Why Alshon Jeffery should make more of a difference for the Eagles this year | Film breakdown

Alshon Jeffery played 19 games, including the postseason, in his first season with the Eagles and didn't have a single 100-yard receiving game. It's an arbitrary number, and there were few complaints about the Jeffery's overall performance, but for a wide receiver who averaged at least three 100-yard games in his previous four seasons, it was an anomaly.

Only after the season was it revealed that he played the entire year with a torn rotator cuff, which might explain why he averaged the lowest number of catches (3.6) and yards (49.3) per game since his rookie season.

But Jeffery is back after missing the first three games after surgery. It took all of one game to eclipse the century mark. He caught eight passes for 108 yards and a touchdown Sunday and was battling an illness that had kept him out of two practices last week.

"I wasn't 100 percent," Jeffery said, "but it is what it is."

The Eagles lost to the Titans, but big-picture, Jeffery will have a significant impact on how the offense operates and how opposing defenses handle the passing game. It's not a stretch to think that the receiver's numbers will improve dramatically with his shoulder healthy and another year catching passes from quarterback Carson Wentz:

Here's a closer look at Jeffery's 2018 debut:

It took until the third drive for Wentz (No. 11) to target Jeffery (17), but the first pass was a beauty. Faced with a third-and-4, the receiver ran out of a bunched formation to Wentz's left. The Eagles anticipated man coverage. Jeffery had maybe a half-step on 5-foot-10 cornerback Adoreè Jackson (25), but that's more than enough for the 6-3 wideout.

Wentz's touch was perfect, and Jeffery did a fine job tracking the ball over his shoulder. He allowed himself a moment to say, "I'm back."

Jeffery: The first catch I think I said that, but other than that, it was just a regular play and just keep on playing.

He left for three plays.

Jeffery: It knocked the wind out of me, but I'm all right, though. I landed on the shoulder that I had surgery on.

He didn't practice Wednesday because of a chest injury, but he's expected to be ready for Sunday's matchup with the Vikings.

>> READ MORE: Alshon Jeffery is dealing with a chest injury

While the fade showed that Jeffery could land on his surgically repaired shoulder and be fine, his next catch proved that he could be just as physical. Facing press coverage, he won at the top of his route and picked up nine yards just before the marker.

Jeffery played 65 of 79 snaps (83 percent), but he should be on the field for most plays this season.

Eagles coach Doug Pederson: I just wanted to see how the game would flow with him, just see how he was. He missed a couple of days there, and I wanted to make sure that he was 100 percent and strong as the game went, and he felt really good as it went.

The back-shoulder pass is a lethal weapon, and Jeffery is as good as any receiver at fighting for position on those throws. On this play, he was isolated with Titans corner Malcolm Butler (21). Butler was physical, but so was Jeffery, and with the ball thrown accurately, there was little the defender could do.

Eagles offensive coordinator Mike Groh: You can see that he presents a matchup problem and advantage for us. So, it's just nice to have him out there. I think he's somebody that Carson can always look to and feel comfortable with in a one-on-one situation.

Two years ago, Wentz and tight end Zach Ertz spoke about the importance of developing chemistry between a quarterback and receiver. Jeffery was targeted 120 times last season, and yet he caught only 47.5 percent of those passes, which was second to last in the NFL.

Many things must go right for the back shoulder to work, but presnap signaling is important, and all it took on this play was for Wentz to tap his helmet to let Jeffery know that he wanted him to break off his route.

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Jeffery's length gives him a decided advantage on most corners, but at 220 pounds he's able also to box out defenders. He loves basketball, maybe even more than football, and relishes the opportunity to rebound.

On this third-and-goal at the 16-yard line, Jeffery ran a double move — post-corner — vs. backup LeShaun Sims (No. 36). He wasn't blatantly open, but Wentz threw it high and Jeffery high-pointed the toss.

Wentz: At that point, they had an injury at corner, so we knew it was a fresh-off-the-bench corner, so we were going to give Alshon a shot. That's just what he brings to this offense. Having him back out there last week was big for us. He brings that big-play ability, that ability to when he's covered.

Groh: He can rise up and make a play for us, and he did that. Huge play on third-and-16 in the red zone.

Jeffery didn't see another target for the next three drives as the Titans took the lead. But the Eagles drew up a screen pass to get the ball into his hands on their final drive of regulation. Jeffery didn't catch many screens last season, partly because of the shoulder, but also because he isn't exactly a speed demon. But he showed good vision here and picked up all his yards after the catch.

The Vikings will have to account for Jeffery's versatility. On this catch in overtime, he ran a short button hook, juked the corner with a quick turn, and jetted upfield for 14 yards.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer: He's a great player. Had eight catches last week. They got a ton of weapons. So it obviously makes it difficult. They do such a good job of spreading the ball around. Between him, Ertz and [Nelson] Agholor, they got so many darn weapons that it's hard to focus on really one.

Agholor didn't take advantage of his opportunities Sunday. Pederson said that he didn't necessarily see the Titans slide coverages toward Jeffery, but Agholor had 12 targets and caught only five for 22 yards.

Pederson: When you get in the red zone I think is where you are going to start seeing some doubles occur, whether it's Ertz or [Jeffery]. With that being said, the rest of our guys have to execute and get open as well.

>> READ MORE: Eagles-Vikings an NFC championship rematch of two teams looking to reverse course

Agholor: I didn't take advantage of more of my opportunities, but you think about what he was able to do. There was one play in particular — he runs a slant route, I run a little drag, and I have complete separation because two guys are kind of hung up on him running a simple slant. His big body and his ability to win on big slants always commands defensive attention.

There were several times last season when a Jeffery slant, particularly on a run-pass option play, would kick-start the offense. The Eagles did it in their first-round playoff win over the Falcons and again the following week in the NFC championship game against Minnesota.

The Vikings had top corner Xavier Rhodes on Jeffery early in the game, but rub routes such as this one helped free the receiver on slants.

Jeffery caught three of three passes for 27 yards against Rhodes that game. He would record his two other catches — 58- and 5-yard touchdowns — vs. other corners. With the Eagles light at outside receiver, Zimmer could opt to have Rhodes follow Jeffery all of Sunday's game.

Pederson: We know Rhodes is a top corner. A lot of respect for his game and the physical nature of his game. Probably anticipate him being with Alshon most of the day.

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