Some Hurts Talk

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Some Hurts Talk

Posted: July 27th, 2022 | Author: Tommy Lawlor 

All eyes will be on Jalen Hurts this summer. That’s true of almost every QB, but it is especially true with Hurts and this Eagles team. The roster looks to be loaded. This could be a good team that could do some damage in the playoffs. That will only happen if Hurts does his part.

I went back to re-read some notes on Hurts from last summer. He was very up and down the first week of camp. He started to play consistently well in mid-August. We do need some perspective on that. Hurts was in his first Training Camp as the Eagles starter. That means lots of reps…and lots of pressure. Hurts was learning a new offense and getting used to new coaches. Starting slow is understandable when you think about those factors.

Hurts now has 19 career starts (plus one in the postseason). The offense is the same as last year’s and the coaching staff is the same. That combination of experience and continuity should help quite a bit.

I mentioned recently that Hurts could be up and down to start this year as he tries to incorporate the mechanical improvements he made this offseason into real live football. It can take a few practices for those changes to feel natural and work in a team practice setting. Still, Hurts should hit his stride pretty quickly. He has good blockers, good receivers and a much better feel for the offense.

So what are we looking for?

• Accuracy
• Decision-making
• Working the middle of the field
• Getting the ball out quickly

The Eagles must have a more consistent passing attack. You can’t live on big plays and play-action passes. DeVonta Smith is an excellent route-runner and has pretty good chemistry with Hurts. AJ Brown is a big, physical receiver who doesn’t have to be open to be open, if that makes sense. He and Hurts are old friends so I don’t think trust will be an issue at all.

Hurts must get the ball to these two quickly so they can make plays for him. Nick Sirianni is a big believer in yards after the catch, an area where the Eagles struggled last year. They were 22nd in the league last year, almost 1000 yards behind the league-leading Chiefs.

YAC comes from a QB making a quick decision and then throwing an accurate pass. If the receiver can catch the ball on the run, you have a chance for a big play. If the receiver has to slow down or adjust to the ball, the defense has an easier time getting to them and limiting the play. Brown should be a big help in this area.

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Dallas Goedert led the Eagles in YAC last year. He’s dangerous after the catch, but think about the plays above. Those are explosive plays that led to huge gains. Goedert has never had a reception longer than 45 yards in his career. If you’re TE can deliver YAC, that’s great but you need wide receivers to be the key guys. They have the speed and running ability to deliver home runs and not just doubles.

If TC reports talk about Hurts hitting his receivers over the middle or on quick in-breaking routes, that will be a great sign. That’s what you want. If WRs are making spectacular one-hand catches for 20 yards, that’s an issue. You can’t sustain that.

This will be a huge summer for Hurts. Let’s hope he’s ready.

*****

Mike Sando talked to coaches and executives around the league to put together rankings on the starting QBs in the NFL. He broke them into tiers.

Tier 1 – 6 QBs

Tier 2 – 8 QBs

Tier 3 – 9 QBs

Hurts was ranked 20th overall and fell into the middle of Tier 3.

Hurts jumped 10 spots from last season, the largest year-over-year gain (Burrow climbed nine spots). Some of that was because Hurts debuted so low as a player with minimal experience and a modest pedigree, but voters also admire Hurts for his approach to the game despite seeing limitations that most feel will prevent Hurts from climbing into Tier 2.

"He is a poor man’s Baltimore guy (Jackson) because he can’t run that fast, but he’s so serious about his job, and he’s physically and mentally tough,” an offensive coach said. "He will play very, very consistent. He just won’t be a good enough passer over time to get out of the 3s.”

A quandary awaits Philadelphia if Hurts remains the starter.

"Their staff did a masterful job adjusting the offense for Hurts,” a defensive coach said. "It is just very rare that you are going to have sustainable success running a college-style offense with a limited passer. You are on a path where you are either going to recreate Baltimore’s offense or Hurts is going to prove to you that he can play in a pro-style offense or you are going to get a new quarterback.”

Two head coaches did think Hurts could ascend into Tier 2.

"Jalen is a 3 with an arrow to maybe a 2,” one of the head coaches said. "I love the guy. We couldn’t take him as high as Philly took him, him but if he would have fallen, we were definitely interested. I like that he wants to be really good, and I thought he was playing some pretty good football last year.”

The prevailing thought on Hurts is that he’s doing an excellent job running an offense that the Eagles’ coaching staff has effectively tailored to his strengths, and that he’ll need to grow considerably as a passer for Philly to contend.

"If the guy can’t stand there and win on third down with his arm, you don’t have a chance,” an offensive coordinator said.

That all seems pretty fair. We really do have to sit back and see what Hurts does.

*****

Lance Zierlein ranked his candidates for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Lance correctly predicted Micah Parsons to win the award last year. Did any Eagle make this list?

Number 8 – LB Nakobe Dean

We know linebackers with playmaking tendencies have a good shot to find their way into the conversation when it comes to DROY contention, and Dean fits into that category. He slid into the third round of the draft due to medical concerns, which might have taken him off of some radars for this award. However, Dean will have former Georgia teammate Jordan Davis eating up blocks in the middle of the Philly D-line to put him in good position to make plays. Both Dean’s sack total and ball production against the pass improved in Georgia’s championship season, so he should be one to watch if he can stay healthy and win a starting job early on.

Dean has to win a starting job before we get too excited, but he certainly has a chance to have a big year. He is a natural playmaker and he’ll have plenty of talent on the field around him. And you know Dean will have a chip on his shoulder after sliding in the draft. He will be a man on a mission.

Lance picked DE Aidan Hutchinson as his choice to win this year’s award.

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