Scouting the Eagles: Film notes from NFC Championship Game

In the run-up to Super Bowl LII, I'll be posting my game notes as I review Eagles film for a comprehensive scouting report at the end of the week.

First up:

NFC Championship: Eagles 38, Vikings 7

Overall, this game was not the blowout that it appeared to be. The Viking drove right down the field on their opening possession and scored a touchdown. They drove three more times inside the Philadelphia 16-yard line and those series' ended with a fumble, downs and an interception. The Eagles didn't score on offense until the second quarter, and scored 14 points off turnovers. The Eagles had four plays of 36 yards or more and they were all busted coverages. Not saying the Eagles didn't have anything to do with those, but they aren't the type of plays you can rely on, and the Patriots aren't as susceptible to those plays because they play more passively than the Vikings. The Eagles victory was earned, certainly, but the game got out of whack. That can happen at home in the postseason.

EAGLES OFFENSE

Coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Frank Reich are obviously very creative because they are constantly changing up formations, personnel and schemes from down to down and it's a lot for a defense to handle, especially with only one week to prepare. The Patriots will need the two weeks, but the Eagles will come up more as well.

You'll hear all sorts of stuff about run-pass options (RPOs) this week (and we've already written about them twice -- here and here). They aren't that big a deal. The Patriots run them too. The Eagles certainly do more than most — and it appears they're using them as a crutch for Nick Foles as his best season came under Chip Kelly — but defensing them comes down to the basics: getting lined up right and being disciplined in your play.

We'll write about this much more in depth, but the Patriots have three advantages over a Minnesota defense in this regard: Patriots' offense runs many of the same types of plays, so they're not foreign; the Patriots are a hybrid 3-4/4-3 so they can adapt to the different spacing needed on defense; and they are used to reading and reacting on defense where the Vikings are aggressive and like to dictate the game.

Defending the read option basically comes down to how you are are going to deal with the extra gap that needs to be covered. The Vikings, as a strict 4-3 team, had a difficult time with defending the extra gap. They kicked out the end further, which was uncomfortable. The Patriots don't have to worry about that. By already playing with the traits of a 3-4, and with linebackers like Kyle Van Noy who are used to playing on the line and on the edge, this is very much in their wheelhouse.



In traditional read-option offenses, the QB's ability to run is a huge stress on the defense. Foles doesn't do much of that, so it's not an issue. But the Eagles do use their backs to help stress the edge and the Vikings had some trouble with that.

The Eagles love to run a slant off a read-option fake. The Patriots have to shut that down with inside leverage.

One of the biggest keys in the game — and where the Vikings really struggled — is the defensive backs not getting their eyes into the backfield. Almost every big play came from that. Malcolm Butler will be on the spot in this one.

TE Zach Ertz caught third-down passes on three consecutive attempts. Have to take that away.

Give Foles credit, he made a lot of throws we've never seen him make very deep in the down and after moving his feet to buy extra time. I have a hard time seeing him continuing to be successful playing like that.

The entire line is very good at run blocking, both with power and on the move.

Usually it's WR Alshon Jeffrey left, Torrey Smith right and Nelson Agholor in the slot.

I don't see a ton of overwhelming talent. They win by scheme and coverage busts.

EAGLES DEFENSE

Hyper-aggressive scheme up front from Jim Schwartz that looks to create chaos for a quarterback. The Eagles got Case Keenum to play fast, and so he didn't see the game or execute as well as he would like. The Eagles don't blitz much, but they did on some early third downs and it seemed to speed Keenum up.

The Vikings used tempo early and that was very effective vs. Eagles.



The aggressiveness can be turned around with traps, jets sweeps and draws in the run game, and screens and quick throws in the passing game.

The linebackers bite hard on play action and I expect that to be a big part of the Patriots' plan vs. Eagles.

There is a lot more zone that I thought, and that won't match up with their pressure. The Eagles will have to play more man vs. the Patriots. When they do, there are opportunities for rub routes run better than the Vikings.



Former Bills CB Ronald Darby has a lot of issues sustaining coverage in man, and is prone to a zone gaffe. He can be targeted and baited on double moves, provided he's set up correctly.

The Eagles played much better defensively when they went to their big nickel with Corey Graham as an additional safety. I expect this to be their base defense vs. New England. Graham and Malcolm Jenkins have the ability to give Rob Gronkowski some issues.

The defensive line is terrific, but they are aggressive and can be faked easily. Fletcher Cox and Timmy Jernigan inside are about as good as it gets for athletic big men.

The biggest issues come vs. their sub package line, when they have Cox and Brandon Graham inside vs. guards and a mix of Vinny Curry, Chris Long and Derek Barnett on the edges. They can all win one-on-one, so who do you double?



The Patriots need to get those guys as tired as possible. But the other big component is will the Eagles play tight coverage to give those players time to get home?

More to come in the coming days.