The 2015 season turned out to be one to forget for Eagles’ receivers. The Eagles led the NFL in dropped passes last year, with 37. There were a few positive moments, the game winning touchdown pass against the Cowboys in overtime for one, but for the most part, the group under performed, and ultimately disappointed.
The 2016 group of receivers has some returning faces, and some much needed new additions. Under new head coach Doug Pederson, and the acquisition of new talent, these receivers can be expected to perform much better than they did just a season ago, but expectations should not be placed very high. Highlighting the returning faces of receivers is Jordan Matthews. The second round pick out of Vanderbilt was the lone bright spot in a weak wide receiving group in 2015. Matthews finished 2015 leading the team in catches, 85, receiving yards, 997, and receiving touchdowns, 9. Matthews has been a consistent contributor in his first two seasons in the pros, and continues to improve. Expect Matthews’ upward trend to continue for the 2016 season, as the Eagles adapt to a more traditional offense, which should help both Sam Bradford, and Eagles’ receivers.
The second, third, fourth, and fifth leading receivers for the Eagles in 2015 were not actually receivers. Running backs, Demarco Murray, and Darren Sproles were joined by tight ends, Zach Ertz, and Brent Celek, to round out the leading five receivers. This clearly demonstrates the futility of the Eagles passing game in 2015, a major reason as to why the Eagles failed to make the playoffs.
Josh Huff finished with 27 total receptions, while Riley Cooper and Austin Miles combined for 34 receptions, and three touchdowns. Nelson Agholor was the biggest let-down, as he finished with 23 receptions, for 283 yards, and a single touchdown. Expectations were much higher for the first round pick out of USC. Wide Receiver was one of the many areas that Howie Roseman addressed in free agency, bringing in Chris Givens and Rueben Randle.
Eagles’ fans are very familiar with Randle, as he spent his first four seasons with the rival Giants. Randle brings experience, and consistency to a receiving group that is in desperate need of both. Randle has had at least 40 receptions in his last three seasons, and at only 25 years old, should provide consistency for years to come. Givens’ stats don’t jump of the page at you, but his connection to Bradford does. Givens most successful year came in 2012, when Bradford played all 16 games. That year, Givens finished with 41 receptions, 698 yards, and three touchdowns. Hopefully, Givens, and Bradford can rekindle that old chemistry.
The Eagles also implemented some addition by subtraction by releasing both Riley Cooper, and Austin Miles, the right move in both cases. With Doug Pederson, and Frank Reich, implementing a traditional, west-coast style offense, and with a healthy Sam Bradford manning the helm, Eagles receivers should have a decent bounce back year in 2016.
Jordan Matthews will continue to grow, and improve in this new offense, and should break the 1,000 yard receiving mark for the first time in his career. Bigger production can also be expected from Nelson Agholor, who will benefit from this new system, and a year of experience learning NFL defenses. Rueben Randle will collect a healthy amount of receptions, and take some the pressure off of Matthews, Agholor, and the other receivers trying to prove themselves.The good news for the Eagles is that they have a phenomenal tight end tandem of Ertz and Celek, who will pick up a lot of the slack this receiving group may leave on the field.
The problem for the Eagles is that they lack a true number one receiver. Matthews is currently holding that role and performing admirably in it, but he is not the solution. Matthews is a great receiver, and would make an excellent number two for the foreseeable future, but he is being forced into a role that does not suit him best. Until the Eagles acquire a true number one receiver, this group will continue to struggle. In the end, the 2016 Eagles’ wide receivers will prove to be better than last year, both the returning members, and new faces, but most likely not by a whole lot.
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