Eagles can’t take a ‘pass’ on involving A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith
Previewing Sunday’s matchup vs. Rams
From Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/4yh4c8ra
PHILADELPHIA — Enough is enough.
The Eagles are wasting the careers of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
The team shouldn’t need a reminder of what Brown and Smith — two of the most explosive wide receivers in the NFL — can mean to its offense. But through two weeks this season, both men have been grossly underused in a condensed-set attack that has leaned heavily on Saquon Barkley and a flaccid passing game.
Barkley’s running should obviously be the focal point of the offense but not at the detriment of everything else. Besides, Barkley has been largely bottled up because drawn-in defenses know quarterback Jalen Hurts likely isn’t hitting Brown or Smith on the outside or even on intermediate routes to let them create.
The passing numbers have been hard to ignore: Brown has been targeted nine times in two weeks and Smith 16 times. Each of these players warrants at least 10-12 targets per game.
Some weeks it just won’t happen or isn’t necessary, of course, but their underuse has become the norm rather than the exception dating back to last season. Brown had 1,079 yards on 97 targets a year ago following campaigns of 145 targets for 1,496 yards and 158 for 1,456. Smith was targeted 89 times for 833 yards last year after 136 for 1,1196 and 112 for 1,066
Perhaps in 2024 their lack of emphasis was OK: Barkley cracked 2,000 rushing yards, the defense was No. 1 in the league and the Birds won the Super Bowl. But this is a new season, and the Eagles won’t be maximizing their offense if they don’t involve their two most potent passing weapons.
The Eagles have a pair of Lamborghinis that they barely take out of the garage. It’s like having Terrell Owens and DeSean Jackson and only using them as blockers.
Brown was asked during the week about this Sunday’s matchup against Los Angeles Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
“Emmanuel Forbes, I mean this in a positive way, but he’s the least of my worries at this moment,” Brown said. “It’s not about the person that I’m going against.
“I mean, obviously, there’s things that we can be better at, just being on the same page,” he added. “I don't want to give you guys a story late in the week going into the game. But yeah, just honestly, just being on the same page and just playing fast and communicating.
“I’m always optimistic. We’re working hard trying to get this thing rolling and put our best foot forward.”
Brown is a good teammate and a good soldier, unlike some other talented wideouts in history, but throw the man the damn ball.
The question is the competence of Hurts, first-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and coach Nick Sirianni.
Sirianni, downplaying statistics, told the team the receivers’ blocks are a “football version of an assist in basketball” when they help Barkley break a big run. Well, maybe — both receivers are effective blockers and deserve credit — but a better example of an assist would be Hurts throwing the ball to Brown and Smith to assist them in scoring touchdowns.
It isn’t just about stats, either; it’s about this offense being all it can be. Imagine what this offense would look like if it unlocked Brown and Smith!
Also, keep in mind the Rams will be keying on Barkley, who burned them for 205 rushing yards — including a 78-yarder — in the divisional playoff last January after burying them with 255 ground yards two months earlier in L.A. This Sunday is the perfect time to start getting Brown and Smith involved.
Pregame position grades: Here’s how the teams match up heading into Sunday. Performances will be evaluated postgame.
QB: Eagles A, Rams A
RB: Eagles A+, Rams B-
TE: Eagles A-, Rams B
WR: Eagles A, Rams A
OL: Eagles A, Rams B
DL: Rams A, Eagles B+
LB: Eagles A, Rams C+
CB: Eagles B+, Rams B-
S: Eagles B+, Rams B-
ST: Eagles A, Rams A
On the air: Eagles vs. Rams, Sunday, 1 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field. TV: FOX 29, Joe Davis, Greg Olsen, Pam Oliver. Radio/streaming: 94.1-FM WIP, Tico, Compass Sports. Betting line: Eagles by 3.5, O/U 44.5.
NOTES: Eagles TE Dallas Goedert (knee) will play. QB Tanner McKee (thumb) is questionable. RB Will Shipley (oblique) has been ruled out. … For the Rams, DE Braden Fiske (oblique) and TE Colby Parkinson (shoulder) are questionable. OL Steve Avila (ankle) is doubtful. … All eyes will be on the Eagles’ secondary, particularly CB2 Adoree’ Jackson, against the Rams’ wide receiving depth. Also vital will be generating pressure up front on Rams QB Matthew Stafford. … Stafford has 543 passing yards and three passing TDs this season. Hurts has 253 and zero. ... The Eagles have committed no turnovers this season. … The NFL has instructed refs to tightly officiate the tush push if the Eagles use it Sunday and going forward.
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Christiaan DeFranco covers the Eagles and Phillies for MediaNews Group. Email him at cdefranco@medianewsgroup.com. Follow him on X at @the_defranc.