Riley Cooper has just five catches for 37 yards so far. Credit: Getty Images
The Eagles offense has completed 21 passes to its two running backs, and just 27 to six wide receivers.
Those six receivers were targeted 58 times with less than half of Nick Foles’ passes being successfully caught.
Veteran Riley Cooper has just five receptions for 37 yards and No. 1 wideout Jeremy Maclin has brought in just eight passes despite being targeted 22 times.
There is plenty of blame to share between Foles, drops by receivers and the opposing defense, but one way or another, the Eagles’ receiving corps have to step things up.
“We targeted the receivers, and there are numerous reasons why we don’t connect,” Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said, but, hey, we’re moving forward. I think we feel good about whoever we throw to.”
Even with the lack of production from the receivers, Foles is second in the entire NFL in passing yards with 653.
“We know when you put together a passing game, production comes in bunches,” Shurmur said. “So we anticipate that everybody out there is going to make plays.”
Thanks to LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles, the Eagles are second in the league in yards after catch behind only the Bengals.
Sproles deserving of NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors
His numbers out of the backfield last week were outrageous — seven catches for 152 yards and four rushes for 26 yards and a touchdown.
He put together huge receptions on screen passes of 51 and 57 yards respectively, making him the first running back in 20 years with two catches of more than 50 yards and a rushing touchdown in the same game.
And the NFL noticed, awarding him NFC Player of the Week honors.
“Pretty obvious, I think, when you watch the last two games,” Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. “He’s a dynamic playmaker from the running back position and does a great job running the football. That run that he scored on after LeSean [McCoy] ran the ball in on third-and-15 kind of shows you what we’re hoping to get out of that group.”
Sproles has been a clutch performer and the difference maker in the Birds’ first two wins.
“I tell you what, he’s done an outstanding job,” Shurmur said, “not to mention what he did with the ball when we threw him screens.”
Sproles leads the Eagles in receptions, receiving yards and rushing touchdowns.
