Eagles film study: Highlighting a trio of failed red-zone plays during Philly's Week 5 win
By Jake Beckman
Quez Watkins' failed catch and run (2nd Quarter, 3rd-and-2 from the 21-yard line)
Okay, so TECHNICALLY scrimmaging from the 21-yard line doesn't constitute a red zone trip, but this was a crucial 3rd-down play that came early, so let's discuss this one anyway.
We’re looking at a few problems here. The first of those was offensive coordinator Brian Johnson had playmakers like Dallas Goedert, D’Andre Swift, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith on the field, but he chose to throw a screen pass to Quez Watkins. Not using the guys who consistently have shown that they can make plays when it counts, is a criminal charge to the highest degree. The second issue comes in execution.
The refusal to showcase the guys who consistently have shown that they can make plays when it counts is criminal. Watkins' inability to follow blocks and his desire to do his own thing is equally so.
Head coach Nick Sirianni was livid (he threw his headset). DeVonta Smith was visibly upset. Everyone who watched the game live or on television said some things that would make a drunken sailor clutch his pearls an blush.
We all acted appropriately. This one is on both Quez for not doing what the play called for. It's also on Brian Johnson for making a boneheaded play call.