BadCo

Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this week's matchup between the Chargers and Eagles. Now they're back with a second look.

• The ability of the Eagles' run defense to limit RB LaDainian Tomlinson's production will play a big role in who wins this game. It is absolutely essential for Philadelphia to maintain backside contain as a result. Tomlinson has the ability to cut any run, even a toss, back to the other side of the defense more than any other back in the league. All of Tomlinson's big runs against the Raiders last week had a cutback element to them.
The bad new for Eagles' fans is Philadelphia's defense has not been physical enough. This is not a defense that can consistently line up and defend the run. A careful evaluation shows that there are four consistently physical players who can play the run week-to-week and they are all in the middle. They are LDT Hollis Thomas, MLB Jeremiah Trotter and DSs Brian Dawkins and Michael Lewis.

The problem is the play of DEs Jevon Kearse and N.D. Kalu. Neither Kearse nor Kalu is strong at the point and both can be single blocked by tight ends in the run game. They have to use their quickness to disrupt plays in the backfield or Tomlinson will have some success turning the corner.

• The Eagles have blitzed approximately 25 percent of their defensive snaps, which has been about their average over the last number of years. This season, however, the Eagles' blitzes have not been as effective as in previous years. Expect that trend to continue going up against San Diego. The Chargers predominantly line up with two backs and one tight end or one back and two tight ends. That makes it difficult to create the overload situations that have defined the Eagles' success in recent years.

• Through their first five games, the Eagles have called passes on 76 percent of their offensive plays. That's a very high pass percentage and it places a tremendous amount of pressure on QB Donovan McNabb to be sharp every game. McNabb has struggled with his accuracy in the Eagles' only losses against the Falcons and the Cowboys. They scored a total of one offensive touchdown in the two games.

• San Diego defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has the unviable task of trying to come up with a way to defend RB Brian Westbrook and WR Terrell Owens. The Eagles move both Westbrook and Owens all around. Westbrook lines up in the backfield, both in the "I" and in the offset position. He also lines up in the slot and he will split out wide as a wide receiver. He also runs different routes from each position. Owens is the strong side or "Z" receiver in the Eagles offense. That is the motion receiver in the Eagles' version of the West Coast offense. Owens also aligns in the slot, in a wing tight end position and even in the backfield at times. Philadelphia will force the Chargers to locate and match up with both Westbrook and Owens before the snap of the ball. The hope is moving Westbrook and Owens around will create confusion and uncertainty.

• Defenses have focused on getting pressure up the middle against the Eagles and they have been successful with this tactic. This often forces the Eagles to bring their offensive line down inside effectively creating opportunities on the outside. Look for San Diego to blitz up the middle at times as a result.

• The Chargers are not a diverse offense when it comes to formations and personnel. They predominantly line up with two backs and one tight end or with one back and two tight ends. The wild card in their base formation personnel packages is TE Antonio Gates. Gates can line up at wide receiver and he can beat corners in man-to-man coverage. Look for the Chargers to move Gates around early in the game to probe the Eagles' defense and get a feel for how Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Johnson matches up. QB Drew Brees has tremendous confidence in Gates and if Gates gets single coverage, even working against a corner, Brees will deliver the football.

• When the Eagles go to their multiple-receiver sets the Chargers will switch from their base 3-4 and play with their nickel personnel, which means they will go to a four-man front. ROLB Steve Foley puts his hand on the ground at defensive end and becomes the fourth down linemen while Shaun Phillips and rookie Shawne Merriman alternate at the other defensive end position. The Eagles have struggled with their pass protection at times this season, particularly on the left side of their offensive line. As a result, expect the Eagles to stay with their base offensive personnel and motion Westbrook into the slot. This will keep the Chargers in their base 3-4 defense.

• While much has been made of the Eagles' lack of balance on offense, expect them to throw the ball with the same frequency against the Chargers. This not the game for Philadelphia to preach balance. San Diego's secondary is the weakness of their defense and the Chargers' cover schemes have a tendency to be predictable. Eagles head coach Andy Reid is as good a designer of pass offense as there is in the NFL. He has a great feel for route combinations and how they break down coverages.

• The lack of production from Kalu is becoming a problem. Kalu's limitations were particularly evident in analyzing the Eagles loss to Dallas two weeks ago. On the Cowboys' first four possessions they double teamed Kearse on every pass play that featured a five-to-seven step drop. On the other side, they blocked Kalu on every play and Kalu was unable to generate any pressure. This week against the Chargers, Kalu will be matched up against LOT Roman Oben who is an efficient pass blocker.

