Seahawks WR DK Metcalf explodes in convert Eagles after pregame slight
DK Metcalf ended Philadelphia's championship dreams with one pivotal play in January, and he may need helped end this era of Eagles football on Monday night
Metcalf caught 10 passes for 177 yards against Philadelphia, helping the Seahawks to a 23-17 win that wasn't as close because the final score indicated. Metcalf's gaudy numbers didn't include a touchdown, but that did not find yourself mattering. What was more important was the design during which Metcalf racked up his stats
Metcalf made a press release early within the half-moon that set the tone for the night when he caught a sidearm dart from Russell Wilson on a fast slant, turned upfield and absorbed a hammer of successful from safety Rodney McLeod , wearing the blow sort of a champion by taking one step back before proceeding forward, with McLeod stumbling to the bottom from the impact of the collision. The reception and gain of 13 sent a message: Take your best shot at Metcalf if you select , but be prepared to feel the aftereffects
The second-year wideout frequently used his unique blend of size and athleticism to win one-on-one matchups with prized Eagles corner Darius Slay , taking advantage of Philadelphia's stubborn refusal to regulate from man coverage on the way to breaking 175 yards on the night. And while the Eagles defense brought its own punch to the fight, twice stopping Seattle on fourth down early in Monday night's contest, it had been Metcalf who ultimately got the victory
For those that don't remember, Metcalf had to attend a while before he was selected with the last pick of the second round. The physical freak and focus of the NFL Scouting Combine had fallen thanks to concerns about his ability to become an entire receiver at the professional level, which seems absurd in hindsight. Philadelphia was one among the teams that needed a receiver and decided to expire Metcalf
"Kind of like coming home," Metcalf said, via the Tacoma News Tribune's Gregg Bell. "A team that would have drafted me but didn't. So I even have to form them pay
As if he needed more motivation than that, Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz -- the previous coach of future Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson in Detroit -- met up with Metcalf before Monday night's contest and gave him a touch extra juice by telling the youngster he's "not there yet" as compared to Johnson
"In my mind, I'm not trying to be Megatron. I'm trying to be me," Metcalf said afterward. "I had a touch chip on my shoulder the entire game
It was Schwartz who decided to challenge his defense by keeping them in man coverage for much of the night. It worked against Tyler Lockett , but primarily because Metcalf was impossible to ignore in one-on-one matchups -- especially against Slay, who was targeted by Wilson because the nearest defender 11 times on the night and allowed eight receptions for 143 yards and an opposing passer rating of 114.8, per Next Gen Stats
"They need to attempt to do something," Wilson said of opposing defenses facing Metcalf. "Can't get in his head. It's hard to hide him. In my opinion, he's unmatchable."
Slay allowed a completion percentage of 72.7 percent, which was 20.7 points above expectation, meaning he wasn't even making the plays on the ball expected of him, even while averaging 1.7 yards of separation on his targets
"It's far and away the worst game I've ever played within the league," Slay said afterward, via WPVI-TV's Jeff Skversky
It's important to blanket Metcalf, but it is also important to undertake to match his height, which is virtually impossible without some additional help over the highest . Size matters
So too does the power to regulate when something isn't working. Schwartz simply didn't do this , and therefore the Eagles suffered. Philadelphia's offense is stuck during a rut, which is news to nobody , but these sorts of decisions make the going that much harder for a team that's already visibly limited. And suddenly, Doug Pederson's job could be in jeopardy
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported after the sport Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is unhappy and performances like Monday night's "will have him seriously assessing his coach's status
Some Eagles are already cognizant of how fleeting job security are often within the NFL, and of their opportunity to assist Pederson remain employed in Philadelphia with the pressure only increasing with hebdomadally
"When stuff goes bad, they trying to comb out the blokes that do not want to be here," Eagles edge rusher Brandon Graham said, via FOX 29's Kristen Rodgers. "I desire Doug got us fighting. We're trying to form sure we keep him here
As the calendar turns to December and therefore the weather only gets chillier, the sole thing heating up in Philadelphia immediately is Pederson's seat. We'll know needless to say whether the Eagles' fighting saves his job -- rather than drawing a flag on Slay, because it did Monday night