With the great year that DeSean Jackson is having and the emergence of Riley Cooper, I think Birds rookie tight Zach Ertz is headed for a big finish down the stretch. He’s getting a feel for the NFL game that he had in college and when you add that to the confidence that Nick Foles has in him, I see big numbers ahead.
Ertz caught two touchdown passes on Sunday and he led the Birds in receiving. I see more of that ahead.
Teams are starting to play some double-zone coverages and two-man coverages to stop both Jackson and Cooper from getting deep. Two-man and double-zone keeps both safeties deep and stops the wide receivers from catching the deep ball, but it makes a secondary vulnerable to big games from tight ends. Many times offenses will send both wide receivers deep to occupy the safeties, then send the tight end down the deep middle against two-man or double-zone.
They basically ask their linebacker to take care of the tight ends. In these situations, Ertz would matched with a linebacker in the coverage and he’s shown he can consistently beat a linebacker trying to cover him. I think that’s where we’re headed with Ertz being put in position to finish strong.
Number 86 says he’s getting used to running routes versus the zone coverages in the NFL. The former Stanford tight end feels he’s also growing accustomed to running routes from the regular tight end position now that he’s in the NFL. While in college they had him split outside most of the time, so
He lined up in the wide receiver position so much in college that he didn’t have to block inside for the running game. Now that he’s in the NFL, Ertz is being asked to line up at a regular tight end position and block defensive linemen and linebackers. It’s something he’s getting used to, but he knows the number reason he was brought here was to catch footballs.
The youngster is getting into a good habit of staying after practice everyday and catching football from the jugs machine with veteran slot receiver, Jason Avant. Ertz started working on catching more footballs following practice, after he dropped a couple of passes early in the season. He’s been sure handed since then.
Bout Time they got him involved. Chip puts a new wrinkle in the scheme week to week. I like how he brings new players to the system, veterans and rookies, along slowly.
Loved the pick during the draft….one of my Eagles mock draft selections. He is going to be a great Tight End for the Eagles for years to come.
What isn’t being addressed is that the middle of the field is open space for the slot receiver ,avant ,needs step up and seize the moment …with the safeties deep screens also will be coming to allow shady to seek and get into open space..what’s happening around the league is the Eagles are creating matchup problems all over the field…that’s been brought about by proper adjustments from the coaches and Nick Foles ability to direct his focus on the proper match ups..they are nick and coach a scary tandem and as the weather changes they’ll be facing Mother Nature ,I’ll be interested in seeing a downhill style develop with brown ,who needs trying to run east and west ….two tight end packages will be employed against the lions to ward off the pressures they produce up front …this will be an interesting match up ,getting schemes to exploit deep zones will be a field day for celeb and ertz and hopeful that a ants number gets called more ,and he maintains possession. Detroit has been labeled a dirty team …keep nick clean and a win will be secured …
Avant has had a stellar year over the middle. Sure hands all the time. He catches everything! ?????
avant will be gone next year…he has been a very nice player for the eagles but they will get younger and more athletic in the slot next year…. i think next years offense will be patriot or broncos prolific next year.
agreed hac. eagles are in need for 2 more offensive weapons to play WR next year.
What isn’t being addressed is that the middle of the field is open space for the slot receiver ,avant ,needs step up and seize the moment …with the safeties deep screens also will be coming to allow shady to seek and get into open space..what’s happening around the league is the Eagles are creating matchup problems all over the field…that’s been brought about by proper adjustments from the coaches and Nick Foles ability to direct his focus on the proper match ups..they are nick and coach a scary tandem and as the weather changes they’ll be facing Mother Nature ,I’ll be interested in seeing a downhill style develop with brown ,who needs trying to run east and west ….two tight end packages will be employed against the lions to ward off the pressures they produce up front …this will be an interesting match up ,getting schemes to exploit deep zones will be a field day for celek and ertz and hopeful that a ants number gets called more ,and he maintains possession. Detroit has been labeled a dirty team …keep nick clean and a win will be secured …
On a side note, Marcus Mariota will be returning to Eugene Oregon next season to continue to hone and polish his skills. Good decision for the kid. He would have still been a top 5 pick in the draft. Smart decision by him!
Ertz had 5 receptions last week on 6 targets and the one incompletion I think was pass interference on the side. So was the Riley Cooper left side incompletion. Do you think Bruce Arians sent them to THEONE1 and Roger Goodell to review also?
Bad decision by Marcus Mariota! When you can be a top 5 pick in the draft you come out and get the money!! Why stick around in college and risk a major injury…Chip Kelly has been doing a masterful job at catering to the players strength and keeping them out of bad situations…the dominance of the offense line in pass protection has given Foles plenty of time to survey the field and allowed the tight ends to run the routes…looking back over the game from Sunday…I came away very impressed with our O-line and the job they did for three quarters along with Chip’s innovative play-calling..very impressive!
