Five Big-Picture Takeaways From Eagles Preseason Game Two
By Somers Price
2.) A SELFISH SECONDARY
Aug 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Byron Maxwell (31) intercepts the pass attempt of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (not pictured) during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Even though Joe Flacco has a tendency to turn in the type of forgettable performance he did Saturday night, seeing another week of a ball-hawking Eagles secondary against a quarterback of his caliber is something to be excited about. Ravens fans won’t (and shouldn’t) lose sleep over Flacco’s two interceptions. That said, there isn’t any reason that Philadelphia should diminish what the starting defensive backs did to the former Super Bowl MVP.
The two-man effort on Walter Thurmond’s interception of Flacco on the Ravens’ first drive was spectacular. For Nolan Carroll to have remained engaged with his receiver that far down the field against a quarterback who might be the best in the NFL at capitalizing on the deep ball is an accomplishment on its own. Thurmond demonstrating his knack for the big play and ball skills on the interception was icing on the cake of what was, on its own, a tremendous play by his defensive backfield-mate. Though it came on perhaps Flacco’s worst throw of the night, seeing Byron Maxwell tally his first interception as an Eagles was a welcome sight as well.
Don’t expect the Eagles secondary to start challenging Seattle’s for any type of supremacy as far as shutting down the opposition at a record pace. Instead, Eagles fans should be encouraged by the attention to forcing turnovers and taking every chance they can to get the ball back to the offense. Those who have followed the team’s offseason already know that turning the ball over, along with limiting 20+ yard ‘X-plays’, is of the utmost importance to the overhauled Eagles secondary. When one watches the effort by each defensive back on seemingly every pass play of the opposition, it’s easy to see the message of defensive backs coach Cory Undlin is taking quite well.