NFL writer believes Jalen Hurts puts Eagles in ‘QB purgatory’

[time2rock]

NFL writer believes Jalen Hurts puts Eagles in ‘QB purgatory’

Even if we all disagree about which side of the argument we support, we can understand why the debate exists. Following four starts as QB1 to close his rookie season, the Philadelphia Eagles still weren’t banking on Jalen Hurts. Instead, they held on to the hope that they could repair the burned bridge linking themselves and Carson Wentz. We all know how that turned out.

Though few believed the second-round draftee from Alabama Crimson Tide and Oklahoma Sooners fame would eventually slide past Wentz on the depth chart, that’s exactly what happened. Rumor has it that Carson saw the signs early, and that helped lead to his lack of confidence and on-field deterioration.

Time has flown by. Wentz is gone, and the 2022-2023 NFL season will be Hurts’ third. His second, one that doubled as an 18-week, 17-game audition, was supposed to answer our questions about him, about whether or not he’s the man to lead this franchise. It didn’t do that at all, and that’s why conversations about whether or not the Eagles are in the market for a quarterback remain.

We close in on the NFL Scouting Combine, the next free-agency cycle, and the 2022 NFL Draft. Don’t expect the questions about Jalen Hurts or the rumor mill churning around his name to slow down any.

Jalen Hurts lands in what ESPN calls ‘QB purgatory’.

Here’s something that you’re certain to find as being interesting. One of ESPN’s more trusted voices, staff writer Jeremy Fowler, recently constructed a list of ‘overhaul tiers’ for each of the NFL’s 32 NFL franchises. The Philadelphia Eagles landed in the category of teams who are ‘stuck in QB purgatory’.

Are you interested? We thought you might be. Here’s some of what Fowler had to say on the subject.

(The Eagles’ priorities are to) take stock of the quarterback position and solidify its future. The lifeless wild-card loss to Tampa Bay raises questions about Jalen Hurts’ 2022 outlook in green. Hurts did an admirable job leading Philadelphia to nine wins and a playoff berth, but his problems against the Bucs, including struggling to see open receivers and bailing from the pocket too early, aren’t new. Philadelphia at least needs to create competition for Hurts, and GM Howie Roseman’s aggressive mentality, the Eagles are bound to be involved in a few big-game QB talks leaguewide. How could they not be, with three first-round picks (numbers 15, 16, and 19 overall)?

It’s fair to say that many would agree with his assessment. He also mentioned Philly’s offensive line, commending them for their solid play, but he also expresses concern about Philly’s secondary. Again, it doesn’t take much to see where he’s coming from there.

Successful teams often build from the trenches and work their way to the perimeter, but the consistently elite teams field elite quarterbacks. People are worried in Philadelphia, and as stated earlier, even if you believe that they shouldn’t be, you can see why they are.

Everything we thought we liked about Hurts was confirmed in 2022. We knew that he was mature. We knew that he was super-focused and a leader. If that was all that it took to be a franchise quarterback, there’s no question that Hurts would be the guy.

Unfortunately, just being good enough won’t cut it. The NFL’s elite players at the position must also prove that they can win from the pocket on a week-in and week-out basis. Franchise quarterbacks must be able to outduel other signal-callers in that upper tier and elevate teammates. Those are the areas in which questions about Hurts come from.

When he’s shared the field with some of the game’s better talent at the position, he’s normally been outclassed. That doesn’t mean that he won’t improve. There’s no reason to believe that he won’t as he gains experience, but no one knows how much time he’ll be given, not even the Eagles themselves.