Koolbreeze, it’s not a bad decision on his part. He’s made it clear he wants to graduate next year…some people prioritze their education over sports. If he is good, he will be fine and not have to worry about anything. The ball is in his court.
Terrible decision…Football is a game where the possiblity of getting hurt is a lot greater…he blows out a knee next year and then what? If he is relatively assured of being a top-5 pick..he should come out..Look at what happened to Barkley! He stayed in a dropped way out of the first round…where if he had came out earlier…his paycheck would be a lot better!..
Terrible decision…get the money…you can always go back to school for an education…after you get the checks!
So money is the be all to end all? Graduating from Oregon with a knee injury and getting a good job of honest work is a bad thing?
Plus with the rookie wage scale it’s not as bad as it was a few years ago. I applaud him
I expected Mariotta to remain at Oregon and it’s a smart move on his part, he’s not ready physically, not strong enough for the NFL
I also believe that Stanford’s Kevin Hoagan will remain in School as should Fla State’s J Winston
I do believe Johnny Football, Tedi Bridgewater & UCLA’s Huntley will enter the 2014 Draft though UCLA’s would be wise to return to school
Jameis has to stay in..he’s a true freshman. Hopefully all of his legal issues will get cleared up soon.
Hundley definitely is not ready.
I will not call Johnny Manziel Johnny football because I think he and Tahj Boyd will be average(they both blow). Actually manziel will not last long enough in the NFL to leave an indelible mark.
Bridgewater has the best chance out of all of those coming out…he will take time to develop too!
Jameis Winston was red shirted last season because it was EJ Manuel’s senior season. He can enter draft next year as a 3rd year sophomore.
If Bridgewater lands with the Texans he will instantly succeed like Russell Wilson and Ben Roethlisberger.
Troy Smith won the Heisman at 6 foot and was selected in the 5th round. He is a good comparison to Johny Manziel. Leinert, Tebow and Smith all got multiple chances because of that Heisman trophy.
Taj Boyd is a longshot ( Jimmy Clausen, Mike Kafka, Matt Flynn and Matt Barkley type roster qb)
Winston is impressive, his poise is his best attribute always giving kudos to his receivers and oline. Boyd has to be in the right system he has NFL ability. The guy I like is the LSU kid he can make every throw and is a big tough kid. I don’t know why he’s being overlooked.
LSU QB Zach Mettenberger. He’s a good QB. Flying under the radar because of the hype the other QB’s are getting.
He has a torn ACL Eaglehaslanded
Thanks…I was thinking he was a true freshman. You’re correct, he was there last year with Manuel. Trust me…I watched Louisville a ton this year. Bridgewater will need a year and won’t achieve instant success like Wilson. His game against Temple told me that. Wasn’t to impressive after that either.
Mariotta, get your degree bruh! If you stay healthy, your Pro career will be there next year. Football only lasts 5-10 years, & your after life is forever. Get a degree, just in case. It is the smart thing to do. Good for him!
I still say the best QB Prospect in the short term in this Year’s Draft
Is Fresno State’s Derek Carr
3 Year Starter, crazy Stats, Good Leadership
He has Size, Good Feet, and the most accurate arm in College Football
He reminds me of a young Aaron Rodgers when he came out
I do believe Bridgewater has the most long-term potential but he will need 2 years to adjust to the NFL
I also believe that Johhny Manziel, Taj Boyd
Brad Miller are not NFL Caliber Starting QB’s anytime soon
Eagles can pick up a QB in the later rounds or just focus on Defense, OL & WR
In the Draft and neither Re-sign Vick to a year $5 Million Deal as a back-up or let Vick walk to pursue a Starters Job in Free-Agency in bring in a Veteran as back-up. (Matt Moore from Dolphins, Thaddeous Lewis from Bills,
Tavaris Jackson or someone like that..
Oh God, no Tavaris Jackson. I’d prefer GJ Kinne to that stiff. I wouldn’t bother with drafting a QB in this draft.
i contend that they must like barkley a helluva lot more than we the people do. i think its foles, barkley and a journeyman
I don’t know about that cigar, your right though they drafted him they probably like him but that dude is a stiff. They have options though unfortunately for some Vick is still a possibility but I just hope they focus on LB and Oline in the upcoming draft. But of course Chip will draft a guy like Tajh Boyd in the 4th or 5th round because he can’t help himself.
All i can say is we have a VERY small sample on barkley and those guys work 100 hours a week with studying him etc… another 4th or 5th rounder on a qb? watching what they’ve gotten out of wolfe at safety man those later rounds are your depth picks!
Agree 100 percent !!!!!
You can use a fourth round pick on a Calvin Pryor SS/FS out of Louisville. His performance on the field warrants a higher selection, but he’s had a couple of game suspensions which coach strong would not elaborate on. No QB’s in this draft.