RipperEagle
01-13-2009, 03:45 AM
Well, here is quite the howdy do to my Cardinal fan friends and those who respect me as a visiting fan of an opposing team. This is, of course, the second time this season that we will be meeting up (after not facing each other at all over the past two seasons, go figure) but the season doesn’t matter now: the essence of it is that both teams, Arizona and Philadelphia, had to be good enough during the season to make it. Numbers in the playoffs mean nothing: just ask the two teams we wasted this past weekend, the #1 New York Giants and the #2 Carolina Panthers.
But with that aside, for both these teams to be where they are is nothing short of miraculous. Well, that is, if you listen to the talking heads, the armchair critics, and the studio rolling chair has-beens who make the picks prior to every game. Neither team has had an easy road to this point.
Arizona, champions of the NFC West with a 9-7 record, were written off even before the wildcard match with the Atlanta Falcons, but proved everyone wrong with a 30-24 win to move on to Carolina. The odds were no better for them, but the team took the odds and snapped them over the head of the Panthers and what was left over their knee, as they wiped them out with a strong defensive showing 33-13. It’s true, the unit that people consistently questioned and kept saying was devoid of quality corners and a free safety have managed to shut up everyone who doubted them, and this was never more apparent then when they harassed Panthers QB Jake Delhomme into five interceptions (out of six turnovers). And a devoted balance to the running game, something the team really wasn’t known as much for during the season, has paid dividends for the team, not only helping the passing game out, but also by helping to win the TOP (time of possession) battle.
Philadelphia, the last team to make the playoffs in the NFC with help from two AFC teams, were written off not only for having a tie but needing Houston and Oakland to win over Chicago and Tampa Bay to get in. The team only responded by slowing down the league’s leading rusher, Adrian Peterson, and the Vikings en route to a 26-14 win in the Metrodome. This past Sunday, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who gave the Eagles a shot to win again in New Jersey, but the team slowed down the Hydra Headed running attack and put the pressure on Eli Manning. The pending result was a zero touchdown, 23-11 victory over the defending Superbowl Champion Giants. The offense has done enough to get by, but the big story has been the turnover forcing nature of the defense, including a touchdown off an interception by “Mr. Playoffs” Asante Samuel.
With that out of the way, I want to look at the Cardinals team by unit, followed by the Eagles, and how each team should go about pulling to win the game.
Cardinals on Offense: As one would expect, the big story for the team has been the passing game, but you would be surprised to know that the Cardinals, with their head coach Ken Whisenhunt coming from a strong running tradition in Pittsburgh, have turned to this tactic just as well. And above all else, it has had exceptional results for a team whose strong suit is clearly airing it out. But this all begins with the offensive line, especially with the stout play of veteran tackle Mike Gandy, and the coming of age of tackle Levi Brown and rookie center Lyle Sendlin. Edgerin James has had a rise from the ashes outside of the Glendale based stadium, and JJ Arrington and Tim Hightower have spiced life up as well, VIA the ground and the swing out pass options. As per the norm though, Kurt Warner, the 38-year old ageless wonder, is the central brain of the plans, having major success with Larry Fitzgerald…yep, more so then usual! Fitzgerald blew out the Panthers on Saturday, but the team could be without the services of Anquan Boldin on Sunday, but Steve Breaston and Jerheme Urban will handle the duties should he not play or be limited. And Ex-Eagle Stephen Spach provided the team with a tight end (something they aren’t used to) but he is out with an injury.
The Man to shut down: Easily Fitzgerald, that is, if it is possible to do such.
The X-Factor: The Eagles have slowed down Adrian Peterson, the league’s leading rusher, and the league’s leading rushing attack in the Giants, but they cannot afford to sleep on James, who has 163 rushing yards in two games.
The Cardinals offense will succeed: If they can keep the steady balance and equal success of rushing and passing from their two wins in tact against the #3 defense this season of the Eagles.
