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12 Comments (9 conversations)
Bryan
This feels very much like a chicken or the egg scenario. Is Hurts incapable of running a complex offense and the coaching staff has to over-simplify it, leading to predictability? Or is Sirianni to over-reliant on simplicity, leading to predictable players that makes Hurts gun shy? I lean towards the former, where the staff doesn’t trust Jalen and feels the need to over-simplify.
Fahad Zaheer
I can’t imagine the staff, now with another new OC, cannot design a complex pass game. Remember that Sirianni and Moore prefer passing the ball to running it. The GM and Owner are big into analytics and passing the ball. That they have to run so much is a sign that they don’t think he can manage a more complex pass-heavy offense well. They are considering what Jalen likes and dislikes and what he is more comfortable running. Between Hurt’s college coaches (some of them elite who are now NFL coaches) and his NFL Coaches and coordinators, he has worked with coaches who have run more complex pass concepts. These coaches have worked with Luck, Philip Rivers, Herbert, and even got an MVP season out of Wentz. Saban and Riley have coached him. Doug, Nick, Shane Moore, and others. The common denominator is Hurts; he has the same limitations today as in college. Has he improved? Yes! 2022 was that on display. But is he consistent? No, and he seems to have regressed a bit this year. I think it’s mainly because he doesn’t want to turn the ball over.
Jim Kempner
I once heard that a building owner whose apartments are all rented is underperforming; a few vacancies mean his rent levels (and income) are optimized.
If applied to the Eagles, a potential INT here or there shouldn’t restrain Hurts from letting it fly. I’m afraid that the emphasis on zero turnovers is holding Hurts back. It’s reinforcing his natural tendency to hold the ball too long.
Matt
You hit the nail on the head. The issue is he doesn’t have the ability to judge the level of risk when just letting it fly. First play to Brown is a risk you take based on how open he was. But Hurts decides what he is going to do based on the game situation, not how the play unfolds. That’s a problem because other players can also sense the situation and are on the lookout for the hero ball.
James
I think sadly it’s on both Hurts and the coaching staff. Hurts needs to hit the open plays when given the opportunity but some of these route concepts don’t really give him a shot to do anything unless AJ/DeVonta win 1-on-1.
Fahad Zaheer
But even on those 1-on-1 plays, the guys are winning their matchups. The one Fran highlighted, Smith is open if he throws the ball on time. AJ has a one-on-one go route, and he beats his man. If Hurts lays it out, most likely, that’s a completion for AJ.
So yes, the design could be better. But even on the well-designed plays where guys are open, he is gun-shy. And sometimes, the defense will have the perfect call to counter what the Eagles want to do. In those moments, can he make a quick, decisive throw? This last game, he couldn’t.
Sure, play design isn’t the most innovative. Maybe it’s not the Dolphins or 49ers offense. But is that because this is what Hurts can run? And anything more is too much? And even then, what other quarterback has this good of an OL, WRs + TE, run game, RB, and a top-ranked defense? So if the play design isn’t perfect, he can’t throw? He can’t complete the pass unless the guys are open by a mile.
Kevin
Wasn’t Kellen Moore seen as a creative play caller in past stops? I am no expert on offensive schemes, but I thought he was well-regarded in that respect before coming to Philly. Is it possible that Nick has more of a hand in the offense than we have been led to believe?
Alexander Cohen
even the play where Fran talks about it being iso ball AJ is 1 on 1 with no safety over the top on that side of the field and Hurts doesnt notice pre-snap or even look at him. So while sure, they could get more creative guys are getting open anyway. Hurts just needs someone to remind him that he’s actually good and stop playing scared of turnovers.
Eric Jensen
Hurts is thinking too much. He needs to grip it and rip it. Brown is always open.
Megan
Great stuff from Fran as usual! I know Kellen found success in the past and Doug N. has been a QB coach for a number of years – hopefully they can work to get this back on track. I can’t imagine this is a lack of effort on Jalen’s part.
Michael Minarich
Pretty sure we are at the midpoint on the referendum on Hurts as a QB. He either needs to start throwing the ball or we are going to need to look for a QB in the offseason. He’s not a rookie, he doesn’t lack for pass catchers, he has an awesome OLine and running fame, and we have an experienced OC who has successfully run many schemes with multiple QBs. Its all on Hurts. He’s gotten paid and now he needs to earn the money. Can’t have him flounder for another season and start running into trouble with AJ and Devonta asking to be traded to teams with competent QBs
tjrico
Incredible synopsis as always by Fran that raises some uncomfortable but now-unavoidable questions:
•Is Hurts even performing at the level of the mythical derogatory “game manager”? A game manager makes easy-to-moderate passes to open receivers, doesn’t put you further behind the sticks than you started, and doesn’t turn the ball over. He’s one for three here, and not only is he not making the easy-to-moderate passes, he’s not even *throwing* them.
•Is ownership & the front office really pleased with how their money is being spent on the most elite receiver tandem in the league? If the quarterback is not even going to attempt the throws anyway regardless of receiver separation and ability, couldn’t this offense have been wired up on the cheap?
•Shouldn’t we be reevaluating the “Hurts doesn’t trust anyone but AJ & DeVonta” third wide receiver theory? Putting aside whether Dotson is a poor investment, now he doesn’t even trust AJ & DeVonta – when you keep changing all the pieces except one and the issue remains, how confident can anyone be that this third wide receiver issue really has nothing to do with who the third wide receiver is?