–Receiver Nelson Agholor averaged 12.4 yards per catch on 62 receptions last season. This year, he has 38 receptions, but the average yards-per-catch has dropped significantly, to 8.5.
“I think a lot of the situations that you’re talking about there’s tight coverage there, so it’s a completion and a quick tackle,” said offensive coordinator Mike Groh. “Could he break a tackle? I guess, without examining each one here in this conversation. But a lot of times it’s tight coverage and it’s a tight-window throw, and he’s been making the catches and then he’s been tackled. Again, he is a guy that we know is a playmaker for us and we love his talent and his ability and what he brings to this offense. Got to continue to try to find ways to get him the ball down the field.”
The Eagles defense knows the Jaguars have been outscored 57-0 in the first half of their last three games, all three losses, and it is a trend they will try to prevent from ending.
“That makes them more dangerous,” said defensive end Brandon Graham. “They’re trying to get things fixed just like us. I feel like this week is going to be who plays the best D. Our defense has to outplay their defense. We know they have a really good defense, and we can’t let the Jaguars get started with us.
“Things haven’t been going the way they’ve wanted it to, but overall they’re still in the running for themselves and I’m sure they have goals they’re trying to get to just like us, so we have to make sure we don’t get them started and we have to keep grinding and keep enjoying the process and not look ahead too much because there’s still nine games left.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 6 — Number of fumbles Carson Wentz has had in five games this season. “We emphasize it and we talk to him about it, and obviously pocket security is really important and he understands that,” said offensive coordinator Mike Groh. “We’re obviously not tackling in practice, so it’s one of those things that you just have to continue to emphasize until you get the results that you want.”
