All-22: Wide Receivers Don’t Help McCoy

Here’s a look at some issues that stood out after watching the All-22 tape of the Eagles’ offense.

Play 1: Not only does LeSean McCoy have to deal with a leaky offensive line, but when he does have chances for big plays, the wide receivers rarely do their jobs blocking downfield. The Eagles had success with a couple screens vs. the Redskins. The second one picked up 25 yards. It should have been a touchdown.

As you can see, McCoy’s got Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper out in front. If those two wide receivers do a decent job blocking and hold off the defenders long enough for him to sprint by, it’s a score. Instead, you get this.

Neither guy makes his block. The two defensive backs close in on McCoy and tackle him after the 25-yard gain. Four plays later, the Eagles settle for a field goal. That’s a losing play right there.

Play 2: I guess DeSean Jackson didn’t want to feel left out. Here, he’s supposed to block safety Brandon Meriweather.

Jackson knows his assignment. He goes right towards Meriweather.

But when the time comes to block him, Jackson decides not to.

McCoy, who already avoided a linebacker in the backfield (after Brent Celek missed his block), gets tackled after a 1-yard run.

Play 3: I mean, really, if someone (anyone!) out there can explain this one to me, please go ahead. Down 14-3, facing a 3rd-and-5 from the Redskins’ 45, this is what the Eagles go with.

Jackson, the guy who got the $47M deal this offseason? On the sidelines. Maclin, the guy who led the team in receptions last season? Him too. McCoy, the team’s best all-around player? No need for him either. Celek ended up dropping what should have been a first down, but I just can’t for the life of me figure out how taking your three best offensive weapons off the field on a third down like this makes any sense whatsoever. Did the coaches help their rookie quarterback here?

Play 4: This is the kind of play we see every week. The Redskins crowd the line of scrimmage. It looks like they’re going to bring pressure up the A-Gaps, but they end up only rushing four.

Because they showed pressure up the middle, the Eagles had to adjust their protection. That meant both defensive ends getting one-on-one blocks. Ryan Kerrigan, the Redskins’ best pass-rusher, gets a one-on-one against McCoy. This is the kind of thing the Eagles probably should have done more of this season to gain favorable matchups for Trent Cole and Jason Babin.

Kerrigan ends up stripping Nick Foles and causing a fumble. No big deal though. It’s not like Jackson was wide open for a touchdown had Foles been given an extra second.

Play 5: Foles definitely looked panicked at times. In the third, he has Stanley Havili open in the middle of the field, but instead chucks it out of bounds in Maclin’s direction near the sideline.

If you’re looking for more on Foles, check out the breakdown from earlier in the week.

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.
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