By KEN SUGIURA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/04/05
JACKSONVILLE — When New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady goes under center Sunday, his opponents are counting on showing him one thing and giving him another.
The Philadelphia Eagles defense tied with the Patriots for fewest points allowed this season, averaging 16.3 points per game. The number likely would have been lower had the Eagles not rested key starters in their final two games.
One important element of the Philadelphia defense plan is its aggressive blitz scheme, in which defensive coordinator Jim Johnson sends extra defenders to attack the quarterback to force interceptions, sacks and incomplete passes.
Some of the success of the Eagles' blitz attack — they were second in the NFL in sacks behind the Falcons with 47 — is in the way defenders hide their intentions until the last instant.
"You disguise to give the quarterback problems," said Philadelphia safety Michael Lewis. "Give him different looks; what he thinks is there, is really not there. That's what you have to do because guys like Brady will sit back there and pick you apart."
Players like Lewis will walk to the line of scrimmage before the snap, indicating that they are blitzing, then back off into pass coverage just before the snap. Conversely, a player may not show any intent to rush to the quarterback until the snap. Reveal your hand too early, and the offensive line will have a better chance of picking up the blitz, and the quarterback will know where the holes in the pass coverage will be. As a result, Eagles practices and film sessions can be a little like acting classes.
Eagles linebacker Mark Simoneau watches himself on film to see if he has any mannerisms that a quarterback can spot.
"Your body language, everything, is involved," he said. "It's not just what you're doing, it's how you're doing it."
Prior to the Eagles' NFC championship win over the Falcons, Falcons coach Jim Mora described Johnson's blitzes as "creative," "exotic" and "pioneering."
A Johnson trademark is the "overload" blitz, in which two and three blitzers will all come from the same side. For instance, if Johnson anticipates that the Patriots' pass protection will be stronger on the left side of the line, he will send the attack from the other side.
"What they do well is they try to break down your protection," said Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, whose team defeated the Eagles in November. "They try to attack your protection."
The Eagles' volume of blitzes sets them apart, as well. Whisenhunt said that Johnson may blitz as much as 50 percent of the time. Further, the types of blitzes varies. The Eagles will send different numbers of blitzers, as many as eight, from different positions. One play it might be Lewis or safety Brian Dawkins, the next cornerback Lito Sheppard. All three are Pro Bowlers.
"We come from a lot of different places, we drop a lot of different guys into coverage, so it's confusing for backs and the offensive line," Simoneau said. "Obviously, we have to have players to execute it. We have talented players here."
They will have a daunting challenge in trying to disrupt Brady. The offensive line protects him well and Brady helps by releasing the ball quickly. The blitz is a risk-reward proposition, the risk being a secondary with fewer players to cover the wide receivers.
Said Johnson, "He is in complete control and he doesn't get rattled, so obviously, we have to start with Tom Brady."
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