If you’ve watched the Philadelphia Eagles this season, you know it hasn’t been pretty. The Eagles rank 28th in total offense, 25th in scoring offense (21.5 points per game), and have given up a league-high 46 sacks, as Carson Wentz has often looked somewhere between lost and confused.
What is going on with Wentz and the Eagles (3-7-1)?
“The weapons and the people around him haven’t been consistent. You have people in and out of the lineup, injuries – whatever the case may be,” Super Bowl champion and former Pro Bowl receiver Victor Cruz said on The DA Show. “But I think when you look at [it from] an overall offensive standpoint, getting him in a position to feel comfortable to throw the ball or putting him in a scenario where the ball comes out quickly, he’s making better decisions, he’s not back there trying to be a hero and hold the ball and make the biggest play every single time he’s dropping back – I understand he’s one of the toughest guys in this league. I don’t want to take any of that away from him.
“But I’m just a little shocked that Doug Pederson hasn’t designed more schemes to be helpful for the offensive line probably not playing as well or being as consistent throughout the year and not designing more plays to get it to Miles Sanders and get it out of [Wentz’s] hands. Throw more screens and keep the defense a little bit more off-balanced. I feel like there’s a lot of plays where he’s just dropping back and trying to make things happen. It’s just not going to work out that way – not just for them, but any team that has offensive line play that isn’t consistent.”
Wentz has completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 2,541 yards, 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions this season.
Sanders, meanwhile, is averaging 5.6 yards per carry but is averaging just 13.5 carries per game. Cruz would like to see that number increase.
“They need to run the ball more,” he said. “Miles Sanders can actually do some good things between the tackles running the football, and that will back the defense up. Then you’ll have your opportunities throwing the ball. I think they’re too pass-heavy right now and relying a lot on Carson and it just hasn’t paid off for them thus far this year.”
The Eagles, who are still very much alive in the NFC East, have a tough road ahead. They play at Green Bay (8-3), against New Orleans (9-2), and at Arizona (6-5). Kickoff against the Packers is slated for Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.