Eagles successful against running QBs

1. Make no mistake, Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, a master of exotic blitz angles, is pretty adept at containing a running quarterback. In the Eagles' 20-6 victory over Atlanta in a 2002 divisional-round contest, Michael Vick ran for 30 yards on six carries. In the Eagles' 35 games since that playoff matchup (including postseason games), opposition quarterbacks have carried 90 times and notched a measly 288 yards (or 3.2 yards per carry) against the Philadelphia defense. Those quarterbacks have just six rushes of 10 yards or more against the Eagles. Only two quarterbacks, Quincy Carter of Dallas (seven carries, 31 yards) in 2003 and Minnesota's Daunte Culpepper (41 yards on eight rushes) in the regular season this year, ran for more than 30 yards against Johnson's aggressive unit. Of the quarterbacks who registered three or more carries against the Eagles in the past 35 games, 16 totaled 10 yards or less. The Eagles limited Culpepper to 25 yards on five attempts in Sunday's divisional-round win over the Vikings. But even Johnson knows that he will have to exercise great prudence, and a large dose of discipline, if he blitzes Vick in next week's NFC title game. It isn't as if Vick can't be blitzed, of course, as evidenced by the fact he was sacked 46 times in 2004, an average of one sack every 7.98 dropbacks. For his career, Vick has gone down once every 9.76 dropbacks, an alarmingly high ratio. But if you blitz Vick, you're playing with fire, because the defensive backside is vulnerable to a long run if the pressure doesn't put the Falcons star on his back. Vick had seven runs of 20 or more yards during the regular season. On the third play of Saturday night's victory over St. Louis in the second round of the playoffs, he rambled for 47 yards. Rushing the slippery Vick, who will sometimes freeze when blitzed and hold the ball too long as he attempts to make something out of a bad play, must be done with great care. As is the case in basketball, defenders can't afford to bite on one of his feints and leave their feet. So look for Johnson to attack Vick more mentally than physically. He will force Vick to read the Philadelphia front seven, not only when it is blitzing, but whether it is coming and from where. Whether Vick can trump the cerebral battle with his enormous physical skills figures to be the most critical element of the game. Vick is capable of completing, say, 7-of-21 passes but still winning a game with his feet. The running of Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb must be of some concern to the Atlanta defense, too, but he is not nearly the threat that Vick poses. In fact, over the past three seasons, McNabb has just 133 more rushing yards total than Vick gained in 2004 alone.

2. The game will feature two of the NFL's premier "small backs" in Atlanta's Warrick Dunn (5-feet-9, 180 lbs.) and Brian Westbrook (5-10, 205) of the Eagles. Just because the two tailbacks possess similar physical dimensions, however, doesn't mean they are the same kinds of backs. Dunn is deceptively tough between the tackles, can sometimes move the pile and, if he squirts through a hole and pops out the opposite side, can run a long way. Westbrook probably has a little more speed and seems to be the better player "in space." There is little doubt that the Philadelphia offensive game plan will force the Falcons to cover Westbrook in the passing game. He had 73 receptions for 703 yards and six touchdowns in the regular season and added another five catches and a score on Sunday. Coach Andy Reid will use Westbrook in the slot, even flanked wide as a receiver, and the Atlanta staff will have to come up with a different way to check him than most clubs have devised. Atlanta rarely throws the ball to Dunn, who had only 29 receptions in 2004, or any of its backs for that matter. In fact, Westbrook's 73 receptions were 14 more than the entire Atlanta backfield posted this season. The Falcons aren't apt to change strategy now. Bottom line -- Dunn is probably the more dangerous of the tailbacks in the running game and Westbrook as a receiver figures to provide a big challenge for the Atlanta linebackers and safeties.

3. The right offensive tackles, Jon Runyan for the Eagles and Todd Weiner of Atlanta, are likely to be the most crucial players to their respective blocking units. That's because each tackle will draw the most dangerous pass rusher from the opposing defense. Runyan will be hooked up against Falcons left end Patrick Kerney, who recorded 13 sacks during the season. There is a misconception that Runyan, one of the first tackles to benefit from free agency to command a large contract, is more advanced as a run-blocker. Over the past two seasons, though, Runyan has overcome some of his previous protection deficiencies, and Philadelphia insiders insist he has been better in 2003-04 than Eagles left tackle Tra Thomas. Kerney is a solid two-way player and can be very disruptive when he gets on a roll. Weiner will draw Jevon Kearse, who had just 7½ sacks this season but whose ability to attack and compress a pocket supersedes that number. Kearse will often line up in a "nine technique," far outside the shoulder of the tackle, and simply attempt to beat the blocker upfield. He is capable of authoring the big play -- a sack accompanied by a strip, for instance -- at any time. Both teams have solid offensive lines in general, although the Eagles have been forced to scramble more this season because of injuries. The Eagles used six different starting combinations, mostly because of instability at guard. Atlanta has used three combinations but has enjoyed the luxury of fielding the same quintet for the past 15 outings now.

4. With the loquacious Terrell Owens still out and Peerless Price never quite living up to his given name, neither team has wide receivers who will strike fear into the collective heart of the other's secondary. The same can't be said, though, for the tight ends in this game. The Falcons' Alge Crumpler might be the best all-around player at his position and, while he looked a little rusty Saturday night coming off an injury, can get deep up the seam and split the safeties. The Eagles' combination of L.J. Smith and Chad Lewis isn't quite as imposing in terms of the big play, but both are excellent underneath and possession receivers, very clever in locating open spaces and then making themselves available to the quarterback. Of the two, Smith is the better athlete and he can, at times, flash some vertical skills. The safeties will likely be key to covering the tight ends and, on paper at least, give the edge to the Eagles. Even the Falcons coaches aren't sold on the tandem of Cory Hall and Bryan Scott. For the Eagles, free safety Brian Dawkins is superb. Strong safety Michael Lewis is more involved in the running game and can be a liability against the pass. Look for Philadelphia to try to match up Dawkins against Crumpler, if it can, as often as possible.

5. Two of the NFL's best special teams units and assistant coaches, John Harbaugh of Philadelphia and Joe DeCamillis of Atlanta, square off and no one should be surprised if the NFC title game includes at least one significant play in the kicking game. Veteran Allen Rossum of the Falcons is one of the best all-around return specialists in the NFL and totaled 1,707 combined return yards in 2004. He ranked No. 2 in the league in punt returns, with a 12.3-yard average. In their Saturday night victory over St. Louis, the Falcons displayed some special teams gimmicky, and provided Harbaugh something to chew on, with Rossum scoring on a 68-yard punt return after faking a cross-field lateral to cornerback DeAngelo Hall. The Eagles don't have a punt returner of Rossum's ilk, but rookie J.R. Reed has been explosive at times on kickoff runbacks and has given the club excellent field position much of the year. Eagles place-kicker David Akers is truly one of the premier long field-goal artists in the game. He converted 17-of-21 attempts from 40 yards and beyond in 2004 and also has enough leg strength to squeeze out touchbacks on kickoffs from time to time. Jay Feely, the Falcons' kicker, is a bit of an enigma. He has a strong leg but struggles with consistency. He converted 18-of-23 field-goal attempts this season but connected on just 3-of-6 from beyond 40 yards.

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Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.