Special Teams
Philadelphia is coming off a bye week and is expected to make some changes on special teams. The Eagles have signed LB Zeke Moreno to bolster the cover teams. They are also going to use Keith Adams and possibly some other starters to cover kicks as well. In the return game, Westbrook may get a chance to return punts and rookie RB Ryan Moats may get some opportunities to return kickoffs, as the Eagles aren't satisfied with RS Dexter Wynn's performance thus far.

Eagles PK David Akers, who has a hamstring injury, isn't expected to return this week. While replacement Todd France has done an admirable job of filling in, connecting on four of his five field goal attempts thus far, San Diego still has the clear advantage at place kicker. Nate Kaeding has been perfect on the year connecting all ten of his field goal attempts including four that came from beyond 40 yards.

Matchups
• San Diego LOT Roman Oben vs. Philadelphia RDE N.D. Kalu
• San Diego RB LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Philadelphia MLB Jeremiah Trotter
• Philadelphia WR Terrell Owens vs. San Diego DC Quentin Jammer
• San Diego TE Antonio Gates vs. Philadelphia SS Michael Lewis
• Philadelphia OC Hank Fraley vs. San Diego NT Jamal Williams

Scouts' Edge
Philadelphia is coming off a bye week, is playing at home and McNabb will be working against a weakened San Diego secondary, but look for the Chargers to get the win for two reasons. First, two of San Diego's three wins have come at Oakland and at New England, two of the toughest places for visiting teams to win. Most importantly, Brees has shown great poise and confidence on the road. The second reason is Tomlinson. He will allow the Chargers to control the clock and limit McNabb's opportunities to throw downfield.

As far as San Diego's defense goes, look for Phillips to play a lot of soft cover schemes that take away the big play and force McNabb to consistently make accurate throws underneath. This approach will produce enough stalled drives for the Chargers to eke out a win.



CHARGERS OFFENSE VS. EAGLES DEFENSE

San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson (652 rushing yards, 18 receptions, 11 TD) added yet another mind-boggling performance to his resume' in last week's win over the Raiders. Tomlinson rushed 31 times for 140 yards and a touchdown, caught two passes for 39 yards and a score, and threw a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Justin Peelle in the second quarter. Tomlinson has now accounted for 13 touchdowns in 2005, including 10 on the ground, one as a receiver, and two as a passer. Backup Michael Turner (119 rushing yards) spelled Tomlinson for 50 yards on seven carries in the Oakland win, and is now averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Fullback Lorenzo Neal (41 rushing yards, 8 receptions) had a team-high four receptions against Oakland, netting 27 yards. Running back/kick returner Darren Sproles (41 rushing yards, 2 receptions), who was inactive last week with an ankle injury, is questionable for Sunday. For the year, San Diego ranks fourth in the league in rushing offense (148.2 yards per game).

The group attempting to slow Tomlinson in the run game comes into Sunday's game ranked just 23rd in the league in rushing defense (118 yards per game). Dallas managed to pound the run for 167 yards against Philadelphia in Week 5, including 75 on 20 carries for the previously anonymous Tyson Thompson. Linebackers Jeremiah Trotter (30 tackles), Dhani Jones (29 tackles, 1 INT) and Keith Adams (21 tackles) will have to keep a watchful eye on Tomlinson in both the running and passing games. Trotter had a game-high-tying nine tackles against Dallas. Up front, tackles Hollis Thomas (15 tackles) and Mike Patterson (15 tackles) have both played reasonably well in '05 to date, Thomas, who leads Eagles linemen in stops, had seven tackles against the Cowboys.

With Tomlinson up to his old tricks, it was easy to overlook the fine work done by Chargers quarterback Drew Brees (1206 passing yards, 8 TD, 4 INT) last week. Brees was 14-of-20 for 164 yards and a touchdown in Oakland, with the scoring strike coming on a 35-yard catch-and-run by Tomlinson. Brees upped his passer rating to an impressive 95.0 in the win. Only four of Brees' passes went to wide receivers, with No. 1 wideout Keenan McCardell (21 receptions, 5 TD) pacing that group with two catches for 20 yards. Tight end Antonio Gates (25 receptions, 2 TD) also had a quiet afternoon, notching two grabs for 17 yards, and was less productive than Peelle (7 receptions, 1 TD), who caught three passes for 20 yards and the aforementioned touchdown. The Charger line gave up two sacks in the game, and has now allowed a scant nine on the year. The Bolts are 22nd in the league in passing offense (192.7 yards per game) at present.

