Pro Football Focus is a site that grades NFL player performances. Let's take a look at what they had to say about the performances in the Philadelphia Eagles 34-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. [Recap]
PFF offers explanation on their grading system on their website. Read more about that here.
OFFENSE
Best
Todd Herremans +3.7
David Molk +3.7
Jason Kelce +3.3
Allen Barbre +2.5
Jason Peters +1.5
Worst
Nick Foles -5.4
Andrew Gardner -4.2
Brent Celek -3.2
Riley Cooper -2.0
Darren Sproles -1.9
Analysis:
Philadelphia's offensive line graded out well for the most part despite injuries to starters Evan Mathis and Allen Barbre. Barbre received a positive grade in his 33 snaps played. Backup center David Molk, who filled in for Mathis at left guard, played well in 54 snaps. Andrew Gardner, who filled in for Barbre at right tackle, didn't do so hot. Gardner allowed 1 sack and 1 hurry as well as committing a holding penalty. Jason Peters also allowed 1 sack and 1 hurry early in the game but rebounded strongly afterwards.
Nick Foles was terrible. He received the lowest PFF grade of any Week 1 NFL quarterback. His stat line of 27/45 (60%) for 322 yards (7.4 average) and 2 touchdowns to 1 interception looks better than it actually was. Foles fumbled twice, missed open wide receivers way too often, and often held onto the ball too long (5 sacks). Foles needs to be better.
Brent Celek received a negative run-blocking grade. Riley Cooper was targeted 8 times but only caught 4 receptions for 29 yards. He didn't record any official drops but one pass went right through his hands. PFF didn't like Darren Sproles as a rusher, outside of his 49-yard touchdown run, I imagine. Without that big run, Sproles recorded 22 yards on 10 rushing attempts.
Must Reads
Must Reads
DEFENSE
Best
Brandon Graham +5.5
Fletcher Cox +4.2
Trent Cole +2.6
Nate Allen +2.5
Connor Barwin +2.0
Mychal Kendricks +1.9
Brandon Bair +1.8
Worst
Cary Williams -1.1
Analysis:
The defense played pretty well overall. For all the talk about how the Eagles pass rush is a concern (and let's be honest, it is), Philadelphia actually managed to generate decent pressure.
Graham finished with 1 QB hit, 2 QB hurries, 4 tackles, and 4 stops in only 27 snaps played. Impressive. The Eagles need to get him on the field. Third-year defensive end Fletcher Cox also had a big game with 1 QB hit, 4 tackles, 2 assisted, 4 stops, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 defensive touchdown. Cox had a quiet summer but he really turned it up against the Jaguars. Veteran outside linebacker Trent Cole was obviously the one who recorded the strip-sack to set up Cox's touchdown.
Connor Barwin contributed to the pass rush with 2 QB hits, 1 QB hurry, and 2 batted passes. Barwin recorded a total of 7 batted passes in 2013 so he's already off to a great start in that regard. Nate Allen graded out OK in run defense and pass coverage but made the most of his one pass rush snap with a sack that caused Chad Henne to fumble the ball out of bounds.
Mychal Kendricks finished with 6 tackles. As a pass rusher he recorded 1 sack, 1 QB hit, 1 QB hurry, and 1 batted pass.
To no surprise, starting cornerback Cary Williams was the only Eagles player to finish in the red. He was targeted 7 times and allowed 3 catches for 88 yards including 1 touchdown.