Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Sirianni’s WR scheme is a defensive ‘nightmare’

[time2rock]

Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Sirianni’s WR scheme is a defensive ‘nightmare’

 

by Kristen Wong

First-year head coach Nick Sirianni has been cooking up some dynamic offensive plays for the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver unit this preseason. In Wednesday’s press conference, he spoke to the media about the state of his team’s roster, the mentality of the team going into its second and final joint practice with the Jets, and other topics before diving into the wide receiver situation.

Philadelphia invested in pass-catching options over the course of the past two offseasons after ranking 26th in the league in receiving yards per game in 2020 (233). They even finished behind the Cincinnati Bengals who lost Joe Burrow for much of the campaign.

 

In the 2020 NFL Draft, the Eagles used their first-round pick again on Jalen Reagor, and in the 2021 Draft used their first-round pick again on DeVonta Smith. Over the course of the last three years, they’ve drafted five receivers, which just goes to show their commitment to having quality passing targets.

Currently, Smith, Reagor, and breakout star Quez Watkins are the favorites to win the starting receiving positions, but in regards as to who would play in the slot or on the outside, Sirianni used one word to describe their roles: versatile.

I never really liked to look at it like this guy plays X, this guy plays Z, this guy plays slot. They’re very interchangeable to me, and they’ve always been in my career.

 

 

Sirianni talked at length about not defining his wide receivers by one category, whether it’s speed or shiftiness or YAC numbers.

There’s all these questions you have of ‘Who does what best?’…In the slot, who has the best yards after catch? Who is the fastest guy that we want to run? Who is the most creative guy on a crossing route? Who’s the guy with the best feel that we want to run an option route to?

 

 

Philadelphia Eagles: Sirianni wants his WRs to play versatile roles in the offense.

Of course, Sirianni already knows the strength of his players (as he should). He’s compared Smith to Keenan Allen. He’s seen Reagor’s viral contested catches. He’s noticed Watkins’ speed when he beat a Patriot corner for a touchdown in a joint practice.

Though Sirianni will, no doubt, try to amplify each wideout’s strengths, he also hopes to add a dimension of unpredictability to Philadelphia’s passing game by "mixing guys around.”

"When you’re willing to switch guys around, it makes it very difficult for the defense to see what you’re doing. Every defensive coordinator I’ve talked to, that’s what they always say: ‘It’s a nightmare preparing for you guys because you’re constantly mixing guys around.’”

The young and unproven Eagles team has shown glimpses of promise during the preseason, but they could still do with a veteran presence at wide receiver. Of those expected to make the roster, the most seasoned is Greg Ward. But he’s only played 23 games in two years at Philadelphia.

Travis Fulgham’s name could also be thrown in there (if you count a handful of good games during one season as experience), and he’s served as the ‘true’ slot receiver on the team. He has 16 games of experience under his belt and will look to continue his efficient production from a 2020 standout season.

No one’s calling this Philadelphia Eagles team short-handed in terms of its wide receivers, as they have shining prospects who could blossom with the right coaching and within the right offensive scheme. No one would particularly be against the Eagles searching for a proven veteran wideout target either. For now, Sirianni seems pleased with his pass-catching options and can hopefully chisel Philadelphia’s unrefined wide receiver unit into touchdown-scoring gems this season.

https://insidetheiggles.com/2021/08/27/philadelphia-eagles-nick-sirianni-scheme/

[weko]

If we don't trade Joe by Tuesday, we're keeping 3 QBs.  That means room for only 5 WRs on the 53 and a choice between Fulgham and Whiteside.  You know who wins that if Howie decides.

[time2rock]

1 hour ago, weko said:

If we don't trade Joe by Tuesday, we're keeping 3 QBs.  That means room for only 5 WRs on the 53 and a choice between Fulgham and Whiteside.  You know who wins that if Howie decides.

Just based on this summer Fulgham has done nothing to show he deserves a spot over JJAW.  

If they elect to go just 5 at WR it could very well be neither is them.  I could see Smith, Reagor, Watkins, Ward, Hightower.  

