Just a day after benching Carson Wentz in favor of Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson admitted that he’ll be tweaking the offense a bit ahead of their Week 14 matchup with the New Orleans Saints.
The changes bode well for running back Miles Sanders while Pederson looks to take advantage of Hurts’ athleticism.
“You’ve got to attempt and try to establish a little bit of the run game, that helps,” Pederson said. “[Hurts] can be a part of that, I think, and just go out and maybe try to find some easy completions. Maybe the quick game and a screen here and there and maybe try to find some easy completions … something that’s trying to get him into the flow of the game.”
Sanders has been used sparingly throughout his sophomore season by Pederson — a puzzling stat considering the Penn State product has often impressed when called upon.
While he’s only had 15 or more carries in four of nine games this season, Sanders is averaging 5.3 yards per rush — a byproduct of mismanagement and the Eagles spending a majority of their 2020 season playing from behind.
But Pederson understands that he can’t place the responsibility of pacing the Eagles’ offense solely on Hurts considering they are playing the No. 4 scoring defense and the stingiest unit allowing yards in the league.
“This is the No. 1 defense,” Pederson said of the Saints. “It’s no easy task obviously. He’s facing a really good opponent this week. It’s our job as coaches, it’s my job as a play-caller to try and help him that way and get into the flow of the game and we’ll see what happens from there.”
