The Philadelphia Eagles are in the midst of a painful identity crisis after their loss to the New England Patriots. Jalen Hurts, the team’s second string quarterback, was benched for Nick Foles, who has been plagued by turnovers since being inserted into the starting lineup.
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are in the midst of a painfully broken identity crisis. They have lost their identity as a team, and they need to find it again. Read more in detail here: jalen hurts.
The Philadelphia Eagles have failed to appear like a competitive team this season, despite a lot of summer anticipation. They’re 2-4 after six weeks, and most of their games have been marred by sluggish starts and lackluster offense.
The Eagles are ranked 19th in overall offense, 19th in touchdowns, 23rd in scoring %, and 19th in anticipated points. From an offensive standpoint, Philadelphia is operating below average in every way.
Jalen Hurts, the Eagles’ second-year quarterback, is at the heart of the team’s offensive problems. Hurts’ playstyle is already conflicting with the team’s objectives as he begins the season as the team’s full-time starter for the first time.
Jalen Hurts is having difficulty running Nick Sirianni’s offense.
Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/Jalen Hurts
When the Eagles fired previous head coach Doug Pederson, they made a point of bringing in a younger coach with fresh ideas. Nick Sirianni, the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts, was chosen by owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman, giving him his first chance at becoming an NFL head coach.
The buzz surrounding Sirianni was palpable, particularly after he preached all summer about playing to his players’ strengths. It was expected that he would arrive in Philadelphia with a pro-Hurts offensive.
Unfortunately for Hurts, nothing could be further from the truth. Sirianni’s system is almost entirely based on moving the ball via the air, something Hurts has struggled with in his 10 NFL appearances.
Hurts has a career completion rate of 58.1 percent and a passer rating in the low 80s. He’s a quarterback who like to run the ball. He can’t throw it downfield like other starting quarterbacks in the league.
The Eagles are developing an identity problem.
“I’m just trying to do all that’s asked of me.”
October 20, 2021 — Geoff Mosher (@GeoffMosherNFL)
While the Eagles’ first few defeats might have been ascribed to rust or Hurts and Sirianni getting to know one other, the two are now starting to communicate more information about why things aren’t working out.
Sirianni said at a news conference on October 19 that he is “trying to find methods to make Jalen Hurts more comfortable,” referring to Hurts’ discomfort when forced to push the ball downfield via the air. Hurts likes scrambling, as shown by recent video from the Eagles’ Week 6 defeat.
Hurts, on the other hand, had his own sarcastic remarks. “Just trying to execute everything that’s called,” Hurts said when questioned about his lack of throw attempts over the middle of the field. Hurts seems to be constrained by Sirianni’s play-calling.
So, which one do you think it is? Is Hurts unfit to be the offensive coordinator in the NFL? Is Sirianni’s play-calling so poor that Hurts are having trouble?
What does the future hold for Hurts and the Eagles?
When asked whether he has to remain in the pocket and “make the passes,” Jalen Hurts says he does, but “no one sees what I see out there.” pic.twitter.com/fDtQ6HjAnv
October 20, 2021 — Les Bowen (@LesBowen)
To address the previous question, the reality is that both sides are to blame. Hurts is struggling, and Sirianni is going through the motions of being an NFL play-caller.
What is unforgivable, though, is the lack of cohesiveness that we are seeing. Hurts prefers one approach (a run-first attack), but Sirianni and the Eagles want a different one (pass-first).
The Eagles are dealing with a full-fledged identity crisis, and the whole offense is suffering as a result.
The Eagles will have to choose one element of their organization above the other in the future. Building a run-first system around Hurts’ legs would almost certainly lose Sirianni his job, while maintaining Sirianni’s pass-first approach would necessitate the hiring of a new quarterback. By the conclusion of the season, someone in Philadelphia will be on the hot seat.
Pro Football Reference provided all stats.
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