Considering everything that has happened this season for the Philadelphia Eagles, they were off to a pretty good start on special teams...well, until their Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Eagles punter Braden Mann is off to a solid start, ranking eighth in the NFL in average yards per punt with 49.4. His net yards per punt of 44.3 is also ranked eighth in the league and is the highest of his career. Mann is also tied for second in the NFL in punts that land inside the 20-yard line with 12.
Kicker Jake Elliott has bounced back nicely after a rough last two years in the NFL, with under 80% field goals made each season. This year, he has made all five of his field goals and 11 extra points, with a 58-yarder as his longest.
Even in the return game, the Eagles are finding life, with Britain Covey putting together the best season of any Eagles returner in years. He has a 42-yard kickoff return and a 41-yard punt return. That's a rare feat for an Eagles returner.
That has all seemed like Eagles special teams coordinator Michael Clay has his unit off to a great start. Well, not every aspect has gone well, and one part of the special teams is becoming a problem.
Eagles' special teams has a problem on their hands entering Week 6
Philly's Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars exposed a major special teams problem. While Mann, Elliott, and Covey did their jobs well, the Eagles' kickoff coverage unit has been a concern.
On the opening kickoff, the Jaguars returned it for a touchdown, but multiple penalties nullified the play. To make matters worse, Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and a Jaguars player fought over that play, and Trotter was one of the two players ejected.
Then comes the dreaded final kickoff return from the Jaguars that the Eagles struggled to cover. Jaguars returner Ameer Abdullah took it 53 yards before Eagles cornerback Jonathan Jones tackled him with one second left. That set up Cam Little to hit a 57-yard field goal to win it for the Jaguars.
It was just a taste of how bad the Eagles' kickoff coverage has been this season. They are currently ranked 22nd in the NFL in average kickoff yards allowed per return, at 27.33.
Philly leans so heavily on guys like Kelee Ringo, Trotter, and Darius Cooper to be the gunners that can make the play. Week 5 was tougher with Trotter ejected and Cooper not 100% on special teams, since he was taking the most snaps of any wide receiver on offense. This led to some bad kickoff moments.
Read more: NFC East's pathetic Week 5 at least gives Eagles hope fans didn't think they had
Clay has his work cut out for him as he tries to get the Eagles' kickoff coverage unit back on track. Despite everyone blaming head coach Nick Sirianni for making that call at the end of the game (which is justified), the players on the field have to execute it. Moving forward, that could hurt this team in close games like Week 5, as it already has.
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