How to find the good in a 35-0 loss apart from it being preseason? When the team fails so collectively, the good tends to rise to the top for those who look for it, and as this is the top X plays of a blowout, it is my job to find such positives.
Almost-Plays:
#7 Devonta Smith route running
Devonta Smith sadly only had a couple of catches on the night. While that is mostly on the paltry state of QB play he was forced to be subjected to, two catches for nineteen yards is an underwhelming debut for a sixth overall pick (Giants fans are off somewhere cackling). What did show up on film, however, is Smith’s ability to beat press coverage at the line of scrimmage and get separation that would allow a better QB to hit him in stride for a first down or more. I put this in the category of “almost plays” because Smith got the separation required to burn DBs, but for a variety of reasons dropped as many passes as he caught. Hopefully, he shines more on the stat sheet in the future, specifically in the season, and 1 and 6 connect for many 7s.
Devonta Smith puts defender on skates
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1428520831735386116?s=20
#6 TJ Edwards near interception
Despite being just as good Edwards has been somewhat less noticeable than Alex Singleton in terms of both fanfare and playmaking. I also have a weird feeling that it would be a different story if he did a better job of holding onto the ball when he jumps receivers’ routes. Alas, though he has made some good plays, his interception attempts oft end in the ball harmlessly falling to the dirt. Though, he does deserve celebration for his play recognition and timing that puts him in position to intercept a ball in the first place. If Edwards catches this ball, regardless of the score, the place erupts. You’d hope this is the case against backups, but Edwards and Singleton are showing they are a solid dynamic duo that is miles better than what we’ve had in years past. (Edwards also had a pass breakup that was initially deemed a forced fumble)
TJ Edwards breaks up pass
https://twitter.com/ajtorres1230/status/1428514710819856385?s=20
Group Efforts
#5 Eagles fans do the wave
Eagles fans are the best fans in the world. I’ve seen enough (jokes aside, I applaud Eagles fans for finding a way to keep themselves entertained down 28). Most other fanbases would have checked out at that point, but Eagles fans have a hilarious sense of irony. I thought that when people started doing the wave, it was Patriots fans dunking on the Eagles for getting embarrassed. As a wave of green and white crashed over Lincoln Financial Field, however, I realized Eagles fans were mocking their own team for their failure, showing enthusiasm ironically as a showing of discontent with the atrocious on-field performance. This might be a “you had to be there” type jawn, but I’m glad I was there to witness it. I thought it was hilarious, and it was frankly one of the highlights of the night for me.
#4 Running backs show depth
I hope Nick Sirianni likes using running backs because it seems to be the Eagles’ deepest skill position outside of the offensive line. Despite chunk plays not coming until the end of the game when the score was well out of hand, they did indeed occur and primarily came on the backs of Kenneth Gainwell and Elijah Holyfield. At a certain point, Sirianni started feeding certain running backs in spurts. One time, Gainwell got four straight carries, and Holyfield later got the same opportunity. One could label it a lowlight since the game became more about individual evaluation at one point than winning, but the running backs Gainwell and Holyfield, and Sanders earlier in the game, were some of the only times this team had juice.
Kenneth Gainwell run
https://twitter.com/BenBrownPL/status/1428528881254948867?s=20
Elijah Holyfield run
https://twitter.com/QbFilm/status/1428776211178823682?s=20
Individual Play Awards
#3 Jack Stoll makes case for roster spot
In a bad night offensively for the Eagles, Jack Stoll was the one receiver who showed out the most. This might be due to Sirianni wanting to evaluate how his running backs would fare in the passing game, but Stoll led all receivers in yards at 4 catches for 33 yards. The rookie tight end even ended up being one of the highest-graded players on offense for either team, coming in at third according to PFF, who graded him a 72.6. Granted, PFF grades are mostly arbitrary, but it is worth noting that Stoll caught everything thrown his way, no matter who was in at QB. On one play, he did a nice job of shaking a defender and picking up additional yards. Even if he wasn’t the best receiver on the field, Stoll would be a near-lock to make the roster with both Tyree Jackson and Jason Croom sustaining season-threatening injuries (Jackson will be out until November, and Croom had to be carted off the field with a reportedly season-ending knee injury).
YAC Stoll
https://twitter.com/HuskersGameday/status/1428535604984287232?s=20
#2 Alex Singleton’s diving tackle
For the second week in a row, Alex Singleton has been all over the field, but not in the kind of way where he looks lost. Early in the game, Singleton was carrying the entire linebacking core, making play after play that might slip past the eye of the casual viewer. Once again, the CFL (Canadian Football League) standout made an impact through multiple repeated smaller plays that might’ve otherwise made a difference in a closer game. One of my favorite accounts on Eagles Twitter, Thomas R. Petersen, keeps an eye out for whenever Singleton makes a play, and one of the plays he noticed tonight was when Singleton dove at a running back’s legs to save a few extra yards. I almost feel bad. Every other defensive starter got the scratch tonight and was able to look on from the sidelines, but Singleton was out there busting hump, blowing up screen plays, and hustling for tackles wherever the play was still live. He had a couple of missed tackles, and he’s going to have to clean that up, but he was on during the first half. Hopefully, other linebackers on the team are able to step up and take pressure off each other during the regular season because our best linebacker was gassed by the end of the second quarter.
Alex Singleton shows off tackle radius
https://twitter.com/mattlucci12/status/1428731680689426440?s=20
#1 Raequan Williams’ forced fumble
I’m going to be honest, when Keyvon Seymour recovered the fumbled forced by Raequan Williams, the score was beyond redemption… but that doesn’t mean the stadium was any quieter when the ball popped out of the running back’s hands! And in enemy territory, no less! At this point, the Eagles weren’t going to win, but the least Mullens could do was prove that he deserves a spot on the 53 man roster by cashing in the seven points that his defense essentially handed to him. As this is supposed to be a mostly positive article, I will refrain from rehashing what happened next and simply congratulate the young lineman for making a big play at a critical time.
Raequan Williams’ Punch Out
https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/video/highlight-raequan-williams-punches-ball-out-for-eagles-turnover
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Dylan Patrowicz is a featured writer at The Birds Blitz. For more from Dylan, check out his archive and read through our Eagles articles for the latest news about the Birds.
Full image caption: PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 19: Philadelphia Eagles LB Alex Singleton (49) reacts after a tackle in the first half during the game between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles on August 19, 2021 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire).