A generally well-regarded Eagles secondary allowed Dallas quarterback Drew Bledsoe to torch the team for 289 yards and three touchdowns in Week 5. Cornerbacks Lito Sheppard (17 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) and Sheldon Brown (15 tackles, 2 INT) both had their struggles, and safeties Brian Dawkins (24 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT) and Michael Lewis (31 tackles, 1 sack) failed to offer much in the way of big plays either. Lewis is Philadelphia's overall tackles leader heading into the San Diego game. Jim Johnson's defense had 11 sacks through its first four games, but could not get to Bledsoe for one in the Dallas loss. Dawkins and tackle Darwin Walker (7 tackles) are tied for the team lead with 2.5 sacks apiece, but Walker has not played since Week 2 due to a thigh contusion. Walker is listed as probable for this Sunday. Starting ends Jevon Kearse (7 tackles) and N.D. Kalu (13 tackles) have just one sack each through five games. Reid and company currently rank a modest 18th in the league against the pass (209 yards per game).

EAGLES OFFENSE VS. CHARGERS DEFENSE

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb (1464 passing yards, 11 TD, 3 INT) had a shaky outing against Dallas last time out, completing just 13-of-26 passes for 131 yards and throwing neither a touchdown nor an interception. McNabb's quiet day gave rise to more talk about the sports hernia that the signal-caller is battling with in order to take the field. Koy Detmer (108 passing yards) replaced McNabb late in the Dallas loss and completed 3-of-4 passes for 14 yards. Also quiet against the Cowboys was Pro Bowl wideout Terrell Owens (37 receptions, 4 TD), who had five receptions for 50 yards in a losing effort. Fellow receiver Greg Lewis (21 receptions, 1 TD) added three catches for 36 yards in the game, and tight end L.J. Smith (28 receptions, 2 TD) chipped in with two grabs for 22 yards. The Eagles line allowed McNabb to be sacked four times against Dallas, and has now surrendered 10 sacks on the year. Despite the below-average aerial effort against the Cowboys, Philly ranks first in the league in passing offense (307.2 yards per game).

McNabb and Owens will try to prey early and often upon a San Diego defense that ranks a distant 27th in the league against the pass (245.3 yards per game). The Chargers dodged a bullet when Oakland wideout Randy Moss went out early with a groin strain last week, but still allowed Raiders QB Kerry Collins to throw for 292 yards in the contest. With cornerbacks Drayton Florence (ankle) and Sammy Davis (ankle) both nursing injuries, Quentin Jammer (21 tackles) and Jamar Fletcher (5 tackles) will be asked to carry much of the pass-defending load. Each had four solo tackles in the game. Florence and Jammer are both listed as questionable for Sunday. Free safety Bhawoh Jue (26 tackles, 3 INT) tallied his team-leading third interception of the year in the game, and fellow safety Jerry Wilson (7 tackles) pitched in five tackles in his first extensive action of the season. The Charger pass rush sacked Collins four times, with end Igor Olshansky (10 tackles, 2 sacks) notching two of those. The other two sacks also came from linemen, as DeQuincy Scott (6 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Jacques Cesaire (9 tackles, 1 sack) broke through to Collins. Cesaire (shoulder) and fellow end Luis Castillo (hip) are both questionable for Sunday. Scott and outside linebacker Steve Foley are the Chargers' sack co-leaders, with 2.5 each.

Philadelphia enters Week 7 ranked dead last in the NFL in rushing offense (64.2 yards per game), and would undoubtedly like to get Pro Bowl running back Brian Westbrook (231 rushing yards, 25 receptions, 4 TD) untracked this week. Westbrook carried just six times for 12 yards against Dallas, before the Eagles fell behind and were forced to abandon the run. Westbrook also had three catches for 24 yards in the defeat, and is now second on the team behind Owens in receiving yards (292). Lamar Gordon (62 rushing yards, 6 receptions, 1 TD) has been used as the change-of-pace back behind Westbrook, but was limited to one carry for five yards versus Dallas.

The Chargers don't figure to worry much about the Philadelphia run game, but when the Eagles do run it, they will be going up against the No. 3-rated rushing defense (84.7 yards per game) in the NFL. San Diego limited the Raiders' LaMont Jordan to 36 yards on 12 carries last Sunday, with inside linebacker Donnie Edwards' eight tackles playing a prominent role in that effort. Edwards (65 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) leads the Bolts in tackles on the year. Fellow ILB Randall Godfrey (37 tackles), who had two stops against Oakland, ranks third on the team in tackles. In the trenches, nose tackle Jamal Williams (13 tackles) has provided his usual presence, and leads all San Diego linemen in stops in 2005.

