Eagles vs. Jaguars first half observations

Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Game updates!

The Philadelphia Eagles are playing the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second game of their 2019 preseason schedule. Follow along here for commentary and observations!

OFFENSE

First drive: Cody Kessler officially gets the start at quarterback. Andre Dillard, Matt Pryor, Stefen Wisniewski, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, and Jordan Mailata are the offensive line starters (left to right). Joshua Perkins opens a hole for Miles Sanders on a run for a first down. Good burst by Sanders, too.

Miles Sanders has a 3 lane highway to run through on his first carry versus the Jaguars. #Eagles pic.twitter.com/LZ0phrpJDj

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) August 15, 2019

Kessler’s target for Charles Johnson gets deflected. Hey, a target for Mack Hollins! Except it it’s way overthrown. Kessler shows good mobility to take off for a first down but unwisely opts to get hit instead of sliding. Kessler gets ROCKED from behind from a free pass rusher — mistake there by Andre Dillard? Kessler is hurt and Clayton Thorson is in already. Oh god.

Don’t block the EDGE on 3, break

Kessler KO’d & done for the day pic.twitter.com/O3HLM3r14q

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 15, 2019

Second drive: Thorson still in the game, Kessler still in the medical tent. Now Kessler is walking back to the locker room, which doesn’t seem like a great sign. Matt Pryor picks up his first penalty of the game and his second of the preseason. Wis botches ANOTHER snap but Thorson manages to pick it up and throw the ball away. The Eagles run a draw with Jordan Howard on 3rd-and-17. Punt. This could be an ugly night!

Third drive: Sanders breaks off a 16-yard run for a first down. The rookie running back is looking good.

.@BoobieMilesXXIV displays his vision and keeps his feet moving for a 16-yard run.#PHIvsJAX | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/eUhaCxamrq

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 15, 2019

OMG, Thorson completes a pass on a slant to Johnson for a first down! And then another good throw by Thorson to JJ Arcega-Whiteside! But unfortuantely it goes through the receiver’s hands. Marken Michel picks up a first down on a screen, showing some nice YAC ability there. Howard, who is interestingly still in the game, takes a carry to set up on 3rd-and-1. He then takes another carry for a first down. Thorson makes another nice throw down the field (!) but it’s dropped by Johnson. Thorson throws #ShortOfTheSticks on third down to bring up 4th-and-5. The Eagles are going for it. Thorson drops backs, gets blitzed, and throws a jump ball to Greg Ward ... who makes a nice adjustment on the ball to catch it and rack up some YAC en route to the end zone for a touchdown! See? I’ve always told you to not doubt Thorson. Also, nice to see Ward finally make a big play after previously showing some flashes in camp but being quiet in the preseason. Sanders deserves credit for his blitz pickup on the touchdown throw as well.

Clayton Thorson places the pass where it needs to be and Greg Ward handles the rest for a 38-yard score.#PHIvsJAX | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/XQfhDgy4xd

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 15, 2019

Fourth drive: Thorson airs it out deep and his underthrown wobbly pass is broken up. The Eagles end up having to punt as the drive stalls.

Fifth drive: Thorson hits JJAW on third down to move the chains. Nice. Thorson throws towards the sideline but it’s way overthrown. That’s an issue that’s been present during offseason practices. Carlton Agudosi draws a defensive pass interference penalty on a back shoulder throw attempt from Thorson.

DEFENSE

First drive: The Eagles’ defensive starters are starting. Brandon Graham gets his hands on the Jaguars’ starting quarterback but fails to bring him down. The Eagles give up a first down but Zach Brown blows up a run to bring up 3rd-and-12. Jim Schwartz goes with the sticks defense and Philly gets off the field.

Second drive: Eagles’ defensive starters still in the game. Sidney Jones gets beat over the top by D.J. Chark but the receiver is ruled out and there’s a penalty anyway. Still, not the best sign for Jones, who also gave up a completion last week. The Jags target Jones again and he gives up a completion for real this time. Eventually the starters bunker down to get a stop.

Third drive: Daeshon Hall comes up with another strip sack (he had one last week too) and the Eagles recover the ball. Hall’s gotta make this team. Hell, he’s currently outplaying Josh Sweat for the fourth defensive end spot.

That defense came to play tonight!#PHIvsJAX | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/befCOi8fjn

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 16, 2019

Fourth drive: Daeshon Hall helps to disrupt a run play that’s cleaned up by T.J. Edwards. Hall generates pressure and a hit but the ball gets off in time to a wide open receiver. Hall then makes a mistake by jumping offsides. The Jags get a touchdown on a screen but it’s called for a block in the back. Shareef Miller notches a third down sack with Josh Sweat also generating some bull rush pressure on the play. Jags punt.

Fifth drive: The Jags drive into the red zone. Daeshon Hall comes up big with another sack — this time rushing over the left tackle — to help force the Jags to settle for a field goal. Hall was dumb for celebrating his sack in a Jags hurry up situation but he did get back in time for no penalty. Hall also predictably got scolded by Schwartz, as he should.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Boston Scott back deep for the first kickoff return and the first punt return. Scott’s second punt return attempt should’ve been fielded but instead he let it roll back to get the Eagles pinned deep; not a good decision.

Mack Hollins drew an illegal block in the back penalty on the Jaguars by hustling down on punt coverage. Hollins also almost forced the Jaguars into a muffed punt by hustling down the field and drawing his jammer to run into the return guy. If nothing else, his special teams value should help him earn a roster spot.

THE QUARTERBACKS

Carson Wentz: DID NOT PLAY

Nate Sudfeld: DID NOT PLAY

Cody Kessler: 1/4, 11 yards (2.8 average), 0 TD, 0 INT, 39.6 passer rating

Clayton Thorson: 8/16, 94 yards (5.9 average), 1 TD, 0 INT, 89.1 passer rating

MILES SANDERS HYPE TRAIN

Five carries for 31 yards, including a long of 16. Oh baby. Looking good.

INJURY UPDATES

Charles Johnson came up limping after being targeted on an incompletion. He later returned to the game.

Cody Kessler took a big hit from behind early in the game. He was going to stay in before the refs called a medical timeout and made him get evaluated. Kessler walked to the locker room with about nine minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Eagles announced he was being evaluated for a head injury.

Josh Sweat had to come off and was getting his hand looked at.

UP NEXT

The Eagles have off the next two days before returning to practice on Sunday, August 18. The team’s two joint training camp practices against the Baltimore Ravens will take place on Monday, August 19 and Tuesday, August 20 starting at 1:30 PM each day. As always, stay tuned to BGN for more Eagles coverage.

from Bleeding Green Nation - All Posts https://ift.tt/33E7sXs