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The SB Nation NFL team sites will be doing theme weeks all throughout the 2017 NFL season. This week’s theme is: “Who is your best newcomer?”
In honor of today’s theme post, I’m going to grade the Eagles’ most notable newcomers. You can grade the players yourselves by voting in our polls (click here if you can’t see them).
Tim Jernigan
Tim “You used to call me Timmy” Jernigan is my personal pick for the Eagles’ best offseason addition.
Through his first four games, Jernigan has logged six tackles and 1.5 sacks. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. See below.
Here’s Tim Jernigan showing that grown ass man strength. Tosses Kareem Hunt out with one hand like it’s nothing. pic.twitter.com/FTQxgguu7U
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) September 19, 2017
Man, Jernigan is a monster. Looks like the Chiefs try to trap him but he absorbs the contact, sheds the block and makes the play on Hunt! pic.twitter.com/3IcfDXslvL
— Tyler Jackson (@TjackRH) September 19, 2017
Jernigan is an upgrade over Bennie Logan, who was and still is a very good defensive tackle in his own right. Logan was mainly heralded for his run defense. Jernigan is strong in that area while also being able to generate pressure as a pass rusher. He’s generated eight hurries this season, per Pro Football Focus. Jernigan grades as PFF’s 10th best defensive tackle out of 120 players at the position.
The Eagles would be pretty screwed without Jernigan right now. With Fletcher Cox out, Philadelphia would be down to Beau Allen and Elijah Qualls as their starting defensive tackles. Both of those players have shown promise but they’re not as good as Jernigan.
Jernigan is scheduled to be a free agent after this season so it’ll be interesting to see if the Eagles will re-sign him. After swapping third round picks with the Ravens in order to get him, I would think they’d want to hold on to the 25-year-old tackle for the long-term.
GRADE: A-
Poll
How would you grade Tim Jernigan?
This poll is closed
-
82%
A
(2514 votes) -
16%
B
(511 votes) -
0%
C
(12 votes) -
0%
D
(1 vote) -
0%
F
(5 votes)
Alshon Jeffery
Here’s a look at Jeffery’s numbers through the first four games: 17 receptions, 215 yards, two touchdowns. Jeffery ranks tied for 39th in receptions and 31st in yards. It’s safe to say Jeffery hasn’t produced like the No. 1 wide receiver the Eagles paid him $14 million this season to be.
With that said, it’s still only been four games. Jeffery could benefit from getting more adjusted to playing with his new quarterback, Carson Wentz. Jeffrey also deserves credit for drawing some big pass interference penalties. Those don’t show up on the stat sheet but they clearly have a big impact. Jeffery had one such play in the Eagles-Giants game to set up Philly’s offense in a goal-to-go situation.
Ultimately, though, Jeffery needs to be better. He’s missed out on some opportunities to win jump balls. He’s not producing at an elite level despite being paid like an elite player.
GRADE: B-
Poll
How would you grade Alshon Jeffery?
This poll is closed
-
6%
A
(172 votes) -
57%
B
(1570 votes) -
35%
C
(957 votes) -
0%
D
(25 votes) -
0%
F
(7 votes)
Torrey Smith
Smith has been targeted 19 times. He has 10 receptions for 134 yards. The good news is that Smith has shown he’s still able to get deep as a vertical threat. The bad news is that Smith is struggling to catch the ball. He’s already had four drops this season. After Sunday’s Eagles-Chargers game, Smith tweeted that he’s having “the worst stretch of his career.” The Eagles need him to turn things around.
GRADE: C-
Poll
How would you grade Torrey Smith?
This poll is closed
-
0%
A
(14 votes) -
4%
B
(130 votes) -
37%
C
(1010 votes) -
49%
D
(1312 votes) -
7%
F
(204 votes)
LeGarrette Blount
Blount got off to a slow start: he averaged 3.3 yards per carry in Week 1 and then didn’t even receive a single carry in Week 2. Since then, he’s been great. Blount’s 249 rushing yards rank 13th in the league so far. His 5.9 average ranks fifth among qualified players. It’s been really fun to watch him run hard and break tackles in the open field. The next challenge for Blount will be proving to be productive against better run defenses. The Giants and the Chargers rank as two of the league’s worst units in this regard. He’ll be facing stiffer competition moving forward. For now, he’s done his part.
GRADE: B+
Poll
How would you grade LeGarrette Blount?
