Jalen Hurts & Jalen Reagor Showcase Bright Future (Preseason Week 1)
by adelfish | 4 years ago | 0 Comments
Jalen Hurts & Jalen Reagor Showcase Bright Future in Eagles Victory
Season 62 - Preseason Week 1 - Eagles 23, Colts 13
Indianapolis, IN
'It feels so good to be back.'
That was Coach Adelmann's first statement at the podium after the 23-13 victory in Preseason Week 1, a week where he entrusted the entire game to 2nd round rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts, and saw flashes of what the future could be of this franchise.
The Eagles coaching staff made it public that all starters would not play this preseason and would practice and rest for the next four weeks, meaning guys like Carson Wentz, Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox, won't see the field.
That opens the door for youngsters and fringe roster guys to make a case for their spot. There are plenty of battles going down on this roster right now, with jobs to win and lose.
Offense
-Jalen Hurts completed 22 of 32 passes for 347 yards, 2 touchdown passes, 1 interception, and 2 rushes for 11 yards. He started slow, but completed some big time throws downfield, including a highlight reel 73 yard touchdown to Jalen Reagor
-No other quarterback saw playing time in the matchup, in the Week 2 preseason game against Miami, Coach Adelmann said to expect to see Nate Sudfeld
-There is a battle right now for backup running back behind Miles Sanders, and Boston Scott received the bigger workload of the current group. He received 12 carries, accounting for 32 yards (also 5 receptions for 37 yards). Corey Clement accounted for 7 carries for 24 yards, and 2 receptions for 44 yards, including a highlight reel 34 yard screen he took for a score.
Corey Clement hurdles a Colts defender in the 2nd quarter for a 34 yard touchdown.
-The Eagles signed running back Alex Collins off waivers, he will compete with Clement/Scott for the backup spot. Expect to see more of second year back Elijah Holyfield against Miami.
-Jalen Reagor led all receivers with 120 yards and the aforementioned 73 yard touchdown, he had 3 receptions in the game
-Getting the start with Reagor is third year wideout Greg Ward Jr and Boise State rookie John Hightower. Hightower had 5 receptions for 68 yards, while Ward had 1 reception for 10 yards
-Coach Adelmann said to expect to see more of Greg Ward, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Quez Watkins, and Marcus Green in Preseason Week 2
-Philadelphia played their entire backup unit at offensive line, they allowed 3 sacks (Andre Dillard, Prince Tega Wanogho, Jack Driscoll).
-Jack Driscoll left the game in the 2nd quarter with a torn labrum, he is expected to miss the entire preseason, he was slotted to backup Brandon Brooks at right guard
-As of today the starting offensive line after the Jason Peters trade is projected to be Andre Dillard (LT), Donald Penn (LG), Jason Kelce (C), Brandon Brooks (RG), Lane Johnson (RT). Donald Penn was signed from waivers
-The battle for third string tight end is pretty exciting, between Joshua Perkins and Caleb Wilson. Both athletic and tough matchups downfield, there is a chance the Eagles decide to keep 4 tight ends. Perkins and Wilson each had 3 receptions, for 36 and 32 yards respectively.
Defense
-The Colts were held to 65 rush yards as an offense, as the Eagles defense played an entire quarter against the Colts starting offensive line and weapons
-Rookie quarterback Jacob Eason completed 19 of 33 passes for 287 yards and 2 interceptions against Philadelphia. Blake Bortles started the game for Indy in place of Philip Rivers
-Standouts from the defensive line were second year lineman Shareef Miller who lined up at end and tackle, accounting for 4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. Hassan Ridgeway had the other Eagle sack in the game
-The Eagles second unit created chaos for the Indianpolis offensive line. Eagles defensive players totaled 7 tackles for loss, from 6 different players.
-Rookie linebacker Shaun Bradley has been starting at LOLB, and he led the team in tackled with 7. T.J. Edwards got the start at MLB, and finished with 5 tackles and 1 interception, while another rookie in Davion Taylor started at ROLB, and finished with 4 tackles. Expect these three to keep their starting spots next week.
-Second year safety Marcus Epps got the start at FS, and finished with 6 tackles and 1 interception. Rookie SS K'Von Wallace started the entire game at SS, finishing with 6 tackles. Expect tos ee more of Rudy Ford, Will Parks and Jalen Mills against Miami.
-The Eagles defense held the Colts to 3 points until late in the 4th quarter, after a Jonathan Taylor rushing touchdown (he finished with 13 carries for 18 yards)
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A great start for the Eagles in the preseason as they move to 1-0. Next week they continue the road trip in Miami against the Dolphins, then will finish up the preseason with back to back home games against New England and New York (Jets).