It was a pair of backup safeties who helped Juan Castillo in his debut as defensive coordinator, as Jaiquawn Jarrett and Jarrad Page each collected an interception in the Eagles' 13-6 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.
Jarrett's interception came against backup Tyrod Taylor early in the second quarter. He returned the errant pass 20 yards to put the Eagles into prime field goal range. Taylor tried to force a pass to wide receiver Torrey Smith, but cornerback Curtis Marsh had him covered and forced the receiver towards Jarrett's direction.
"It was a great experience to come out here in my first professional game to get out here and compete," said Jarrett, who happened to play his college ball at Lincoln Financial Field as a member of the Temple Owls. "The coaches had faith in me and the players did, so it was exciting for me to get a turnover and get the offense back on the field."
Late in the third quarter, with the Ravens trailing 13-3 but deep in Philadelphia territory, Page grabbed a highlight-reel interception off Taylor at the goal line - easily the biggest defensive play of the game. Taylor tried to fit the ball into receiver Tandon Doss, but the veteran Page was able to come up with the ball and maintain awareness of the sideline.
"I thought there was enough air," Page said. "I knew I could catch it. I just wanted to make sure I came down in bounds, because I didn't want to fly out of bounds. I tried to slide a little bit so that I was in bounds, so that was the only thing I was worried about."
While Jarrett was a second-round draft pick by the Eagles in April's draft, Page was signed as a free agent on August 2 and is competing with a number of safeties for a roster spot.
"The one thing I am in control of is going out there and doing well in practice and in a game," Page said. "That's the only thing I am in control of. Everything else is in the air. I just feel like I can do what I can do and we'll see what happens."
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