Pederson’s plan: Reagor will be DJack’s back-up
During his teleconference Tuesday, Doug Pederson splashed cold water on the expectations this season for Eagles first-round draft pick Jalen Reagor, the deep-threat receiver out of TCU.
It wasn’t a slight, just a dose of reality that Pederson delivered when asked if he’d cross-train Reagor at different positions.
Though the Eagles haven’t gotten together for workouts since they were eliminated from by Seattle in the wild card round of the playoffs, Reagor had become bigger than life to fans, some of whom predicted he’ll surpass the numbers DeSean Jackson put up as a rookie with the Eagles.
Reagor would need 63 catches for 913 yards and three touchdowns to get that done in a lineup featuring Zach Ertz (88 receptions last year), Dallas Goedert (58), Miles Sanders (50) and Boston Scott (24). Alshon Jeffery (43 catches) might be there, too.
And Jackson is still around. That makes Reagor a backup on a team that won’t change its game plan to accommodate a rookie who still hasn’t shown what he can do in practice, thank you.
“Right now, he’s going to come in and he’s going to learn one position and he is going to learn from DeSean Jackson and learn everything he can,” Pederson said. “Obviously the playbook is extensive and we just have to see what he’s taken from the offseason to training camp. Once we see his potential and his growth, then we can use him in multiple spots.”
The facts are that Jackson, despite injuries that have limited him recently, has proven himself to be a generational deep threat. He’s averaging 17.4 yards per reception in 12 seasons with 30 touchdown catches of 50 or more yards, trailing only the great Jerry Rice (36).
Jackson sustained a sports hernia that reduced him to playing just three games in 2019. He caught eight passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns in the opener to spark a 3225 win over Washington. He would catch just one more pass on the season, part of the reason why the front office reached to draft Reagor, who wasn’t the highest-rated receiver available on several draft boards.
Reagor has a lot to prove. The
5-10½, 205-pound prospect with getaway speed only recently had a chance to play catch with Carson Wentz, the duo getting together in Texas along with JJ Arcega-Whiteside, a 2019 second-round pick, and others.
Reagor clocked a disappointing
4.47 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He then lost weight and ran
4.28 and 4.22 in a private workout. There was no concern with Reagor’s
42-inch vertical at the combine. With Jackson turning 34 in December, there’s no question the Eagles need to groom another deep threat. Reagor has skills that coaches can work with.
“This guy definitely stretches the field,” Pederson said on draft night. “His vertical, for a 5-10 guy, he can elevate, he can get balls above the rim. He has the flexibility of not only playing outside but also playing inside. And he has the ability to play special teams, punt return and possible kickoff return guy. We’re going to see where he best fits us.”
Pederson is in no hurry to rush Reagor. Backing up Jackson is a fairly honorable place to begin.
“We’ll keep him at one position to start,” Pederson said, “and we’ll grow from there.”
• • •
Speaking of Jeffery, he, and South Carolina alumni Marcus Lattimore and Mike Davis have led a push to change the name of the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center on campus.
Thurmond was a segregationist who served eight terms in the U.S. Senate. The tweet appeared on Davis’
timeline:
“To celebrate well known segregationist Strom Thurmond’s legacy by keeping his name on our Wellness Center sends a contradicting message to our black students @ UofSC. We can no longer be held back by those whose ideals represent division. We must continue the fight for equality.”
•••
Carlos Hyde would have been an ideal veteran running back pickup for the Eagles. But he signed a oneyear deal with Seattle worth up to
$4 million.
LeSean McCoy, the former Eagle, is looking for work. But he doesn’t sound like he suits what Pederson is seeking.
“You know that the running back position for us has been sort of by committee,” Pederson said. “It’s been two, three guys each and every week that not only help us in the run game but can also help us on special teams and that’s also a big part of this.”
Can you imagine McCoy, who turns 32 soon, playing special teams?
The quest continues for the Eagles, who have a burgeoning talent in Miles Sanders, third-down back Boston Scott, injury-prone vet Corey Clement and intriguing talent Elijah Holyfield.
There’s plenty of time to add a veteran, like Devonta Freeman, should his price come down.
•••
It’s obvious that some players don’t run well at the combine, but it’s not the be-all and end-all in evaluations. Here’s a tale of two Eagles:
Defensive end Derek Barnett clocked 4.88 in the 40-yard dash at 259 pounds in 2017. His career peaked with 6.5 sacks last season.
Fletcher Cox ran 4.77 in the 40 at 298 pounds in the 2012 combine. Selected 12th overall, compared to
14th for Barnett, Cox is a perennial All-Pro and Pro Bowl player.