A.J. Brown's Struggles Raise Concerns About Elite Status
The once-feared A.J. Brown has been making headlines more for his off-field antics than his on-field performance this season. With only 31 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns through the Eagles' first nine games, Brown is on pace for a career-low in receiving yards. The culprit behind his struggles? Fewer targets, as he's averaging just 6.8 per game - a far cry from the 10-12 targets per contest he enjoyed during his breakout season.
While some attribute Brown's woes to the team's offense scheme or play-calling, others believe it's time to consider the possibility that he might be in decline. This notion is backed up by several key statistics, including yards per reception (13.2 this season vs. 17.0 in 2022), yards per target (7.6 this season vs. 10.3 in 2022), completion percentage on targets (57.4% this season vs. 60.7% in 2022), and average yards after the catch (3.3 this season vs. 6.6 in 2022).
In contrast, his Eagles counterpart DeVonta Smith is having a stellar season, outpacing Brown in four of those five categories. It's not just about the numbers; on the eye test, Brown doesn't seem to be using his usual elite-level separation from defenders and making big plays down the field.
When watching Brown's targets against man coverage this season, it becomes clear that he's struggling to create separation - a crucial aspect of his game for years. His lack of separation has led to him being shaded by defenses, resulting in fewer open receptions. When faced with zone coverages, Brown's numbers plummet even further, making it difficult for quarterback Jalen Hurts to find him.
One telling sign of Brown's struggles is his increased reliance on physicality - often pushing off defenders to create space. While this has been a part of his game before, the frequency and aggressiveness have increased, suggesting he might be trying to make up for a lack of separation.
The evidence suggests that Brown, at 27 years old, may not be the same elite receiver we've grown accustomed to seeing on the field. His recent performance against the Broncos, particularly his decision to abandon a deep route, raises questions about his willingness and ability to play with the level of greatness expected from him.
It's too early to definitively label Brown in decline, given his missed training camp due to injury. However, it's also fair to say that his individual play has been underwhelming this season, and something needs to change if he wants to regain his elite status.
The once-feared A.J. Brown has been making headlines more for his off-field antics than his on-field performance this season. With only 31 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns through the Eagles' first nine games, Brown is on pace for a career-low in receiving yards. The culprit behind his struggles? Fewer targets, as he's averaging just 6.8 per game - a far cry from the 10-12 targets per contest he enjoyed during his breakout season.
While some attribute Brown's woes to the team's offense scheme or play-calling, others believe it's time to consider the possibility that he might be in decline. This notion is backed up by several key statistics, including yards per reception (13.2 this season vs. 17.0 in 2022), yards per target (7.6 this season vs. 10.3 in 2022), completion percentage on targets (57.4% this season vs. 60.7% in 2022), and average yards after the catch (3.3 this season vs. 6.6 in 2022).
In contrast, his Eagles counterpart DeVonta Smith is having a stellar season, outpacing Brown in four of those five categories. It's not just about the numbers; on the eye test, Brown doesn't seem to be using his usual elite-level separation from defenders and making big plays down the field.
When watching Brown's targets against man coverage this season, it becomes clear that he's struggling to create separation - a crucial aspect of his game for years. His lack of separation has led to him being shaded by defenses, resulting in fewer open receptions. When faced with zone coverages, Brown's numbers plummet even further, making it difficult for quarterback Jalen Hurts to find him.
One telling sign of Brown's struggles is his increased reliance on physicality - often pushing off defenders to create space. While this has been a part of his game before, the frequency and aggressiveness have increased, suggesting he might be trying to make up for a lack of separation.
The evidence suggests that Brown, at 27 years old, may not be the same elite receiver we've grown accustomed to seeing on the field. His recent performance against the Broncos, particularly his decision to abandon a deep route, raises questions about his willingness and ability to play with the level of greatness expected from him.
It's too early to definitively label Brown in decline, given his missed training camp due to injury. However, it's also fair to say that his individual play has been underwhelming this season, and something needs to change if he wants to regain his elite status.
he was always the go-to receiver but now its like hes relying on physicality instead of using speed and separation to get open 
devs got some new guys now who are outpacing him in stats 
and honestly its making u wonder if he's still got it 
- I think the stats are pretty clear, A.J. Brown's not playing like his old self no more 
. He's trying to make up for it with all that physicality but it's just not working out 
. DeVonta Smith is killing it this season and he's got some legit skills 
. Maybe they need to tweak their game plan or something?
which was always his strong suit... now he's trying too hard, relying on physicality to create space 
it's like he's forcing plays instead of letting them come naturally 
also devonta smith is killing it right now 
maybe brown just needs a new approach or a shake-up in the game plan? 
idk
. Increased reliance on physicality is weird, feels like he's trying too hard to make plays instead of just letting it happen naturally 
. DeVonta Smith is killing it this season tho 
. 60% completion rate vs targets is crazy low for a guy who used to be unstoppable 
... meanwhile Brown's just trying to force the issue 
. Maybe he needs a change of pace or some new coaching to get his game back on track? Idk, but something's gotta give soon 
31 catches for 408 yards is not even close to his peak form, i remember when he used to dominate on the field 
now he's just trying to make contact with defenders lol 
and yeah, him pushing off defenders to create space is not a good look, it looks like he's struggling to separate from them too 
his numbers are just not where they used to be and i'm starting to think maybe he's just not the same player anymore 
. The numbers don't lie - his yards per reception and completion percentage on targets are way down this season 
. I'm 27 years old and still feeling it on the field, so I can only imagine how tough it must be for Brown to deal with.
He's outpacing A.J. in most categories, and his performance just looks more natural 
. I'm not saying A.J.'s decline is certain, but something needs to change ASAP if he wants to regain his elite status 
. His numbers are down across the board, and he's not making the same big plays down the field that we're used to seein' from him.
.