Hurts did not throw a landing in three of the workforce’s final 5 video games and subsequent yr he’ll should determine issues out together with his third offensive coordinator in as a few years.
With longtime good friend Brian Johnson out as OC, Philadelphia must be further cautious about who they bring about in. Hurts won’t ever be a standard, drop-back quarterback, however somebody must get him again to his previous self.
Repair the pass-rush
Philadelphia’s protection appeared unstoppable in 2022 with a league-high 70 sacks, 15 greater than another workforce. The Eagles knew they’d want to search out 11 sacks once they misplaced DT Javon Hargrave to San Francisco however hoped Jalen Carter, the workforce’s first-round decide, and second-year sort out Jordan Davis might decide up the slack.
Carter had a decent six sacks in his rookie yr, however Davis’ 2.5 sacks had been the primary of his profession. It didn’t assist that older gamers like Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham mixed for eight sacks in 2023 after registering 18 sacks the yr earlier than. Linebacker Haason Reddick additionally noticed his sack whole drop from 16 to 11 with no sacks in his final 5 video games, together with playoffs.
Now that Vic Fangio has changed Sean Desai because the workforce’s defensive coordinator, it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how the workforce approaches their cross rush. Fangio is greatest recognized for a bend-but-don’t-break fashion much like what the Eagles have executed earlier than, however his Dolphins workforce had the third-most sacks (56) in 2023.
Repair the secondary
No workforce was higher towards the cross than Philadelphia in 2022. With Darius “Huge Play” Slay and James Bradberry on the corners and C.J. Gardner-Johnson at security, the Eagles allowed a league-low 179.8 passing yards per sport. Johnson joined the Lions in 2023, however Bradberry and Slay remained, though the previous did little or no to assist the workforce.
After posting the second-highest protection grade (77.1) of his profession in 2022, Bradberry’s 2023 rating dropped to 52.0, in response to Professional Soccer Focus. Final yr, he noticed the seventh-most targets of any cornerback (95) whereas permitting the Fifteenth-most receptions (56).
Philadelphia drafted security Sydney Brown and cornerback Kelee Ringo within the 2023 NFL Draft and every noticed restricted motion within the common season. As soon as once more it is going to be as much as Fangio to get them prepared as each ought to see extra snaps in 2024.
