Up And Down Day For Eagles Receivers In Battle Against The Falcons

Athletes are remembered for how they perform during the biggest moments of the biggest games. Unfortunately for the Eagles’ receiving corps, the missed opportunities will overshadow the impressive stat lines recorded in Sunday night’s nationally televised 35-31 loss to the Falcons at the Georgia Dome.

Yes, there were the obvious defensive issues and play calling issues (specifically toward the end of the game when Mike Kafka was running the offense, but that’s another story for another day.) We have come to expect these sorts of things from recent Eagles teams. But the usually clutch and sure-handed wide receivers dropped the ball, figuratively and literally, on Sunday night.

Desean Jackson was targeted three times for 2 catches and 21 yards. His major contribution was when he impressively ran down Falcons’ lineman Ray Edwards as he rumbled toward the goal after recovering a fumble in the red zone. Jackson’s production was not all his fault as he only had three passes come his way and the lack of the deep ball against a stout Falcons D.

But he did drop a Michael Vick pass when he was wide open in the front corner of the end zone in the second quarter. Jackson is usually money in that situation and, even though the Birds later scored on the drive, knows he needs to make that catch. Desean is known to have a big game after a quiet one so I expect him to make his presence felt in a big way next week no matter who his QB is against a depleted Giants’ defense, which is a team he has shredded in the past.

Jason Avant, the Eagles’ unsung offensive hero, was targeted four times for 1 catch and 29 yards. It was a particularly quiet night at the office for the steady Avant. We know Avant isn’t going to put up the huge numbers like the other wideouts on the team, but you expect more than one catch from him.

New acquisition Steve Smith was targeted three times for 2 catches and 29 yards. This is just about what you would expect from Smith at this early point in the season and coming off of knee surgery. He saw more snaps than he did in Week 1 in St. Louis and his snaps will increase throughout the season. He will become more and more dangerous as the season goes on and as he gets more and more acquainted with Michael Vick and the rest of the offense. The Atlanta game was a good piece of production for Smith. Look out for him in a few weeks.

Tight End Brent Celek was targeted seven times for 4 catches and 43 yards. Celek has openly stated his desire to be a larger part of the offense and he certainly had his chances in this game. His drop around the Atlanta goal line late in third quarter very well could have been the biggest play of the game.

If he catches that beautifully thrown Michael Vick pass, he either scores or comes extremely close to doing so. It was later on in that drive that Vick suffered his concussion when he was tackled into Todd Herremans. I know the Eagles eventually punched it in on that drive, but if Celek makes that catch, it is a whole different game. For a guy that wants to see more touches, he has to make that catch. If Mike Kafka or Vince Young start next week in the home opener, a more conservative offense will likely be featured which would mean more looks Celek’s way.

That brings us to Jeremy Maclin, who was absolutely spectacular on Sunday night. He was targeted 15 times for 13 catches, 171 yards, and 2 touchdowns. It was an excellent comeback performance from Maclin, who was very quiet in Week 1, and showed the world that he is fully healthy and his offseason health scares are behind him.

Unfortunately, the only thing the general public will remember is his fourth down drop of a perfect Mike Kafka pass that basically ended the Eagles’ chances of pulling out the W. That is a ball Maclin will catch 99 times out of 100. It was a total shame. I can’t think of any other way to put it.

Maclin also had a major collision with Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson. He was coming across the middle in much the same way that DeSean Jackson did a year ago and Robinson launched his helmet at Maclin’s chin. He knocked him down but not out. Maclin took a while to get up, but it didn’t affect his game.

Most people only remember the biggest parts of games and who stepped up at those times. Unfortunately, most won’t remember an excellently played, smash-mouth, in your face football game. Most will only remember the Jeremy Maclin fourth down drop.

Fortunately, next week, most will remember a team and a group of receivers who struck back with a vengeance to take down their bitter division rival.