Each week, NJ Advance Media will break down three important plays from each of the Eagles’ 17 regular-season games, using insight from the team’s coaching staff. We’ll look at the plays, discuss what went right or wrong, and then let the coaches provide their perspective on each play.
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This week, we’ll break down DeVonta Smith’s first NFL touchdown catch, a subtly smart special teams play and Jalen Reagor’s return to the end zone from the Eagles’ 32-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Let’s get started ...
How Zach Ertz helped DeVonta Smith score
The play: The Eagles were faced with a third-and-four situation at the Falcons’ 29-yard line on their first offensive series of the game. With 6:25 remaining in the first quarter, the Eagles lined up in 01 personnel (0 RBs, 1 TE and 4 WRs). Zach Ertz, the lone tight end, lined up wide to quarterback Jalen Hurts’ left, with Smith in the slot to Ertz’s right. Before the shotgun snap, Ertz went in motion to his right before taking off with a crossing route.
As Ertz moved inside, Smith ran a wheel route behind him, creating a natural pick play against man coverage. Falcons cornerback Fabian Moreau, who lined up opposite Smith in the slot, collided with Ertz to give Smith extra space to make his way up the field. The collision also froze safety Erik Harris, who was covering Ertz, which put no one in front of Smith. Hurts hit Smith with a bucket toss in the end zone for a touchdown. It was the first catch of Smith’s career.
The timing of that play was essential. If Ertz misses Moreau in space, the wheel route by Smith probably doesn’t have the spacing it needs to break the wide receiver free of coverage.
Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen: “Ertz was a huge part of that play. He made it go. We got the look and he did a nice job setting that up. DeVonta just had to win at the line of scrimmage and Jalen threw a nice ball over the top, and, obviously, the line had to protect, did a really good job. Well-executed play and it was really the repetition throughout the week that we got in practice on it.”
New guy makes a heads-up play on special teams
The play: In the middle of the second quarter, an Eagles drive stalled after a pair of penalties by offensive tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, forcing a punt on fourth-and-27 from the Falcons’ 49-yard line.
As first-year punter Arryn Siposs kicked the ball to the 8-yard line, gunners Andre Chachere and Zech McPhearson took off from their respective sides of the field. Chachere was pushed out of bounds so, by rule, he couldn’t touch the ball first. He signaled McPhearson to down it.
Chachere had been claimed off waivers the week before, and McPhearson was making his NFL debut, too. McPhearson, a fourth-round pick, was a special teams star in college.
After the punt, the defense forced a three-and-out and the Eagles eventually took possession at their 38-yard line. Hurts led a 12-play drive capped by a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Goedert with two seconds remaining in the half to give the Eagles a 15-6 lead.
Special teams coordinator Michael Clay: “Andre did a textbook job. It all starts really with [Eagles special teams quality control coach] Tyler Brown. He works with the gunners almost one-on-one, especially with A.C. coming in off a short week.
“As you saw on the film, he was pointing at the ball and that’s an indication of, ‘Hey, I went out-of-bounds, I can’t touch it.’ Zech did a heck of a job racing over, making sure he picked it up, giving the ball to the referee, knowing like, ‘Hey, A.C. went out, now I have to pick up this ball as it lies on the ground.’
“So, A.C. did a heck of a job understanding the rules. That’s really good football I.Q. right there. ... It really helps the team in flipping the field right there.”
Creating space for Jalen Reagor
The play: Leading 22-6 with 4:29 left in the game, the Eagles faced a second-and-11 and lined up in 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs), with tight end Dallas Goedert acting as an H-back in front of running back Miles Sanders. Hurts was lined up in the shotgun formation with Sanders to his left.
Head coach Nick Sirianni called a screen pass for wide receiver Jalen Reagor. Hurts sold a play-fake to Sanders, but faced pressure from Falcons linebacker Foyesade Oluokun on a blitz. Oluokun hit Hurts low, as the quarterback targeted Reagor. Hurts’ ball placement allowed Reagor to sprint up the field.
With the ball in Reagor’s hands, the offensive line took control. Left tackle Jordan Mailata sold an initial block, then headed to the perimeter to jack up safety Richie Grant, who was the initial defender in Reagor’s way. Center Jason Kelce then made an impressive peel-back block on pass rusher Steven Means to seal off the come-from-behind defender. Left guard Isaac Seumalo then guided the way — though there was no one to block — as Reagor broke a poor tackle attempt by safety Duron Harmon and scored on a 23-yard touchdown, which sealed the win.
Head coach Nick Sirianni: “That block like you mentioned, Jordan had on Jalen’s touchdown, that was really a big-time play. The other thing you don’t see is Jason Kelce wrapping around and stopping the defensive end from kind of peeling back and making the play.
“And so, it was just a good all-around play, Jalen Reagor making a good read of the block, being in complete control when he caught the ball. And you really saw his acceleration there.
“So, just good all-around play right there, but that definitely was a big-time hit by Jordan. I can’t imagine that felt too good for the safety.”
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Mike Kaye may be reached at mkaye@njadvancemedia.com.
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