Philadelphia Eagles OC Mike Groh responds to wide receiver criticism

Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Mike Groh spoke with the Philly media on Monday and addressed several areas including the issues the team’s wide receivers are having.

The Philadelphia Eagles are back from their bye week, and the focus is totally on the New England Patriots. On Monday, Mike Groh, the team’s offensive coordinator and a man who’s been the focus of much of the criticism that Philly’s offense has seen spent just under 12 minutes with Philly’s media.

A lot has happened since the last time we’ve seen him, and as you might imagine, there was a lot to talk about.

Okay, let’s all do some inventory. The Eagles lost their best receiver, who just so happens to be their oldest, DeSean Jackson. He turns 33 years old in less than a month, and last week, he was placed on the team’s IR (injured reserve) thanks to continuing issues with a core muscle injury that eventually led to him finally agreeing to surgery that probably should have occurred a while ago.

That’s neither here nor there now, but his absence has led to other questions that no one has an answer for. What’s wrong with Alshon Jeffery? What’s being done to improve this wide receiver corps? How does the readdition of Jordan Matthews solve anything?

On Matthews readdition, Groh had this to say:

"(We can) just pull up his highlights. The guy’s made a lot of plays for the Eagles over the years. He’s got excellent football intelligence. He knows our system. (He has) familiarity. There’s great comfort with him in the huddle. There’s rapport and chemistry with both he and Carson (Wentz), which is important, so it’s certainly nice to get him back."

Concerning the Eagles’ struggles at wide receiver, he was equally as candid. The steps that are being taken to improve Philly’s struggling pass-catchers seems to be a hot topic every week. Coming out of the bye week, it appears to be much of the same. Groh said this:

"We evaluate all facets of the offense, and (we) obviously have a lot of conviction in the offense and the system that we run. We’re going to continue to stick with the process and working a couple of other guys in or Jordan into the mix this week and still use the guys that have a lot of production. We’ll try and find ways to get them the ball in new spots and keep (things) fresh."

Alshon Jeffery is on pace to have the least productive season of his career. He’s hauled in 34 receptions for 353 yards and three touchdowns. That’s great for some guys but not Jeffery. Truthfully, Philly needs more from him with Jackson now out and with Philly getting nothing from second-round selection JJ Arcega-Whiteside.

Groh mentioned that he’s been with ’17’ for a while, and he hasn’t seen him drop three balls in six years and doesn’t foresee him doing the same for another six. We’ll have to wait and see if that’s accurate. Philly’s receivers will be tested this week. New England brings one of the best defenses in the NFL statistically, and rumor has it their best cornerback, Stephon Gilmore will shadow Zach Ertz. The other guys will need to step up.