5 Eagles who need better showings in Week 2 vs Falcons

It isn't a sprint. It's a marathon. Call it a test of wills. Call it a grind, a demolition derby, or war of attrition. Whatever you call it, know this is going to be a long Philadelphia Eagles season.

18 weeks and 17 games cover several months. One of each is already in the books. We've said all of that to say this. There's no reason to panic or exude overconfidence.

Several Eagles we are expecting much from got off to slow starts in Brazil. Don't give up on them, but we'd like to see more when Philly tackles the Green bay Packers during Week 2's game at The Linc.

Nolan Smith, EDGE (linebacker)

Nolan Smith earned an overall grade of 50.7 from Pro Football Focus. If that sounds bad, it's because it is. PFF gave him run, tackle, pressure, and coverage grades of 53.0, 69.9, 49.6, and 63.3 respectively. That would explain why he only dented the defensive stat sheet with two tackles and two hurries.

Bryce Huff, EDGE (defensive end)

This has nothing to do with this story, but you have no idea how many times we have almost referred to one of the newer Eagles as 'Josh Huff'. What's that about?

Are we so scarred by Chip Kelly's tenure that we can't erase it from memory? Could it be we haven't remembered his name because he hasn't yet made a regular-season impression?

Bryce looked good versus the New England Patriots during the second preseason game, but as you know those games don't count. He tallied one tackle versus the Packers, and here's the kicker. Brandon Graham was given more defensive snaps than Huff and Nolan Smith.

Avonte Maddox, cornerback

Avonte, was in a word, bad versus the Packers. Maybe he's injured? We wouldn't wish that on him, but we also know it's part of his tale. He's missed 21 games over the past two Eagles regular seasons.

He tallied three tackles down in Brazil during Week 1, but he was a liability in coverage. He's both a backup safety and Philly's most experienced corner, but truth be told, he has to be better.

Cam Jurgens, center

Cam Jurgens will be fine, but he was involved in a few Eagles Week 1 miscues. Two bad center-to-QB snap exchanges and an illegal man downfield penalty were part of his night in Brazil.

He's received some doubt while being the man who follows a legend. Anchoring the Eagles O-line only adds to the pressure.

Again, he'll be fine, but we'll need to be patient and see him as 'Cam Jurgens' and not as 'the guy being asked to replace Jason Kelce.

Jalen Hurts, quarterback

For the most part, we aren't concerned about Jalen Hurts either. He threw a pick to Xavier McKinney. That isn't the first time that happened. It won't be the last, but we are annoyed by that second pick he threw for three reasons.

First, Philly had already turned the ball over more than you'd like. Second, he had just come dangerously close to throwing a pick while targeting Jahan Dotson on the previous play.

The third reason makes us shake our heads. All that should have triggered something to make him take better care of the football.

Even if, for some odd reason, that didn't, he should have been more careful because he knew that the Birds were in field goal range.

Final thoughts:

Though this may seem like panic, it isn't. The Eagles are going to be fine. They're also 1-0, and it's easier to clean things up after a win.

In Week 2, they return home to face the Atlanta Falcons. That will help serve as another tune-up. Get better each week. That's the goal, and we're sure our Eagles will be able to do that.