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‘Jaws’ expects Ravens to copy Eagles’ example

01:00 AM EST on Saturday, December 1, 2007

BY ROBERT LEE

Journal Sports Writer

Patriots receiver Randy Moss scores a touchdown that was called back because of a penalty in the second quarter of last Sunday’s game against the Eagles but TV analyst Ron Jaworski says he “did not see the same energy on every single play” by the veteran player.


The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

FOXBORO — By watching the film of what the Eagles did against the Patriots last weekend, Monday Night Football analyst Ron Jaworski said that he believes that the Eagles mapped out a blueprint for other teams to use to beat the Patriots.

Offensively the Eagles attacked the Patriot linebackers with their passing game. The result was 345 yards and three touchdowns for Philadelphia backup quarterback A.J. Feeley, but the Patriots did intercept Feeley three times, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

“If there is a weakness where you can attack, it’s the linebacking corps on the passing game of the Patriots,” Jaworski said. “They are very stout against the run — the front seven, three down linemen, four linebackers, particularly (Tedy) Bruschi on the inside and (Junior) Seau and now Adalius (Thomas) will be moved to the outside. They are really, really good against the run. But if you can get some isolation routes on them in pass coverage, I think you can take advantage of it. And, if the quarterback reads that coverage quickly, because they do a great job of disguising what they want to do, you have the opportunity for some big plays.”

The Patriots escaped with a hard-fought 31-28 victory over the Eagles last weekend, but six of the Eagle receivers averaged more than 14 yards per catch. Feeley had the most success among all quarterbacks against the Patriots this season and he did that by attacking the linebackers, Jaworski said.

New England safety Rodney Harrison isn’t putting too much stock in Jaworski’s “blueprint” to beat the Patriots.

“We just have to make plays. There is no special formula,” Harrison said of the Patriots’ defense. “There is no special thing. If you watch the film, we are inches away from three touchdown balls — knocking them down — and that’s the difference in 21 points.”

Philadelphia spread the field by using three and four wide receiver sets, and then sent running back Brian Westbrook out of the backfield and used him several times as an extra receiver.

Jaworski said that the Ravens will try to duplicate what the Eagles did on offense, but he predicted that the Ravens won’t have the same kind of success.

“The Eagles may not have that No. 1, go-to wide receiver, but they do have a pretty good receiving corps where they can bring in three, four receivers,” Jaworski said. “But what you really have to factor in there is Brian Westbrook, who is a big-play difference-maker. I don’t see where the Ravens have that kind of player who is going to give a defense that kind of matchup problem. … A.J. Feeley did a very good job of making the read, quickly processing information and then getting the ball out of his hand right away. And I don’t think that [Baltimore quarterback Kyle Boller] at this point in his career, can necessarily do that.”

Defensively the Eagles played the majority of the game in press coverage, wide receiver Jabar Gaffney said, hitting the Patriots receivers at the line of scrimmage to throw them off their routes. New England still managed to move the ball up and down the field with relative ease, amassing 380 yards through the air. But the strategy worked best in the red zone where Philadelphia held New England to just one red zone passing touchdown.

Tom Brady had thrown for at least three touchdowns every game prior to last Sunday’s showdown with the Eagles.

“Everybody keeps saying the blueprint and what not because of the score, but we had a pretty productive day offensively,” Gaffney said. “We didn’t score as many points as we’ve averaged, I guess, but we moved the ball up and down the field and threw for [380] yards, so [Baltimore] can try that if they want to.

“[The Eagles] got up and they challenged us as receivers. They came up and played a little bit more man than we’ve seen previously and threw a lot of different blitzes at us. I’m sure teams will try that, but we’ll be ready for it.”

Many media pundits have said that if you are physical with New England, five-time Pro Bowl receiver Randy Moss won’t have a good game. Philadelphia limited Moss to five catches and 43 yards, his least productive game of the season.

Jaworski said that he wasn’t particularly impressed with Moss against Philadelphia.

“When I went through the tape, it was the first time that I was personally disappointed in a Randy Moss performance,” Jaworski said. “I did not see the same energy on every single play that I had seen so far this season. When he was the No. 1 go-to guy on a route, he gave great effort and hustle. There were some plays on the back side, when he wasn’t the primary receiver, I did not see the great effort. Knowing how the Patriots handle things internally, I’m sure there have been some discussions on Randy: ‘Every snap, we need 100 percent out of you.’ ”

When asked about Jaworski’s comments yesterday, New England coach Bill Belichick said that Moss has done a great job since joining the Patriots. Moss leads the NFL in receiving yards (1,095) and touchdown catches (16).

“I think, like all of us, Ron’s a football guy. He’s entitled to his opinion and so is everybody else,” Belichick said. “[I] just think that Randy’s done a good job for us. He’s been a good leader, been a good player, been very productive, and I’d say the same thing I’d say about Randy as I’d say about myself and every other player. He’s not perfect. There are things he could do better. I make plenty of mistakes; so does everybody else. Is every play perfect for any of us? No. There’s room for improvement by all of us.”

Brady and Moss have led the Patriots on an eye-popping pace. The Patriots are averaging 40.2 points per game and 434.4 yards per game.

“Quite honestly this is the best offense I have ever seen,” Jaworski said. “They are going to score points. … This is an offense that is going to move the football. They believe in being aggressive in the first half. They had 29 plays called [against the Eagles] — 28 were shotgun passes. They are aggressive in the passing game because their offensive line is playing well. They have every dimension at the receiving corps that a quarterback could want. They have an excellent receiving back in Kevin Faulk, particularly a great screen back. They are going to score points.”

roblee@projo.com

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