From: kschnitz@encore.com (Kevin Schnitzius)
Subject: Re: Playoffs: Philly at NewOrleans
Organization: Encore Computer Corporation
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 07:25:50 GMT

corleone@mintir.new-orleans.la.us (Daniel Marsalone) writes:
>     From what I've seen today (Eagles vs. Giants), the Eagles look 
>pretty weak. 

You can't really judge the Eagles by this essentially meaningless game.
Hershel got his 1000 yards and in the first half, the Eagles got 17 points 
and the Giants got about 45 yards total before they went to Eagles went
to sleep.

>I was just wondering how some of you people out side of the New Orleans 
>area perceive the Saints as a team and their offense in particular.

If the Saints defense can score or set up 7 or more points, Saints win.
If the Eagles are turnover free, they should win especially if the running
game gets started and they don't that to come from behind.  However, there 
are problem spots:

1.  Randall fumbles when sacked and the Saints will be going after this
	all day.  Even if he does not fumble, he could be sacked, say,
	eight times for 100+ yards.  However, this also leads to broken
	plays where Byars is covered by a lineman or linebacker.  If Randall
	can get the ball to Byars, Sherman, or Walker during a blitz, 30+ 
	yards easy.

2.  Blitzing linebackers can seriously disrupt the Eagles offense.  Derrick
	Thomas from KC killed us and the Saints have the backers to bring
	that kind of pressure again.  Hopefully, there were specific plays
	put in place to counteract this kind of this play.

3.  There may not be time in the pocket to throw long.  This takes away the
	primary threat of Fred Barnett.  This may work to our favor if the
	coaches are clever enough (ha!).  No one in the entire league expects
	the Eagles to go up top early.  If they use play action on the first
	few series, they can potentially burn the Saints secondary early.  If
	not, look for short outs that have a dangerous INT potential built in 
	all day.

4.  As someone else mentioned, the Eagles secondary likes to hit the holes 
	during runs so they've been burned early by play action.  However,
	the secondary is a lot more cautious with the loss of Hopkins and
	Waters.  And, with the benching of Jenkins, McMillan adds a ton of
	speed the corner opposite Eric Allen.  Everybody has seen the KC
	game tapes so I don't see them biting on the play action early.  I
	think Bud Carson is just too good a coach to burned like that again.

5.  Special teams.  Hot and cold all year.  But, unlike the blocked FG during
	the NYG game, the Eagles special teams can really perform when 
	motivated.  Don't expect any stupid or motivational errors during 
	this game.  Look for the number 1 kick returner Sicahema to give
	the Eagles better that average field position all day.

6.  Coaching.  Give the Saints the edge all the way.  

To me at least, it seems that the Eagles are a more balanced team than
the Saints.  While the Saints defense is slightly better that the Eagles
defense (gasp!), the Eagle offense is much better than the Saints offense
and is extremely versatile and hard to shut down completely.  However, it
is prone to mistakes.  My prediction: 17-10 Eagles if there are no turn-
overs.  After that, all bets are off, the winner will have caused the most
turnovers.  The overtime edge has to go to the home team.  Overall, I would
say the Saints by 3 probably based on the coaching and home field advantage.

I will definitely have my Maalox handy during this game.  It should be a
great one.
--
Kevin Schnitzius                         Eagles -- Not America's Team, 
kschnitzius@encore.com                             they're better than that.
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro