Philadelphia Eagles: In 2017, the Receiving Core Must be Built the Right Way
By Chuck Booth
One of the biggest things to hold the Philadelphia Eagles back this year has been their lack of threats in skill positions on offense.
While the Philadelphia Eagles defense has been serviceable, even without a shutdown corner, the offense has been painful to watch at times. This is because the best offensive weapons are Ryan Matthews (who’s great), Jordan Matthews (who’s serviceable), Zach Ertz (who’s as inconsistent as they come), and Trey Burton (what?!). This host of names doesn’t include anyone who would scare an average NFL defense.
In the offseason, Howie Roseman attempted to make additions to the receiving core by bringing in three reclamation projects, Dorial Green-Beckham, Rueben Randle, and Chris Givens. He also added Bryce Treggs at the end of the preseason. Givens and Randle are no longer with the team. DGB might as well begin to pack his bags because his experiment is beginning to turn into a bust and Treggs is making more of an impact on his Twitter account than he is on the field.
All of the reclamation projects flopped this season and the DGB trade cost the Philadelphia Eagles swing-guard Dennis Kelly who could have been useful this season on the injury-ravaged offensive line. Beckham has an underwhelming stat line of 34 catches for 370 yards (10.9 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. For a receiver with the skills that Beckham has, that simply isn’t good enough.
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For the shrewd personnel mind like Howie Roseman those moves not working out are a failure in his area. Blame can be placed on Doug Pederson for his playcalling during the year but he wasn’t given the personnel needed to succeed. The issues rest squarely in Howie Roseman’s hands and if he doesn’t rectify them before next season it should cost him his job.
What can Howie Roseman do to avoid repeating his mistakes?
Roseman can’t spend another year relying on reclamation projects. Next year is a big year for Carson Wentz‘s development and he can’t be given subpar weapons and be expected to succeed. Wentz will should be surrounded by the same coaches and will be comfortable with the system. Wentz has shown marked growth in his development and will have an entire offseason to work on his issues with mechanics.
If he doesn’t have anyone to throw the ball to, Wentz will fall back into the trap of holding the ball too long and trying to do too much at times. It’s Roseman’s job as GM/director of player personnel to surround Wentz with players to put him in the best place to succeed. After that is done, it’s Doug Pederson‘s job to put Wentz in the best position to succeed and develop plays that suit him and whatever new players are brought in.
If this means that Roseman needs to make cuts and restructure contracts to sign Terrelle Pryor, so be it. Better options would likely be Alshon Jeffery who returned from his suspension in a big way against the Packers with six catches for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Another receiver or two will likely be added through the draft where Roseman will no longer be running the show. With the Philadelphia Eagles hire of Joe Douglas, their draft woes should turn around leading to a serviceable receiver joining the team not Nelson Agholor.
Next: Why Doug Pederson Shouldn’t Have Gone For Two
2017 will be a telling year for Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles front office. If they can add adequate talent to the team, it will be joy in Philadelphia and we can resume plans to build the Roseman statute. If he falters in another offseason, he can begin to clean out his office and look for work somewhere else. Only time will tell.