Eagles' Ertz approaches 3rd annual 'breakout season'

AT THIS POINT, Zach Ertz has stopped trying to figure what the phrase "breakout season" means.

The talented tight end out of Stanford had that presented as his story going into his second season and going into his third season.

Now as he enters his fourth season since being selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 2013 draft, "breakout" is again associated with the expectations for the 25-year-old.

"You know what?" Ertz said after the Eagles completed their open practice in front of 18,286 spectators Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. "I'm going to let you define that.

"I'm just going to go out there each and every day and do the best that I can do to help this team. I'm not focusing on breaking out. I'm focusing on being the best I can for my teammates - catching as many balls and putting in as many good blocks as I possibly can."

The problem with "breakout" is that it is generally determined by numbers, which can vary depending on who is interpreting them.

Last season, despite missing a game with a concussion, Ertz set career highs with 75 catches for 853 yards; both were second best for the Eagles.

His receptions were the third most all-time by an Eagles tight end, more than double his rookie total and 17 more than in his second year.

That kind of progression led to the Eagles signing to a five-year contract extension worth $42.5 million with $21 million guaranteed.

By most measurements Ertz, who has improved his blocking to go with his pass-catching ability, is a solid young player with more growth potential.

He's a Top 10 tight end in the NFL, which again is really good.

But there is this nagging thought that Ertz has another hurdle that he is fully capable of clearing.

Perhaps it's excessive hype fueled by hopes and dreams, but the external expectation has always been that Ertz could be up there with the super-elite tight ends in the league like New England's Rob Gronkowski, or like San Diego's Antonio Gates and Dallas' Jason Witten when they were in their primes.

That's asking Ertz to be a potential Hall of Fame tight end like those guys. Anyone see the unfairness in that?

This could be one of those cases where expectations have clouded the vision of what Ertz is accomplishing.

In 2015, Ertz ranked sixth among tight ends in receptions and seventh in receivng yards and yards per game.

He was one of just nine tight ends with at least 10 catches of 20-plus yards, and his 60-yard catch against the New York Giants tied teammate Brent Celek for the fifth-longest reception by a tight end in 2015.

"Zach is a great tight end, No. 1," said coach Doug Pederson. "He's a great team player and a great leader on the field.

"He's really coming into his own. I love all of our tight ends, but in (Ertz's) case he can definitely create some opportunities for us.

"He has the ability to catch the football and get separation. He's a big target over the middle."

That's big talk, but again that leads to big expectations.

Ertz developed a nice connection with quarterback Sam Bradford, and along with receiver Jordan Matthews was a strong advocate of the Eagles' resigning Bradford.

Both are getting their indoctrination into Pederson's offense after a season together in the frenzied attack of Chip Kelly.

One thing that might help Ertz get even more catches will be Bradford having the green light to change plays at the line of scrimmage - something he was not allowed to do under Kelly.

"There are a lot of presnap adjustments," Ertz said. "The quarterback can switch routes if he wants to, based on coverages.

"There are lot of different snap counts, but overall it is an offense a lot like the one I ran in college."

In 37 games at Stanford, Ertz had 112 receptions for 1,434 yards and 15 touchdowns.

One thing Ertz said will help is that he is finally free of the groin injury that required surgery last August during training camp and bothered him through the early part of the season.

"This is the healthiest I've been in a long time," said Ertz, who set the Eagles record for catches in a game with 15 against Washington on Dec. 20, 2014. "The past two seasons I've been dealing with the groin.

"It set me back like six games last year. Now, I'm feeling like my old self, more explosive than I've been in a long time. I'm real excited about this year."

Who really knows what would be considered a "breakout year" for Ertz?

All that can be said is that if he continues the trajectory upward, the Eagles will have a valuable tight end for a long time.

@SmallTerp