Film breakdown: Eagles' blitzes against empty backfields

In the Eagles' win over the Rams, one of the biggest plays of the game came via Vinny Curry, who sacked Rams quarterback Austin Davis on third and goal from the five yard line. Davis fumbled, Fletcher Cox recovered, and the Eagles kept the Rams off the board.

On that play, the Rams went with an empty backfield, and DeMeco Ryans checked to a different play. The check called for a six man blitz. With nobody in the Rams backfield, and no in-line tight end, there was no way the Rams could block all of the Eagles' blitzers.

However, because the Eagles were sending so much pressure, the play Ryans checked to called for the Eagles to go man up with no underneath and/or safety help on the Rams' five receivers.

"We have a few different calls we can go to," said linebacker Emmanuel Acho. "Philosophically, we like to bring pressure to make the quarterback get the ball out of his hand.

"If you bring pressure they have to get rid of it. At the same time, if they have to get rid of it, you're playing one-on-one's across the board."

"We're on an island," said Nate Allen, referring to the heavy blitz. "You just hope and pray that that blitz gets there like it's supposed to, because if it doesn't you're man on man with no help."

The Eagles did in fact get there last Sunday. Let's watch them dance, and note at the beginning as everyone reacts to DeMeco Ryans making a frantic "X" motion with his forearms.

On the play, the Eagles actually had a miscommunication, but it worked out.

"Vinny (Curry) didn't go where he was supposed to go," explained Connor Barwin, "so I went where Vinny was supposed to be, and Vinny was free. Vinny was where I was supposed to be. But it was good. Vinny made a great play. DeMeco checked the play, and Vinny didn't get it, so I covered Vinny and went into his spot and he got the sack."

Curry confirmed that Barwin covered for him. "He did," said Curry. "It was a great adjustment by him. Where I was, Connor was supposed to be, and where Connor was, I was supposed to be. But my hand was already down, so I didn't hear DeMeco's check."

The Eagles have called the same blitz against other opponents who have gone empty. For example, against the Redskins, Washington motioned the running back out of the backfield, and Ryans checked to a blitz. Kirk Cousins was forced to throw his quick screen before the Skins could get blockers out in front of DeSean Jackson, and the play had no chance even if they had completed the pass. Again, note Ryans frantically making the check pre-snap.

Against the Niners, San Francisco motioned the running back out of the backfield, leaving an empty backfield. The Eagles had already called a blitz, and they stayed in it.

Colin Kaepernick actually had an open Michael Crabtree, but because the Eagles had more rushers than the Niners had blockers, Kaepernick was forced to deliver early, and missed.

While the Eagles have had success sending pressure in goal to go situations, it's not an automatic that they'll check to a blitz. "We switch it up," said Barwin. "Every series we have certain calls that we go to when they they got to (an empty backfield). Some series it's on, some it isn't."

While the Eagles defense has given up a lot of yards, it has also made huge plays like the one against St. Louis last Sunday.

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