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The secret to Reed Blankenship getting so many interceptions originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Eagles’ defense has just 11 interceptions over the last couple years, among the fewest in the NFL.
Just think where they’d be without Reed Blankenship.
Blankenship, the third-year undrafted safety, has both the Eagles’ INTs this year, their last three in the past five games and half their interceptions going back to Week 2 last year. Five of 10.
The Eagles have the 7th-fewest interceptions in the NFL over the last two years, but Blankenship has the 9th-most in the NFL during that span.
He’s a ballhawk on a team that desperately needs a ballhawk.
Blankenship’s interception off Jordan Love deep in Packers territory set up the Eagles’ winning touchdown in São Paulo, and his pick off Derek Carr Sunday sealed the Eagles’ win over the Saints Sunday. They were identical diving INTs – high degree-of-difficulty plays that were pivotal in the Eagles winning.
At his locker on Wednesday, Blankenship took us through the mental and physical challenges of intercepting a pass.
“It’s very, very hard in this league to get interceptions,” he said. “The ball has always got to be on your mind, first off. You’re playing against guys that are very smart. It’s just one of those things that you’ve got to outplay the guy throwing the ball.
“It’s like a chess match. Honestly, it’s just instinctive. Be at the right spot at the right time.”
Blankenship went undrafted for a reason, but whatever lack of size and speed he had coming out of Middle Tennessee State he more than makes up for with endless film study and preparation.
The better you know a quarterback’s tendencies, the better chance you have of picking him off.
“At the end of the day, teams aren’t going to go too far away from what they’re known for,” he said. “And once you figure out what their go-to plays are, what they like to do formationally and how they run routes, then you’re just going to play…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/secret-reed-blankenship-getting-many-023300449.html
Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia
Publish date : 2024-09-27 13:26:18
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