The Philadelphia Eagles, like the Cowboys, have been extremely disappointing in 2019. They, like Dallas, were considered to have a roster to contend for a Super Bowl, and instead, they have floundered in mediocrity and find themselves at 7-7 entering a tie-breaking game with the Cowboys that is likely to determine which team wins the NFC East, and gets to host a team with a better record in a wildcard weekend playoff game.
However, unlike the Cowboys, the Eagles have faced a rash of injuries, especially on offense. Wide receivers Desean Jackson and Alshon Jeffrey, along with running backs Darren Sproles and Corey Clement have found their way to the injured reserve list, while right tackle Lane Johnson, wide receiver Nelson Agholor and running back Jordan Howard are on the Week 16 injury report, and have missed time with their respective injuries.
However, the Eagles have managed to move the ball well enough to win their last two games. With four of their primary playmakers on injured reserve, and two more missing time with injury, Doug Pederson has had to leverage his remaining difference makers on offense, tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert and running back Miles Sanders to generate offense.
He is using these guys in both their traditional alignments, as well as alternative alignments to create mismatches.
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On this play from the Eagles Week 3 matchup with the Lions, Pederson lines his offense up in empty, and aligns Sanders wide as the #1 receiver to the offense’s right side.
With the Lions playing Cover 3, there should be a corner dropping to play the deep third of the field, where Sanders is running his go route, but when quarterback Carson Wentz breaks the pocket, the corner’s eyes are in the backfield, and he tries to make a big play by jumping the out breaking route from the #2 receiver to his side, this leaves Sanders running open down the sideline.
More recently, in the Eagles Week 15 matchup with Washington the Eagles showcased their tigh tends in a variety of ways.
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For example, this play from 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR), features tight end Zach Ertz as the #3 receiver on the trips side of a 3×1 formation. After the motion from the #1 receiver to that side creates a 2×2 look, Wentz executes a play action fake to Ertz’s side, and Ertz releases across the field.
This concept is designed to open up the middle of the field for Ertz, as the motion and the bubble action to the offenses left draw underneath defenders that way, while the play action fake to the right draws other underneath defenders that way, leaving an open space in the middle of the field for Ertz. The result is a first down, and very important yardage and field position coming off the goal line for the Eagles.
https://streamable.com/u7f2e
Later in the same game, the Eagles are in 12 personnel in a 2×2 formation, and from the Washington 45 yardline, they are dialing up a big play to the right sideline.
They are using the scissors concept with Goedert and rookie wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. In this concept, Goedert is running a corner route, and Arcega-Whiteside is running a post route. With the defense in man coverage, this concept creates a natural rub. On this play it looks like the rookie runs his route deeper than he should rather than cutting underneath Goedert he winds up running into Goedert, which disrupts the timing of the routes, but when he comes open, he is able to extend and make the diving grab.
This was good for a 20-yard gain, and could have been more had there not been an error in the routes, and it highlights the downfield play making ability that Goedert brings the Eagles offense.
If the Cowboys defense is going to build on their stellar Week 15 performance against the Rams, and shut down the Eagles offense, they are going to have to find a way to match up with these three versatile play makers and keep them from creating explosive plays.