If the multiverse was actual, the upcoming 2024 Philadelphia Eagles season may spawn an 8-episode Disney+ Marvel sequence.
With coaching camp a few week away, they’re a staff with each nice potential for achievement and failure and I don’t know which course this season goes to go. In 2022, they have been a Tremendous Bowl staff that got here inside a whisker of being world champions. For many of final season, they regarded like a juggernaut. They then collapsed like a home of playing cards, with locker room chaos and training mayhem spilling out onto the sphere throughout an epic 1-6 end.
There are causes to consider a Tremendous Bowl staff nonetheless lives inside this roster, however there are additionally the explanation why this staff may stumble as soon as once more. For right this moment, listed below are my 5 largest causes to be optimistic that the Eagles are as soon as in opposition to be Tremendous Bowl sure.
Jalen Hurts
Hurts didn’t appear to be himself for a lot of 2023. I proceed accountable the shortened low season, elevated duties (media interviews, charity occasions, calls for on his time, and so forth.), and contract negotiations as the principle the explanation why he didn’t appear as bodily or mentally ready for the beginning of final season. If there actually was no harm slowing him down final season (he began all 17 video games), that’s actually the one logical rationalization for his lack of explosiveness within the run sport. One thing was simply off.
All that mentioned, Hurts wasn’t dangerous for many of 2023. He threw for 3,858 yards and ran for 605. He scored 15 TDs on the bottom, most of them by way of the Brotherly Shove, with a passer ranking of 89.1 that wasn’t superior, but in addition wasn’t horrible. And he’s able to having video games like this anytime he desires.
The difficulty with Hurts final season was the factor that made him so extremely good the season earlier than — turnovers. In 2022, he threw simply 6 INTs. Final yr, he threw 15. He was additionally performed in by play calling (which we’ll get to in only a minute) and an lack of ability to beat even the only blitzes, each of which can possible be addressed in 2024.
I don’t know if Hurts goes to be an MVP candidate as soon as once more, however I believe it’s extra possible than not he’s again to being a simpler runner and, consequently, a top-5 QB. If he’s, the Eagles are going to win loads of video games.
Actual Coordinators
Final summer season, one of many questions consistently being requested was how a lot the lack of Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon would harm the Eagles. I didn’t wish to consider it might have a big impact and, for a lot of the season, it appeared like OC Brian Johnson and DC Sean Desai have been dealing with issues OK.
Then, the underside fell out. Desai was demoted and changed with the incompetent Matt Patricia because the staff misplaced six of their last seven video games. Trudging off the sphere following their humiliating 32-9 loss to Tampa within the wild card spherical of the playoffs, any doubt that the Eagles have been performed in by their coordinators have been etched in stone.
Nick Sirianni was additionally deserving and has obtained a lion’s share of the blame, too.
Sirianni remains to be round, however normal supervisor Howie Roseman and proprietor Jeff Lurie prioritized expertise when going after replacements at offensive and defensive coordinator. Kellen Moore ought to be a large improve over Johnson, who merely wasn’t able to be an NFL play-caller. Moore’s had success as the previous Dallas coordinator and can hopefully add components to Sirianni’s offense (pre-snap movement, blitz beaters, scorching routes, and so forth.) that was woefully lacking final yr.
As for the defensive aspect of the ball, the Eagles are now not using coaches who emulate the model of Vic Fangio. They went and employed the architect himself. Whereas Fangio’s defenses have hardly ever been top-five models, they normally have been competent. After what we noticed final yr, competent could be a really good enchancment.
Jeff Stoutland
We’re all involved about a few of the modifications and query marks on the offensive line this yr. Jason Kelce’s retirement leaves a gaping gap at one of the vital spots alongside the road, with Cam Jurgens slated to slip into the spot he was initially drafted for. Like Kelce, Jurgens is an above common athlete at that place and has proven in his transient glimpses at heart a capability to get downfield in run blocking like his predecessor did.
That additionally means a change is coming at proper guard, Jurgens’ earlier place. We’ll see the way it all shakes out throughout coaching camp, however for the time being, former third spherical choose Tyler Steen and free agent signee Mekhi Becton are the leaders to take over that spot.
Becton and Steen are each athletic and powerful, however unproven. Becton was a former first spherical choose from the Jets however has disenchanted in his transient NFL profession. That’s the place the magic of offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland is available in. His skill to get essentially the most out of nearly everybody he coaches is sufficient to encourage confidence that the O-line can survive and, dare I say, even thrive with out Kelce holding down the center.
Improved Secondary
Final yr, the Eagles featured the worst secondary within the league. QBs threw by way of them like Papier-mâché. So Roseman made it some extent to focus on the secondary in each the draft and free company.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson is a large addition to the protection place. First spherical choose Quinyon Mitchell may very well be a starter from the primary snap. Second rounder Cooper DeJean can also be anticipated to contribute immediately. Isaiah Rodgers impressed in coaching camp at nook, with Kelee Ringo additionally trying fairly good.
With Darius Slay nonetheless an efficient No. 1 nook, it’s totally doable James Bradberry will probably be launched and Avonte Maddox’s future with the staff is unsure, too. Sydney Brown and Reed Blankenship must also be wholesome for the beginning of the season, giving Fangio a surplus at an space that had been an enormous problem final season.
Longer View of Historical past
All of us keep in mind how final season ended. It was the worst collapse by an Eagles staff we’ve ever seen. However there have been actual, tangible causes that it occurred, a lot of it coaching-related. A lot of these points have been addressed and, hopefully, corrected.
It shouldn’t be misplaced on anybody that, previous to their 1-6 end, the Eagles had gone 26-5 of their earlier 31 video games going again to the beginning of the 2022 season. They began 10-1 final yr. They beat the Chiefs in Kansas Metropolis and the Buffalo Payments in OT. They beat the Dolphins in Miami, the Bucs in Week 3, the Rams in Los Angeles and the Cowboys at house.
Ought to we outline the Eagles by their brutal end or the success the staff had underneath Sirianni and Hurts since halfway by way of the 2021 season? Empires fall, however possibly it’s too quickly to throw grime on the Eagles’ empire simply but.
