[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Eagles to test Cowboys' pass protection

By MIKE BALDWIN

The Daily Oklahoman

IRVING, Texas - At times, it appears there are more Xs than Os.

In football terminology, Xs represent defensive players, Os offensive players. When a defense blitzes, it's football's version of a five- alarm fire.

"It becomes a game of chess, seeing what teams are doing with pass protection, then they start trying to change their approach defensively to tie up the running backs," said Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman.

How the Cowboys handled the blitz had a significant impact the first two weeks. In a 37-7 win over Pittsburgh, Aikman wasn't sacked. He passed for 295 yards and four touchdowns.

In a 25-22 overtime loss to Arizona, Aikman was sacked three times and the offense failed to produce a touchdown. This week, Dallas faces Philadelphia, which had success blitzing Green Bay's Brett Favre.

"They rattled Brett pretty good, bumped him around some and got him off rhythm much like what Arizona did against us," Aikman said. "They mixed it up good, got me out of rhythm throwing the football. We really couldn't get a bead on exactly what they were doing."

That's the key. If the blitz is successful, it often results in a sack or the quarterback hurrying his throw. If the offense picks up the blitz, it can lead to a big play. The zone blitz - a scheme in which a defensive lineman drops into coverage while a linebacker or defensive back blitzes - is the newest wrinkle.

"When the linemen start to rush, they tie up an (offensive) lineman so he can't get out and block the guy who is blitzing," Aikman said. "You've got a free guy coming, but in reality they're still only rushing five guys. As a quarterback and receiver, you're trying to run break-off routes because you can't get them picked up."

Few teams have been as successful picking up the blitz as the Cowboys. Aikman was sacked only 19 times last year. The previous four seasons, Dallas' sack totals (18, 20, 29 and 23) were well below the league average.

"There's some good defensive football teams in the league right now," Aikman said. "They're doing an awfully good job with zone blitzes, of putting pressure on the quarterback and not giving you the easy throws. They're making it tough on the offensive line to pick things up, getting hits on the quarterback, yet still dropping off into the passing lanes."

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)