Cardinals on Defense: This unit, now fully intact as a 3-4 defense just the way the former Steelers coaches liked it in the Steel City, has been treating opposing offenses like female dogs as of late. They made the initiation to the playoffs for rookie Matt Ryan a nightmare, and they terrorized and harassed Jake Delhomme into six turnovers, totaling nine takeaways and one touchdown in two wins. It’s been impressive to see the front seven gel, more so at linebacker, as former defensive ends Chike Okeafor and Bertrand Berry lead up the charge, with Gerald Hayes and Karlos Dansby in the interior. Antonio Smith has been a beast, and who would have thought that Darnell Dockett, not exactly cut like a typical nose tackle like Vince Wilfork or Ted Washington, could play like he has as the lone tackle? The secondary has also had their feast, more so the surprising play of Ralph Brown and their rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Former Eagle Rod Hood has been consistent if nothing else, and the presence at SS, Adrian Wilson, scares people stiff.
The man who needs blocked: Take your pick…Smith, Dockett, Berry, and Okeafor all have been bringing the damned heat!
The X-Factor: As the fans love to call him, “DRC” with his speed will create an intriguing match up with either DeSean Jackson or Kevin Curtis: all three are equally as fast.
The Cardinals defense will succeed: First by shutting down the Eagles receivers, on third down more so, and by keeping their eyes on Brian Westbrook at all times.
Cardinals on special teams: Neil Rackers has been a dependable and reliable kicker, and anyone was a better punter then Ex-Eagle Dirk Johnson, and Ben Graham has filled that spot quite well. Arrington and Breaston provide the Cardinals with a deadly duo on returns, and teams’ stalwarts like Sean Morey and Aaron Francisco lead up a unit which has made few mistakes on the season.
The most valuable contributor: Breaston has great speed and skills on cuts, making him a nightmare for punt coverage units.
Cardinals Coaching: Whisenhunt sure didn’t look like he was in his first career game as a Head Coach two weeks ago against Atlanta. Of course, credit that to winning a Superbowl as the OC for Pittsburgh, the same with OL coach and Assistant Head Coach Russ Grimm if you want to. DC Clancy Pendergast has turned his unit into a lethal turnover consuming machine, and has not repented even with a huge lead on the opposing teams (see Panthers game)
Eagles on Offense: For a team largely known for their big play potency, they must have left it back in the season. Largely unsuccessful in running the ball in the playoffs, the unit has managed only three touchdowns in two games, two of them from one yard out. The lack of success by Brian Westbrook is well documented, but has as much to do with the game plans from the opposing DC as it does the lines inability to get much road grating done. The line has been pretty stout for the passing game, holding the names of the Giants to no sacks for the third time this season. When not answering the phone on the opponent’s side line, Donovan McNabb has been steady if nothing else, and Kevin Curtis and DeSean Jackson have been the best go to receivers, Jason Avant the best on third downs. Brent Celek has nine receptions and a touchdown, the most of any receiver in the playoffs for the team. Jon Runyan is playing through a knee injury and has allowed no sacks in two games, and the team has went from Shawn Andrews to Max-Jean Gilles and now to Nick Cole, a backup center, next to Runyan at RG.
The Man to shut down: Do I really need to tell you?
The X-Factor: The more time he gets, the more and more Celek makes that money LJ Smith stole from us look pretty good on a tax break in March.
The Eagles offense will succeed: If whatever problem exists between run blocking and running the football can be solved, because the pass will only get you so far for so long.
Eagles on Defense: The Eagles defense has given up 619 net yards to the prolific offense of the Vikings and the Giants, but have given up only two touchdowns (both to Minnesota) and have accumulated five turnovers and one touchdown. While the results have been mixed, the intent of the #3 overall defense on the season has not been, and even with a decrease in sacks, pressure is always in abundance from everywhere, or else it wouldn’t be a Jimmy Johnson defense. The team uses five defensive ends to full capacity, and the tackle duo of Mike Patterson and Broderick Bunkley is awfully underrated. The linebacker trio, more so Chris Gocong and Stewart Bradley, are run wreckers and stout against the pass as well. The secondary is still led by the maniac who wears #20, seven-time pro bowler Brian Dawkins, and Asante “Mr. Playoffs” Samuel, along with hard hitting Sheldon Brown and the quiet but deadly Quintin Mikell. Joselio Hanson and Sean Considine are good coverage specialists, although I would be hard pressed to tell you where the hell Lito Sheppard has went to lately.
