In 2022, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had a breakout campaign and MVP-caliber season. In just his second year as a starter, Hurts threw for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns to just six interceptions. On top of this, Hurts rushed for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns. His breakout success was impactful enough to lead the team all the way to the Superbowl where they came up just short. Ever since that 38-35 loss, the quarterback simply hasn’t looked the same. While still leading the team to 11 wins in 2023, Hurts doubled his interceptions, going from six to 15, and fumbled nine times. Furthermore, Hurts has committed 26 turnovers in his last 21 games. This trend can’t continue if the Eagles look to reach their full potential. The question is, is Hurts’ turnover problem fixable or part of his identity?
What Worked in 2022?
If Hurts’ turnover problem has been such a big issue as of late, how was he able to be so accurate during his best season? Part of this could be that the dynamic on offense was different. First the team had a different offensive coordinator. Shane Steichen took control of playcalling in 2021 from first-year coach Nick Sirianni, and the offense never looked better.
Steichen had a clear sense of Hurt’s as a player and designed and offensive scheme to fit his strengths. In particular, Hurts has exceptional ability as a power runner and Steichen recognized that. Under his tenure, the team adopted a more run heavy style featuring Hurts as an X-factor and it was really effective. In 2021, Hurts rushed for 784 yards and 10 touchdowns, while averaging a stellar 5.6 yards per carry. This continued in his 2022 season as his rushing attempts went from 139 to 165.
Understanding Hurts
Hurts also has a unique running style for a quarterback in that he is a very physical runner. Most mobile quarterbacks today, like Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray, are known for their speed and elusiveness. While Hurts can certainly make people miss, he’s much more of a “north-south” runner who will try to go through you, not around. Add on the raw power in his legs, he squatted 500 pounds at Alabama, and it makes for a runner who is very difficult to tackle in the open field.
This ability is what separated Hurts and made him so special at his peak. Hurts’ ability along with having a premiere back in Miles Sanders lead the team to having an effective run-first style with pass plays saved for longer downs and momentum-shifting plays. This proved true in both 2021 and 2022 where the team ran 1,094 rushing plays to 1,030 passing plays.
What Changed in 2023?
Ever since Steichen left and became head coach of the Colts, the team seems to have an interest in converting Hurts into more of a pocket passer. While his rushing attempts only went down by eight in 2023, his runs were not as impactful only averaging 3.9 yards per attempt. His rushing yards per game also dropped significantly from 50.7 to 35.6. Meanwhile, Hurt’s number of passing attempts took a significant leap. He went from throwing 432 and 460 passes in 2021 and 2022 to 538 in 2023.
However, this change in philosophy didn’t really lead to greater success. Hurts only had about 150 more passing yards in 2023 and one more touchdown with the increased attempts and significantly more turnovers.
Perhaps the secret with Steichen wasn’t trying to fix Hurts’ turnover problem but manage it. Understanding Hurts limitations as a passer and designing a more run-first offense where he can utilize his legs alongside a quality running back could be the key to their return to dominance. The good news is they have all the tools to do so. The offensive line is still great and Saquon Barkley has been stellar through his first three games. With both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith potentially sidelined against Tampa, perhaps this Sunday’s game could be an audition for a change in philosophy.
Main Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
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