Carson Wentz went from “THE guy” for the Philadelphia Eagles to “THE guy benched” in just one season.
On Monday, head coach Doug Pederson announced that the Eagles’ franchise quarterback would not start against the New Orleans Saints. Instead, he will sit as back-up to rookie Jalen Hurts.
The quarterback controversy began brewing after last week’s 30-16 loss against the Green Bay Packers when Pederson benched Wentz during the third quarter. Wentz has not played well, that’s obvious, but he is not the sole reason for Philly’s crash and burn season.
The Philadelphia Eagles have failed Carson Wentz, and if one thing is for sure, it’s that a quarterback adjustment isn’t going to solve all of this team’s problems.
THE FRONT OFFICE HAS TAKEN THE BACK SEAT
It seems pretty simple to me, but if you want to build a football team around a franchise quarterback, you would draft strong players who complement the main guy. That doesn’t seem to have happened, leaving general manager Howie Roseman on thin ice after this season.
Only one of the last 50 players Roseman has drafted made a Pro Bowl — Carson Wentz.
Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas were risky picks in 2017 and now are no longer with the team. Andre Dillard, “a top 10 player,” was our supposed shining star, picked to take Jason Peters’ place at left tackle. Then they re-signed Peters to play a new position, changed his position back to left tackle, threw more money at him, and now Dillard is injured and out for the season, and “The Bodyguard” isn’t living up to his name.
Roseman has also passed on several talented wide receivers, leaving the Eagles with the more inferior pick. Jordan Matthews over Davante Adams, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside over DK Metcalf, and Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson.
Next season doesn’t look so bright either. Cap management is an issue, and after borrowing from the future, the Eagles will face many challenges when trying to obtain key players.
COACHING CONUNDRUM
Head coach Doug Pederson used to work playing calling magic, but it seems as if the wand no longer works.
Pederson hasn’t made good use of young wide receivers or running backs this season. His aggressiveness has also become senseless with controversial 2-point conversion plays, leaving the Eagles with a 42.86% 2-point conversion percentage for the season.
After allowing quarterback coach and passing game coordinator, Press Taylor, to call some of the shots, along with a whole slew of coaching staff, plays have become a dime a dozen. Wentz is confused on the field, and it’s evident watching.
A STRUGGLING OFFENSE
The Eagles’ offense this season is horrendous. A lack of depth is certainly a problem, as well as a painstaking number of injuries, which ties in the medical staff who have also been a disservice to this team.
Both Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz were injured. Add in Miles Sanders.
Then we come to wide receivers. Carson Wentz has played with 20 wide receivers in his career. Twenty, since 2016. Reagor was out with an injury. Jeffery has finally returned, making zero catches in three out of four games, and Jackson has barely touched the field this season. Arcega-Whiteside has failed to deliver, leaving Wentz to rely on Ward and Fulgham.
The offensive line is now on its 11th starting line-up for the season, leaving Jason Kelce as the sole consistent starter for the entire offense. Johnson and Gerry are out for the season, and as of yesterday, so is Jason Peters, who has played a role in non-existent protection for Wentz.
Wentz has now been sacked 50 times. Sure, he has been taking longer to throw, but the offensive line lacks sight of clear blocking targets.
WENTZ IS ONLY ONE EAGLE…
To blame one person for the downfall the Eagles have had this season is irresponsible. It goes with the old saying, “There’s no ‘I’ in team” — not to work alone, but rather, together. And rightfully so.
Earlier this week, Jason Kelce commented on the situation stating, “Carson has, unfortunately, not played well, so these are the situations that happen, but you feel bad that he’s the sole one taking the hit right now. Obviously, the entire offense has been terrible. Offensive line, running backs, receivers, coaches. You aren’t this bad unless everybody shares blame in this whole thing. I think everybody here knows that, I know that Carson knows that, that this is not just him. We’ve got to do something.”
The bottom line is, Wentz can’t work alone, so why take the fault alone?
The Philadelphia Eagles have failed Carson Wentz, and the [27-year-old] man still holds his head high.
The Eagles host the New Orleans Saints tomorrow as Wentz takes the bench for kick-off for the first time in his career.
