Why Hurts has to play vs. the Jets

[time2rock]

Why Hurts has to play vs. the Jets

 

Judging from what Nick Sirianni said after the Patriots game, it sure doesn’t sound like Jalen Hurts is going to play against the Jets.

Hurts played 10 snaps against the Steelers, and he was sick and didn’t play Thursday night against the Patriots. And with a three-game preseason this year, the Jets a week from Friday is the final preseason game of the summer.

Maybe I’m reading Sirianni wrong, but after the Patriots game, when he was asked about Hurts playing against the Jets, he emphasized that Hurts will get good work in joint practices during the week.

"Next week we have two practices against the Jets and two other practices,” he said. "I've said before, those are like games, so he is going to be able to get two more there. I'm pretty confident that we'll get a lot of good work against the Jets.”

Sounds like the decision has already been made.

Joint practices against the Jets and then shut him down.

That would mean the sum total of Hurts’ first preseason as a starting NFL quarterback would be two drives, 10 snaps, three completions, one field goal, one stomach ache and a whole lot of standing around watching.

Now, I love joint practices. I’m all for the Eagles holding two sets of sessions with other teams. That’s valuable work in a controlled setting that really helps teams get better without putting players at risk.

And I also don’t have a problem with the nature of Sirianni’s practices. They’re short, and there are no live periods, but the workouts are fast-paced, dynamic and efficient, and when supplemented by a healthy dose of classroom work and film study they’re an effective method of preparation. Everything is geared toward getting 53 guys to opening day healthy.

That said, football players need to play football to be ready for the season.

And 10 snaps isn’t enough.

This goes for the entire team, especially the offense, but Hurts in particular. He needs to play Friday night, and he needs to play significant snaps.

He needs reps with DeVonta Smith, who he hasn’t played a snap with in an Eagles uniform. He needs work with Jalen Reagor and Quez Watkins, who the Eagles will be leaning heavily on. He needs work behind the starting offensive line, which he’s never gotten. He needs to face a live rush, which he hasn’t other than a handful of snaps against the Steelers. He needs to make the kind of quick decisions in the pocket that practice just can’t replicate.

Hurts has had a nice training camp, and I’m excited to see what he can do once the regular season begins in Atlanta on Sept. 12. But 10 snaps 31 days before the season opener is not enough to get him ready.

Joe Flacco was asked about his poor play against the Patriots Thursday night coming on the heels of two very good days in joint practices.

His answer speaks volumes:

"You have to come out and prove it every day in this league,” he said. "Just because you do something one day doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed anything the next. Practices aren’t games.”

Practices aren’t games.

Flacco may have been talking about himself and the second-team offense, but his words apply to Hurts as well.

Hurts just hasn’t played that much NFL football. He only played three games start to finish last year, and now he’s in a different offense with different plays and different coaches and a different play caller and different teammates, and considering all that, 10 snaps isn’t enough.

I want to see the starting offense take most of the first half Friday night against the Jets. I want to see Hurts do all the things he’s been doing in practice but in a live setting.

Let’s see an extended drive. Let’s see the football in the end zone. Let’s see the ball spread around. Let’s see Hurts take off and use his legs if it’s warranted. Let’s see Miles Sanders catch a pass,  Smith get down the field, Jalen Reagor finish a play, the o-line work together as a complete unit.

Joint practices are fine. But they’re not enough. They’re not football. And Hurts needs to play some football before Sept. 12.

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/eagles-jalen-hurts-eagles-ny-jets-nfl-preseason-nick-sirianni

[PoconoDon]

He might get a quarter. After all, they have to  be fresh for the season opener.

[brkmsn]

2 hours ago, PoconoDon said:

He might get a quarter. After all, they have to  be fresh for the season opener.

I wouldn't have any problem with that. 

[E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles]

I doubt we see him much, so we are left to assume that the coaches are satisfied with his development.  Time will tell if that is accurate or not.

[Diehardfan]

19 minutes ago, E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles said:

I doubt we see him much, so we are left to assume that the coaches are satisfied with his development.  Time will tell if that is accurate or not.

I hope he plays because if he goes down they won't lose much past getting a better pick instead of going 8-9. If he plays he gets "experience"... if he plays and get hurts it's a win, too. 

[time2rock]

54 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

I hope he plays because if he goes down they won't lose much past getting a better pick instead of going 8-9. If he plays he gets "experience"... if he plays and get hurts it's a win, too. 

It's never a win when your starting QB gets hurt. 

[UK_EaglesFan89]

I don't think he's going to get a lot out of a preseason game against the Jets unless he was going to get a good half and that seems very unlikely. 

[Diehardfan]

7 hours ago, time2rock said:

It's never a win when your starting QB gets hurt. 

I say play him the whole game and hope for the best pick next spring.

[Portyansky]

1 hour ago, Diehardfan said:

I say play him the whole game and hope for the best pick next spring.

You realize that even if he gets Hurt, Howie won't pull the trigger on another QB. Unless Hurts plays some during the season and is absolute garbage. But in your scenario, not gonna happen. Besides, the QB class next year looks meh.

 

[Diehardfan]

11 minutes ago, Portyansky said:

You realize that even if he gets Hurt, Howie won't pull the trigger on another QB. Unless Hurts plays some during the season and is absolute garbage. But in your scenario, not gonna happen. Besides, the QB class next year looks meh.

 

I'll roll the dice. Better pick to use for a trade then. Hurts isn't the guy. Don't wish him harm, but if it happens it may work out better for them.

[Portyansky]

9 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

I'll roll the dice. Better pick to use for a trade then. Hurts isn't the guy. Don't wish him harm, but if it happens it may work out better for them.

If you don't think he's the guy, then it's probably better if he plays and fails, then the FO will have proof, otherwise they will be saying "what if". 

Edit: not defending him or any unproven player, but I like evidence before I make a decision. The fact Siri is sitting him may be a good sign that he's seen enough.

[Diehardfan]

1 hour ago, Portyansky said:

If you don't think he's the guy, then it's probably better if he plays and fails, then the FO will have proof, otherwise they will be saying "what if". 

Edit: not defending him or any unproven player, but I like evidence before I make a decision. The fact Siri is sitting him may be a good sign that he's seen enough.

He'll end up being 8-9  or 7-10 and people will make all kinds of excuses to give him another year. Typical playmaker with his legs that gets them past a few bad teams and smoked against good ones.

[brkmsn]

9 hours ago, Diehardfan said:

He'll end up being 8-9  or 7-10 and people will make all kinds of excuses to give him another year. 

Yeah ... I guess we're seeing that happen with Herbert and the 7-9 chargers. 

[Diehardfan]

1 hour ago, brkmsn said:

Yeah ... I guess we're seeing that happen with Herbert and the 7-9 chargers. 

He is a real QB who can throw. Hurts is not. 

[brkmsn]

10 hours ago, Diehardfan said:

He is a real QB who can throw. Hurts is not. 

My point is the record is a team stat, not a QB stat. 

[Perforator]

On 8/22/2021 at 9:00 PM, Portyansky said:

You realize that even if he gets Hurt, Howie won't pull the trigger on another QB. Unless Hurts plays some during the season and is absolute garbage. But in your scenario, not gonna happen. Besides, the QB class next year looks meh.

 

Have you forgotten that Philadelphia is home of the Quarterback Factory?

 

[time2rock]

2 hours ago, Perforator said:

Have you forgotten that Philadelphia is home of the Quarterback Factory?

 

Quarterback Factory ...  up there with Gold Standard and New Norm and Dream Team.  I cringe every time I hear those words (or see them in type).