Nick Piccone
Carson Wentz had a pretty good Eagles debut last night in the first preseason game of 2016 against the Bucs. Adrian Fedkiw had you completely covered from the game itself to all of Wentz’s throws and runs last night. So, what do the other locals and nationals have to say about Wentz’s debut? Let’s find out.
And just based on what we witnessed from the top three quarterbacks, the ones expected to be on the roster, it would appear there’s something terribly wrong with the rookie head coach’s depth chart. As it currently stands, Sam Bradford is the starter, Chase Daniel is the backup, and Carson Wentz is the third-string QB who won’t be active on Sundays this fall.
But if you watched any significant portion of the Eagles preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a 17-9 win for the home team, it became pretty obvious that Wentz is better than Daniel.
Rich Hoffmann, PhillyVoice.com:
GOOD CARSON: Wentz can really move, and behind that offensive line, he better. On one play in the third quarter, the 6’5″ rookie got out of the pocket, cut back toward the middle, and slid at the perfect time once he was about to get crunched. I’m way too excited for an Eagles quarterback who even flashes the ability to protect himself.
…
BAD CARSON: Wentz threw an ugly red zone interception to Isaiah Johnson that was a bad read and a bad throw. Receivers didn’t appear to be open on the play (though I would need to re-watch it to be 100 percent sure) and the pocket was closing in on him, but that is a ball that you simply can’t throw. He has to take the sack there.
In general, what we observed from Wentz is mostly what he showed in training camp. His accuracy can certainly be inconsistent. When Wentz missed receivers, he generally missed high. His final numbers weren’t impressive: 12-24, 89 yards, 0 touchdowns, 1 interception, and a 43.4 rating.
Numbers might not tell the whole story, though. Wentz didn’t get a ton of help. Not every one of his passes was right on the money, but his receivers dropped at least three very catchable passes. The same was also true when Chase Daniel was in the game. Not a great night for the Eagles skill position players up and down the roster, with the one exception of Ryan Mathews.
The preseason opener will be remembered as the debut of Carson Wentz, and the No. 2 overall draft pick put on a show. The final stat line – 12 of 24, 89 yards, one interception, 15 rushing yards – does not suggest a sterling performance, and the evening was uneven enough to show why the Eagles are taking a patient approach. But there were also plays that captivated and offered a glimpse of what could be, such as Wentz rolling out to avoid oncoming rushers and throwing a 10-yard strike to Paul Turner, or a scramble when he somersaulted a defender.
Wentz is no doubt dazzling to watch. The stage doesn’t seem to overwhelm him, and his ability to move at his size and throw on the run combine with impressive arm strength to reveal hard-to-find characteristics.
Instead, the kid’s first play was a high throw to Nelson Agholor on the sideline that Agholor didn’t haul in. But on second and 15, Wentz sidestepped pressure and drilled a pass to Zach Ertz at the sticks for a first down. There, the two-minute-drill drive died after a 3-yard completion to Rueben Randle, a throwaway deep, and a high pass that Ertz couldn’t bring down.
That was the way Wentz’s evening went. Moments, flashes of great potential, leavened with poor decisions and off-the-mark throws that showed what observers of training camp have been saying the last three weeks – namely that the brain trust is right about the second player taken in the draft not being ready to lead an NFL team yet, after just 23 starts at North Dakota State.
On the stat sheet, the results weren’t great, as he went 12 of 24 for 89 yards and an interception. He led the team to just three points in six drives.
Watching Wentz play, however, was a different story.
Any questions about Wentz not being able to keep up or play with NFL athletes because he is coming from North Dakota State can stop. The rookie quarterback looked more than capable of keeping up with the speed of the NFL game, both when he was running with the ball and when things got out of hand.
As an athlete, Wentz was able to run away from oncoming defenders if the pocket broke down, and when he did decide to tuck the ball and run with it, he looked more than capable of making things happen.
Wentz brought a jolt of energy to an offense in desperate need of one. Twice he ran away from pressure and got positive yardage. On his third series, Wentz moved the Eagles from their own 17 to the Tampa 11. The Eagles’ most impressive drive of the night ended when Wentz hurried a pass, overthrew Paul Turner and was intercepted by safety Isaiah Johnson.
