More Safety Concerns
Even if Brian Westbrook can’t go on Sunday the Giants safeties will be under duress. The Eagles have a ton of speed at wideout with Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, a young standout TE Brent Celek, and a rookie back, LeSean McCoy, who is a threat in the flats. What makes this game even harder to gameplan for is the Eagles ability to run the gadget play.
Although the Cardinals wildcat pass didn’t pan out, Larry Fitzgerald was wide open thanks to an overaggressive CC Brown. While the results weren’t there the play could not have worked any better against the Giants D (well it would have been better had there not been a penalty and had Larry caught the ball), but what’s worse is the play is now on film. The Eagles love running gadget plays on overly aggressive defenses and you can bet they will pull out a few to test a beleaguered safety pairing. Last night it came in the form of a DeSean Jackson reverse which resulted in a TD, but the play the Eagles seem to run the most, when it comes to gadgets, is the half back option. This is usually a play for Brian Westbrooks but the Eagles have the personnel to run it with out him. With Michael Vick on the team there is also the chance to see some wildcat, although Philly hasn’t used the formation a whole lot, but they could break it out for the Gmen.
Bottom line CC and Michael Johnson will have to be technically sound this weak and not get sucked up into the box on any play fakes. I imagine one reason the Eagles run these gadget plays is twofold. One because they have the personnel to do so, and two because they practice against one of the most aggressive defenses in the NFL. Steve Spagnuolo brought the Eagle’s aggressive blitzing style to the Giants and one answer for the heavy rush is a gadget play. I have said “gadget play” far too often, let’s hope the Giants safeties hear it just as much this week.
