Philadelphia Eagles: Zach Ertz will turn the corner this year

With the regular season looming, Philadelphia Eagles fans should expect tight end Zach Ertz will make the leap to becoming a featured piece in the offense.

Now, the Philadelphia Eagles have made some serious strides on the offensives side of the ball. Adding guys like Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith to the receiving core will help in the development of quarterback Carson Wentz. On top of that, they added bruiser back LeGarrette Blount to the backfield, legitimizing their goal-line offense. But, what about Zach Ertz?

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Well, I’ll give him credit. Zach Ertz has been one of the most reliable targets in the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense. Every year, his catch percentage has gone up exponentially. Last season, Ertz caught 73.6 percent of the passes thrown to him. He and Wentz have become one of the better quarterback-tight end tandems in the NFL.

That said, they can do better. Now, it may sound like I’m ungrateful for the effect that Ertz has had on the Eagles offense, but in reality, this is long overdue. While he has been a solid tight end in the NFL, Ertz can still reach a higher ceiling.

Right now, I can think of at least seven other tight ends that rank higher than Zach Ertz. Given the fact that the Eagles took him in the second round, you can make the argument that Z-Ertz can still do some damage. Remember, he doesn’t turn 27 until November. That means that he’s just now getting into the prime of his career. The optimist in me thinks that Ertz can reach new heights this season.

Weapons on the Wentz Wagon

As previously mentioned, the addition of Carson Wentz did wonders for Zach Ertz. Specifically, Ertz has caught a higher percentage of passes with Wentz than any other quarterback he’s played with. On top of that, he tied his career high in touchdown receptions with four. Overall, it seems as though both players benefit from one another.

Now, Wentz has more weapons at his disposal this year. With guys like Jeffery, Smith, and Blount, along with Ertz, the passing game looks dangerous. For head coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Frank Reich, that aspect of the game will play an important role. At the same time, those wide receivers should open the door for Ertz to play a larger role.

Last season, the Philadelphia Eagles had a wide receiving core of Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor, and a bunch of nobodies. This year, the Birds have overhauled the previous regime in favor of players who can catch the ball (shocker). This should give Ertz plenty of opportunities to thrive. Wentz can now spread the ball around and find guys when they’re open. He won’t have to force the ball to guys as much anymore.

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To me, it makes sense that Ertz may see his catch percentage soar this season. Wentz and Ertz have become best buds, according to Reich. It may make sense that Wentz won’t look for Ertz as much, but when he does, it will be a match made in heaven. Honestly, adding Jeffery and Smith may have been the best thing vice president Howie Roseman did this summer. It opens up the offense much more than in previous year.

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