Nelson Agholor could have a big day against the Cardinals
Nelson Agholor could finally have his breakout game against the Arizona Cardinals.
It has been quite the roller coaster ride for Philadelphia Eagles third-year wide receiver, Nelson Agholor. After being labeled a first-round bust for the last two seasons, he’s finally gained the trust of his coaches and the Eagles’ fan base. Agholor has spent the entire offseason making improvements in hopes to turn things around. His progression has even given the organization enough confidence to trade away Jordan Matthews.
Although Agholor still has yet to prove that he is worthy of being a 20th overall pick, his improvement has been very clear. His 173 yards and two touchdowns may not be the most impressive stat line, but he needs to be given credit when it’s due. Agholor has become very reliable for the second-year quarterback, Carson Wentz. Through four games, Agholor has caught twelve of his 18 targeted passes. For a guy with a highlight reel full of drops in his first two seasons, that’s pretty impressive.
Possible decoy or focal point?
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Agholor’s start to the season may have been more hype than production, but there’s still plenty of time left in the season for him to show out. This Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals could be the day that Agholor takes over.
Throughout the last two weeks, the Eagles have leaned heavily on the ground game. Sunday, they’ll meet a stout run defense despite having a thin backfield, Wentz may have to throw more than he desires on Sunday.
Cardinals shut down cornerback Patrick Peterson is rumored to be shadowing Alshon Jeffery fpr the entire game. As long as their number one guy has his hands full with Jeffery, that opens up opportunities for the other receivers.
Don’t think the Cardinals will forget about Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, either. The Cardinals have been known for locking down tight ends this season. This week’s game will become their biggest test yet. In case you didn’t know, Ertz is currently ranked with the sixth-most amount of receiving yards in the entire NFL. His 81.5 yards-per-game currently makes him the most productive tight end.
The Breakout:
As shocking as it seems, the Eagles have plenty of weapons in the passing game that will keep the Cardinals hands full on Sunday. When all of the attention is shifted towards the other receivers, Agholor could create some big plays for himself.
Since last season, the least of Agholor’s problems was creating space to get open. He just simply struggled to hold onto the ball and avoid penalties. This season is a completely different story. With more focus and chemistry with the quarterback, he has made plays when given the opportunity to do so.
Next: Carson Wentz’s quarter-season progress report
As long as the Cardinals defense focuses to stop Ertz, Jeffery and the run game, opportunities for Agholor could be available in the slot. So far, he has shown he can be reliable this season on gameday. Now it is time for him to show that he can produce like a first-round pick. Will Sunday be the day Agholor breaks out, or will we still be patiently waiting?