Can Eagles get Ertz, Sproles involved more?
Zach Ertz played 64.2 percent of the Eagles' offensive snaps in their first four games. The second-year tight end has played 40.9 percent of the snaps in the last six.
Zach Ertz played 64.2 percent of the Eagles' offensive snaps in their first four games. The second-year tight end has played 40.9 percent of the snaps in the last six.
Based on the amount of time Ertz has played, his production has been relatively the same. The rookie tight end had 13 catches for 220 yards and a touchdown in the first four games and 17 catches for 210 yards and a touchdown in the next six.
He's not playing less because of production - Brent Celek has played 19 percent more snaps this season and has 20 catches for 217 yards and no touchdowns.
"It's kind of a game-plan thing. Some weeks it's been hit or miss," Ertz said this week. "Early in the year it was more often, but recently it's just been keep the guys in there that are going. They're not really subbing that much. Darren [Sproles] and I are in a similar situation right now. We really don't know how much we're going to play going into a game."
Sproles played 37.4 percent of the snaps in the first two games and 27.3 percent in seven of the next eight. (He missed a game with a knee sprain). Overall, the running back is averaging 6.8 yards per carry and has scored four touchdowns, numbers that are better than starter LeSean McCoy's (3.7 and two).
Eagles coach Chip Kelly was asked about Ertz and Sproles' playing less this week. His answer, in essence, was that the starters' performance did not justify fewer snaps.
"Right now," Kelly said, "I think LeSean is doing a good job."
It's a good problem to have - backups that are pushing for playing time. The Eagles offense is fourth in the NFL in total yards and points (although defense and special teams have scored nine of the team's 35 touchdowns). But turnovers and red-zone inefficiency have plagued the unit, and the offense hasn't hit last season's stride.
Whenever they have been on the field, Sproles and Ertz have been responsible for as many big plays as regular receivers Jerremy Maclin and Jordan Matthews.
"I love the questions," Kelly said. "We have 46 guys on our team but only a certain amount of guys can play. Brent Celek is doing a hell of a job, so it would be [an] injustice if I had to tell Brent he had to sit because we want to put somebody else on the field."
But it's not that black-and-white. The versatile Ertz certainly could dip into some of the playing time that less-productive receivers Riley Cooper and Josh Huff have gotten.
Ertz is playing more this season than last, while Celek is playing less. But is it enough considering the production when Ertz is playing? The Eagles are averaging 6.4 yards per play when Ertz is on the field, and Celek is not. They have averaged 4.8 yards with a solo Celek.
The Eagles run significantly more with Celek than they do with Ertz, which partially explains the disparity. Kelly wants Celek on the field on running downs.
"He may be the best blocking tight end in the league," the coach said of Celek.
Other than the 49ers game, there isn't much proof that Ertz's run blocking has held the offense back. The Eagles are averaging 6.1 yards a rush with Ertz and 3.3 yards with Celek.
The Eagles have had four tight ends on the roster for almost every game since Kelly arrived last year. There was speculation that he would use more two- and three-tight end sets than he has. Kelly has said it's depended on what defenses present, but Ertz isn't a traditional tight end.
Last year's second-round pick out of Stanford can line up with his hand on the ground, in the slot, and split wide, presenting a mismatch each time in the passing or running game.
"Players want to play in this league and we want to show what we can do each and every game," Ertz said. "But we have a great team. I have a great tight-end room with James [Casey] and Brent, so I'm happy for their success. They've been great to me helping me transition into the league, but at the same time, I want to be on the field. I think they know that.
"I can't control whether I'm on the field or not. Early in the year, I might have been more emotionally involved in my responses to if I'm on the field or not. I think I've matured a lot in the last couple of weeks. I've grown as a man."
Sproles averaged 13 offensive touches for 131.5 yards in the first two games. In the seven games he has played since, he has averaged five touches for 39 yards.
"I knew there would be games when I get less and games when I get more," Sproles said. "It just comes from the way teams are playing me."
Sproles returns punts, too, but he played about 40 percent of the snaps in his three seasons with the New Orleans Saints, and handled both punts and kickoffs. Does he want to play more here?
