Eagles Reveal Jalen Reagor’s Job Security After ‘Mental Lapse’

[time2rock]

Eagles Reveal Jalen Reagor’s Job Security After ‘Mental Lapse’

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• By Mike Greger

• Updated Dec 7, 2021 at 3:56pm

Getty:  Eagles WR Jalen Reagor has been struggling with drops, fumbles, and poor decision-making in 2021.

Jalen Reagor’s time as the lead kick returner could be coming to an end. The second-year receiver was benched after he badly misplayed a second-quarter kickoff, then fumbled a punt return. Reagor recovered the latter and gained 20 yards but it was an ugly play.

Boston Scott replaced him coming out of halftime but it was a short-lived substitution. The coaching staff just wanted to "take something off his plate,” according to Philadelphia Eagles special-teams coordinator Michael Clay. Reagor doesn’t appear in danger of losing the kick returner job due to a few bone-headed plays. In fact, Clay put the blame squarely on himself for not providing the appropriate hand signal.

"It’s one of those mistakes that we can’t have because we put the offense in a terrible situation,” Clay said of the misplayed kick return. "Luckily, they bailed us out with that big scoring drive right there. But it was one of those little mental lapses that, myself, I could be better at and just keep reminding him that, even if there’s a TV time-out, just to give him a hand signal just to back up right there. For the most part, it was a collective ‘FUBAR’ from the special teams standpoint there.”

Interesting. Reagor is averaging a meager 6.4 yards-per-return on 23 kickoffs, with a long of 22 yards. He’s been slightly better on punt returns where he’s at 21.3 yards-per-return on 12 punts. Important to remember: Reagor fumbled his first career punt return.

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Reagor’s Demotion Not Permanent One

Six different Eagles players have rotated on kick returns this season: Reagor, Scott, Quez Watkins, Greg Ward, Kenny Gainwell, John Hightower.

Reagor leads the pack with 12 opportunities, followed by eight chances for Watkins and one each for the rest. To be fair, no one has really stood out so it wasn’t shocking to hear Clay give Reagor a vote of confidence. He’s still the top option there.

"Probably not, I wouldn’t say permanent,” Clay said about Reagor’s benching. "We’re obviously all being evaluated, myself included. We’re going to go through the evaluation of everything, but Jalen, even the first one, he got to the 31-yard line, he brings some explosiveness. Everything’s kind of magnified on the returner in those situations, especially kickoff and punt return because, obviously, he’s the one catching the ball.”

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Jake Elliott Furthers Pro Bowl Case

Meanwhile, kicker Jake Elliott has enjoyed a resurgence after a forgettable 2020 campaign. He notched four field goals against the New York Jets – 31 yards, 32 yards, 43 yards, 46 yards – and stretched his consecutive streak to 15. He’s connected on 22-of-24 field-goal attempts for a career-best 91.7% this season while hitting all 30 of his extra-point tries. Everything is clicking for the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month.

"Obviously things are clicking,” Elliott told reporters, via the Eagles’ website. "I’m just trying to strike the ball clean week in and week out, and trying to perfect the craft. I’m trying to have good foot to ball, good rotation, all of the nerdy stuff about kickers.”

https://heavy.com/sports/philadelphia-eagles/jalen-reagor-mental-lapse/

 

[time2rock]

I knew it was a bad pick from the moment his name was called, but I didn't think he would be this bad.  Reagor sucks!!!

[YubaEagle]

I have to admit, I bought all the draft hype and his highlight reels from college. I thought he was going to be great, and I actually thought he was a better fit here than Jefferson.

He stinks. Between him and JJAW, the Eagles are without question, the worst at scouting WR talent. Makes me sick to my stomach to think we passed on Metcalf, McLaurin and Jefferson for these 2 guys.

[PoconoDon]

11 hours ago, time2rock said:

I knew it was a bad pick from the moment his name was called, but I didn't think he would be this bad.  Reagor sucks!!!

wow. How confusing, Tell us how you REALLY feel...

