Anthony Mazziotti
Anyone can look at a stat line and see that Alshon Jeffery is not putting up traditional wide receiver one numbers. He has a middling 26 catches for 354 yards and two touchdowns. What doesn’t appear on the stat lines, however, is how he affects opposing defense’s game plans.
Aside from Carson Wentz (and recently Zach Ertz), Alshon Jeffery is the number one priority for opposing defense’s. Take for instance this week’s game against the 49ers, defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil will make sure that Alshon is accounted for at all times with at least one man, probably two.
By keying on Jeffery, this will open the rest of the field for the rest of Doug Pederson’s explosive offense. Defenses keying on Alshon is directly opening up the field for players like Zach Ertz and Nelson Agholor in the passing game. Because he has other weapons in the passing game getting open at will, Carson Wentz doesn’t have to force anyone the ball. Jeffery’s presence alone is paramount to this offense.
Sure we haven’t seen him successfully catch the “go-up-and-get-it” ball, but on the most recent attempt he drew a critical pass interference call which set up a Zach Ertz touchdown. Alshon Jeffery impacts this offense even without catching those back shoulders fades that he’s been known for.
I know what you’re thinking, “I don’t care how many people are on him, we need to see production out of him.” I hear you. I even agree to an extent, but I don’t want to see him get the ball forced to him so we can see him put up over 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns at the cost of the team’s record. What the Eagles are doing is working, and working superb at that.
Pro Football Focus released a stat that said 28.8% of balls thrown in Alshon Jeffery’s direction were uncatchable. So it’s not like the Eagles aren’t trying to get him the ball. He has been targeted 54 times, 15 of those weren’t catchable passes.
At this rate, Alshon will amass well over 100 targets by the end of the season, with the growing chemistry with Carson Wentz more and more of the passes will be catchable. With more catchable balls, more yards and touchdowns will follow.
Be patient, Eagles fans. The offense has been clicking all season long, even without the direct help of Alshon Jeffery. He is affecting the game in more ways than you can see, and for now that is working just fine. Alshon Jeffery is important to this team, the Eagles’ offense would not be the same without him here.
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