How the Eagles are using Celek
Why are Brent Celek's receiving numbers down in 2010? Here's a look at how the Eagles are using their tight end.
How the Eagles are using Celek
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Eagles tight end Brent Celek is currently experiencing his least productive stretch as a receiver in the last two years.
In the last four games, he has a total of four catches for 16 yards. Here are the numbers broken down by game:
| Game | Catches | Yards |
| Week 7 (Titans) | 2 | 8 |
| Week 9 (Colts) | 0 | 0 |
| Week 10 (Redskins) | 2 | 8 |
| Week 11 (Giants) | 0 | 0 |
So, why isn't Celek a bigger part of the passing game?
Let's start with targets. Is Celek getting as many looks as he got a year ago when he led the Eagles with 76 catches and was second on the team with 112 targets?
The answer is no. Through 10 games, Celek is averaging 4.7 targets per game. Last year, he was targeted 7 times per game.
And that target number is even lower in the last four. Celek has a total of 10 targets (2.5/game) in the last four. Against the Giants, he had zero targets. Two weeks earlier, against the Colts, he was targeted once.
Here are Celek's overall numbers (per game) this year, compared to last year:
| Targets | Catches | Yards | Yards/catch | |
| 2009 | 7.0 | 4.75 | 60.7 | 12.8 |
| 2010 | 4.7 | 2.3 | 23.7 | 10.3 |
I took a closer look at Celek's role last week against the Giants. How many opportunities did he actually have to go out in his pattern?
Not many.
The Eagles ran 47 pass plays last week. On 15 of those (31.9 percent), Celek wasn't even on the field. On another 13 (27.7 percent), he was used exclusively as a blocker.
On three plays (6.4 percent), he chipped and then went out. And on 16 plays (34.0 percent), he was used as receiver.
Think about that, on the Eagles' 47 pass plays, there were only 19 instances (40.4 percent) where Michael Vick even had a chance to look at Celek. On just under 60 percent of the pass plays, Celek was either on the sidelines or in as a blocker.
So there's no question his role has changed of late. Last week, the Giants blitzed 18 times, and Celek was needed to stay in and help out.
The Eagles also used a couple formations that called for no tight end to be on the field. Here's a breakdown of the offensive formations against the Giants:
| Formation | Pct. of time used |
| 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE | 30.3% |
| 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE | 16.67% |
| 1 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE | 15.15% |
| 2 RB, 3 WR | 15.15% |
| 1 RB, 4 WR | 7.58% |
| 2 RB, 1 WR, 2 TE | 7.58% |
| 3 WR, 2 TE | 6.06% |
| 4 WR, 1 TE | 1.52% |
As you can see, the Eagles used a formation of 2 RB, 3 WR or 1 RB, 4 WR on 22.73 percent of their snaps, meaning Celek was off the field on those plays.
When he has had opportunities, Celek hasn't made the most of them. His six drops on the season are fifth in the NFL, according to STATS.com.
The other aspect of the Eagles' tight end situation is who's on the field with Celek in two tight-end sets. In training camp, rookie Clay Harbor battled Cornelius Ingram for the position. Harbor won out and was active in Week 1.
But then the Eagles signed Garrett Mills, and Harbor didn't dress again until Week 10. He's played the last two games and saw his most significant action of the season against the Giants, as Harbor was on the field for 19 plays (28.8 percent).
Last week, the Eagles used two tight-end sets on 28.8 percent of the plays, but on the season, they've used two tight ends on just 15.7 percent of the plays. Last year, the Eagles used two tight ends 20 percent of the time. Only two NFL teams had two tight ends on the field less in 2009, according to Football Outsiders.
As the Eagles begin their final, six-week stretch, much of how they use Celek and their tight ends will depend on how defenses attack Vick and the offense.
The coaching staff will also have to decide whether Harbor is doing a good enough job, whether Ingram deserves another shot or whether Mills will get back on the field.
Nice analysis. Nice to see someone who writes sports for a Philadelphia newspaper actually do some dirty work.— jeffmacnow1234
Comment removed.- @extremeteam - i agree. with 5 last year his inability to go through progressions on a consistent basis and his inability to throw to receivers unless they were completely wide open led to a lot of celek action. I would also agree that he has been terrible when thrown too with the amount of drops— xlGmanlx
- Watch out. In a key game, after they put the opposing 'D' into a coma, he will have a breakout game.— jjthree
Don't sleep on CELEK he is fulfilling the role the teams needs in pass protection, Just stay ready BRENT we will need your catches on our was to Dallas .GO EAGLES.
GOOD, its stupid to have a TE getting a 1000 yards if your blowing games and passing too much. Now they have a nice 8-3 record with the TE staying in to block like a TE SHOULD BE DOING. Vick has made this offense unpredictable while Reid does not understand the meaning of the word. if vick goes down thier chances of winning plummet.- keeping The TE in to block makes GOOD THINGS HAPPEN andy. letting him block for Vick is like, a good idea. glad they came up with one for once.
- The better question that needs to be answered is what happened to Jerome Harrison? The guy lit up the Redskins two games ago and didn't see the field against the Giants. What gives? I can't find one article mentioning the drop off in minutes.— Carcharios
- He is stil having a good year.— Romus
- I think its a matter of time for Andy to find away to get Celek involved in the passing game. His ability to catch is too good to waste. Due to Vick's height, he cant hit Celek on the side the blitz will be coming from but Reid and his coordinators has put together this evolving explosive offense so I dont see why they wont continue to evolve. They incorporated the deeper drops to enable Vick to see the field more and passing lanes. The Saints been doing it with Drew for several years, and wondered why the Falcons never did it, but of course Vick mechanics are far better than those years. Maybe a two RB set to help with pass rush to give Celek a opportunity but dont see our RB's being successful in that department.— Dpstumps
- maybe the tight ends will be the response to the "flush Vick to the right" defensive strategy— barrywil
- Celek isn't exactly helping his case by dropping passes or not holding onto the ball when getting tackled. I would love to see Ingram get healthy!
- Tough to play tight end when the five linemen need extra help. And I don't get the feeling Mike Vick really knows how to use Celek very well in this offense. But overall, I think he's having a down year, and I'd bet it's due to three or four little injuries. Remember back in training camp how fresh and strong he looked?— tacklinjoe
- I like all 3 of the TE guys and I like the suggestion of barrywil to use a doubleTE to stop teams from bombing Vick when he is forced to his right. With time, and that strong arm, he can throw across his body to guys streaking , especially down the middle or even the left side of the field. Two TE might help him get the time he needs.— Koons
I'd like to see a chart for Kolb.
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