[Guest]

9 hours ago, YubaEagle said:

I have to admit, I bought all the draft hype and his highlight reels from college. I thought he was going to be great, and I actually thought he was a better fit here than Jefferson.

He stinks. Between him and JJAW, the Eagles are without question, the worst at scouting WR talent. Makes me sick to my stomach to think we passed on Metcalf, McLaurin and Jefferson for these 2 guys.

Jefferson is the best fit on any team.  The most pro ready route runner in the draft in 10 years

[UK_EaglesFan89]

What the hell. So they bench him on STs briefly but don't plan on replacing him. I mean what the hell are this coaching staff thinking? The guy sucks. He sucks on offense and he especially sucks on STs. At least most of the time on offense he's invisible. On STs he's a liability on every damn kick. 

[time2rock]

9 hours ago, downundermike said:

Jefferson is the best fit on any team.  The most pro ready route runner in the draft in 10 years

Yep, and boy genius passes on him for another receiver that was ranked as a 2nd rd prospect by most all because he offered speed.  To me this was much more egregious than taking JJAW over Metcalf.  

[YubaEagle]

14 hours ago, downundermike said:

Jefferson is the best fit on any team.  The most pro ready route runner in the draft in 10 years

Agreed, now. But, hindsight is 20/20, for me.

I don't follow college ball really, at all. There was a large group of "experts" arguing that Jefferson would be a bad fit here because he'd be used in the slot, and he wasn't a slot WR. I bought it, at the time. Plus, Reagor highlight reels, and all the talk about his football pedigree made me hopeful he was a good pick. He was not. 

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, YubaEagle said:

There was a large group of "experts" arguing that Jefferson would be a bad fit here because he'd be used in the slot, and he wasn't a slot WR.

You have it backward.  People were against it because he primarily played in the slot his senior year at LSU, Chase and Marshall played outside.  Everyone said we needed an outside receiver, and Jefferson was to slow and played in the slot.

As those of us with a brain pointed out, he was the most pro ready route runner coming out in a long time, and he has proven is since day 1.

[YubaEagle]

1 hour ago, downundermike said:

You have it backward.  People were against it because he primarily played in the slot his senior year at LSU, Chase and Marshall played outside.  Everyone said we needed an outside receiver, and Jefferson was to slow and played in the slot.

As those of us with a brain pointed out, he was the most pro ready route runner coming out in a long time, and he has proven is since day 1.

Thanks. I’m old and my memory sucks. 

[Road to Victory]

On 12/8/2021 at 8:10 AM, time2rock said:

Interesting. Reagor is averaging a meager 6.4 yards-per-return on 23 kickoffs, with a long of 22 yards. He’s been slightly better on punt returns where he’s at 21.3 yards-per-return on 12 punts. Important to remember: Reagor fumbled his first career punt return.

That’s not even close to being correct. If he was averaging 21 yards a punt return, he would be leading the league. 

[time2rock]

14 minutes ago, Road to Victory said:

That’s not even close to being correct. If he was averaging 21 yards a punt return, he would be leading the league. 

Greger has those numbers reversed ... Reagor is averaging 6.4 yards per punt return and 21.3 yards per kickoff return.  

[Eldereagle1]

"Everything’s kind of magnified on the returner in those situations, especially kickoff and punt return because, obviously, he’s the one catching the ball.”

Yep. And what's magnified is that he is really bad right now. Hard to believe there isn't any other talent on this team or the practice squad who deserves a shot at playing time. For crying out loud, call the next Vince Papale off the street if you have to. 

[Procus]

Terrible mistake.  But still, human nature is to focus on mistakes and not accomplishments.  Give Howie credit for the Mailata pick which was a steal.  With the way he's playing now, Mailata warranted being a top 10 overall pick.

[time2rock]

43 minutes ago, Procus said:

Terrible mistake.  But still, human nature is to focus on mistakes and not accomplishments.  Give Howie credit for the Mailata pick which was a steal.  With the way he's playing now, Mailata warranted being a top 10 overall pick.

Howie should trade all of our high picks for 7th rounders ... maybe his success rate would increase.