The man who needs blocked: On the line, Trent Cole. At linebacker, Bradley. And generally speaking, make sure Dawkins doesn’t come flying in like our namesake.
The X-Factor: Mikell gets little to no credit or respect for his play, but he and Dawkins form one of the hardest hitting duos in the NFL.
The Eagles defense will succeed: If the theory of our defense holds up of “Bend but don’t break”: get offensive yards, but turn it over, punt, or kick a field goal.
Eagles on Special Teams: David Akers has been money in the playoffs: he now holds the playoff record for most consecutive field goals made with 18 (took the record on Sunday from Morten Andersen, who had 16). Sav Rocca, who booted Dirk Johnson out of town, is as accurate as he is powerful, and with Quintin Demps, Tracey White, Tank Daniels, Omar Gaither, and Considine covering punts, not many people succeed there. Demps also has been improving on kick returns, and Jackson, if given a hedge of room on a punt, will make the opponents pay for it.
The most Valuable Contributor: Akers, far and away: we’ve scored 49 points in the playoffs, and he has 25 of them, 51% to be exact.
Eagles Coaching: Andy Reid is now 10-6 in the playoffs with the team, but only 1-3 in NFC title games, plus he is prone to become predictable, now running nine out of ten times on first down vs. the Giants. Johnson is Johnson with the defense (blitzing to infinity on third down) and Rory Seagrest has manned a very solid special teams unit, sans some lapses in kick return blocking.
Two more things then before I sign off: you know who I want to win obviously, but I am not picking a score, just because I never do that. And secondly, I’ve been hearing about the “home field advantage” of the Cardinals, and I must congratulate you guys in selling out the game in six minutes on Monday. But you must understand we have made it a way of life to be “Road Warriors” so far this month: they said overcoming 65,000 in a dome with a silly as crap Viking horn blowing would be too much for us. They then told us that a playoff game in a rival stadium with 79,000 Giants fans screaming at us, saying “Eagles Suck” none the less, would be too much for us. With all due respect to your fan base at the game, I don’t see the team being too intimidated, considering where they have been and what they have done so far.
Good luck, and let’s have a great injury free NFC title game on Sunday!
But with that aside, for both these teams to be where they are is nothing short of miraculous. Well, that is, if you listen to the talking heads, the armchair critics, and the studio rolling chair has-beens who make the picks prior to every game. Neither team has had an easy road to this point.
Arizona, champions of the NFC West with a 9-7 record, were written off even before the wildcard match with the Atlanta Falcons, but proved everyone wrong with a 30-24 win to move on to Carolina. The odds were no better for them, but the team took the odds and snapped them over the head of the Panthers and what was left over their knee, as they wiped them out with a strong defensive showing 33-13. It’s true, the unit that people consistently questioned and kept saying was devoid of quality corners and a free safety have managed to shut up everyone who doubted them, and this was never more apparent then when they harassed Panthers QB Jake Delhomme into five interceptions (out of six turnovers). And a devoted balance to the running game, something the team really wasn’t known as much for during the season, has paid dividends for the team, not only helping the passing game out, but also by helping to win the TOP (time of possession) battle.
Philadelphia, the last team to make the playoffs in the NFC with help from two AFC teams, were written off not only for having a tie but needing Houston and Oakland to win over Chicago and Tampa Bay to get in. The team only responded by slowing down the league’s leading rusher, Adrian Peterson, and the Vikings en route to a 26-14 win in the Metrodome. This past Sunday, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who gave the Eagles a shot to win again in New Jersey, but the team slowed down the Hydra Headed running attack and put the pressure on Eli Manning. The pending result was a zero touchdown, 23-11 victory over the defending Superbowl Champion Giants. The offense has done enough to get by, but the big story has been the turnover forcing nature of the defense, including a touchdown off an interception by “Mr. Playoffs” Asante Samuel.
With that out of the way, I want to look at the Cardinals team by unit, followed by the Eagles, and how each team should go about pulling to win the game.
