Previewing Game 3

Posted: August 22nd, 2018 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 1 Comment »

This is it, the preseason game that comes closest to mattering. Not the outcome, but how the team performs.

The Eagles have not played clean football the first two games. Too many penalties and turnovers. Problems with blocking and tackling. Mental errors. Physical errors. A bit of everything really. That needs to change on Thursday night in Cleveland.

Key players (starters and key reserves) will play more than half of the game. The rust is off for these guys. It is time for them to play good football and look something like the team we expect to see in three weeks.

So what will I be watching?

Big V

Halapoulivaati Vaitai played his worst game in a long time last week. Vaitai needs to bounce back from that. One bad game in August isn’t a huge deal, but you don’t want that to suddenly become two games. The Eagles needed Vaitai at RT in 2016 and at LT last year. It would be great if they didn’t need him this year, but chances are he’s going to have to play at some point. The Eagles want him confident and ready to go.

If Big V gets to go against Myles Garrett, he will get a real test.

WLB

Kamu Grugier-Hill vs Nate Gerry. Who will win? I don’t think a big play is going to make the difference in a battle like this. I expect the coaches to focus on assignments and other technical areas. Which LB grades out highest based on that?

Watch how they get off blocks. Neither excels in that area so if one is clearly better, that gives him a leg up.

I also think covering TEs will be important.

Nickel

Sidney Jones and Avonte Maddox are battling for this job. Mike Mayock talked about Jones not looking as confident or natural in the slot as he does outside. I agree with that. Jones does more reacting when he’s in the slot. He played in there a little in college, but not enough to give him real experience.

Joselio Hanson was a terrific slot corner for the Eagles a decade ago. He said it took two years of playing there in the NFL for him to get comfortable and really figure out how to play the position. It makes sense that Jones is learning on the fly.

Maddox is in the same boat, except he’s a rookie so he’s learning everything. From a size and skill set standpoint, Maddox is the more natural of the two for the slot.

My guess is that both guys will see time in there this year so the Eagles need them both to show progress on Thursday. They could be facing Jarvis Landry in Cleveland so that would be a huge challenge. At the very least, they’ll get an education.

Foles

Nick Foles still has a chance to be the starting QB in the opener. Even if he doesn’t, you want Foles to play better than last week. He couldn’t hit the ocean from a row boat against the Pats. That was brutal. I’m hoping rust was a big part of that.

This time out Foles has played a little and his timing should be better. His accuracy must be better. It would help if Big V blocked consistently this week. Foles didn’t have a lot of time in NE, but he also didn’t handle pressure well.

Backup Backs

I’ve got my fingers crossed that Josh Adams will play, but that is far from certain.

If he sits, we’re looking at a game of Wendell Smallwood and Matt Jones. That’s not ideal. Then again, maybe playing a ton of reps would actually get Smallwood going. He just isn’t flashing at all. He needs to make some plays and show some life.

DT

Haloti Ngata started last week. Destiny Vaeao has played ahead of him most of the summer. Will Ngata start again or will Vaeao get the nod?

Whether he starts or not, Vaeao needs to be disruptive. He had a couple of good pass rushes last week. Go build on that.

Bruce Hector played early and often last week and had a good game. He needs to build on that performance. Hector is making a serious push for a roster spot. Elijah Qualls better wake up and get going if he wants to fight off the UDFA.

Azziz Shittu didn’t play until late last week, but made two impact plays. Will the coaches reward him?

Joltin’ Johnston

Cameron Johnston was inconsistent in the opener, but punted better last week. This could be a huge game for him. If Johnston has any real struggles, you wonder if the Eagles would look for someone to bring in before the preseason finale.

If Johnston can repeat his good game, that might do enough to make the coaches comfortable that they can trust him.

Catch a Rising Star

The top WRs are likely out again. Shelton Gibson gets another chance to show he’s a playmaker that deserves some touches this season. Focus on his route-running and making hands catches. We know he’s got speed.

The young guy I’m most curious about is DeAndre Carter. He played well last week. Is Carter good enough to seriously consider for a roster spot? The Eagles might just stick with five wideouts, but a couple of good games from Carter could make them at least consider keeping him. I’d like Carter to get some reps against starters. Let’s see if he can still get open and catch the ball.

It would be good to see Mike Wallace catch a pass or two. Kamar Aiken desperately needs to show something, anything, if the Eagles are going to even consider him for a roster spot.

What to do?

I don’t know what to make of Josh Sweat. I see a guy with great length and physical gifts. I also see a player that is slow off the ball and seems to be thinking more than playing.

Jim Schwartz wants DEs that can attack and be disruptive. Sweat hasn’t shown much of that so far. It would be great to see the light go on for him at some point this summer. He has legit NFL ability.

TE

Ertz and Goedert give the Eagles a dynamic 1-2 punch at TE.

Richard Rodgers is hurt. That means a lot of potential reps for Billy Brown and Josh Perkins. Perkins might be out with a concussion. We heard he was getting tested, but I never heard definitively if he had one.

Billy Brown could get a chance to play a lot. That would be a huge opportunity for him. Brown has been somewhat quiet this summer. He needs a strong game to get back in the mix for a roster spot.

*****

New Browns LB Mychal Kendricks got into some hot water for something he said on Hard Knocks. Apparently he says they edited it to make it look like he was insulting the Eagles.

I don’t think this is worth getting too fired up for.

_


One Comment on “Previewing Game 3”

  1. 1 Eagles News: Joe Walker ... breakout player? - Football News Latest said at 8:52 AM on August 23rd, 2018:

    […] Previewing Game 3 – Iggles BlitzHaloti Ngata started last week. Destiny Vaeao has played ahead of him most of the summer. Will Ngata start again or will Vaeao get the nod? Whether he starts or not, Vaeao needs to be disruptive. He had a couple of good pass rushes last week. Go build on that. Bruce Hector played early and often last week and had a good game. He needs to build on that performance. Hector is making a serious push for a roster spot. Elijah Qualls better wake up and get going if he wants to fight off the UDFA. Azziz Shittu didn’t play until late last week, but made two impact plays. Will the coaches reward him? […]