Wentz-to-Jackson long distance connection still wonky
PHILADELPHIA >> Carson Wentz stayed after practice Saturday to do what he couldn’t do during the grueling morning session in 88-degree heat – complete a deep throw to new Eagles teammate DeSean Jackson.
While the underneath passes have been crisp, a credit to Wentz’s arm and Jackson’s route running, they have not been on the same page on the home run balls. And the latter is largely why the Birds struck a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to bring Jackson back.
“We’re just trying to get the timing down,” Jackson said afterward. “This is a part of what we have to go through. You’re going to miss some and you’re going to hit some. As long as you can hit more than you miss, I think that’s the goal. So, we’re just continuously working on that and just getting a feel for it. Just getting your work in. You’ve just got to get your reps in.
You can’t shortcut the reps.
Wentz and the quarterbacks were average at best Saturday in the first session in full pads at training camp. There were too many cases of receivers getting open and not getting the ball, quarterbacks overthrowing their targets and the offensive skills players being a step slow.
Wentz was picked off by linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill in a 7-on-7 drill, which basically is unforgivable. Wentz at least had fun with it as he chased Grugier-Hill and tried to armtackle him. Late in practice, Wentz couldn’t get the ball to Alshon Jeffery when he got behind the defense.
That said, the Saturday practice wasn’t the first example of the lack of chemistry between Wentz and Jackson on the deep routes. There had been issues in OTAs and minicamps.
“We spent a lot of time in the spring and in the summertime just trying to get together, connecting, just working out and bonding off the field,” Jackson said. “We spend so much time here but you can get off the field sometimes and not have the playbook involved and just have conversations about life in general, just to kind of build.”
It’s early but Wentz appears most comfortable in the 12 personnel packages with tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, who have been catching everything.
In fairness to Wentz, the Eagles are breaking in running backs Jordan Howard and rookie Miles Sanders, and that hasn’t been a slam-dunk mission. Either way, make no mistake, Jackson likes his role.
“Sometimes you’re put in offenses and they’re only using you for what you’re great at doing,” Jackson said. “Now I’m able to be put in positions where I’m in the slot, on the outside and just running different versatile routes to get open and put stress on the defense.
“As far as Carson, he’s got his hands full because he’s going to have to figure out who’s open or who is the goto guy. But I think that’s a great thing to have. It’s better to have more weapons than less.”