Didinger: Eagles-Redskins Scouting Report

Sizing up Sundays game between the Eagles (1-4) and the Washington Redskins (3-1) at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

When the Eagles have the ball
The last time the Eagles faced the Redskins (Nov. 15, 2010), Michael Vick had a career game. He became the first player in NFL history to pass for more than 300 yards (333), run for more than 50 yards (80), pass for four touchdowns and run for two touchdowns all in the same game. It was an amazing performance as the Eagles routed the Redskins, 59-28.

This season has been a different story for Vick. He is still putting up big numbers, but he is also making big mistakes. He is tied for the league lead with seven interceptions, which is one more than he had all last season. He had a career-high four interceptions last week in the loss to Buffalo.

The Eagles lead the NFL with 15 turnovers and that combined with a defense that cant stop the run or make a play in the red zone is why they are 1-4 and bringing up the rear in the NFC East. The offense is in the top 10 in nine different statistical categories, including rushing (first), yards per play (third) and first downs (fourth). But none of that matters if they cannot cut down on their mistakes.

Part of the problem is the Eagles play what amounts to a fast-break offense. Most of their playsin Buffalo, it was virtually all the playswere plays to the perimeter. Passes to the sideline, Vick scrambles to the outside, wide receiver screens on the edge. It is set up that way to take advantage of the team speed, but all that playing in space and open field running is magnifying some bad habits.

All of the Eagles' big play weaponsVick, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and to a lesser degree LeSean McCoyare loose with the football. They dont protect it very well and when they carry it in the open field, they are looser still. They have fumbled 10 timesonly four teams have fumbled moreand they rank last in the league in turnover ratio at minus-10.

To win in Washington, the Eagles cannot afford the same kind of sloppy play that killed them in Buffalo. The Redskins' defense is much better than the one they shredded on their last trip into FedEx Field. The Redskins finally have figured out the 3-4 defense, stocked it with players that actually fit coordinator Jim Hasletts scheme and they are doing what good defenses do, that is, keeping their opponents out of the end zone.

The Redskins have allowed only six touchdowns in four games. Heck, they allowed six to Vick alone in the game last season. Overall, a Washington defense that ranked 31st in the league last season now ranks sixth.

New additions Barry Cofield (nose tackle), Stephen Bowen (end), O.J. Atogwe (safety) and Josh Wilson (cornerback) have really helped, but the biggest addition is first-round draft pick Ryan Kerrigan, a 6-5, 270-pounder, who gives Haslett another pass rusher to go along with Brian Orakpo. Already, Kerrigan has two sacks, two forced fumbles and a tipped pass that he returned for a touchdown.

For the second week in a row, King Dunlap is expected to start at left tackle in place of the injured Jason Peters. Dunlap, who is also hurting (see story), will have to block the speedy Orakpo, which is a tough assignment.

When the Redskins have the ball
The Redskins were off last Sunday, which means coach Mike Shanahan had two weeks to study film of the Eagles' defense. Thats a scary prospect for the Eagles because Shanahan is one of the best game-planners in the business and when he sees a defense with as many holes as this one, well, he must be in Xs and Os heaven.

Shanahan loves to run the ball and we all know the Eagles cant stop anyone on the ground. The Eagles have allowed all five of their opponents to rush for more than 100 yards and it is the first time they have done that to start a season since 1972. That year, the Eagles went 2-11-1.

Shanahan has successfully used three running backsTim Hightower (67 carries, 233 yards), Ryan Torain (19 carries, 135 yards) and rookie Roy Helu (24 carries, 126 yards)to move the football. He probably will use all three Sunday. Helu, a fourth-round pick, excelled in the zone blocking offense at Nebraska and fits Shanahans offense perfectly.

Buffalos Fred Jackson had a big game against the Eagles running the ball (26 carries, 111 yards), but he also hurt them on screen passes and shovel passes (six catches, 85 yards) so look for Shanahan to put those in the game plan as well. He loves the screen pass and used it to devastating effect in his glory years at Denver. He will surely use it this week against the Eagles' poor tackling linebackers and defensive backs.

The Redskins' offensive line is coming on. Left tackle Trent Williams is showing why he was a first-round pick in last years draft. At 6-5 and 320 pounds, he combines power and quickness. With Trent Cole (calf) out, Darryl Tapp draws the difficult task of lining up against Williams. The Eagles need to win the matchup on the other side where Jason Babin (seven sacks) will be going against right tackle Jamaal Brown.

For all the improvements the Redskins have made, they still have Rex Grossman at quarterback and that is enough to give Eagles fans hope. Granted, Grossman did play for Chicago when the Bears went to the Super Bowl a few years back, but lets face it, he didnt exactly carry that team to the mountaintop. That Bears team was all about defense and Devin Hester, but we digress.

Grossman is a quarterback with limitations, but Shanahan is good as working around them. Grossman is accurate enough throwing between the hash marks, but he has real problems throwing to the outside. As a result, the offense is built around short throws, screen passes and slants, routes Grossman throws with some confidence.

Of course, defenses have the same book on Grossman but when the running game is working as it is now and he can use play action to keep the linebackers from dropping and filling those passing lanes, he is able to make it work. Still, he has thrown five picks and fumbled twice already this season so he is still very capable of giving games away.

Among the receivers, Santana Moss (21 catches) is well past his prime, but they have two good tight ends in Chris Cooley and Fred Davis. Both of them have hurt the Eagles in the past.

Special teamsEx-Eagle Sav Rocca is having a good year in Washington. He leads the league with 12 punts downed inside the 20. He gives the Redskins some welcome stability. They went through six different punters the last three seasons. Their placekicker Graham Gano has missed three of 10 field goal attempts so he isnt exactly reliable.

Washingtons return specialist Brandon Banks had a 35-yard punt return in Week 2, but since then he has not had a return longer than 10 yards and he also fumbled once.

The Eagles' rookies havent exactly taken the NFL by storm. Alex Henery is nine for 12 on field goal attempts, but had two critical misses in the loss to San Francisco. Chas Henry ranks 26th among the leagues punters with a 37.2 yard net average. Dion Lewis is 29th in kickoff returns with a 21.1 yard average.

Intangibles
The Eagles need a win Sunday to save their season. Oh wait, we said that last week and we said it the week before. If they were desperate at 1-3, what will they be at 1-4? What is the next stage beyond desperation? Thats where the Eagles find themselves this week.

It seems ridiculous to say this but if the Eagles do win Sunday they still have a chance to get back in the playoff race, if only because the NFC East is so bad. The division could be won with a 9-7 record, maybe even 8-8. The Redskins lead at 3-1, but they arent exactly a powerhouse.

The door is still open for the Eagles, but are they good enough to take advantage? Well find out Sunday.

Prediction
I picked the Eagles to win the last two weeks using the old desperate team theory. Im not going there again. I think this game is Shanahans revenge. Im sure he has not forgotten the Eagles embarrassing him at home before a national TV audience last year. I think he would like nothing better than to effectively end their season by burying them on Sunday.

Redskins 27, Eagles 23.

E-mail Ray Didinger at viewfromthehall@comcast.net.