Agholor on being deep threat: "I'll do whatever I have to do"
Nelson Agholor played the second-highest number of snaps among the Eagles' six receivers Monday in the loss to the Falcons and yet the rookie was targeted only two times and had one catch for 5 yards.
Chip Kelly did not fault Agholor. The Eagles coach pointed out that receivers often can't control the number of passes thrown their way. Getting open certainly increases those chances, and the coach's film revealed that Agholor was open on a number of plays.
Sam Bradford just went to other receivers. That should change over time.
"Honestly, I only wanted an opportunity to put some stuff up on film and learn from it," Agholor said Thursday. "I had no expectations going into my first game."
Despite his first round draft status, it would have been a stretch to expect Agholor to make a splash in his first NFL appearance. The fact that he started and played 59 snaps - second only to Jordan Matthews' 63 - was a bit of a surprise.
But the extra playing time was likely because Kelly called for more passing than running plays. Matthews will be on the field either way. But Agholor and Miles Austin will likely be featured more on passing downs and the better-blocking Riley Cooper and Josh Huff on running downs.
Agholor has a chance to fill a void in the passing game, though. The Eagles no longer have an obvious deep threat after the departures of DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin over the last two seasons.
"If that's what I have to do for my team," Agholor said, "I'll do whatever I have to do."
Bradford went to Agholor in the first quarter on a quick outside hitch route, but the timing was off and the pass was wide.
"It was press-man, and we probably got the ball out a little soon," Kelly said. "He was just coming right out of his break."
After the pass sailed by, Agholor motioned to the nearby official as if he was complaining about being held.
"At the end of the day you've got to make a play," Agholor said. "And to be honest with you, I kind of lobbied to get something because I didn't get the catch. But you've got to work on your acting skills. You've got to sell that a little better."
All in due time.
@Jeff_McLane