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Pro Football Focus is everyone's favorite site that grades NFL player performances. Let's take a look at what they had to say about Eagles players from Philadelphia's loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2.
PFF offers explanation on their grading system on their website. Read more about that here.
OFFENSE
Best
Allen Barbre +1.7
Analysis:
Surprise: one of Philadelphia's starting guards ended up being the highest graded players on offense. Allen Barbre especially graded out well in pass protection. While no other players made it to +1.0 or above, right tackle Lane Johnson was second at +0.6 and right guard Andrew Gardner was +0.2. So clearly PFF doesn't think the Eagles guards are as bad as most seem to think. On the season, Gardner ranks 20th out of 71 guards and Barbre ranks 37th out of 71. (Evan Mathis ranks 49th, by the way.)
Worst
Brent Celek -4.6
Sam Bradford -2.7
Zach Ertz -2.2
Jordan Matthews -2.0
Jason Peters -1.5
Jason Kelce -1.3
Riley Cooper -1.2
Analysis:
Brent Celek graded out as an awful run blocker against the Cowboys. So did Jason Peters. Jason Kelce struggled with both pass protection and run blocking. These are three players the Eagles can usually count on to block well. Instead, they struggled, and the Eagles' run game couldn't get going at all. Many have blamed the guards' for the Eagles offensive struggles, and while they're certainly part of the problem, it's clear the blocking issue goes beyond them. It's everyone.
Sam Bradford really, really struggled under pressure. On the 10 plays he faced pressure, Bradford completed three passes on nine attempts for 31 yards (3.4 yards per attempt), one interception, one sack, and a 4.6 passer rating. Terrible.
Zach Ertz was targeted on both of the plays where Bradford was intercepted. The catchable ball bounced off his hands on the second play.
Jordan Matthews had two drops. Riley Cooper was targeted twice and only had one drop to show for it.
DEFENSE
Best
Fletcher Cox +3.3
Malcolm Jenkins +1.7
Jordan Hicks +1.2
Analysis:
Fletcher Cox was really the only player providing much of a consistent pass rush. He finished with two quarterback hurries. Aside from one bad missed tackle in the backfield, he also looked solid as a run defender.
Malcolm Jenkins also showed up to play. He made six tackles, including two really great stops near the line of scrimmage for no gain. Jenkins also notched a fumble recovery.
Jordan Hicks was forced into action when Kiko Alonso and Mychal Kendricks both left the game due to injury. The rookie flashed in his NFL debut. He made six tackles along with a strip-sack on Tony Romo.
Worst
DeMeco Ryans -4.4
Taylor Hart -2.5
Cedric Thornton -2.1
Byron Maxwell -1.7
Beau Allen -1.2
Analysis:
DeMeco Ryans did not look like he belonged on the field against the Cowboys, especially early on. He missed a tackle in run defense, got burnt in coverage, failed to do anything as a pass rusher, and even committed two penalties. Really bad showing from Mufasa.
After graded out positively in Week 1, Taylor Hart was marked down in Week 2 for bad run defense. Cedric Thornton and Beau Allen were also graded down for their run defense.
Byron Maxwell, meanwhile, struggled in pass coverage. He was targeted nine times. He allowed six receptions for 86 yards (9.6 average) and one touchdown. To say Maxwell has been disappointing through two games would be putting it lightly.