PHILADELPHIA -- Whether or not Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. plays Monday night against the Eagles, could be one of the biggest difference makers in the NFC East showdown that could have first place in the division at stake.
Beckham Jr., dealing with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 5, had a field day against the Eagles in Week 17 last season. The eventual Offensive Rookie of The Year hauled in 12 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown in the season finale at MetLife Stadium.
Each week NJ Advance Media will sit down with a member of the Eagles and preview one of the key matchups in the upcoming game in a weekly series called 'Eagles 4 Downs.'
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This week, former Giants defensive back Walter Thurmond gives a scouting report on Beckham Jr. and the impact the LSU product has on New York's offense:
First Down: When you watch Odell Beckham Jr., what separates him? What helped him make the leap to becoming an elite wide receiver so quickly?
Walter Thurmond: "His catch radius, for sure. It's like he's a receiver who is 6'5". He has a long wingspan and great range. He has great athleticism. He can run after the catch very well. He's probably one of the tops in the league in being able to run after the catch for a receiver. Just because he's so fast and elusive. On top of that, the quarterback throws him the ball 20-25 times per game so he's going to get his opportunities. That's what makes him a unique player."
Second Down: You were there last year. Did you know right away that he had this kind of potential pretty early on? Was it one of those situations where he walked into the building and started turning heads right away?
Walter Thurmond: "Early on it was kind of tough for him. He showed little flashes here and there but he had a nagging injury from during OTAs and the start of training camp. When he was out there you saw his burst. You saw his speed. We liked to say 'he has fresh legs.' It was one of those things where he always showed spurts and then once he finally got his time and was healthy, he showed his ability right away and Eli showed great trust in him. They had great chemistry even before he got to New York from their hometown. I think when somebody's an elite quarterback and efficient passer as Eli has been, giving him the ball 20 times a game, anyone can flourish like that."
Third Down: How do you defend him? You talked about the catch radius. He obviously has breakneck speed and gamebreaking ability ... Do you need to do anything differently when you line up against someone like him?
Walter Thurmond: "You need sound coverage. There's multiple different things that teams can do. You can put an extra guy over the top to where you limit those deep throws down the field and make him play a shorter game, shorten his routes and really frustrate him at the line of scrimmage. A lot of receivers don't like getting touched at the line of scrimmage and since being a press team, we'll use that to our advantage. We'll try to press him and really get him out of his game. That's the thing, especially with speedy receivers it's all about going up there and rattling him."
Fourth Down: How much does the Giants offense change with or without him? Obviously he's dealing with a hamstring injury, how much of a loss would that be for them if he can't go?
Walter Thurmond: "I think they'll still play their same play-calling. Randle is Eli's next favorite target on that offense. I think he'll get a lot of balls thrown his way. He's a very deceptive receiver, as well. He has deceptive speed and great hands. I think they'll stick to the same offensive structure. It just might be a little different as far as where the ball gets thrown."
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There were plenty of encouraging signs in the Eagles' blowout win over the Saints. From Fletcher Cox's dominance to Josh Huff's emergence, the Eagles showed what they're capable of doing. Now the question is: Can they do it again vs. the Giants? Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.
Matt Lombardo may be reached at MDLombardo@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardo975. Find NJ.com Philadelphia Sports on Facebook