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Carson Wentz was battered by the Washington defensive front on Sunday to the tune of a career-high 8 sacks and two interceptions. With the Eagles offensive line battling injuries and Miles Sanders inactive, Wentz was forced to drop back almost 50 times.
One major concern from the Eagles disappointing season-opening loss was the lack of rollouts and moving the pocket for Wentz. During the Eagles late-season run to a division title in 2019, Wentz made a ton of plays outside the pocket, including two marvelous touchdown passes to Greg Ward and Miles Sanders at Washington, to save the Eagles season.
On Sunday that movement was lacking and during the Pederson’s Wednesday zoom conference, the Eagles head coach was asked by Brandon Lee Gowton about Wentz’s lack of movement. Pederson provided a vague response when asked if it was due to injury.
“You know, I’d love to be able to sit down and maybe show you guys game film and study the tape and talk about the scheme and stuff like that. There are opportunities. Carson’s a great outside-of-the-pocket thrower, and we understand that. But when we have 13 snaps that are second down and seven-plus – we didn’t do a good job on first down, whether running or passing the football. Utilizing an out of the pocket throw, a movement type throw when it’s 2nd and 13… I don’t know, maybe it works, maybe it doesn’t. But I think you have to push the ball differently down the field. Drop back, play-action, whatever it might be. Screen. But everything we do it obviously starts with the first down, and if you’re not positive on first down, it now affects what you do on 2nd down, then 3rd down, and 4th down. I would love to have Carson out of the pocket more. He is dynamic outside the pocket, great vision, and all of that. But we have to better on first down in order for a lot of those plays to take place.”
Wentz returned for 2020 in better shape and even if he needs to lose about five pounds, it’s on Pederson and passing game coordinator Press Taylor to provide the Eagles offense with more rollouts, creative screens, and different plays that take Wentz out of harm’s way, while providing him more options.
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