Post originally appeared on Pro Sports Notes
August 10, 2018
Three positives from the Eagles first preseason game
Image: Irish Sports Daily
Three positives from the Eagles first preseason game
Posted on August 10, 2018
Three positives from the Eagles first preseason game
Last night the Eagles took the field for the first time in 2018. There were three positives from the game that stood out among several negatives. Included in the positives were plays from Dallas Goedert, Shelton Gibson, and Josh Adams.
A nice debut from the rookie tight end
One of the three positives is tight-end, Goedert. The Eagles leapfrogged the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the draft to select Goedert out of South Dakota State which only makes watching him play like a beast even sweeter. Goedert is noticeable immediately solely because of his size. His 6’5″ 256 frame is an immediate threat. He pulled in four receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown. “Philly” Goedert, as is so lovingly nicknamed, showed why the Eagles moved up to get him. Between the receiving corps, our threat of running backs, and the combination of him and Ertz, defenses aren’t going to be able to cover this team.
Goedert has looked fantastic all through training camp and gave fans a glimpse of his talents. As the preseason continues he will get more comfortable and become more dominant. The rookie is poised for a great season with the reigning Super Bowl champions.
The first time #Eagles fans have cheered for Dallas.#FlyEaglesFly3,1837:55 PM – Aug 9, 20181,249 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy
An undrafted rookie shows his fight for a roster spot
Adams had a dominant career at Notre Dame, thanks to his 6’2″ 213 frame, giving him an edge as a bigger running back. Not only is he fighting to play in the NFL, he’s fighting to play for his hometown team. As a result, Adams notched six rushing attempts for 30 yards, including a long of 15 where he looked like a dominant runner. He also recorded two receptions for 11 yards.
On a night that was headlined by Goedert, Nate Sudfeld, and Sidney Jones, Adams demanded some attention as he ran hard in the second half. After being sidelined for the beginning of camp with an injury, Adams came in and went to work. He scored four touchdowns on his first day back to camp. The Eagles have several running backs fighting for a roster spot and Adams made a case for himself last night.
A former special teamer making his case for a bigger role
The Eagles selected Gibson in the fifth round of the 2017 draft. He was a speed demon at West Virginia which grabbed the Eagles attention. However, NFL plays proved a little overwhelming for Gibson who spent the majority of his rookie season as a special teams asset. This offseason, he spent his time working hard enough to earn a spot in the wide receiver rotation. Gibson has been a highlight of training camp so far, showing the reliability of his hands has immensely improved.
He showed that improvement last night as he cooked Steelers’ cornerback DeShaun Phillips for a 63-yard touchdown bomb from Sudfeld. This is a ball the Eagles have been promising from Gibson and he delivered. Based on his performance last night Gibson has set himself up for a roster spot.
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AND THERE IT IS.
Shelton Gibson’s first touchdown as an Eagle was a home-run hit!1058:21 PM – Aug 9, 201841 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy
It’s just preseason
There’s no need to overreact to preseason. It happens every year and it means nothing. However, it is necessary for the coaches to figure out the final 53-man roster. Based on last night, I’d say these three guys put themselves in good positions going forward. As a result, as preseason continues, these three will continue to shine.
