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Scouts views: observations and opinions on the Eagles and Patriots from two pro scouts, one from the NFC and one from the AFC

Sporting News, The, Feb 11, 2005

Tom Brady is the smartest quarterback in the NFL. When you're in the playoffs and it's win or go home, there's probably no quarterback you'd rather have in terms of his ability to adjust to what defenses are trying to do to him. More than anything, it's his leadership. He's very calm under pressure, and his teammates kind of rally around that....

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Andy Reid does a great job of sticking with his game plan. He's not overly excitable on the sideline, which I think is going to be a key because New England has scored first in 25 of its last 26 games. There are going to be trying times early in the game for the Eagles, but I think Andy and his coordinators will do a great job of keeping their team together.... The most vulnerable area for the Patriots is the cornerback position, just because of the injuries they've suffered there. But it's very hard to exploit it because they have such a smart front seven and a head coach and coordinator who give an offense so many different looks and coverages.... I think Donovan McNabb gives the Eagles an edge. The Patriots really haven't faced a quarterback with his kind of abilities to make something happen with his legs.... Adam Vinatieri is special because he thrives on pressure. He's unflappable in terms of his ability to block out everything around him and make clutch kicks. When he trots out there, the Patriots have no thoughts that, hey, he might miss this.... Everybody knows Jevon Kearse is an effective speed rusher off the edge, but I don't see him having a big impact in this game. New England has faced a lot of speed rushers--Jason Taylor, John Abraham, Dwight Freeney--so they're used to those kinds of guys. Plus, when the Patriots pass, they do a lot of three- and five-step drops and get rid of the ball fast.... Mike Vrabel is one of the most underrated linebackers in the NFL. The only real knock on him is his flat-out playing speed, but he makes up for a lot of that with his effort and motor. Tedy Bruschi gets more attention because he's a little bit faster and has a little more range. But Vrabel is definitely one of the key cogs in New England's ability to stop the run.... I'm not sure how much of a factor Jeremiah Trotter is going to be in this game. If New England comes out in that five-receiver spread set, I don't think he'll be quite as effective because he's not as quick-twitched as some of the Eagles' other linebackers. He's not a liability in coverage, but it's not his strength.... Can Philly win without Terrell Owens? Yeah, I think they can. I think they've got a mind-set now that they're going to be playing without him.

Scouts views: observations and opinions on the Eagles and Patriots from two pro scouts, one from the NFC and one from the AFC

Sporting News, The, Feb 11, 2005

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