Title: James Bradberry’s Struggles Highlight Eagles’ Defensive Woes
Subtitle: Darius Slay’s Performance Also Underwhelming as Eagles Face Uncertain Future
Date: [Insert Date]
By [Author Name]
In a disappointing season for the Philadelphia Eagles, one of the biggest mysteries has been the decline of veteran cornerback James Bradberry. After an impressive performance last year, Bradberry signed a lucrative three-year, $38 million deal with the Eagles in March. However, his play this season has been far from what was expected.
Last year, Bradberry was among the top cornerbacks in the league. He had a defensive passer rating of 51.6, the second-best in the NFL, and allowed completions on just 45.3 percent of targets, the best in the league. Additionally, he had an impressive coverage grade of 80.0 from Pro Football Focus.
This year, Bradberry’s performance has taken a sharp decline. His defensive passer rating has risen to 117.6, ranking 62nd out of 71 cornerbacks targeted at least three times per game. His completion percentage allowed has increased to 57.4, and his yards per target have skyrocketed to 6.7. His coverage grade has plummeted to 53.9, placing him 101st out of 114 corners.
In the past three weeks, Bradberry’s struggles have become even more evident. He has allowed opposing quarterbacks to have passer ratings over 110 in each game, including a 138.0 rating against the Dolphins. He has also allowed four touchdowns in these three games, compared to just two all of last year. Furthermore, he has failed to record any interceptions this season.
There are several factors that may contribute to Bradberry’s decline. He turned 30 in August, which historically has been a challenging age for many cornerbacks. The Eagles have also faced tougher quarterbacks this year compared to last. Additionally, Bradberry has been shuffled between outside corner and the slot, which can be difficult for a veteran player. The instability in the secondary due to injuries has also likely affected his performance.
While Bradberry’s struggles have been concerning, fellow cornerback Darius Slay has been relatively average. Slay has faced the opposing team’s top wide receiver more often than Bradberry but has seen a decline in his numbers compared to last year. The Eagles’ success this season will heavily rely on the performances of Bradberry and Slay, which is currently a cause for concern.
In other news, young linebacker Nakobe Dean has had a disappointing second season. He has suffered two major injuries and lost playing time to Nicholas Morrow. However, at just 22 years old, Dean still has potential and should not be written off. The Eagles have had few players drafted in the third round or later make a significant impact at such a young age.
As the Eagles head into their bye week, they face a challenging schedule ahead, including matchups against Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Brock Purdy, and Dak Prescott. Bradberry will need to bounce back in the second half of the season to help the Eagles’ struggling defense.
Overall, the Eagles’ defensive struggles, particularly with Bradberry’s decline, have been a major disappointment this season. The team will need to address these issues moving forward to have any chance of turning their season around.Title: James Bradberry’s Struggles Highlight Eagles’ Defensive Woes
Subtitle: Darius Slay’s Performance Also Underwhelming as Eagles’ Secondary Struggles
Date: [Insert Date]
Byline: [Author Name]
In a disappointing season for the Philadelphia Eagles, one of the biggest mysteries has been the decline of veteran cornerback James Bradberry. After an impressive performance last year, Bradberry signed a lucrative three-year, $38 million deal with the Eagles in March. However, his play this season has been far from what was expected.
Last year, Bradberry was among the top cornerbacks in the league. He had a defensive passer rating of 51.6, the second-best in the NFL, and allowed completions on just 45.3 percent of targets, the best in the league. Additionally, he allowed just 4.4 yards per target, also the best in the NFL. Pro Football Focus gave him a coverage grade of 80.0, ranking him 10th out of 118 corners.
This year, Bradberry’s performance has taken a significant dip. His defensive passer rating has risen to 117.6, ranking him 62nd out of 71 corners targeted three times per game. His completion percentage allowed has increased to 57.4, and yards per target have skyrocketed to 6.7. His coverage grade has plummeted to 53.9, placing him 101st out of 114 corners.
In the last three weeks, Bradberry’s struggles have worsened, with opposing quarterbacks targeting him relentlessly. He has allowed passer ratings over 110 in each of those games, along with four touchdowns. Furthermore, he has failed to record any interceptions this season, after picking off three passes last year.
Several factors may contribute to Bradberry’s decline. Turning 30 in August, he may be experiencing the effects of age, as many corners tend to decline around this time. Additionally, the Eagles have faced tougher quarterbacks this year, and Bradberry has been shuffled between outside corner and the slot, which can be challenging for a veteran player. The instability in the secondary due to injuries has also likely affected his performance.
While Bradberry’s struggles have been concerning, fellow cornerback Darius Slay has been relatively average. Slay has faced the opposing team’s top wide receiver more often than Bradberry but has seen a decline in his numbers compared to last year. The Eagles’ success this season heavily relies on the performances of Bradberry and Slay, making their underwhelming play a cause for concern.
On a positive note, quarterback Jalen Hurts has an impressive record of 11-1 as a starter when rushing for 30 or fewer yards. This statistic highlights his ability to contribute to the team’s success even when not relying heavily on his rushing abilities.
In other news, linebacker Nakobe Dean has had a disappointing second season, plagued by injuries and limited playing time. However, at just 22 years old, Dean still has potential and should not be written off. The Eagles have had few players drafted in the third round or later make a significant impact at such a young age, making Dean’s future opportunities worth watching.
Looking ahead, the Eagles face a tough schedule after their bye week, with matchups against top quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Brock Purdy, and Dak Prescott. Bradberry will need to bounce back in the second half of the season to help the Eagles’ struggling defense.
Overall, the Eagles’ secondary has been a major disappointment this season, with Bradberry’s decline being a significant factor. The team’s success hinges on the performances of their cornerbacks, and improvements will be crucial for the Eagles to turn their season around.