How patient do they intend to be? It shouldn’t take long to figure it out, but for now, the franchise is stuck in neutral, asking the same questions that they asked themselves last season:

Is Jalen Hurts the guy? Should Philly explore other options for the position? Have we seen the best that Hurts has to offer, or is he another, shall we say, Russell Wilson? The pressure is as intense as it ever was. We’ll see if it forges Jalen Hurts into a diamond or proves he’s a pipe on the verge of bursting. Stay tuned.

https://insidetheiggles.com/2022/02/12/nfl-jalen-hurts-eagles-purgatory/

[EaglesAddict]

Agree with the piece, though the concept is obviously not new.  Most teams find themselves in "QB purgatory" simply because of the dearth of elite talent at the position.  For every Burrow, Mahomes and Rodgers, there are numerous Kirk Cousins', Derek Carr's, Ryan Tannehill's and worse.  

Having a QB that is good enough to get you around a .500 record every year leads to neverending purgatory.  Leaves you in a draft spot that makes it hard to trade up without giving up the farm to get what you hope is an elite prospect.  Then again, sometimes it's getting lucky when taking a QB that is not initially seen as "elite" during the draft...like Rodgers lasting until pick 24 in the draft, or Drew Brees who lasted until the 2nd round, etc (and obviously, Tom Brady).

But there are far more busts and mediocre QBs than there are elite ones.  So, many times teams have to settle for "good enough if they get the right pieces around him" approach.

[birdman#12]

The biggest thing that has been lost in the modern NFL is how to develop a QB.  

And that has transpired over the years from the pressure to "win now" and much more coaching changes.  Poor teams throw a young QB in when he's clearly not ready to save the franchise and most of them get screwed up and discarded by the next coach.  QB's rarely get the opportunity to develop unless they are drafted in the top 10 on a team with a stable and secure coaching staff and being in the same system for 3+ years.

Usually these QBs will have 2-3 head coaches and OC's and have to learn 2-4 new systems, usually with a poor supporting cast, before being discarded as a "bust".  Being drafted by a team with a coach on the hot seat is a guarantee of a QB struggling more than expected.

[Cochis_Calhoun]

On 2/16/2022 at 3:55 PM, EaglesAddict said:

Agree with the piece, though the concept is obviously not new.  Most teams find themselves in "QB purgatory" simply because of the dearth of elite talent at the position.  For every Burrow, Mahomes and Rodgers, there are numerous Kirk Cousins', Derek Carr's, Ryan Tannehill's and worse.  

Having a QB that is good enough to get you around a .500 record every year leads to neverending purgatory.  Leaves you in a draft spot that makes it hard to trade up without giving up the farm to get what you hope is an elite prospect.  Then again, sometimes it's getting lucky when taking a QB that is not initially seen as "elite" during the draft...like Rodgers lasting until pick 24 in the draft, or Drew Brees who lasted until the 2nd round, etc (and obviously, Tom Brady).

But there are far more busts and mediocre QBs than there are elite ones.  So, many times teams have to settle for "good enough if they get the right pieces around him" approach.

I'll never understand why the Vikes and Raiders failure to win playoff games is all the QB's fault while Matt Stafford was blameless in Detroit.

[EaglesAddict]

42 minutes ago, Cochis_Calhoun said:

I'll never understand why the Vikes and Raiders failure to win playoff games is all the QB's fault while Matt Stafford was blameless in Detroit.

Do people generally blame Cousins and Carr for their team's failures?  Personally, I haven't seen much of that.  Kinda see them like I saw Stafford in Detroit...middling QBs with a lack of talent around them (except Cousins at least has had good skill guys).  I think Stafford (with Detroit) is/was the best actual QB out of those 3.  But I never saw Stafford as "elite"...and still don't.  

[Procus]

What an amateurish article.  An article about an article about something from ESPN - which loves to stir up the drama.  A big yawn if you ask me.

[UK_EaglesFan89]

We could look at the Hurts situation as a negative. We know he's probably not going to be a high end starter in the league and we know he has limitations. 

Or we could look at the positives. This isn't a good year to need a QB. The veterans that are supposed to be available for trade are too pricey. The rookie draft class isn't thought to be the best. And on top of that there are a high number of teams who need a QB.

We know Hurts can win games. We know we can be competitive (of sorts) with Hurts as QB. So we can build the roster up and bide our time. 

[Rob331]

I agree