DeVonta Smith takes accountability for another flat Eagles offensive performance

3 hours ago7 min read1 comments

The timeline may be off here, but the first time we heard the phrase 'Smitty catches everything' was likely around the time he was still in Tuscaloosa, a true freshman targeted in a second-and-26 overtime scenario during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Tua Tagovailoa, having taken over for an ineffective Jalen Hurts, had just suffered a massive sack and needed a miracle; he chose the guy in the Number 6 jersey, a decision that would foreshadow a professional career built on clutch performances.Fast forward to the present, and 'Smitty', as he's still affectionately known, remains a pivotal figure for the Philadelphia Eagles, yet the statistical reality of the 2025 season paints a concerning picture that even his reliable hands cannot fully obscure. The Jalen Hurts-DeVonta Smith connection, must-see television since Smith's 2021 draft day, began with a Week 1 touchdown and has since accumulated 30 total scoring receptions, including three this season; however, his most recent touchdown was the lone offensive bright spot in a defensively dominated 10-7 slog against the Green Bay Packers, a game that highlighted a systemic failure.Following the contest, Smith's leadership echoed through the media scrum, telling ESPN's Scott Van Pelt, 'If you ain't got no haters you ain't doing something right,' a defiant stance against external criticism, but his accountability was laid bare in a transcription from Zach Berman where he stated, 'Offensively, we don’t feel good at all. The defense is playing their ass off.We need to help those guys out. ' This self-critique is both funny and respectable because no analytical deep dive would ever pinpoint Smith as the problem; his catch rate and yards after contact metrics remain elite, comparable to legends like Marvin Harrison in his prime, yet he has adopted a leader's mindset, embodying the philosophy that 'if one of us fails, we all fail.' This mentality should resonate powerfully, challenging the persistent narrative of a divided locker room, but the underlying numbers are alarmingly stark: the Eagles currently possess the NFL's highest percentage of three-and-outs, a damning statistic for an offense boasting weapons like A. J.Brown, whose target share has inexplicably dwindled. The pieces are undeniably in place—Hurts, Smith, Brown, and a seasoned offensive line have played together for several seasons, making their post-bye-week sluggishness not just disappointing but analytically perplexing.This isn't a problem of personnel but of scheme and execution, a puzzle that offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo must solve immediately. Historically, great teams are defined by how they respond to adversity; the 2018 Philadelphia Eagles themselves faced mid-season offensive doldrums before rallying, a precedent this squad must now emulate.The defensive unit, playing at a historically efficient level, cannot continue to carry the entire burden without eventual breakdown, risking a squandered season of Super Bowl aspirations. Smith’s public accountability is the first, crucial step, a lesson in leadership that transcends the gridiron, but it must now catalyze a tangible correction on the field, where play-calling creativity, red-zone efficiency, and sustained drives become the immediate focus before this offensive stagnation defines their entire campaign.

#DeVonta Smith

#Philadelphia Eagles

#NFL

#offensive struggles

#player accountability

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