Giving Him A Chance
Each week this season and in years past, Eagles fans have pleaded for the team to use tight end Dallas Goedert more. Many feel Goedert could be a top five tight end in the NFL, but he never has had the statistics.
During his first seven seasons with the Eagles, his best year statistically came in 2021 when in 15 games, Goedert had 56 receptions for 830 yards and four touchdowns.
Entering this season, he has averaged 5.1 targets per game.
Keep in mind that the Eagles have so many offensive weapons, especially with the addition of Saquon Barkley that targets can be challenging, but Goedert still deserves more looks.
In Sunday’s improbable 15-12 win in New Orleans against the Saints, the Eagles were almost forced to target Goedert. That’s because A.J. Brown, who might be the most dangerous receiver in the NFL, was out for the second straight game with a hamstring injury.
DeVonta Smith was playing well until he got leveled by Saints defensive tackle Khristian Boyd and left the game for good early in the fourth quarter.
So with fewer stars, Goedert became the go-to receiver. He had career-highs in both receptions (10) and receiving yards (170). Goedert also made what may have been the biggest play of this young season, when on a 3rd-and-16 play, he had a 61 yard reception that set up the winning touchdown, a 4-yard run by Barkley.
Goedert had seven receptions for 69 yards in his first two games this season.
Even when the Eagles have Brown and Smith playing together, the Eagles should continue to utilize Goedert.
He opens up the middle of the field and is excellent when in single coverage, especially when having a linebacker defending him.
This was the sixth 100-yard receiving game in his career. Here are the six times he hit the century mark in yards, courtesy of Football-reference.com.
Sept. 13, 2020 – 8 rec. 101 yards 1 TD in a 27-17 loss at Washington
Dec.5, 2021 – 6 rec. 105 yards, 2 TDs in a 33-18 win at the NJ Jets
Dec. 21, 2021 – 7 rec. 135 yards 0 TDs in a 27-17 home win over Washington
Nov. 3, 2022 – 8 rec. 101 yards, 1 TD in a 29-17 win at Houston
Oct. 8, 2023 – 8 rec. 117 yards, 1 TD in a 23-14 win at the Las Vegas Raiders
Sept. 22, 2024 – 10 rec. 170 yards, 0 TDs in a 15-12 win at the New Orlean Saints
Sunday’s matchup in New Orleans was Goedert’s 86th career regular season game. That means he has averaged a 100-yard receiving game every 14.3 contests.
He has also played in eight postseason games and has never hit the 100-yard total, with his highest 92 yards (on six receptions) in a 31-15 loss at Tampa Bay in January of 2022.
As a credit to Goedert, he has also become an accomplished blocker. He hasn’t allowed the lack of targets to impact his blocking. When he came to Philadelphia as a second-round pick from South Dakota State, Goedert wasn’t a great blocker, but he has turned into one.
Sunday was an example of how much more Goedert can add to the Eagles offense. And the cries from the fans to utilize him more, will only continue and rightly so.
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Photo of Eagles Dallas Goedert / Courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles
Author: Marc Narducci
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