"Oh, of course," he said. "But we've got all roles on this team. My role comes in spurts."
INSIDE AND OUT
The inside zone run was and remains a vital part of the Eagles offense under Kelly.
"Our bread and butter," tackle Lane Johnson said.
But the bread's been light on butter this season.
"We're not as successful," the coach said when asked about the difference in production on inside rushes this year compared to last.
Why?
"We've come up a lot short in our yards gained than we did last year," Kelly said.
The Eagles were first in the NFL in yards per carry (6.1) on runs up the middle last season. They are still ninth in the league this season, but they are averaging almost 2 fewer yards per rush (4.4).
There are other run plays the Eagles call inside, but defenses have focused specifically on stopping the zone read.
"That was a play that we averaged, I think, over seven yards a carry last year," center Jason Kelce said. "Teams have really homed in on stopping that play. Sometimes they have. Sometimes they haven't."
Not having a dual-threat quarterback certainly has meant fewer read-option plays. The injuries on the offensive line also have played a significant part in running back LeSean McCoy's struggles, particularly on the inside zone runs. He carved up teams last season, particularly when second-level blocks freed up him for one-on-ones.
"They're the biggest blocks, I think, in the run game," Kelce said. "Obviously, it starts up front with handling the defensive line. But if you don't get the second-level blocks, the most you'll ever get on a run is 3 or 4 yards."
The Eagles have had plenty of 3- and 4-yard carries. And yet, Kelce said Kelly is as devoted as ever to pounding the ball inside.
"Maybe it doesn't get as many yards per carry as last year, but if you don't continue to call that play, teams stop respecting it," Kelce said. "It forces them to get out of their comfort zone and do things they don't normally do in order to stop that play."
FIVE QUESTIONS: BRANDON BOYKIN
Question: If you were NFL commissioner, what would be the one thing you would change about the league?
Answer: Fewer uniform restrictions. I would take the sock rules out. I hate wearing long socks.
Q: Are you a collector of anything?
A: Sneakers. Jordans and Vans. I have about 80 pairs combined.
Q: If you could have lunch with one person from any time period, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
A: Jesus. I wouldn't ask anything in particular, I would just like to see his mannerisms.
Q: Who wins a fight between a bear and a shark in five feet of water and why?
A: A shark because he's in his element. If he's getting beat, he's just going to swim away.
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
A: You ever seen the movie Jumper? I would like to be able to jump like that.
INSIDE THE GAME
They have different names, but encroachment, a neutral-zone infraction and offside are essentially the same defensive penalty as a false start. The Eagles have a total of 13 pre-snap penalties (five neutral zone, five offside and four encroachment) on defense. That number is third-worst in the NFL behind the Buccaneers (16) and Seahawks (15).
The Eagles drew two false-start penalties against the Packers on Sunday. Several players said quarterback Aaron Rodgers got the defense moving with his hard count.
"Last week we had an idea of what the snap count was going to be like, but you've got that anxiousness in you when you want to get off the ball," defensive end Cedric Thornton said. "You've just got to watch the ball."
INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM
Chip Kelly has been known to come up with some inventive ways to send a message to his players the night before a game. At Oregon before the national championship game against Auburn, he had boxer Micky Ward, whose story was told in the film The Fighter, speak to his players. He once showed the clip of Secretariat winning the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths.
Last season, he told stories, like a John D. Rockefeller anecdote he told before the Packers game, or he showed inspirational videos.
This year? Not so much.
"Last year he had more props, I should say, or videos but he hasn't had anything like that this year," linebacker Casey Matthews said. "It's been just really quick - straight and to the point. He knows we're ready."
BY THE NUMBERS
18.24
Average gain on the 25 deep passes offenses have thrown to the right against the Eagles (read: at Bradley Fletcher), which is last in the NFL.
58
Consecutive regular-season starts for cornerback Cary Williams, which is fourth in the league behind Brandon Carr (106), Antonio Cromartie (58), Patrick Peterson (58).
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