The Philadelphia Eagles really feel a bit of flimsy.
Weak. Fragile. Possibly even on the verge of fracture.
They actually appeared damaged in a 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Jalen Hurts took six sacks whereas averaging 5.3 yards per try, much less environment friendly manufacturing than operating again Saquon Barkley, who averaged 8.4 yards per carry. However as a result of the Eagles had been trailing — and their protection could not cease Baker Mayfield — Philly needed to cross with Hurts as a substitute of run with Barkley.Â
It appeared systemically dysfunctional: the protection failing the offense, then the offense failing the protection — and the cycle continued.
And it is not simply this yr. The Eagles’ dysfunction goes again to their late-season collapse final yr. They misplaced 5 of their remaining six regular-season video games and — who else? — the Buccaneers bounced Philly from the playoffs in a 32-9 rout.
The troublesome half about what occurred on Sunday was that it was the identical end result regardless of a very totally different course of. The 2024 Eagles deconstructed their id from final yr in quest of one thing new. Factor is, they’ve but to seek out it.
Similar to final yr, the issues focus on Hurts and coach Nick Sirianni.
“I feel there are loads of groups at this level within the season that do not actually have an id. I feel we’re nonetheless making an attempt to determine it out,” Hurts stated postgame Sunday. “I feel it is difficult while you’ve had totally different shifting items all through. … It is actually a so-what, now-what mentality.”Â
On the finish of final season, Sirianni and Hurts weren’t seeing eye to eye — their relationship was frayed, based on experiences.
It is unclear in the event that they’re on strong footing now. Hurts was requested Sunday after the sport whether or not he and Sirianni will get collectively to debate the best way to tackle the group’s id.
“We have now our moments,” Hurts stated.
Would not actually reply the query.Â
And likewise … awkward.
Sirianni, in the meantime, has been clear he would not blame Hurts for the offensive struggles. He even tried to clarify away Hurts’ turnover points regardless of the quarterback averaging 1.75 per sport this yr. Sirianni referred to as them a “group downside,” however the blame clearly falls on Hurts. And this yr, he is getting worse together with his decision-making after posting 1.2 turnovers per sport in 2023 and .6 per sport in 2022.
Nearly all the pieces is trending the unsuitable manner for Hurts.Â
GM Howie Roseman labored to rectify the group’s points within the offseason. From a personnel standpoint, Roseman introduced in Barkley, who has been a serious improve for the operating and passing video games. However even greater than that, the Eagles modified their offensive system, hiring former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.Â
He was speculated to implement a contemporary offense that relied closely upon movement.
Below former coordinator Brian Johnson, the Eagles constantly ranked final within the league in movement price. Final yr, it was 34.3% (thirty second). This season, with Moore calling the performs, they’re utilizing movement on 57.1% of their snaps, which is a large uptick, even when it is nonetheless the twelfth lowest price within the league.
However it’s not as huge of an uptick as many anticipated when Moore joined the group. In Week 1, they used movement on 65.8% of their performs. The lower has led some to wonder if Sirianni has restricted or influenced Moore’s playcalling.
That might be a disgrace, as a result of the movement is working.
When utilizing movement, Hurts and the Eagles have achieved the second-highest explosive cross proportion within the league at 21.7%, based on Professional Soccer Focus. Their yards per play on movement are 6.4, per Subsequent Gen Stats. Their yards per play with out movement are 4.7.
That hasn’t been sufficient to get the Eagles again within the win column.Â
Anxious about Jalen Hurts after Week 4 loss to Bucs?
Whether or not Sirianni is rejecting change or not, we’re seeing Hurts battle. He isn’t seeing the sector clearly. He is hesitant. And he isn’t making the identical variety of inventive and explosive performs out of construction. So then he is urgent, which has led to turnovers.
“It is not sustainable that we’re minus-6 [in the turnover differential]. That is not a sustainable stat,” Sirianni stated. “Shoot, I am unsure you are 2-2 while you’re minus-6, many instances. One way or the other, we’re.”
Sorry Philly followers — that was, certainly, the coach saying the Eagles are fortunate to be 2-2.
Accidents have been powerful, too. Receiver A.J. Brown has missed three weeks and Devonta Smith additionally missed every week.
However here is the place the issues circle, once more, again to Hurts. Even with these accidents, Eagles receivers have generated the second-most separation within the NFL, whereas Hurts’ accuracy ranks twenty fifth, per Professional Soccer Focus. The gamers not named Brown and Smith are getting open — Hurts merely is not hitting them.
This offense appears misplaced. The Eagles tried to do one thing new. They tried to rebuild their id and the expansion is not heading in a constructive path.
“Id is what you do nicely, what you do constant, and what you cling your hat on,” Sirianni stated.Â
I am unsure they’ve something like that — not on offense or protection.
I am unsure that Hurts has something like that — not as a passer or as a runner.
Therein lies the Eagles’ downside. And it is a fair greater downside if Sirianni is interfering with what the group employed Moore to do: assist Hurts with a brand new offense. As a result of if Sirianni is cussed about maintaining components of his offense and rejecting Moore’s system, then they’re caught in between. And that is why the group is missing an id, which might be why they’ve a quarterback taking part in poorly.
So for those who’re pondering the Eagles look a bit of flimsy, it is as a result of they’re. They may be essentially the most fragile group within the NFL — with all of the expertise they should win a Tremendous Bowl however all the bags to forestall them from getting there. This is not to say the Eagles will not snap out of it. They will get their season again on monitor, they usually have a Week 5 bye to recalibrate.Â
However proper now, it seems like they will both make the Tremendous Bowl — or miss the playoffs solely and fireplace their coach. There’s actually no in between.
Previous to becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years overlaying the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Observe him on Twitter atÂ@henrycmckenna.
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