Sunday's game will have a pair of rookie wideouts who were both extremely productive in the SEC -- Eagles first-round pick DeVonta Smith and Jets second-round pick Elijah Moore. Smith, the No. 10 overall pick out of Alabama and the Heisman Trophy winner in 2020, leads Philly with 48 receptions, 686 yards and 4 TDs. Moore ranks second on the Green & White in catches (38) and yards (461), and his 4 TD receptions are tied for first.
"He's a tremendously gifted route runner," McPherson said of Smith. "So smooth, so electric. He's not a burner, he's a not a track star on the field, but because of his route running, he's able to get separation and make quick cuts to make defenders off track. He's very good with his hands and he's been able to catch pretty much anything his way. … You can say he's about 5-9, 170, what have you, but this guy will fight you tooth and nail."
Speaking of how impressed he is with Moore, Jets OC Mike LaFleur added: "Just the speed at which he's playing. … It takes rookies a little bit longer, particularly receivers, not all of them, but the majority of them. The ones that you hear about are the ones that are producing. You don't really hear about the ones that aren't producing as much in terms of rookies. For him, it's just been getting used to the speed of the game. He missed those three games in the preseason, which a lot of people kind of forget about."
"He's a tremendously gifted route runner," McPherson said of Smith. "So smooth, so electric. He's not a burner, he's a not a track star on the field, but because of his route running, he's able to get separation and make quick cuts to make defenders off track. He's very good with his hands and he's been able to catch pretty much anything his way. … You can say he's about 5-9, 170, what have you, but this guy will fight you tooth and nail."
Speaking of how impressed he is with Moore, Jets OC Mike LaFleur added: "Just the speed at which he's playing. … It takes rookies a little bit longer, particularly receivers, not all of them, but the majority of them. The ones that you hear about are the ones that are producing. You don't really hear about the ones that aren't producing as much in terms of rookies. For him, it's just been getting used to the speed of the game. He missed those three games in the preseason, which a lot of people kind of forget about."