Fans held their breath in the fourth quarter when Wentz took off on a designed run. He was upended by Bucs safety Kimario McFadden. Wentz jumped up and ran off the field with no apparent problems. Later in the quarter, he was slow to get up after a hit by DE Channing Ward but remained in the game until the waning minutes. Wentz finished 12-of-24 for 89 yards, no touchdowns and the interception.
Last night, two things were clear. One, Wentz has plenty to learn between now and whenever he takes the reins as the Eagles starter. Two, he’s got the kind of potential that is going to be difficult to ignore. That potential goes well beyond the measurables. Arm strength, mobility, size: those are easy to see on the practice field. But the biggest reason to think that the Eagles really did land themselves a superstar is Wentz’s ability to feel what is happening around him without letting it distract his attention from downfield. Again and again, you saw it against the Bucs. On his second snap, he slid up in the pocket and threw a laser to Zach Ertz for a first down. On his fifth snap, he recognized a blitz coming from his blind side, stood tall in the pocket anyway, and delivered a laser while absorbing a crushing hit. The pass was high, and at its velocity it would have been a difficult catch for Ertz. But it was more about the process that led to the pass.
Each of Wentz’s series ended with a long sideline conversation between the quarterback and the coach, a scene that is likely to be repeated often during the preseason.
It’s not every day you heard a head coach say he’s “pleased” that his quarterback went 12-for-24 for 89 yards and an interception, but I guess the preseason tends to make coaches nicer and less critical. No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz showed some good things and some bad things in his preseason debut, even if his overall line was pretty ugly.
He fired a nice pass to Zach Ertz after stepping up and away from pressure early in his stint, but later he got jumpy in the pocket and forced a pass that resulted in a pick. He connected with Rueben Randle, had a pass dropped by Ertz, but also took off from the pocket rather than checking down to a wide open running back. Again, good things and bad things.
The No. 2 overall pick made his NFL debut in a 17-9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing two-plus quarters and showing flashes of the tantalizing athleticism that made him a heat-seeking riser in the lead up to this year’s draft.
Taking over just before halftime, Wentz threw the ball on his first five snaps from scrimmage, completing two of those throws and watching a pair of catchable lobs fall to the ground to kill his first NFL drive.
Philly’s home crowd, though, responded immediately to Wentz, who brought energy to the affair with quick feet and a live arm. It was encouraging to see the rookie climb the pocket on throws and stand in against pressure.
Darin Gantt, Pro Football Talk:
There were times when Carson Wentz looked calm, and poised, and like he might actually be the quarterback of the future for the Eagles.
But because of what was around him, there were times when it looked like he might not make it to the future.
Playing behind a sketchy set of offensive linemen and in an offense that lacks playmakers in the starting group, the second pick in the draft had a decidedly so-so debut.
Dieter Kurtenbach, FOX Sports:
Anyone can watch North Dakota State film or the scouting combine and think they’ll know what Wentz will be at the NFL level, but until he goes against NFL competition, no one has any idea.
Thursday’s game didn’t exactly put Wentz up against first-string guys, but there should be no concern that he won’t be able to adapt to the speed of the NFL game in due time. Wentz showed exciting athleticism, some fearlessness, and perhaps most importantly, toughness. In short: He looked the part.
The average-at-best numbers — 12 of 24, 89 yards, no touchdowns and an interception — can’t all be chalked up to Wentz. While the rookie did overthrow a few receivers, the Eagles offensive line was a sieve and their receivers were unable to get open all night. The interception came because his arm was hit on the play. Could the ball have come out sooner? Probably, but there aren’t many NFL quarterbacks who avoid that turnover. Ultimately, Wentz showed the ability to make big plays Thursday, and while the numbers might not reflect that, the potential should get Eagles fans excited.
And here’s what Jade McCarthy, Mark Dominik, Jim Trotter and Dan Graziano had to say about Carson Wentz on today’s edition of NFL Insiders on ESPN.
And, hey, we did know how good we had it with Donovan McNabb. It was actually [mostly] the defense after McNabb left – and in the 2009 NFC Championship Game – that continually let the team down. Thanks, JADE!