Eagles in the NFL: Week 2

EagleAction will monitor preseason games this summer to evaluate how some of the 1st and 2nd year former BC players are doing as they try to make NFL rosters and compete for playing time. Evaluations and recaps will be posted as the games become available and shown on NFL Network.

Miami at Tampa Bay

Matt Patchan was the third string left tackle for the Buccaneers and played very well. There's no doubt in my mind that the left tackle will get graded out with a plus performance by his coaching staff.

Patchan played the entire fourth quarter (21 plays) and was put in charge of protecting third string quarterback Mike Kafka. Patchan went against Miami defensive end Tevin Mims on the majority of the plays and the left tackle simply owned him. Mims got no penetration on pass rushes and Patchan also got the best of Mims on some runs to the left side. Patchan didn't have much trouble getting to the second level on run blocks on a number of rushes.

Patchan wasn't as dominating when the Dolphins brought in former top five pick and Dion Jordan, which isn't totally surprising since Jordan sometimes starts for the Dolphins. On the first play the two went head-to-head, Patchan allowed Jordan to get his hands inside his shoulder pads which caused him to lose his leverage as he moved backwards. Patchan was able to gain back some leverage though and ultimately kept Jordan away from his quarterback. Patchan and Jordan went at it on a three more plays with Patchan allowing a quarterback pressure on one play, but stopped Jordan in his tracks on the two others.

Tampa Bay has a shaky situation on the offensive line and hasn't solidified starters at some positions yet. While Patchan isn't a candidate to start you'd have to think he is nearly a lock to make the practice squad. A team with a shaky offensive line doesn't have any reasons to part ways with a big left tackle that is performing well in the preseason.

Detroit at Oakland

Kicker Nate Freese fell victim to the NFL's new extra point experiment as he clanked a 33-yard extra point attempt off the right goal post in the first quarter. The baseball infield in Oakland, which does play a role in missed field goals at times, had no effect on Freese's miss.

Freese redeemed himself later in the game though when he buried a 55-yard field goal for the Lions.

New York Giants at Indianapolis Colts

After two fabulous preseason games Andre Williams came back down to earth in preseason game #3. Williams finished with 19 yards on 8 carries. The performance can't be blamed on Williams though, as the Giants offensive line did a horrible job blocking for him and the other running backs on the roster. Starting running back Rashard Jennings finished with just 17 yards on 7 carries.

"Whatever words you want to use to describe it, there's no production," said coach Tom Coughlin after the game. "There's nothing to look at from a production standpoint and that's disappointing.

Williams would have to make a ton of miscues in the fourth preseason game to lose his spot as the backup to Jennings.

Green Bay at St.Louis

Chase Rettig wasn't given the opportunity to make up for his shaky performance in the first preseason game last week. Rettig entered the second preseason game in the 4th quarter with 2:12 left and didn't attempt any passes. The Packers were up 21-7 and were just handing the ball off to run out the clock so that's why Rettig didn't attempt any passes.

Rettig is unlikely to play in the third preseason game as the starters are likely to play into the third quarter. At thing point Rettig's best hope is to make the practice squad.

Philadelphia at New England

Ifeanyi Momah got his second start of the preseason and the Eagles went to him on their first play of the game. Momah extended his arms to make a nice catch on a slant, but as soon as he had possession of the ball the Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler stripped it from him. The Patriots defense recovered the fumble by Momah.

Momah finished with 3 receptions for 28 yards on 4 targets.