By Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The Eagles are riding high after toppling the Carolina Panthers 28-23 on Thursday night at Bank of America Stadium, atop both the NFC conference and NFC East division standings.
There have been some encouraging surprises through the first six weeks of the season, but the Eagles are 5-1 behind spellbindingly good quarterback play, a thriving and opportunistic defense, and a head coach who is quickly developing the reputation of a malleable play-caller and program builder.
Here's a look six things we've learned through the Eagles' first six games:
Robert Hanashiro | USA TODAY Sports
1. Doug Pederson is a legitimate coach of the year candidate, thanks to adaptive play-calling
Two days after Eagles head coach Doug Pederson dropped quarterback Carson Wentz back to pass 56 times against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2, protestors showed up outside the NovaCare Complex lobbying for a resurgence of the running game.
Boy, how things have changed.
Since Week 2, the Eagles are riding a 4-game winning streak and the offense has taken on a much more balanced approach with 122 passing attempts and 116 designed running plays.
In just his second season as a head coach, Pederson is beginning to separate him from the preconceived notions that he is a philosophical carbon copy of Andy Reid, and embodies the adaptive nature of Chip Kelly but with the temperament to be a much better leader and program builder.
Pederson has shown that he is a malleable play-caller, tremendous motivator of the players in his locker room, and deserves serious consideration for the NFL Coach of The Year Award.
EAGLES HAVE MASTERED SUPER BOWL WINNING FORMULA
CLEM MURRAY | TNS
2. Zach Ertz's usage finally matching his skill-set, production
Zach Ertz has become the focal point of the Eagles' offense over the first six games of the season, and it is largely due to his increased targets from Wentz deep in the red zone, where he was largely neglected as a red-zone target through the first four seasons of his career.
Ertz ranks No. 1 among NFL tight ends in touchdowns (4), receiving yards (405), and targets (53).
Last season Ertz finished as the Eagles' leading receiver, and he's on pace to shatter his 2016 production because he is finally being used as a legitimate weapon inside the 20-yard line, in addition to the continuing development of his rapport with Wentz.
According to Pro Football Focus, Ertz has seven end zone targets, which also matches his total from last season, when he was targeted 101 times overall. However, five of those seven targets in the end zone last season came in the final three weeks of the season (2 against the Baltimore Ravens, 3 against the Dallas Cowboys).
Streeter Lecka | Getty Images
3. Carson Wentz is already a top-tier quarterback ... With room to improve
Carson Wentz has only played 22 career games, but has already shown that he is a top quarterback in this league with plenty of room to continue to develop and improve.
Through the first six games of this season Wentz has proven that he can lead the Eagles to victories in games decided by one score or less (Giants, Chargers, Panthers) after going 1-7 in those situations as a rookie, can propel the Eagles to victories on the road (Redskins, Chargers, Panthers) after finishing 2-6 on the road in 2016, and blow teams out by virtue of deadly accuracy (Cardinals).
Wentz has completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 1,584 yards with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions.
While Wentz could still stand to improve his deep-ball accuracy, he is getting better and more accurate with those throws each week. Playoff caliber and teams that compete for more than that, do so because they have a top quarterback, which Wentz has already shown he's capable of being.
Eagles now have stranglehold on NFC East Race
Geoff Burke | USA TODAY Sports
4. The Eagles' defensive line is as good as advertised
The Eagles defensive line has been as dominant as advertised, and while Fletcher Cox and Tim Jernigan have played like one of the toughest defensive tackle duos in the NFL to protect against, what is perhaps most impressive is this team's defensive line depth.
Cox and Jernigan have combined for 20 tackles and 4.0 sacks, despite the fact that Cox was sidelined for two games with a calf injury.
Meanwhile, defensive end Chris Long, defensive tackle Beau Allen, and rookie Derek Barnett have provided quality snaps both in place of injured teammates and part of the Eagles' defensive line rotation.
After five weeks, the Eagles' rushing defense ranks No. 9 in the league while allowing an average of 65.0 yards per game. Everyone knew that the Eagles' pass rush had a chance to be the strength of the defense this season, but they've been even better against the run than many anticipated.
Jeremy Brevard | USA TODAY Sports
5. The Eagles' offense thrives on targeting the slot
Some will point to wide receiver Alshon Jeffery's lack of statistical production through five weeks (24 catches for 317 yards and two touchdowns) as evidence that he is not having an impact or that this offense is somehow stunted when it comes to getting the ball to the veteran receiver.
However, with the sample size of 22 games with Wentz as the quarterback, it is becoming evident that this offense with this quarterback funnels through the middle of the field between the hashmarks.
Nelson Agholor's speed has been an asset after he inherited the role vacated by Jordan Matthews, who was targeted 110 times last season, and Ertz's emergence as a top tight end in the league underscores the fact that the primary area of the field where this offense thrives is in the slot, particularly as Jeffery creates some space for the likes of Aghoor and Ertz to operate underneath.
If Jeffery starts wracking up some catches and Wentz continues to feel confident throwing deep and to the sideline, this could change, but it appears as though the Eagles' offense is at its best when Aghoor and Ertz are the primary targets in the passing game.
Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Yong Kim | TNS
6. The secondary has exceeded expectations ... With players who likely won't be starter's by year's end
Entering the season, the Eagles' secondary was considered the weakness on the team and their success without Ronald Darby (ankle), Corey Graham (hamstring), Jaylen Watkins (hamstring) second-round rookie Sidney Jones (ruptured Achilles tendon), with meaningful contributions from Rasul Douglas and Patrick Robinson in de-facto starting roles is nothing short of remarkable.
Douglas was a healthy scratch in Week 1 against the Redskins and has been thrust into playing meaningful snaps much earlier than the coaching staff would have preferred. Patrick Robinson has moved into the slot and played at a very high level, with two interceptions to go with four tackles.
Eventually Darby is going to get healthy, and Jones has a chance to see the field this season after beginning running in recent weeks. It is unlikely that Jalen Mills, Robinson, and Douglas will all be playing prime roles in the second half of the season, but the fact that they have survived an onslaught of injuries has been integral to this defense's success and this team's fast start.
THE NO HUDDLE SHOW:
MORE EAGLES COVERAGE:
Matt Rourke | AP Photo
For the latest Eagles news, head back over to our Eagles homepage.
HOW TO REACH ME:
Matt Lombardo may be reached at MLombardo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardoPHL.
Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Ad Choices