The same issues everyone has seen all year still plague the Eagles’ offense. As mentioned over and over this season, getting the plays in faster, and not having any time at the line of scrimmage to make adjustments when Hurts sees what the defense is doing, and running plays that have little to no chance of success because there’s no time to make those adjustments, are huge problems. The amount of time the Eagles had at the LOS after breaking the huddle was almost 5 seconds less in the second half than in the first. That can not happen.
The Eagles are also always fighting from behind due to penalties. They committed 14 for 96 yards, ten of them on the offensive line. The group that used to be the anchor is beating itself by handing out free possessions, taking back first downs, and not playing well enough to establish the run.
Saquon Barkley averaged 2.2 YPC and had a fumble. If Hurts doesnt have more designed runs to assist in the run game and open things up for Saquon, they won’t be successful. The scheme also lacks crossing routes/etc. The Eagles need a quick-passing outlet, and for Hurts and the passing game to open up the running game. They didn’t have to last season; they do now. An all-world OL and a historic season from their running back masked a lot of the issues. OC Kevin Patullo can not lean into the running game the way Kellen Moore did. That cheat code to move the offense has been nonexistent all season.
The running game has been so bad that many fans have begun calling for Tank Bigsby to take over the majority of the carries from Saquon Barkley. First, it was AJ who had lost a step; now their frustration carries over to 2KSA.
The good: QB Jalen Hurts completed 15 of his 16 pass attempts for 154 yards and 1 TD between the numbers. The Cowboys adjusted, the Eagles can’t, or dont, and the main reason is that their offense is one-dimensional. What can you call when teams know it is a pass and that they have wrecked your inept running game?
The bad: One example. In the past, when the Eagles faced a 3rd & 2 like they did in the third quarter, they would have easily picked it up with the run or courtesy of two tush pushes. They can’t do that now. So they took the non-conservative approach and attempted to pass, and were sacked for a big loss. Their inability to run makes their offense very predictable and forces them to execute each play with perfection to move the ball. There is very little leeway for mistakes. The offense has been a tale of two halves all year, leading to a lack of harmony.
All of the offensive shortcomings are turning into frustration and excuses. Landon Dickers stated, “They gave us a defense they rarely run.”
But many have pointed out that Dallas used a 5–2 front against the Raiders for the majority of the game the week prior.
QB Jalen Hurts and HC Nick Sirianni had different answers than Landon Dickerson regarding the Dallas’ 5-man fronts:
Jalen Hurts:
“I think that’s just how they’re built now, given the three interior defenders they have. They want to keep their best guys on the field, and it’s very effective, and it was something that we didn’t handle as good as we like to. So good opportunity to build if that’s something that teams show us.”
Nick Sirianni:
“I think some of the things that we did today, we’re trying to throw them out of it because when you have five men … then they’re gonna have one less guy there into the coverage. So we did some of those things, obviously, not well enough. Again, it comes back to how we scheme it against the different personnel groups and how we execute it.”
Fred Johnson stated, “I have no idea. I’m not a coach.” when asked about why the running game isn’t working.
The team needs an injection of optimism and answers!
Complaints without solutions are not worth the paper they are printed on. Many have complained about replacing Kevin Patullo, but, as mentioned, the running game masked many of Kellen Moore’s and the scheme's deficiencies. The OL and the run game are not a cheat code to bail out a struggling offense or playcaller this season. In fact, the run game needs the passing game to get it going.
The Eagles have played three scoreless halves this season, and for an offense with as much firepower as it has on the roster, that is inexcusable.
I don’t know how much of a difference it would make, but the Philadelphia Eagles are getting close to having to find out if QB coach Scot Leoffler can call plays in the NFL like he did in college and make a difference to a struggling offense desperately searching for an identity.
The OC playcalling may or may not be the biggest issue, but it is one of the few things they can change at this point in the season to try and create an offensive spark.
As always, thank you for reading!
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