San Diego Chargers at Philadelphia Eagles – Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Preview

Chargers
3rd, AFC West
Record: 3-3 at Eagles
T-3rd, NFC East
Record: 3-2

The Eagles had a bye week to lick their wounds from a 23-point loss at Dallas, but they will be there at the end. We know that road games in the NFC East are going to be tough, so losing to the Cowboys wasn't necessarily a big deal, especially after having played at Kansas City the week before.
There's no team in the NFC that Philadelphia can't beat, and it isn't afraid of any team in its conference. Sure, Andy Reid's club has gotten off to a slow start, but if you look at the injuries the Eagles have suffered and where they are now at 3-2, they're still in good shape.

Prediction: Philadelphia. The Eagles' league-worst rushing attack (64.2 yards per game) goes up against San Diego's run defense, which is the third-best in the league (84.7). That's why I wouldn't be surprised if Philadelphia threw the ball 50 times on Sunday.

The Eagles love to throw the football, so their rushing stats are a little bit deceptive. They're not trying to run the ball, and a lot of their short passes basically serve as running plays. San Diego has no answer for the Donovan McNabb-to-Terrell Owens connection. Quentin Jammer has not been the shutdown cornerback the Chargers thought they were getting when they drafted him fifth overall in 2002.

GAME PLAN
It seems too obvious, which makes you wonder if the Chargers will do it. But why wouldn't they point their stout running game and All-Everything Mr. Tomlinson toward and Eagles run defense which is ranked 23rd defending the run?

Not only is that what the Chargers do best, that's what the Eagles defense has the most trouble stopping. And by sticking the ball in Tomlinson's midsection, it could also prolong drives which drain the clock and keep the high-powered McNabb and is passing offense - which could give the Chargers fits - off the field.

Look for Tomlinson to get 30 carries on Sunday, unless the Chargers fall behind early.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

Chargers pass rush, which has recorded seven sacks in the last two games, vs. QB Donovan McNabb and the Eagles' pass protection. The Chargers pass rush has shown a spark of late, and it comes none too soon. McNabb s playing with a sports hernia, which limits him from taking off for the big chunks down field. But the Chargers' film study has shown he still has enough mobility to sidestep the rush when the pocket collapses. Keep and an eye on Steve Foley and the right side of the Eagles' line. The protection on the left side will be tested by pass-rushing linebackers Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips.

Chargers secondary, which is hobbled by injuries, vs. the Eagles' passing game, which is ranked No. 1 in the NFL. The Chargers had trouble stopping the pass when at full strength; it gives up 240 yards per game. Now the unit has been steamrolled by injuries, with CB Drayton Florence and SS Terrence Kiel nursing sprained ankles. They will likely go on Sunday, but a full day of tracking Terrell Owens and Greg Lewis could cause fatigue and a drop off of play late in the game.

The Chargers' running attack, spearheaded by Tomlinson, vs. the Eagles' shaky run defense, with FS Brain Dawkins trying to stop the bleeding. Tomlinson will get his carries and it will be up to more than the front seven of the Eagles' defense to stop him. Dawkins, a longtime standout, will have his nose up near the line of scrimmage to lend a hand. If Dawkins is successful, the going could be tougher for Tomlinson. If not, and he's staying close to the line, a big play-action pass to Keenan McCardell or Eric Parker will be in the Chargers' plans.






By Scouts, Inc.


Why To Watch
With this game on the road and against a Philadelphia defense that likes to blitz, San Diego will lean heavily on the services of RB LaDainian Tomlinson. Showing a strong commitment to the running game will help take some pressure off QB Drew Brees and help the Chargers sustain longer drives that wear the Eagles' defense down. However, Brees will have to throw downfield at times and the ability of his offensive line to give him time to find the open man on these plays will play a big role in the outcome of this game.
A sports hernia isn't an injury that heals up over a bye week, but the rest should help Eagles QB Donovan McNabb who has been playing through injuries all year. That's good news for Philadelphia fans because McNabb and WR Terrell Owens are capable of torching a San Diego secondary that is dealing with some injuries of their own. That being said the Eagles need to get RB Brian Westbrook more carries or McNabb won't have much time to scan the field when he drops back to pass.


When the Chargers have the ball
Rushing: Tomlinson is averaging right around 22 carries per game and he should get at least that many carries this week. Consistently handing him the ball will help keep the Eagles' pass rushers on their heels and make it more difficult for them to blitz. It will also put a tremendous amount of pressure on DS's Brain Dawkins and Michael Lewis. It will set up the play action package. If Dawkins and Lewis start flying upfield when they read run and start biting on play fakes, TE Antonio Gates has the blend of size and speed to take advantage. It will also force Dawkins and Lewis to play with discipline when they are in pursuit.

