Glimmers of positivity
Despite some lowlights early, Eagles flash some potential vs. Jaguars
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Nestled in the thick air and yet another forgettable preseason game were glimmers of how the 2019 Eagles might perform.
You didn’t have to dig especially deep to find players who will contribute on Sundays, even with Carson Wentz and most of the first unit offense, along with several injured defensive starters, resting Thursday night against the Jaguars.
But if you were a late arrival to the Eagles’ eventual 24-10 win, you might have missed a few highlights from names you’ve become familiar with and some (see: Miles Sanders) you may be hearing from on a regular basis.
There were also early lowlights, the most significant on the seventh play from scrimmage when Cody Kessler was blindsided and knocked out of the game. For the second straight week, the Eagles’ starting quarterback left with an injury.
Nate Sudfeld played for nearly a half before he fractured his wrist last Thursday. But Kessler, who the Eagles had hoped would hold down the backup job until Sudfeld returns in approximately six weeks, didn’t last one drive before leaving with a concussion.
Call it the Jinx of Nick Foles, which may sound corny, except the former Eagles backup was on the other side of the field watching in a baseball cap just like Wentz. General manager Howie Roseman will now likely have to sign a quarterback. Even if Kessler isn’t expected to be in the protocol for long, it would be within the team’s best interest to bring in someone capable of consistently completing a ball beyond 10 yards.
“We’re just going to evaluate where we are and then make a decision,” Pederson said. He added later, somewhat surprisingly: “We can get by with two guys.”
Clayton Thorson’s rebound from his dreadful debut last week may suggest that he is a
worthy candidate. If quarterbacks had to only throw screens and jump balls, he might have a shot. But, alas, that won’t be the case in the regular season against starting defenses.
Of course, as long as Wentz stays healthy — and coach Doug Pederson is likely to make sure that is the case until the season opener on Sept. 8 — handwringing over the No. 2 quarterback may be much ado about nothing.
The Eagles have a playoffcontending squad, and while the preseason may fool some into thinking otherwise, there were plenty of reminders at TIAA Bank Field. Veterans Malcolm Jenkins and Brandon Graham, for instance, made their preseason
debuts and neither appears to have regressed after reaching age 31.
Sure, the Jaguars didn’t play most of their starters either. But Graham needed only one play to wrestle by right tackle Leonard Wester and force an incomplete pass. And Jenkins needed only a series before he was blowing up running backs Alfred Blue and Thomas Rawls in the backfield.
“It felt good to go out there and not going against my teammates,” said Graham, who missed all of the preseason last year after ankle surgery. “I felt like I got off good.”
A handful of other projected defensive regulars started for the second straight week, and once again didn’t surrender any points. Free agent additions on the defensive line, Malik Jackson and Vinny Curry, were disruptive. Cornerbacks Rasul Douglas,
Sidney Jones, and Avonte Maddox helped hold rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew to just 5.3 yards per pass attempt in their two lone series.
Jones was effective in man coverage vs. receiver Keelan Cole, and he recorded a few tackles against the run, but he appeared to react a touch late when tight end James O’Shaughnessy caught an 18-yard pass down the seam on third down.
Linebackers Nate Gerry and Zach Brown were on the field late into the first half, but both seemed to acquit themselves, particularly the former, who had a rough outing a week ago.
Of the second unit defenders, and those who could end up on the right side of the bubble, Daeshon Hall continued to make his push toward the 53-man roster. The defensive end, who was brought aboard late last
season, notched a strip-sack for the second straight week, and tacked on another before the break.
Hall just needs to work on his sack celebration, as in don’t when the other team is in hurry-up. He hustled back to the line in time before the Jaguars snapped the football, but he should save the revelry for the regular season, which he could see with the Eagles.
It took a game — and a little too long for this story to mention it — for Sanders to show fans what all the training camp hullabaloo has been about. On his first carry, he took an inside zone handoff, cut to his right and stormed ahead for 12 yards.
He was dropped for a loss by former Eagle Najee Goode on his next carry, but Sanders opened the Eagles’ third possession with a 16-yard tote. The call was for
another inside split zone run, but linebacker Jake Ryan got inside left tackle Andre Dillard, and Sanders bumped it outside.
He turned the corner, outran a linebacker to the second level and motored ahead through arm tackles. It’s been a while since the Eagles have had a running back with as much burst, but Sanders’ vision made the long run possible.
Sanders had only one more rush — for 2 yards — but his performance was a just a little peek at his capabilities. Jordan Howard, for the record, looked strong, as well. The running back ran four times for 15 yards and converted a short third down, something he could do a lot of this season.
“I felt like I was more patient back there,” Sanders said. “Felt more comfortable.”
Thorson, after the Sanders
16-yarder, guided the offense on a 95-yard, touchdown scoring scourge. He capped it off with a 38-yard touchdown pass to receiver Greg Ward, thanks in part to Sanders, who picked up the blitz.
“As far as knowing where the blitzes are coming from, and knowing the calls I got, I think I’m pretty good at that,” Sanders said. “It’s technique-wise I got to work on.”
The second unit offensive line had its share of mistakes — although Dillard wasn’t likely at fault when Datone Jones had a free pass at Kessler — but the run blocking was better this week and the pass protection, at least on the touchdown drive, was sound.
The Eagles have two more appetizers before the main course arrives, but there was enough to feast for now.