The Eagles’ victory over the Falcons on Monday night was a thrilling one, but it also had a little bit of a familiar feel to it. That’s because DeVonta Smith, who caught a game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter to give Philadelphia its first win of the season, has been used as an emergency option at wide receiver for both the Eagles and Falcons before.
The devonta smith, jalen hurts is an example of a situation where the outcome was similar to previous outcomes.
Against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1, DeVonta Smith and the Philadelphia Eagles got off to a quick start.
Smith, the No. 10 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, joins an organization with lofty goals. The Eagles haven’t had a genuine WR1 since Terrell Owens in the early 2000s, and the club is coming off a disappointing 2020 season.
While it’s much too early to call Smith a success, the early signs are encouraging. Smith had six receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown in the Eagles’ demolition of the Falcons, and he showed route-running talents reminiscent of his Heisman Trophy-winning days at Alabama.
DeVonta Smith scored his first touchdown against the Falcons.
Smith scored his first NFL touchdown on a short fade route to the corner of the end zone. Early in the route, Eagles tight end Zach Ertz set a pick for Smith, and Smith utilized a short burst of acceleration to move himself into wide space.
For quarterback Jalen Hurts, it was a simple 18-yard throw — a connection that Eagles fans are expecting to see more of coming season.
Even if the route and TD catch were not outstanding, football fans throughout the nation were ecstatic. It looked suspiciously like a play Smith made during one of the most important college football games he’s ever seen.
Smith grabbed the game-winning touchdown against Georgia in the 2017 collegiate national championship in a similar position. It was also a very similar approach – a straightforward fade into the corner.
Perhaps the Eagles planned this into their attack against Atlanta to make Smith feel more at ease, or perhaps it’s simply a big coincidence. For those who have followed Smith since his undergraduate days, it was an exciting sight.
That’s how Smith “physically” made supporters feel like they’d been there before; now let’s look at how he “figuratively” accomplished it.
Simply stated, Smith showed early indications of becoming a legitimate WR1 in his debut for the Eagles. Smith’s exceptional route-running ability and sure hands helped him win the Heisman Trophy at Alabama. Even against NFL opponents, Smith looked just like he did in college.
It was almost as if no one told Smith he’d made it to the big leagues.
What can we anticipate from the Eagles’ new WR1 in the future?
Todd Kirkland/Getty ImagesDeVonta Smith receives an 18-yard touchdown pass
Smith showed his potential in Week 1, but the rookie still has a long road ahead of him.
Smith’s bodyweight is his greatest disadvantage right now. Future teams can anticipate to focus much more on hitting him at the line of scrimmage and being physical with him. Physicality didn’t seem to worry him against Atlanta, but the Falcons’ secondary isn’t renowned for being particularly strong.
Whatever happens with Smith in the future, it was a remarkable first taste of NFL play. It would have been a fantastic day for the Eagles WR even if the 2017 flashback hadn’t occurred; the déjà vu experience just added to the excitement for hardcore Alabama supporters.
Pro Football Reference provided all stats.
RELATED: The Eagles’ Surprising Week 1 Win Over the Falcons Demonstrates the Importance of One Key Position Group
The is devonta smith happy with the eagles is a question that has been asked by many football fans. The answer to the question is yes, but it depends on how you define happiness.
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