• March 29, 2024

Highs And Lows Of Eagles/Jaguars

maclinYou would have to go back a decade to find an Eagles season that opened with such anticipation, excitement and expectation. Then panic set in during the first half of the 2014 season opener. Nick Foles was turnover machine, the offensive line was inept, Chip Kelly had no answers  and a defense that was supposed to be improved could not stop journeyman quarterback Chad Henne and undrafted rookie wide out Allen Hurns albeit they were working with short fields.

Trailing 17-0 heading into halftime with little signs of life, the second half hit. Nick Foles looked like a ‘Franchise quarterback’, the offensive line, now minus Evan Mathis and Allen Barbre in for the suspended Lane Johnson, controlled the line of scrimmage, Chip Kelly returned to his ‘offensive genius’ status and the defense rendered Chad Henne back to Chad Henne as the Eagles put a 34-0 second half onslaught on the inferior Jaguars.

Possibly the most talked about move for the Birds this past offseason was the addition of Darren Sproles into an already potent offense, and it didn’t take more than one game for Sproles’ impact to be felt. On their first drive in the second half the offense faced a fourth-and-one, the Eagles, per usual, hurried up to the line of scrimmage and handed the ball to Sproles who bolted 49 yards for an Eagles touchdown getting them back into the game. Sproles, who carried the ball 11 times for 71 yards, also returned four punts with a 15 yard average.

After the defense caused a quick three and out from the Jags, the Eagle offense went right back to work ending with 25 yard lob from Foles to emerging big-time weapon Zach Ertz. Ertz ended the game with three catches for 77 yards.

Of course there was still more that needed to be seen from other positions. Rookie kicker Cody Parkey making his first NFL start made his first field goal, a 51-yard beauty, to tie the game at 17. Four of six Parkey kickoffs were good for touchbacks, something that was clearly a huge problem for the Eagles a year ago.

Then there was Jeremy Maclin, how the sixth year receiver would respond after missing the entire 2013 season with a torn ACL. Maclin led the team in receiving yards with 97 yards, obviously with a good chunk of that yardage coming from a 68-yard bomb with Maclin running all alone behind the Jacksonville defense after its safety jumped and underneath route. The four catch, 97 yard performance wasn’t a dominant one from the Birds top receiver but it looks like if Mac can stay healthy he should be prime for a very productive season.

The game’s cherry-on-top was provided by the defense as Trent Cole forced a Henne fumble that was ran in for a 17-yard touchdown by Fletcher Cox. Cox admitted he should have fallen on the ball so the offense could just kneel on the ball but the big guy needed to get his. Cox along with linebacker Mychal Kendricks led all eagle defenders with six tackles on the day.

The Eagles were far from impressive and certainly have some things to clean up for a team with possible Super Bowl aspirations but at the end of the day 1-0 is 1-0. The Birds will have to play better next week if they hope to go to 2-0 as they travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts in primetime for Monday Night Football.

Timothy Hindin

Read Previous

Thoughts From Eagles-Jaguars

Read Next

Day After: Revisiting Eagles-Jaguars

0 0 votes
Article Rating
4 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Epidemic
Epidemic
September 8, 2014 5:45 pm

What defense is better at this point in the season? Colts or Jaguars.

I think they Jaguars were a more respectable defensive opponent.

Your take.

paulman
paulman
September 8, 2014 5:55 pm
Reply to  Epidemic

Jags without a Doubt
Colts Defense without DE Robert Mathis lacks a Pass-Rush,
Their LB’s are decent as are theire CB’s, their Safety Play is bad
I guarantee the Jaguars Defense will be a higher ranked Defense than the Colts all Season Long..

Epidemic
Epidemic
September 8, 2014 7:01 pm
Reply to  paulman

That is my take. Their running shouldn’t be a threat but their receivers make me a little nervous. Except I see Cary & Bradley lining up on Nicks and Wayne. And I see Boykin lining up with Hilton. Only concern on that match is Wayne & Cary but I’m sure coverage will roll over to help Cary. I think Bradley is a underrated player on this team. Don’t think he’s a shutdown corner by any means but he does a nice job.

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
September 9, 2014 7:58 am
Reply to  Epidemic

Cary and Bradley were good free agent purchases – Nnmadi and DRC were an awful tandem. Cary worries me a little bit this year with the rule changes. these two were clutch and grabbers purchased before this current rule change.( no more contact after 5 yards)