Cardinals on Offense: As one would expect, the big story for the team has been the passing game, but you would be surprised to know that the Cardinals, with their head coach Ken Whisenhunt coming from a strong running tradition in Pittsburgh, have turned to this tactic just as well. And above all else, it has had exceptional results for a team whose strong suit is clearly airing it out. But this all begins with the offensive line, especially with the stout play of veteran tackle Mike Gandy, and the coming of age of tackle Levi Brown and rookie center Lyle Sendlin. Edgerin James has had a rise from the ashes outside of the Glendale based stadium, and JJ Arrington and Tim Hightower have spiced life up as well, VIA the ground and the swing out pass options. As per the norm though, Kurt Warner, the 38-year old ageless wonder, is the central brain of the plans, having major success with Larry Fitzgerald…yep, more so then usual! Fitzgerald blew out the Panthers on Saturday, but the team could be without the services of Anquan Boldin on Sunday, but Steve Breaston and Jerheme Urban will handle the duties should he not play or be limited. And Ex-Eagle Stephen Spach provided the team with a tight end (something they aren’t used to) but he is out with an injury.
The Man to shut down: Easily Fitzgerald, that is, if it is possible to do such.
The X-Factor: The Eagles have slowed down Adrian Peterson, the league’s leading rusher, and the league’s leading rushing attack in the Giants, but they cannot afford to sleep on James, who has 163 rushing yards in two games.
The Cardinals offense will succeed: If they can keep the steady balance and equal success of rushing and passing from their two wins in tact against the #3 defense this season of the Eagles.
Cardinals on Defense: This unit, now fully intact as a 3-4 defense just the way the former Steelers coaches liked it in the Steel City, has been treating opposing offenses like female dogs as of late. They made the initiation to the playoffs for rookie Matt Ryan a nightmare, and they terrorized and harassed Jake Delhomme into six turnovers, totaling nine takeaways and one touchdown in two wins. It’s been impressive to see the front seven gel, more so at linebacker, as former defensive ends Chike Okeafor and Bertrand Berry lead up the charge, with Gerald Hayes and Karlos Dansby in the interior. Antonio Smith has been a beast, and who would have thought that Darnell Dockett, not exactly cut like a typical nose tackle like Vince Wilfork or Ted Washington, could play like he has as the lone tackle? The secondary has also had their feast, more so the surprising play of Ralph Brown and their rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Former Eagle Rod Hood has been consistent if nothing else, and the presence at SS, Adrian Wilson, scares people stiff.
The man who needs blocked: Take your pick…Smith, Dockett, Berry, and Okeafor all have been bringing the damned heat!
The X-Factor: As the fans love to call him, “DRC” with his speed will create an intriguing match up with either DeSean Jackson or Kevin Curtis: all three are equally as fast.
The Cardinals defense will succeed: First by shutting down the Eagles receivers, on third down more so, and by keeping their eyes on Brian Westbrook at all times.
Cardinals on special teams: Neil Rackers has been a dependable and reliable kicker, and anyone was a better punter then Ex-Eagle Dirk Johnson, and Ben Graham has filled that spot quite well. Arrington and Breaston provide the Cardinals with a deadly duo on returns, and teams’ stalwarts like Sean Morey and Aaron Francisco lead up a unit which has made few mistakes on the season.
The most valuable contributor: Breaston has great speed and skills on cuts, making him a nightmare for punt coverage units.
Cardinals Coaching: Whisenhunt sure didn’t look like he was in his first career game as a Head Coach two weeks ago against Atlanta. Of course, credit that to winning a Superbowl as the OC for Pittsburgh, the same with OL coach and Assistant Head Coach Russ Grimm if you want to. DC Clancy Pendergast has turned his unit into a lethal turnover consuming machine, and has not repented even with a huge lead on the opposing teams (see Panthers game)
Eagles on Offense: For a team largely known for their big play potency, they must have left it back in the season. Largely unsuccessful in running the ball in the playoffs, the unit has managed only three touchdowns in two games, two of them from one yard out. The lack of success by Brian Westbrook is well documented, but has as much to do with the game plans from the opposing DC as it does the lines inability to get much road grating done. The line has been pretty stout for the passing game, holding the names of the Giants to no sacks for the third time this season. When not answering the phone on the opponent’s side line, Donovan McNabb has been steady if nothing else, and Kevin Curtis and DeSean Jackson have been the best go to receivers, Jason Avant the best on third downs. Brent Celek has nine receptions and a touchdown, the most of any receiver in the playoffs for the team. Jon Runyan is playing through a knee injury and has allowed no sacks in two games, and the team has went from Shawn Andrews to Max-Jean Gilles and now to Nick Cole, a backup center, next to Runyan at RG.