One of the biggest reasons Tomlinson is widely considered the best back in the league is he possesses a perfect blend of patience, burst and lateral mobility. He isn't afraid to hesitate for a second before exploding through the hole and his ability to move sideways so quickly allows him to hit seams other backs would miss. That makes it difficult to take the right pursuit angle. If Dawkins and Lewis take an aggressive line when Tomlinson pauses in the backfield, he has the burst and speed to outrun them before they get to him. The problem is they can't be too conservative either because Tomlinson will cut back when he sees them get caught too far upfield.

Passing: Philadelphia has surrendered seven passing touchdowns over its past three games and its inability to apply consistent pressure has forced the secondary to hold up in coverage for longer periods of time. However, there are two reasons to believe that will change this week.

The first is ROT Shane Olivea could return to the lineup after missing last week's games with a knee injury but it's more likely he misses at least another game. Backup Leander Jordan doesn't have ideal athletic ability or quickness and he struggled working against Oakland rush DE Derrick Burgess last week. With Olivea banged up and Jordan a better run blocker than he is a pass blocker neither will be able to hold up on an island working against LDE Jevon Kearse. Look for offensive coordinator Cam Cameron to adjust his protection-schemes to help the right tackle regardless of who lines up there consequently. That will draw blockers away from the interior helping both the defensive tackles and any defenders blitzing up the middle.

The expected return of RDT Darwin Walker, who missed three games with a thigh injury, is the second reason to believe the Eagles will have some success getting to Brees. Walker has the explosive first step to shot the gap working against LOG Kris Dielman and he shows good closing speed. In addition, his return means that rookie Mike Patterson moves back into the No. 3 role and he will be fresher when defensive coordinator Jim Johnson rotates him into the game. Although Patterson doesn't have ideal top-end speed, he has good initial quickness and he shows a variety of pass rush moves.

When the Eagles have the ball
Rushing: Westbrook has carried the ball a total of just fifteen times over the past two games. The Eagles need more balance on offense because a San Diego pass rush that has recorded 17 sacks will be that much more aggressive if this remains a fairly one-dimensional passing attack. That means giving Westbrook around fifteen carries despite the fact that he will be working against a Chargers run defense has been the best in the AFC thus far.

One of the ways offensive coordinator Brad Childress can help open up the running game is pulling a guard and using him as a lead blocker when attacking the perimeter of the San Diego defense. The Chargers' linebacker corps is disciplined and physical so it should be able to limit Westbrook's production between the tackles. However, the outside linebackers lack ideal initial quickness and the inside linebackers have lost a step with age so they are a step slower getting to the sideline. OG's Shawn Andrews and Artis Hicks have adequate range and athletic ability so they should be able to get into position at the second level and create some seams for Westbrook when they pull.

It's also worth mentioning that OTs Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan can help the pulling guard by driving San Diego's stout defensive ends off the ball. Getting good movement will allow the guard to turn upfield that much sooner making it difficult for the linebacker to beat him to the point of attack.

Passing: The Chargers' play in the secondary continues to be a concern and it's unlikely this unit shows significant improvement this week because it's banged up. No. 2 DC Drayton Florence, who missed last week's game, and Nickel back Sammy Davis are both dealing with ankle injuries. Their status will be determined later in the week, but they have been inconsistent when they have played and ankle injuries make it more difficult to cut sharply.

This puts defensive coordinator Wade Phillips in a bind. It's clear that, like most corners, Quentin Jammer doesn't have the explosiveness to stay with Owens in man coverage, so Phillips will have to give him safety help over the top. The problem is No. 2 WR Greg Lewis has played surprisingly well and he has the burst as well as the quick feet to consistently get open working against Florence or Davis. Keeping that in mind, Phillips could play a lot of soft Cover 2 schemes that keep both safeties back. However, this approach isn't ideal for two reasons. The first is Philadelphia's personnel at tight end and running back. TE L.J. Smith is fast enough to locate the seam between the linebackers and safeties when working against the cover-2. Westbrook is a sound route-runner that does a good job of settling into soft spots when working against zone coverage. The second reason is playing soft cover schemes means less blitzing and more time for McNabb. McNabb is patient and tough so he will wait until he has to get rid of the ball or a receiver gets open despite the fact he's playing with a sports hernia.

Look for Phillips to throw a number of different looks at McNabb consequently. The idea is changing the defense up will confuse the reads and disrupt the timing of McNabb and his receivers.