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Darius Slay throughout a sport towards the Browns.
The Eagles made Darius Slay the highest-paid cornerback in soccer for one cause: to “strap” the NFL’s prime targets.
Slay, a three-time Professional Bowl choice in Detroit, embraced that position instantly upon placing ink to paper. After the Eagles despatched a 3rd and fifth-round decide to accumulate his companies, the assured 29-year-old informed reporters that he wished “the sport on me.” He elaborated by saying that meant switching between either side of the sphere, wherever the opposing group’s finest receiver was lined up is the place he wished to be.
“I can rise up in a man’s face for the entire sport,” Slay mentioned, by way of NFL.com. “I can swap up my approach from off to press. I’m comfy in something I’m doing. I compete each play. I’m not scared.”
On Friday, Slay doubled down on his humble boast. When a chart exhibiting all of the elite receivers on the Eagles’ schedule was introduced to him, the brand new shutdown nook replied that he was “able to compete.”
No matter your opinion on the easiness of Philadelphia’s 2020 slate, it’s important to admit there are some big-name wideouts on it. The Eagles will see seven Professional Bowl receivers this season, together with cream-of-the-crop guys: DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham Jr., Michael Thomas and Devante Adams. These 4 gamers alone have mixed for 13 Professional Bowls and 178 touchdowns. Slay higher get strapped.
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Slay Versus Finest Receivers in NFC East
The NFC East owns a stable secure of receivers, ones tasked with dashing by Slay. He’s fared fairly properly in restricted matchups, too. Slay has surrendered zero touchdowns in 9 mixed video games towards the Redskins, Giants and Cowboys.
However, did the highest targets on these groups produce? Effectively, the proof is within the pudding.
Sterling Shepard was out when the Lions and Giants met in 2019 however rookie standout Darius Slayton did end with 50 yards and two touchdowns. He held Redskins standout Terry McLaurin to 5 grabs on 12 targets (72 yards) in Week 12. In opposition to Dallas, Slay rose to the event by limiting Amari Cooper to a few catches on eight targets (38 yards). He watched over the Cowboys stud like a hawk.
“I watched him over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over and type of obtained a deal with on what he preferred to do,” Slay mentioned, by way of The Inquirer. “Simply erase away what he did finest and compete on each play.”
Eagles Revamped Secondary Flying Below the Radar
Whereas the Eagles are banking on Slay to be their meal ticket in 2020, the remainder of the revamped secondary shouldn’t be discounted. The group addressed a extreme place of want by signing a bunch of extremely helpful spare elements in free company.
Philadelphia introduced in veteran security Will Parks, a hybrid playmaker and Philly native, who might push assumed starter Jalen Mills for enjoying time. Parks performed on 75-percent of the defensive snaps over the ultimate 5 video games final season in Denver. He was extraordinarily efficient and noticed loads of time at nickel cornerback, too.
The Eagles additionally signed “slot god” Nickell Robey-Coleman who has arguably been one of many best slot corners in your entire league. He restricted receivers to eight yards per reception on 58 targets in 2019 whereas grading out at 83.9 in go protection, per Professional Soccer Focus. He’ll be preventing for snaps with Cre’Von LeBlanc.
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