The Man to shut down: Do I really need to tell you?
The X-Factor: The more time he gets, the more and more Celek makes that money LJ Smith stole from us look pretty good on a tax break in March.
The Eagles offense will succeed: If whatever problem exists between run blocking and running the football can be solved, because the pass will only get you so far for so long.
Eagles on Defense: The Eagles defense has given up 619 net yards to the prolific offense of the Vikings and the Giants, but have given up only two touchdowns (both to Minnesota) and have accumulated five turnovers and one touchdown. While the results have been mixed, the intent of the #3 overall defense on the season has not been, and even with a decrease in sacks, pressure is always in abundance from everywhere, or else it wouldn’t be a Jimmy Johnson defense. The team uses five defensive ends to full capacity, and the tackle duo of Mike Patterson and Broderick Bunkley is awfully underrated. The linebacker trio, more so Chris Gocong and Stewart Bradley, are run wreckers and stout against the pass as well. The secondary is still led by the maniac who wears #20, seven-time pro bowler Brian Dawkins, and Asante “Mr. Playoffs” Samuel, along with hard hitting Sheldon Brown and the quiet but deadly Quintin Mikell. Joselio Hanson and Sean Considine are good coverage specialists, although I would be hard pressed to tell you where the hell Lito Sheppard has went to lately.
The man who needs blocked: On the line, Trent Cole. At linebacker, Bradley. And generally speaking, make sure Dawkins doesn’t come flying in like our namesake.
The X-Factor: Mikell gets little to no credit or respect for his play, but he and Dawkins form one of the hardest hitting duos in the NFL.
The Eagles defense will succeed: If the theory of our defense holds up of “Bend but don’t break”: get offensive yards, but turn it over, punt, or kick a field goal.
Eagles on Special Teams: David Akers has been money in the playoffs: he now holds the playoff record for most consecutive field goals made with 18 (took the record on Sunday from Morten Andersen, who had 16). Sav Rocca, who booted Dirk Johnson out of town, is as accurate as he is powerful, and with Quintin Demps, Tracey White, Tank Daniels, Omar Gaither, and Considine covering punts, not many people succeed there. Demps also has been improving on kick returns, and Jackson, if given a hedge of room on a punt, will make the opponents pay for it.
The most Valuable Contributor: Akers, far and away: we’ve scored 49 points in the playoffs, and he has 25 of them, 51% to be exact.
Eagles Coaching: Andy Reid is now 10-6 in the playoffs with the team, but only 1-3 in NFC title games, plus he is prone to become predictable, now running nine out of ten times on first down vs. the Giants. Johnson is Johnson with the defense (blitzing to infinity on third down) and Rory Seagrest has manned a very solid special teams unit, sans some lapses in kick return blocking.
Two more things then before I sign off: you know who I want to win obviously, but I am not picking a score, just because I never do that. And secondly, I’ve been hearing about the “home field advantage” of the Cardinals, and I must congratulate you guys in selling out the game in six minutes on Monday. But you must understand we have made it a way of life to be “Road Warriors” so far this month: they said overcoming 65,000 in a dome with a silly as crap Viking horn blowing would be too much for us. They then told us that a playoff game in a rival stadium with 79,000 Giants fans screaming at us, saying “Eagles Suck” none the less, would be too much for us. With all due respect to your fan base at the game, I don’t see the team being too intimidated, considering where they have been and what they have done so far.
Good luck, and let’s have a great injury free NFC title game on Sunday!