Eagle091
October-2nd-2005, 10:45 AM
http://www.nj.com/sportsflash/eagles/index.ssf?/base/sports-10/1128116345317960.xml&storylist=nj_eagles#continue
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs' plan to attack the Philadelphia Eagles should be simple: Run the ball.
Led by Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson, Kansas City has one of the best running games in the NFL. The Eagles have a stingy defense, but they've been vulnerable against teams that have success on the ground.
Since 2003, Philadelphia has lost only 10 games, including playoffs. Opponents have averaged 38.3 rushing attempts and 155 yards in those losses.
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Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson figures his team will see a heavy dose of Holmes and Johnson on Sunday.
"They're both very good outside runners," Johnson said. "They both can get outside and sometimes you can't tell which back is in. They are very similar in the way they run the ball. Then they both can hit it up inside. They are two quality running backs."
Holmes' average of 101.5 yards rushing per game from 2001 through last season leads the league. He has 221 yards and two touchdowns on 55 carries in the first three games. Johnson has been an outstanding complement, running 26 times for 164 yards and three TDs.
The duo is coming off a rare subpar performance. The Chiefs (2-1) had more penalty yardage (118) than yards rushing (74) in a 30-10 loss at Denver on Monday night, in which the offense was forced to pass more after falling behind 17-0.
"Our biggest thing is we can't fall behind early like we did," Chiefs quarterback Trent Green said. "We can't become predictable on offense. Where we have had effectiveness over the last four or five years is when we can mix up the run and the pass. When we are effective running the ball then we can get our play-action going. We can get our drop-back going. We keep defenses on their heels and keep them off-balance because they don't know where we're coming."
In a 23-20 victory over Oakland last Sunday, the Eagles held LaMont Jordan to only 19 yards on 16 carries, and the Raiders had 21 yards on the ground, the fewest against Philadelphia since the Redskins had 14 in 1947.
The Falcons had 200 yards rushing in a 14-10 season-opening win over the Eagles. However, Pro Bowl middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter was ejected from the game following a brawl before kickoff.
Philly's defense realizes it can't focus only on Holmes and Johnson. Green threw for 4,591 yards last year and tight end Tony Gonzalez is arguably the best at his position. Wide receivers Eddie Kennison and Samie Parker also pose problems running deep routes.
"Both of those guys can still fly," All-Pro safety Brian Dawkins said of Kansas City's wideouts. "I think that with having Priest, having Trent, and having Tony, those guys might get lost in the shuffle a little bit. You can't say that we're going to concentrate completely on two guys, and let those guys run routes all day."
Dawkins, though, will have his hands full with Gonzalez. The Eagles hope to avoid having Gonzalez matched up in single coverage against linebacker Dhani Jones, so they'll use either Dawkins or strong safety Michael Lewis to help out.
"He is a challenge," Dawkins said. "He's one you really get up for just like we got up last week for Randy (Moss) and what he does. We definitely get up for that physical matchup inside, because he's going to use his body against you to push off and to pull. He's excellent after the catch. So this is going to be a big-time test for everybody inside."
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs' plan to attack the Philadelphia Eagles should be simple: Run the ball.
Led by Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson, Kansas City has one of the best running games in the NFL. The Eagles have a stingy defense, but they've been vulnerable against teams that have success on the ground.
Since 2003, Philadelphia has lost only 10 games, including playoffs. Opponents have averaged 38.3 rushing attempts and 155 yards in those losses.
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Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson figures his team will see a heavy dose of Holmes and Johnson on Sunday.
"They're both very good outside runners," Johnson said. "They both can get outside and sometimes you can't tell which back is in. They are very similar in the way they run the ball. Then they both can hit it up inside. They are two quality running backs."
Holmes' average of 101.5 yards rushing per game from 2001 through last season leads the league. He has 221 yards and two touchdowns on 55 carries in the first three games. Johnson has been an outstanding complement, running 26 times for 164 yards and three TDs.
The duo is coming off a rare subpar performance. The Chiefs (2-1) had more penalty yardage (118) than yards rushing (74) in a 30-10 loss at Denver on Monday night, in which the offense was forced to pass more after falling behind 17-0.
"Our biggest thing is we can't fall behind early like we did," Chiefs quarterback Trent Green said. "We can't become predictable on offense. Where we have had effectiveness over the last four or five years is when we can mix up the run and the pass. When we are effective running the ball then we can get our play-action going. We can get our drop-back going. We keep defenses on their heels and keep them off-balance because they don't know where we're coming."
In a 23-20 victory over Oakland last Sunday, the Eagles held LaMont Jordan to only 19 yards on 16 carries, and the Raiders had 21 yards on the ground, the fewest against Philadelphia since the Redskins had 14 in 1947.
The Falcons had 200 yards rushing in a 14-10 season-opening win over the Eagles. However, Pro Bowl middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter was ejected from the game following a brawl before kickoff.
Philly's defense realizes it can't focus only on Holmes and Johnson. Green threw for 4,591 yards last year and tight end Tony Gonzalez is arguably the best at his position. Wide receivers Eddie Kennison and Samie Parker also pose problems running deep routes.
"Both of those guys can still fly," All-Pro safety Brian Dawkins said of Kansas City's wideouts. "I think that with having Priest, having Trent, and having Tony, those guys might get lost in the shuffle a little bit. You can't say that we're going to concentrate completely on two guys, and let those guys run routes all day."
Dawkins, though, will have his hands full with Gonzalez. The Eagles hope to avoid having Gonzalez matched up in single coverage against linebacker Dhani Jones, so they'll use either Dawkins or strong safety Michael Lewis to help out.
"He is a challenge," Dawkins said. "He's one you really get up for just like we got up last week for Randy (Moss) and what he does. We definitely get up for that physical matchup inside, because he's going to use his body against you to push off and to pull. He's excellent after the catch. So this is going to be a big-time test for everybody inside."