Eagles soft underbelly about to be exposed

By Steve Lienert
The Phanatic Magazine

Any offensive coordinator worth a damn in the NFL will look at tape of the Eagles and determine that the way to beat the "Dream Team" is to punch them square in the mouth.

The Steelers and, to a lesser extent, the Browns (of all teams) showed how weak the Birds are up the gut in the preseason.

That isn't a referendum on the DTs; the problem runs all the way up the middle.

The Eagles D-line is built for speed, not with big, lane-clogging run-stoppers. The middle linebacker is a rookie learning the position. The safeties are a rookie from Temple and a second-year guy that's coming off a significant injury.

If the Eagles opposition commits to the run, they will control the clock, keep Michael Vick and the Birds' potent offense on the sideline and render the Eagles' strength at the cornerback position moot.

What's the need for a third DB when teams like the Rams (Steven Jackson), Falcons (Michael Turner) and Giants (Ahmad Bradshaw and a resurgent  Brandon Jacobs) can play between-the -tackles, smashmouth football and jam it down the Eagles throats?

By the way, those teams are the Eagles' first three opponents and each one has shown commitment to the run this preseason.

So we'll find out early how prepared rookie defensive coordinator Juan Castillo is to cope with the defense's weaknesses.

The bottom line is that if the Eagles don't jump out to a lead and force teams to throw in order to catch up, which plays into their strength, it's going to be a long season.

If the Eagles are forced to play from behind on a consistent basis, it's going to be a long season.

Frankly, if the Eagles lose the coin toss on a consistent basis, it's going to be a long season.