitzing Jalen Hurts. The offense has been so good in opposition to the blitz this yr. Hurts hits his again foot, throws a magnificence on time to his finest WR. Simple cash. Hurts was very correct in the course of the sphere on this one. He is clearly labored exhausting on this… pic.twitter.com/g0omns1gZI
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) November 25, 2024
Right here’s a random schematic word for you… I’ve seen the Eagles run ‘Dash’ as soon as this yr. It was in opposition to the Rams. I wish to see extra of Hurts on the transfer. As a result of Rams taking part in a whole lot of two-high shells, the Eagles might want to work the center of the sphere once more. I hope we see a whole lot of ideas like this because the Rams will attempt to remove the skin the quantity deep pictures.
Eagles Offense All22 thread vs. Rams. 1) Not sure if it is a designed rollout or Hurts simply takes off because of the area however it’s a beautiful throw on the transfer to AJ Brown. The Eagles did not assault vertically on this sport however have been excellent within the intermediate space of the sphere. pic.twitter.com/76sDyKnnXe
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) November 25, 2024
The Rams’ protection does have some very proficient younger defensive linemen. I feel Braden Fiske may have some success if he can win along with his first step. I used to be an enormous fan of his popping out. Kobie Turner is one other enjoyable lineman to observe who wins with violent fingers. The Rams have some expertise up entrance, however I nonetheless assume the Eagles’ offensive line ought to be high-quality in cross safety. Not many groups have the expertise to stress Hurts.
One of many the explanation why the Rams need to keep in a two-high shell is much like the Eagles. They need to disguise their protection. You will note a ton of post-snap rotation on this sport. I ponder if we’d see the Eagles use empty formations rather a lot to offer Hurts a really clear image pre-snap.
Total
I’ll by no means really feel assured in opposition to a Sean McVay workforce as a result of I feel he’s a incredible coach. You simply can’t depend out Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams. The Rams’ offense is able to scoring factors in opposition to any protection. Nevertheless, I’ll really feel fairly horrendous if the Eagles don’t get this win. The Eagles are the higher workforce by almost each metric and they’re taking part in at dwelling. I really feel fairly good about this one. It’s the playoffs, although… you’ll be able to by no means really feel too assured. I count on the Eagles to play with one other conservative sport plan that depends on operating the soccer rather a lot. Hopefully, it will likely be sufficient, similar to it was this previous week.
If you would like extra, I’ll be posting day by day ideas on Discord, which is hooked up to my Patreon. I recorded a Rams’ preview which is simply obtainable on Patreon.