‘True athlete’ Mann gets accolades for pass play
Almost lost in the Eagles’ 33-13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys was the weaponizing of punter Braden Mann.
On fourth-and-two from the Philly 33yard line, Mann took the snap in punt formation, started forward and then spun a spiral to Olamide Zaccheaus, who thundered 28 yards for a first down at the Dallas 39.
Four plays later Jake Elliott kicked a 52yard field goal to get the Eagles within 10-3 early in the second quarter.
“Braden is a true athlete,” Eagles special teams coach Michael Clay said Wednesday. “I always knew he could throw the ball. … It was just something we thought about maybe a few weeks back. Just something to keep in our back pocket in case the situation came to fruition. Kudos to the guys. When something like that is up, it’s all on the guys executing it well and feeling confident in it.”
Zaccheaus was the go-to guy, not punt returner Britain Covey, who is faster because he’s played gunner. Covey lining up at gunner probably would have tipped off the Cowboys.
The play gave the Eagles a lift.
“That is what our job is on special teams, to be a spark of energy,” Clay said. “You could feel a little bit of that spark of energy when Braden threw that ball to O.Z., and O.Z. did a great job protecting the ball after he did catch it. You got the guys coming out the stack. So just out of those guys, they did a heck of job executing the game plan and really going through with it.”
Clay was happy with the contributions of linebacker Ben VanSumeren, defensive end Nolan Smith and tight ends Jack Stoll and Grant Calcaterra, who took up the bulk of the snaps the Eagles used to get from Christian Ellis, who signed with the Patriots.
When the Eagles oppose the Seahawks on Monday at Lumen Field, Mann, Zaccheaus and Clay take on probably the top all-around special teams unit in the league.
“A very, very, very good special teams unit,” Clay said. “Always have been with [Seattle Special Teams Coordinator Larry] Izzo leading them. We have our work cut out this week going to the Pacific Northwest, long trip. Again, as long as these guys understand what their role is and can do it 100 percent, we feel confident going into that game.”
Mann has a net punting average of 43.0 yards, eighth in the league, and a 118.8 passer rating.
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According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said Wednesday that reports the league wants to ban the tush push were “false.”
That contradicts a report saying Commissioner Roger Goodell wanted to get rid of the highly successful short yardage play in which Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs forward with a push from teammates.
The Eagles are 34 for 37 (.918) running the tush push.
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No team has more passes thrown at it than the Eagles, who see an average of 40 per game … Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat has 17.5 sacks since the start of the 2022 season, putting him in that time frame slightly behind league leader Myles Garrett (28.0), Maxx Crosby (25.0), Chris Jones (23.0) and Trey Hendrickson (21.5) … Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick has 25.5 sacks since the 2022 season, most among linebackers. Reddick has double-digit sacks in four straight seasons, including 11.0 this year … Boye Mafe leads the Seahawks with 7.0 sacks. Jarran Reed has 6.0 … The Seahawks are 5-0 when rushing for 100 or more yards this season, and 7-1 (.875) when averaging more than 5.0 yards per rush since the 2022 season … The Seahawks are 3-6 (.333) when committing 1 or more turnovers this season, eighth worst in the league. Backup quarterback Drew Lock was intercepted twice last week.