Philadelphia Eagles: Andre Dillard faces huge test this Sunday against the Bears
By Brian Cass
With two weeks of game action under his belt, rookie left tackle Andre Dillard will face the biggest challenge of his young career this weekend against the Chicago Bears.
Every rookie has their “welcome to the NFL” moment. Some may be more embarrassing than others, but nonetheless, it’s something every rookie must endure. For Andre Dillard, his moment will likely come this weekend, as his Philadelphia Eagles prepare to take on Khalil Mack and his Chicago Bears.
Mack needs no introduction. He’s one of the most menacing defensive forces in the NFL and one of the few defensive players who can single-handedly wreck an offensive game plan. If there’s one player the Eagles must contain to ensure a victory, it’s Khalil Mack.
He’s in the midst of another stellar year in 2019, recording 5.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles through the first half of the season. Dillard will have his work cut out for him this week; there’s no doubt about that.
Head Coach Doug Pederson has expressed his confidence in the rookie left tackle, stating that Dillard should be able to “hold his own” when he lines up against Mack.
Doug says he's confident in rookie LT Andre Dillard to "hold his own" against Khalil Mack.
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) November 1, 2019
Dillard has played well in his first two starts, so Pederson’s confidence in him is justified. He’s steadily gotten better as the season progresses, which is an excellent sign for a rookie. When he stepped in for Jason Peters against the Minnesota Vikings, Dillard scored a 49.9 per Pro Football Focus. The next week against the Dallas Cowboys, he progressed to a 54.9. Then last week against the Buffalo Bills, his PFF score shot up to a very respectable 68.9.
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Dillard certainly hasn’t been perfect, but to be fair, the coaching staff wasn’t expecting him to start at all this season with Jason Peters still in the fold. The fact that he’s come in and progressively gotten better with each outing is encouraging. This week will be the true test for Dillard. From what we’ve heard from the coaches, he should be up for the challenge.