No. 3: Falcons’ Mohamed Sanu vs. Eagles’ Sidney Jones
After playing just one game his rookie season, Eagles 2017 second-round NFL Draft pick, cornerback Sidney Jones, will be tasked with an awfully tough assignment his first game out this year.
Jones, who’ll assume the nickel role in Philadelphia’s defense this season, gets to line up opposite Falcons slot wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, who’ll be a perfect safety valve and over-the-middle complement to outside receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley.
Despite an overall down year for Atlanta, offensively, Sanu actually ended up being one of the major bright spots. His 67 receptions for 703 yards in 2017 ranked second on the team only behind Jones’ numbers, and we’re likely to see quarterback Matt Ryan again use Sanu as a focal point of the Falcons offense.
Jones only saw 29 snaps last year, so the book on him at the pro level is still quite raw. In terms of Philadelphia’s efforts to stop slot receivers, however, Football Outsiders ranked the team 21st in the NFL last season.
The 6-foot-0, 181-pound Jones might have some difficulty overpowering the larger 6-foot-2, 215-pound Sanu, who has little problem using his physicality to create separation and make catches on contested balls.
If Jones isn’t equal to the task, it could spell trouble for the Eagles pass defense overall.