This poll is closed
-
33%
A
(897 votes) -
59%
B
(1569 votes) -
6%
C
(184 votes) -
0%
D
(8 votes) -
0%
F
(1 vote)
Patrick Robinson
See, I’d say Robinson has been the Eagles’ best addition, but as soon as I do that he’ll start to play poorly and everyone will blame me for jinxing him. I do think Robinson has been the Eagles’ best newcomer relative to the price, though. It only cost $1 million to sign him. No big contract or draft picks given up. He’s only a slot corner, so I don’t want to go overboard when talking about his impact, but he’s been good.
Robinson ranks fourth out of 111 cornerbacks this season. Eric Rowe is still dead last at No. 111.
Robinson has only allowed one reception for every 14.3 coverage snaps, which ranks fifth best in the league. In 100 slot coverage snaps, Robinson has allowed seven catches for 128 yards and one touchdown. He also has an interception and four passes defensed. Robinson has tackled well; he ranks second overall in PFF’s “stop percentage.”
GRADE: A-
Poll
How would you grade Patrick Robinson?
This poll is closed
-
53%
A
(1330 votes) -
40%
B
(996 votes) -
5%
C
(146 votes) -
0%
D
(8 votes) -
0%
F
(5 votes)
Chris Long
Long has three tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble through four games. The veteran has been a nice addition to the Eagles’ roster as a rotational backup defensive end.
GRADE: B+
Poll
How would you grade Chris Long?
This poll is closed
-
30%
A
(746 votes) -
58%
B
(1412 votes) -
9%
C
(226 votes) -
0%
D
(17 votes) -
0%
F
(11 votes)
Chance Warmack
Warmack has gotten some playing time since the Eagles decided to play a rotation of him and Stefen Wisniewski at guard. Warmack has been outplayed by Wis, though, so it’s curious why he continues to get snaps.
GRADE: D+
Poll
How would you grade Chance Warmack?
This poll is closed
-
0%
A
(17 votes) -
4%
B
(96 votes) -
40%
C
(921 votes) -
39%
D
(904 votes) -
15%
F
(353 votes)
Derek Barnett
The Barnett hype has cooled after a strong preseason from this year’s No. 14 overall pick. Barnett had generated seven pressures (one hit, six hurries) in 58 pass rush snaps. The rookie ranks 33rd out of 60 defensive end in PFF’s Pass Rush Productivity stat. He’s still searching for his first sack, but I wouldn’t say Barnett has been bad by any means. It’s important to keep in mind he only turned 21 years old in June and he’s going up against veteran offensive tackles.
GRADE: C
Poll
How would you grade Derek Barnett?
This poll is closed
-
6%
A
(154 votes) -
46%
B
(1077 votes) -
43%
C
(1000 votes) -
3%
D
(82 votes) -
0%
F
(9 votes)
Jake Elliott
Elliott is 8/10 this season with misses from 30 and 52 yards out. But honestly, who even cares about those misses after his 61-yard field goal to beat the Giants? Elliott came up big against the Chargers in Week 4 by going four for four.
GRADE: NFL MVP
Poll
How would you grade Jake Elliott?
This poll is closed
-
80%
A
(2044 votes) -
18%
B
(465 votes) -
1%
C
(26 votes) -
0%
D
(1 vote) -
0%
F
(5 votes)
Rasul Douglas
Douglas has been up and down since been thrown into the fire in Week 2. He showed off his great ball skills with a pick in Week 3 but he also showed his lack of speed against the Chargers in Week 4.
GRADE: C
Poll
How would you grade Rasul Douglas?
This poll is closed
-
5%
A
(119 votes) -
56%
B
(1293 votes) -
35%
C
(819 votes) -
1%
D
(45 votes) -
0%
F
(10 votes)
Ronald Darby
Darby would’ve had the chance to be on the list if he didn’t get hurt in Week 1. For now his grade is incomplete.
GRADE: Incomplete
Sidney Jones
Sid The Kid is eligible to come off the NFI list as soon as Week 7. We’ll see if that’swhat happens. For now, there have been now real updates on his status.
GRADE: Incomplete
Others
Some (non-injured) players haven’t really played enough to warrant their own sections so I’ll mention them here instead.
I’d give Corey Clement a C because 1) alliteration and 2) he’s been his solid but unspectacular, as expected.
Mack Hollins deserves a Hall of Fame grade for catching everything thrown his way.
Shelton Gibson is going to be a healthy scratch all year barring multiple injuries to the five receivers ahead of him on the depth chart.
Donnel Pumphrey: F-minus.
Nathan Gerry gets a “PS” for being on the practice squad.
I’d give Elijah Qualls a C-.
Nick Foles gets an A+ for clipboard holding.