But I also don’t think carrying 3 QBs necessarily means going only 5 at WR.  They could go 9 OL and stash a couple on the practice squad that could be called up as needed.  

[Guest]

2 hours ago, weko said:

If we don't trade Joe by Tuesday, we're keeping 3 QBs.  That means room for only 5 WRs on the 53 and a choice between Fulgham and Whiteside.  You know who wins that if Howie decides.

Trading Flacco accelerates the void years to this year.  It increases Flacco’s cap hit to cut or trade him.

[ManchesterEagle]

On 8/29/2021 at 3:08 PM, time2rock said:

Just based on this summer Fulgham has done nothing to show he deserves a spot over JJAW.  

If they elect to go just 5 at WR it could very well be neither is them.  I could see Smith, Reagor, Watkins, Ward, Hightower.  

But I also don’t think carrying 3 QBs necessarily means going only 5 at WR.  They could go 9 OL and stash a couple on the practice squad that could be called up as needed.  

I truly think they will keep JJAW, at least for now. See what he has under a new coaching staff after a pretty good pre-season. 

My hunch says that Hightower doesn't make it. Should be able to get him to the PS without another team picking him up. 

I agree keeping 3 QBs doesn't stop them from keeping 6 WRs. I imagine they will start with Dickerson on the PUP and just keep 9 OL for now. Can probably keep Toth etc on the PS as back-up.

The starters and Ward are all locks IMO. I also would be surprised if JJAW doesn't make it. I have no idea with Fulgham. He was great in that 5 game stretch, but has shown nothing since. Guess we will see how much the new coaches like him.

[Erie]

On 8/29/2021 at 10:08 AM, time2rock said:

Just based on this summer Fulgham has done nothing to show he deserves a spot over JJAW.  

I agree. And this is depressing. 

[PoconoDon]

We'll see. This WR group has a lot to prove no matter how great the scheme is.

[time2rock]

12 hours ago, PoconoDon said:

We'll see. This WR group has a lot to prove no matter how great the scheme is.

If Reagor looks more like a 1st rd pick rather than a 3rd rounder like he did last year and they make JJAW look at least competent I'll believe.  

[Procus]

I got excited by the headline and then saw it was just written by a fan named Kristen

[Guest]

4 minutes ago, Procus said:

I got excited by the headline and then saw it was just written by a fan named Kristen

Kristen Wong

Kristen is a lifelong soccer fan who has since made the jump to watching more "American" sports. She currently writes about the NFL. She hasn't picked a favorite football team yet but loves Patrick Mahomes.

[Godfather]

I'm happy they did nothing to address the wr spot after all these cuts. Great job by Howie. David Moore says hi

[matchew88]

So Wong but so right

[GreenbleedinNC]

On 9/1/2021 at 4:35 PM, downundermike said:

Kristen Wong

Kristen is a lifelong soccer fan who has since made the jump to watching more "American" sports. She currently writes about the NFL. She hasn't picked a favorite football team yet but loves Patrick Mahomes.

OH, parking lot, tailgate psychics, are always the best reporters 🤣

[Road to Victory]

I’m sure teams are shaking in their boots with the thought of Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins and an unproven rookie in the lineup…

Haven’t seen a trio like that since Randy Moss, Cris Carter and Jake Reed. 

[birdman#12]

8 hours ago, Road to Victory said:

I’m sure teams are shaking in their boots with the thought of Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins and an unproven rookie in the lineup…

Haven’t seen a trio like that since Randy Moss, Cris Carter and Jake Reed. 

Sometimes the lack of familiarity can be a benefit........obviously nobody is overly concerned about the eagles WRs....but that's a hell of alot of speed that wasn't utilized much last year.

With Ertz and Goedart, and 3 very quick RBs in the passing game, the field should be opened up a bit more......but the biggest concern is Hurts ability to deliver the ball accurately.

Nobody is shaking in their boots, but this group of receivers has more potential than the eagles have had at the receiver position in years.  It's going to be interesting to see if they develop into their expectations.