By Patrick Del Gaone, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 
Jim Schwartz threw a Cole Hamels-esque changeup at Vikings' quarterback Sam Bradford in last Sunday’s resounding victory, but according to Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator, his game plan made no difference.
In the three games prior to Minnesota, Philly’s defense sent more than four rushers after the quarterback just 13 times total. Against the Vikings, Schwartz blitzed a dozen times, as the team collectively pounded their former quarterback into submission with 16 hits on the afternoon.
“It didn’t matter what I was calling in that game,” Schwartz said. “The guys were playing at a different tempo. It’s a prideful bunch. They wanted to put the performance from Washington behind them, I think they did. It was easy to call the game because they were executing just about everything well, and they were doing it with a lot of toughness and a lot of spirit.”
“Jordan [Hicks] played one of the best games I’ve seen all year. He played at a different level in this game. He was covering, tackling in the open field. His tackle for a loss on that one toss play was a big, big play in the game. He was all over the place, and he was putting us in the right calls too. There’s a lot on the middle linebacker, and there’s nothing that we’ve thrown at him that he hasn’t been able to handle.”
The Eagles’ defense will need a similar level of intensity and grit this weekend against the Cowboys’ top-ranked rushing attack. Besides their gargantuan lineman, and mobile quarterback, the reason Dallas averages 161 rushing yards per game is largely attributed to their agile yet powerful tailback, rookie sensation Ezekiel Elliott.
“He can run outside, he can run inside,” Schwartz said. “He’s a one-cut runner. He fits their offense really well. There’s some guys that you say, we take away their inside away, they can’t go outside. Other guys you say, if you make them run inside to darkness, they’re not gonna be as effective. Their scheme gives him the ability to make the cut as he sees it. So, it’s not just a single man, everybody on defense has to do their job. If one guy is out of place, or one guy misses a tackle, he can make a big play.”
Shifty slot receiver Cole Beasley has given the Philly defense fits in recent meetings. The former SMU Mustang is comparable to a wideout version of Eagles’ tailback Darren Sproles. He’s just 5’8”, 180 lbs., but his precise route running and ability to shake a nickel cornerback makes him a very reliable target, particularly on crucial 3rd downs.
Today, Schwartz was asked why the diminutive receiver is constantly wide open.
“Well, he’s quick as can be,” Schwartz said. “Merrill [Reese], he’s not much taller than you. In fact, you might be able to look down on him. But, he might out-quick you. He’s got a lot of respect from not just our team, but from teams around the NFL. He’s their leading receiver, he’s their leading 3rd down receiver. He’s slippery in there, he’s very, very quick. They do a good job scheming to get him open. He’s good run after the catch as well. He’s not just a novelty player, he’s not just a specialty player for them. He’s a major part of their success, we’re gonna have to do a good job on him, particularly on 3rd downs to keep the chains from moving.”
Compounding the issue of covering Beasley is the loss of Eagles’ nickel cornerback Ron Brooks, who ruptured his right quad tendon in last week’s win. Safety Malcolm Jenkins is expected to be one of the players stepping into Brooks’ strenuous role.
If the Eagles are to win Sunday's primetime showdown, Jenkins will be raising his fist, signaling 4th down, more often than his hand.
You can watch the full press conference from Reich and Pederson below.
