Wentz itching to test new weapons

Eagles head coach Doug Pederson game- planned for the Washington Redskins last year with one arm tied behind his back.

PHILADELPHIA » Eagles head coach Doug Pederson game- planned for the Washington Redskins last year with one arm tied behind his back.

Offensive tackle Lane Johnson was suspended for both starts, which, judging by the nine sacks allowed, stifled the pass game. The playmaker- lean offense scored just one touchdown, total, in two games.

Naturally, quarterback Carson Wentz refutes the brutally honest assessment, insisting the Eagles had enough guys to create beneficial mismatches and just didn’t.

But even Wentz cannot temper his enthusiasmover the offensive upgrades. The run game got 250- something pound bruiser LeGarrette Blount. The receiving corps got Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith.

Suddenly Wentz enjoys questions about taking on elite cornerback Josh Norman.

Last season, Norman took away half of the field. This year Wentz is going to challenge him with Jeffery, tight coverage or not. Hear that, Josh? “He’s talented,” Wentz said of Norman. “I think he’s sometimes a risk taker. In zone coverage he’ll read quarterbacks eyes really heavy. And he can jump some things and makes some plays. He’s not afraid to come downhill andmake some tackles. I think he’s a very good corner.

“And it’s exciting to start off with a guy like Alshon going up against him in Week 1. We’ll see. May the best man win.”

No disrespect intended, but Wentz just didn’t say that about any of the playmakers on last year’s team. The Skins really cannot double- team Jeffery. Pederson expects Norman to travel, or shadow Jeffery. Redskins head coach Jay Gruden says that he and new defensive coordinator Greg Manusky haven’t decided that yet. Gruden has a lot of respect for Jeffery.

“We played him with Chicago last year and he had some big plays on us,” Gruden said on a conference call. “We know what kind of threat he can be. The good thing about Alshon is he’s got the speed to beat you vertically but he’s got the strength to catch all the intermediate stuff and run after the catch. You have to be aware of where he is all the time.”

Jeffery had five catches worth 92 yards on 10 targets againstWashington in 2016.

If the extremely young Redskins secondary devotes too much attention to Jeffery, Smith, running backslot receiver Darren Sproles or tight end Zach Ertz will have something to say.

Trust Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich, the comeback king in his NFL career, just having a guy like Jeffery puts a bounce in the step of a quarterback.

“There’s a great feeling that you have as a quarterback when you’re either in the shotgun or under center and you kind of look out there and you see your guy,” Reich said. “And you look across and you see who is covering him. When you have a feeling as a quarterback like, ‘ He’s always open, he can always win,’ it gives a quarterback a lot of confidence. You can’t underestimate how important that is.

“I think that’s a primary thing that Alshon brings to the table.”

Jeffery ( 6- 3, 218) also brings a quiet confidence to the Eagles. If Norman yaps, which he’s known for, he’s going to have to get creative.

“I don’t get into the talking game,” Jeffery said. “That’s between him and whoever he talks to. I just play football. I just feel if someone is talking they respect your game. I just let my play do the talking.”

Barring injury in the next three days, the Eagles will begin the season with a totally healthy offensive line. That’s enough to give any quarterback confidence.

Additionally Johnson, at least, should be able to reroute edge rusher Ryan Kerrigan, who recorded or factored directly in six of the nine Redskins sacks last year.

“Having Lane back, having everybody be healthy to start the year is exciting,” Wentz said. “And I know when those guys are healthy they can be one of the best ( units) in the league.”

What irked Wentz about losing twice last year to the Redskins was that as poorly as the Eagle played on offense, both setbacks were by a touchdown or less.

“At the end of those games wewere right there,” Wentz said. “We had opportunities and just couldn’t pull it out. I remember just those last drives in each of those games and just coming up short. It’s a new season. But you don’t forget that.”

For the Eagles, it’s a new wide receiver corps, too. Wentz cannot wait to see it in action. That first throw to Jeffery, when covered, could be epic.

“You’ve just got to know when the time is right,” Wentz said. “Are you going to be perfect with it? No. You never will be. You’ve just got to know when the right time is and force it, to some extent. It’s all kind of within the flow of the game. It’s a feel thing.”

Jeffery, too, is excited to get it started. The lack of preseason game action with Wentz doesn’t bother Jeffrey in the least.

“I’ve been here for a couple months now so there’s no flipping the switch,” Jeffery said. “I think we’re qualified. That’s already cleared up. I can’t wait. Sunday we’re going to go out there and have some fun. I’m just excited to go out there and fly around and have fun.”