time2rock Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 Why Eagles frequently use slot receiver Greg Ward in the red zone Published: Oct. 07, 2021, 10:30 a.m. By Mike Kaye | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles had just been stripped of a touchdown due to a penalty, and the offense needed to shake off the frustration of a missed opportunity. With the ball on the Kansas City 3-yard line, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni ordered up an 11-personnel play with wideout Greg Ward in the slot. Once the ball was snapped, Ward darted to the right of the end zone, and quarterback Jalen Hurts launched a bullet to the wide receiver on the run. Unfortunately for the Eagles, the ball bounced off Ward’s hands. On social media, critics questioned why Ward would be used over a playmaker like tight end Zach Ertz or speedy wide receiver Quez Watkins in scoring position. According to Sirianni, Ward’s presence in the red zone is about more than just his playing speed or ability to catch the ball. "He’s just got a good feel, good savvy,” Sirianni said Wednesday. "That’s really where I like Greg, just his feel for things and finding zones, finding holes.” Ward has played 69 snaps on offense through four games. While he has lined up outside of the red zone at times, Ward has been used close to the goal line because of his instincts and reliability. Sure, he dropped the pass against the Chiefs in the 42-30 loss on Sunday, but the 5-foot-11, 190-pound has typically been a consistent target in the end zone, despite his limited size and length. Hurts has plenty of confidence in Ward, who has caught touchdown passes in back-to-back games. While those scores have been in what most would label "garbage time,” Ward has a history of coming up big in scoring position. "He’s an asset all over the field,” Hurts said. "His ability to get open and knowing his responsibilities, knowing his job and doing it well.” Ward has scored nine touchdowns in his three-year career. Only two of those scores have come outside of the red zone. Ward’s most notable career highlight came on his first touchdown catch in 2019, when he helped clinch a huge division win for the Eagles on a jump-ball connection with then-franchise quarterback Carson Wentz against Washington. While some will argue against Ward’s placement over both Ertz and Watkins — among others — in the red zone, he’s actually one of the Eagles’ few proven assets in that area of the field. Wide receiver Jalen Reagor, who has frequently worked with Ward in three-receiver sets, thinks the veteran wideout’s intelligence is the key to his success in the red zone. Sirianni adds that Ward has sure-hands and the quickness to beat defensive backs in man coverage. So, get used to seeing Ward in the slot with the Eagles in scoring position this season. "He’s a former quarterback, so he kind of has a feel for certain things,” Reagor said. "In that part of the field, you’ve got to kind of have a feel anyway — you don’t have as much room. I feel like just being the player and person that he is — being smart — it helps him a lot.” https://www.nj.com/eagles/2021/10/why-eagles-frequently-use-slot-receiver-greg-ward-in-the-red-zone.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time2rock Posted October 11, 2021 Author Share Posted October 11, 2021 That "veteran wideout's intelligence" didn't shine through on that offensive PI he committed yesterday wiping yet another TD off the board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Portyansky Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 21 minutes ago, time2rock said: That "veteran wideout's intelligence" didn't shine through on that offensive PI he committed yesterday wiping yet another TD off the board. Bad coaching. Also the defender sold it pretty good. One day Siri will have them run into the defender while turning for the ball. Siri is a moron, doesn't he know the refs watch game tapes just as nfl teams do? Same mistakes that happened before you won't be able to get away with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK_EaglesFan89 Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 2 hours ago, time2rock said: Ward has played 69 snaps on offense through four games. While he has lined up outside of the red zone at times, Ward has been used close to the goal line because of his instincts and reliability. Does he have any catches yet? I'm sure he does but I don't think he has many. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time2rock Posted October 11, 2021 Author Share Posted October 11, 2021 19 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said: Does he have any catches yet? I'm sure he does but I don't think he has many. 2 catches on the year so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK_EaglesFan89 Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 4 hours ago, time2rock said: 2 catches on the year so far Wow! 2 catches on 69 snaps. I thought as a more veteran player he'd have a role on this team. It turns out he really doesn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time2rock Posted October 11, 2021 Author Share Posted October 11, 2021 1 hour ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said: Wow! 2 catches on 69 snaps. I thought as a more veteran player he'd have a role on this team. It turns out he really doesn't. So we have both Ward and JJAW taking up 40% of the roster spots at WR that basically contribute next to nothing (and Reagor that really isn't all that far behind them). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK_EaglesFan89 Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 8 hours ago, time2rock said: So we have both Ward and JJAW taking up 40% of the roster spots at WR that basically contribute next to nothing (and Reagor that really isn't all that far behind them). And some people thought our WR situation wasn't actually that bad going in to the year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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