Eagles vs Jacksonville: Analyzing each Jaguars unit (and how to attack)

The Jaguars’ wide receivers and tight ends provide a challenge for the Eagles’ secondary.

When it comes to throwing the football, there are three main strategies: stretching the field vertically, having receivers earn yards after the catch, and having your receivers make contested catches on money downs to move the chains.

Christian Kirk is the real deep threat for the Jaguars, and unlike the Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville is playing him in the slot. Zay Jones is an above-average receiver. He’s questionable for Sunday, so we’ll see if he plays. Evan Engram isn’t the answer at tight end, but Marvin Jones, Jr. is strong when it comes to hauling in contested catches.

Again, the answer is personnel, alignment, and play calling. Darius Slay is likely the Eagles’ most physical corner, and though he typically struggles versus physical wide receivers, he could follow Marvin Jones.

Kirk could be dangerous in the slot, especially if Avonte Maddox is out, but we can expect Jonathan Gannon to play some ‘quarters shell’ (four deep defensive backs) to disguise what he wants to do pre-snap. Safety help over the top could be an option as Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is likely a better fit for double-teams. Marcus Epps can spy Trevor Lawrence in the pocket.

Depending on the personnel on the field, Bradberry is the best matchup against Zay Jones (again, if he plays), as he is best as a zone corner and can read the routes of multiple receivers at once. TJ Edwards is great at defending hook and curl routes and could assist Bradberry in his matchup against Zay Jones.