Agholor getting comfortable catching everything
Birds WR had strong day at OTA Thursday
If it had been almost anyone else, the reaction would have been something like... nice catch, good job, let’s move on to the next play.
After all it was an OTA, not a national TV game.
But this was first-round bust Nelson Agholor running under a deep, deep ball from Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz Thursday that flew over an entire defense.
Agholor is the guy who dropped so many passes and committed so many pre-snap penalties last year you wondered why he still had a locker.
And there he was Thursday, beating Malcolm Jenkins for a 60-yard grab.
“I let him catch that one,” Jenkins said with a grin. “But like I say he’s been making the majority of plays that come his way. From a defensive standpoint it’s been exciting to watch him compete.”
It’s early but Agholor is feeling it at practice. Benched for a game
last year after admitting he was overwhelmed, he’s not only having fun again but also showing teammates he won’t give up without a fight.
Last year you wouldn’t have mentioned what Jenkins said for fear Agholor would take it the wrong way. This year he’s let go of that super-sensitive security blanket spelled v-ic-t-i-m.
“If that’s what he said, then we’re going to go by what he said,” Agholor said with a grin of his own. “At the end of the day, I just made a play. The ball was in there. I just tracked it and made a play on it. I don’t know what he said. I only focus on trying to make a play.”
Agholor made several plays Thursday, as he took cornerbacks Jalen Mills and rookie Rasul Douglas to school. Catching virtually everything thrown his way, Agholor had the kind of performance that made you start doing some math at the wide receiver position.
The Eagles obviously expect a lot out of Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Holt, who were signed in free agency. When they learn the offense it’s going to stretch the field for the rest of the skills players. Just say it’s a good thing the Eagles have a threeday mandatory minicamp ahead of them next week, as it will give the new people a chance to study film of
where they’re lining up — and where they’re supposed to line up.
Jordan Matthews looks to be the slot receiver, although he’s declined comment about the tendinitis flaring up in a knee. While head coach Doug Pederson minimized the issue, it knocked Matthews out of the last two weeks of OTAs and could cost him the minicamp.
The Eagles like rookie fourth-round draft pick Mack Hollins. If the Birds keep five wide receivers, Agholor would be the fifth. That would leave Dorial Green-Beckham, Bryce Treggs, Paul Turner and fifth-round pick Shelton Gibson, among others, on the outside looking in.
Jenkins sees Agholor “playing with confidence right now.
“His skills set hasn’t changed,” Jenkins said. “His route running is still great like it has been. I think he’s just playing with more confidence. He’s believing in himself, he’s making plays and the ones that he isn’t making he’s bouncing back from.
“I definitely think he has a different mentality going into this year. He’s attacking it. There’s a little less pressure to be that guy. He’s been playing well.”
The absence of Matthews has resulted in more snaps for Agholor in the slot. The more Agholor can do, the better his chances of sticking around.
“I haven’t been at practice lately,” Matthews said. “But I’ve always spoke
highly of Nelson. He’s going to get it together, trust me.”
Agholor is due $1.28 million in base pay this season and $1.7 million in 2018. If the Eagles cut him he counts $3.4 in dead money in 2017 and $1.27 million the following year according to Spotrac.com. If Agholor is traded the Eagles will save $1.29 million against the cap this season. In that case Agholor still would be on the books for $1.7 million in dead money both this year and next year.
Agholor has no assurances other than Pederson mentioning Thursday that the Eagles aren’t interested in signing wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, their first-round pick in 2009, “at this time.” It beats the alternative.
“That’s none of my business, I know nothing about that,” Agholor said. “I focus on Nelson and the guys in this building. But it’s cool, yeah. I love my receiving corps, my coach. I like where we are and where we’re headed.”
Agholor clearly enjoys being part of the locker room banter and rapport he didn’t feel part of last year. Better to be mentioned by Jenkins, the Pro Bowl safety, than to not be part of the conversation.
“Yeah, it’s fun to get better,” Agholor said. “It’s fun to get better and to have fun with what we’re doing. I’m in a good place. We’re getting better every day competing with our defense. We’ve got a great defense. We’ve got a great close team and everyone’s just trying to get better.”