It was evident during the first quarter or so in the Eagles’ 17-9 preseason win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Offense has a long way to go, but it was the first preseason game and we’re still in training camp mode, so hopefully we can fix it this week and get ready for Pittsburgh.
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That made it as convenient a time as possible for Doug Pederson to remove Bradford, who would not have another chance to have his status as the No. 1 Eagles’ quarterback compromised.
The highlight of the night for the Buccaneers was the team’s pass-rush.
“It’s just hard to get into a rhythm as a quarterback when things are not stable and not consistent”.
The Herd & Horns was just one of the many watch parties.
It was clear the Eagles had one main objective to solve: who is going to be our back up quarterback? “And in two of the three phases last night we beat ourselves”.
In addition to those four sacks, Tampa Bay’s defense was credited with hitting the quarterback 10 times.
“I was really impressed with the way he handled himself tonight”, Bradford said. Yet that added heft to Wentz’s previously scheduled second-half audition … an audition that he would comfortably pass. He was sacked four times.
When it comes to the eye test, Wentz’s first completion was one you expect from a second-overall pick. Isaiah Johnson intercepted Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz in the third quarter. “Noah, like our entire D-line, affected the quarterback all night”.
The Eagles clinched the win with an end-zone interception by C.J. Smith on a pass from Bucs backup Ryan Griffin with 0:50 left in the game. When he threw, it was with confidence, even if his passes, likely sabotaged by adrenaline, occasionally soared above the receivers.
Thursday night marks the start of a new era for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Dennis Kelly is the listed backup at right tackle on the unofficial depth chart. But as it often goes with high selections, it’s equally comforting as it is exciting to see a perceived franchise savior make a throw worthy of his christening.
“My intention was to get maybe 8, 12 or 15 plays for them, but at the same time, they scored on the first drive and I made the decision to pull them out”, the head coach explained. “I can’t really talk about another player’s situation”, Gardner said. Each was called for a false start penalty. I’ll focus on the two guards for a second.
He looked young, and he looked raw.
It started with a short field after the Eagles forced a fumble on the opening kickoff to send Sam Bradford out to start at the Buccaneers’ 18-yard line. Now he’s a safety who’s actually playing relatively well. “By no means is he ideal, or was anybody flawless, but I’m pleased of this first outing and I have to continue working with him on a daily basis to get him to where he needs to be”.
As he ran out with his teammates, Wentz raised his arm. In fact, Tampa Bay’s single-game low in rushing yardage last season, with Koetter running the offense, was 57 yards.
This was the first preseason game for the Eagles and I thought they had an okay performance.
The Eagles kept things fairly basic for Wentz, outside of one deep shot.
There were also some nice throws, and Wentz showed off his ability to extend plays and pick up yardage with his legs. But he was able to move the team a little bit with the run game. It’s what rookies do in preseason games.
Fortunately, there’s still three rounds of warmups and multiple rounds of cuts before this team is (hopefully) in form to try to end their streak of five consecutive losing seasons and eight without an appearance in the playoffs. It was’nt past year for the Bucs.
“I wasn’t sure what they were saying”, he said. And their unblocked player made the tackle nearly every time.
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“I was hoping to get him in the end zone”, the coach said, “and get him a taste of what a touchdown is like in the National Football League”. When they were, they dropped balls. “The interception in the red zone, that’s something you never want to do”.
