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Anytime a staff goes from a 4-11-1 report to 9-8 with a visit to the postseason as well, some issues needed to go properly alongside the way in which.
One of many season’s most nice surprises was the play of slot cornerback Avonte Maddox, who Pro Football Focus labeled as the “most improved Eagle” of the 2021 season.
PFF Grade change from 2020 to 2021: 37.8 → 71.0 (+33.2)
Maddox was moved solely to exterior nook for 2020, and it went poorly, as evidenced by his 37.8 PFF grade. In 2021, Maddox moved to the slot the place he belongs and noticed a drastic enchancment. He really completed the yr as a top-five-graded defensive again within the slot. Maddox’s tackling was on level, with simply 5 misses on 77 makes an attempt and 24 defensive stops.
Maddox’s measurement all the time pointed to him being extra of a slot nook relatively than somebody tasked with protecting a few of the NFL’s bigger wideouts on the surface, and that change to the within paid large dividends in Jonathan Gannon’s protection. Consequently, he was rewarded with a three-year, $22.5 million contract halfway by means of the ‘21 season.
Trying ahead, I see 5 Eagles gamers because the most probably candidates to make a leap in 2022 and earn PFF’s “most improved” standing for subsequent season.
JALEN HURTS
Assuming Howie Roseman doesn’t commerce Hurts and purchase a veteran quarterback like Russell Wilson to take the reigns, Hurts confirmed sufficient promise and development to dream on the opportunity of higher issues. Final yr, PFF gave Hurts a grade of 77.1, 14th out of 37 QBs analyzed. That was really a bit increased than Wilson’s 73.9, by the way in which.
Hurts’ potential as a runner was an enormous cause why his rating was as excessive because it was, as his passing numbers have been pedestrian in 2021. Nevertheless, if Hurts makes the sort of progress his most ardent supporters consider he could make, he can vault himself into the higher 80s, and maybe increased.
It is probably not the surest guess on the planet, however Hurts has proven strong development with nonetheless loads of room to get higher, a mix that would see him be the staff’s most improved participant whereas taking part in its most essential place.
QUEZ WATKINS
For a 2nd yr, former Sixth-round choose, Watkins’ emergence as a strong weapon final yr was definitely a shock. Regardless of being in an offense that threw the ball lower than some other staff within the league, with a QB who had accuracy points, Watkins nonetheless hauled in 43 balls for 647 yards, a mean of 15.0 yards per catch.
The Eagles ought to completely pursue a wideout in free company so as to add to DeVonta Smith and Watkins, ideally one that may push Watkins into the slot full-time, which might enable defenses to show a few of their consideration away from Watkins, permitting him to do much more. As we noticed on quite a few All-22 recaps this yr, there have been loads of performs during which Watkins was extensive open and Hurts didn’t see him.
If Hurts sticks round, Watkins’ numbers could not get significantly better. But when Nick Sirianni will get himself a quarterback who focuses on throwing the ball, Watkins’ numbers may spike and switch him into a real weapon within the slot or as a No. 2 receiver.
KENNETH GAINWELL
Kenny Gainwell had an especially productive rookie season as a fifth spherical choose, at instances fourth on the staff’s operating again depth chart, main all Eagles operating backs with 33 receptions and 253 yards by means of the air. He scored 5 TDs on the bottom, 2nd-most amongst operating backs, and one by means of the air as properly, displaying a knack for locating the top zone in restricted snaps.
Gainwell confirmed a ton of promise and, in an offense that ought to be extra pass-heavy subsequent season, he may see his offensive totals enhance considerably. And relying on what the Eagles do with Jordan Howard and Boston Scott, Gainwell’s snap totals ought to enhance as properly. He’s an intriguing operating again to look at in coaching camp subsequent yr, for positive, and may very well be a participant who takes an enormous step ahead in 2022.
MILTON WILLIAMS
Final week, Jonny Page took a look at the defensive lineman’s rookie season and had some good issues to say about Roseman’s third spherical choice.
– Surprisingly low PFF grade. 49 complete (ranks one hundred and first amongst IDL). 45 run D grade (unsure what PFF have been watching), 60 cross rush grade.
– 19 pressures, 2 sack, 4 hits, 13 hurries.
– 19 ‘stops’. Per PFF – A deal with that equals a failure for the O. Solely 3 lower than Cox who performed 805 complete snaps.
Extra superior stats… all primarily based on gamers with at the least 20% of snaps.
– 67th in pressures amongst IDL per PFF.
– 8.9% Strain ‘win charge’ which ranks 72nd general. For context, Hargrave 21% (2nd greatest behind Donald!!!), Cox 13.8%, Ridgeway 8.6%.
– Run D cease charge of seven.9% ranks forty ninth within the league. For context, Hargrave 8%, Cox 6%, Ridgeway 3.1%
As essential as anything, Williams appeared to enhance and made affect performs throughout the previous few weeks of the season. His potential to play each on the sting and inside makes him somebody who ought to see his snap totals enhance, too. And but, the superior stats present a participant who nonetheless has quite a lot of room to develop.
As Web page famous:
I should have been watching a unique participant than PFF was as a result of I believed he developed into a extremely good run defender. I feel he ended the season far forward the place I believed he could be. It was a really promising rookie yr and he was a really dependable quantity 3 defensive deal with. I’d summarise his movie from this yr by describing him as a really athletic, productive run defender who must develop his cross rush strikes additional to get to the following stage.
I hinted at this earlier, however his upside is basically depending on whether or not he can study to hurry the quarterback.
ZECH MCPHEARSON
McPhearson didn’t see quite a lot of time in Jonathan Gannon’s protection, maybe not overly stunning for a rookie 4th-round choose, though he was a star particular groups participant for the Eagles. He performed 325 particular groups snaps, probably the most on the staff and made his mark as maybe the staff’s greatest gunner on punts.
Darius Slay and Maddox are clearly locked in at cornerback, and the staff will seemingly draft a cornerback early or signal a free agent to be the staff’s No. 2. That mentioned, due to his excellent particular groups play, McPhearson may get a shot because the staff’s 4th nook and, after that, who is aware of? He’s not the most probably candidate for “most improved,” however he additionally begins with the least quantity of NFL manufacturing as his base, so it wouldn’t require a lot!
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