The Philadelphia Eagles have a tough task in front of them this weekend as they prepare to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They may be without their two leading receivers A.J. Brown but also Devonta Smith because of injury. This may make it tough for the offense to score points. In this article, we explore the idea of how injuries are affecting the chances of the Eagles, the performance of the players, and strategies that may be employed to overcome such obstacles.
The Impact Of Injuries
All-Pro Receiver A.J. Brown is out for the last two games with a hamstring injury. He will be sorely missed during their next game against the Buccaneers. Another concern is DeVonta Smith, who recently took a big hit in the game against the Saints. He is currently in concussion protocol. If the Eagles lost both Brown and Smith, that would be devastating. The offense would collapse if they didn’t have its No. 1 and No. 2 target, especially considering the strength of the Buccaneers’ defense.
Of course, Brown and Smith’s departures leave some gaps, though. Newly-acquired Jahan Dotson, for example, might become the No. 1 receiver of this bunch. Though still learning the playbook, the versatile Dotson has all the potential to make some splash plays for the Eagles. The organization also promoted veteran Parris Campbell from the practice squad. That could be a good indication that he would gain more prominent playing time going forward in Philadelphia.
Rookie Johnny Wilson can also be added to the list. He may prove a good asset but still needs time to get accustomed to the pace of the NFL game. Other players include several on the practice squad who are less experienced and may need to be called up if and when needed. That depth is appreciated but yet to be seen in effectiveness.
Cutting The Game Planning
They could drastically change the direction of the Eagles’ offense. Instead of running through their passing game so much, this team may look more into its running attacks. Using Saquon Barkley, the leading rusher in the NFL at this point of the season, may help get it done. A good running game could keep the clock moving and take some pressure off the receivers to score.
The Eagles could also be deploying “12 personnel,” or one running back and two tight ends. Here, these two tight ends could align with Dallas Goedert, who had 170 receiving yards in the last game. This may also give them a safety net in their passing game and be a good source of improvement in blocking for the run.
The Quarterback’s Role
Quarterback Jalen Hurts will be the key to this scenario. He will have to make some speedy, instinctive plays and use his legs if plays begin to break down. He is an energetic runner who is noted for coming up with plays on the run, and that will come in handy if the Eagles are compelled to use their less-experienced receivers. Leadership and improvisation will be the fundamentals in keeping his offense productive.
More than that, Hurts has proved to demonstrate his ability to trust others: Getting into sync with Dotson and Campbell this week in practice will be crucial. That you have more comfort with the other fellow, the better you’ll be on game day.
Defense Matters
While the Eagles’ offense adjusts, so too does the defense play a large part. A good defensive effort will keep the game very much within reach until the offense can start putting up numbers again. Should the Buccaneers’ quarterback be forced into turnovers, some heat will be taken off of this struggling unit.
Though dominant in the defensive scheme, the Eagles will need to pool from this reservoir. They will have to prevent the Buccaneers from unleashing their offense, and a low-scoring affair may give the Eagles a chance despite their lengthy injury list.
Conclusion
A tough weekend lies ahead for the Eagles, as several top receivers are laid up. Without A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, it might throttle back the production of the offense. But if such is meshed with a more devoted defense, they can still find a way to compete. If guys on their depth chart who are taking on bigger roles can do their jobs adequately, if Jalen Hurts can get the ball to these guys, it’s a serious cloud waiting to form. It’s going to be an uphill fight, but these Eagles have the means to make for a surprise or two. Let’s see how they work through this challenge.
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