Typically, I would wrap up an analysis of the Eagles’ offense and defense during their bye week. However, this year’s bye week is surprisingly early in the season, prompting me to consider a fresh approach. Instead of diving into a ‘fixing the Eagles’ offense and defense’ piece—which might come off as overly critical—I’ve decided to highlight ‘3 Positive Aspects of the Eagles’ Offense and 3 Areas for Improvement.’ This format allows me to celebrate the strengths I’ve observed so far this season! A separate post will address the defensive side of the game. Each point may focus on an individual player, a positional group, or specific schematics. All statistical references are sourced from Pro Football Focus or Sports Info Solutions.

Celebrating the Strengths of the Eagles’ Offense

Highlighting Saquon Barkley’s Impact

Let’s start with the standout performer: Saquon Barkley. It’s impossible to overlook his contributions! Even after just four games, he ranks third in the league for rushing yards, amassing a total of 435 yards and scoring 4 touchdowns from only 73 carries. This impressive statistic translates to a robust average of 6.0 yards per carry. To put it into perspective, his best rushing average during his rookie season was 5.0 yards per carry from 261 carries, resulting in 1307 yards. Additionally, he has shown versatility with 12 receptions for 85 yards and another touchdown, which showcases his all-around talent.

Throughout the offseason, I closely monitored Barkley’s performance, and it was evident he remained an elite player, though I initially questioned his explosiveness compared to his rookie year. Despite concerns that he had lost some speed, his skill set was still mesmerizing. I was caught off guard by some criticism regarding his signing. After watching just a few games, it was clear that Barkley is still a unique and exceptional talent. Here’s what I expressed during that period…

The more I observed Barkley, the more excited I became. While it’s essential to focus on smart team building and reasonable spending, sports should primarily be about enjoyment. Watching my team should be a weekly thrill, and Saquon Barkley brings that excitement. Who wouldn’t want to witness his dynamic play in the Eagles’ offense? Just check out the clips above!

There are numerous talented running backs in the league, but few reach the heights that Saquon Barkley does when he’s at his peak. When fully healthy, he is undoubtedly among the best and most gifted athletes in the NFL. Running backs selected second overall are typically superstars, and Barkley embodies that superstar caliber necessary for success in this league.

One could convincingly argue that Barkley is currently the most complete running back in the NFL. Although the Eagles may have anticipated a more collaborative approach in their backfield this year, it’s clear that Barkley needs to be on the field at all times due to his versatile skill set. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching the running game this season, and I wish we had relied on it even more. Here are some of my favorite runs showcasing his incredible explosiveness and vision.

And yes, he can also excel in the passing game out of the backfield.

The Eagles’ EPA (Expected Points Added) per play stands at 0.04 when Barkley is on the field, compared to -0.18 when he’s not. Who ever said running backs don’t make a difference?

Assessing the Offensive Line’s Performance

There’s no need to elaborate on the performances of Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, or Lane Johnson; their reputations speak for themselves. However, this season marked the introduction of a new center and right guard for the Eagles. It’s quite astonishing that, after four weeks, the absence of Jason Kelce hasn’t been a major talking point. This is largely due to the impressive play by Cam Jurgens. Regardless of your opinion on PFF grades, Jurgens currently ranks as the 9th best center according to their metrics, having allowed 0 sacks, 0 hits, and merely 5 pressures on 156 pass-blocking snaps. That’s an outstanding performance. Initially, I was concerned about how he would fare against larger opponents like Vita Vea, but those worries quickly faded. Jurgens has demonstrated consistent and solid play since the start of the season.

Another significant concern on the offensive line was the right guard position. Both Mekhi Becton and Tyler Steen have shown promising performances at right guard. Although Becton experienced his weakest outing of the season in week 4 while playing through an injury, his overall start to the season has been quite positive. In particular, he has excelled in the run game, showcasing remarkable strength and power.

Tyler Steen has only logged 64 snaps so far, but his performance against the Saints was impressive. He has participated in 43 pass-blocking snaps and has not surrendered a single sack, hit, or hurry. He has also performed well in the run game, showcasing that he can step up effectively as the team’s sixth offensive lineman.

Improving Blitz Management

While the offense has room for improvement, the discussions surrounding their performance against blitzes have been notably absent. Week 4 wasn’t ideal, as the Eagles found themselves in predictable passing situations against a skilled defense led by Todd Bowles, which can always be challenging. However, I’m not overly concerned about that particular game. The Eagles have displayed a clear strategy for quick ball release under pressure, and Jalen Hurts appears to be managing the situation confidently.

The film breakdowns have revealed exactly what I anticipated from a Kellen Moore-designed offense.

Areas for Improvement in the Eagles’ Offensive Strategy

Minimizing Turnovers for Greater Success

It goes without saying that minimizing turnovers is crucial. This point is glaringly obvious yet essential. Discussing schematic adjustments is futile if the team continuously turns the ball over.

The Eagles’ offensive performance has not been as dismal as some critics suggest after four weeks. However, the turnovers have proven to be incredibly frustrating, often derailing promising offensive drives.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts is at the center of the turnover issue. Despite participating in only four games, he leads the league with 11 ‘turnover-worthy plays’ and holds a turnover-worthy play percentage of 6.7%, ranking third in the league, only behind Tyler Huntley and Anthony Richardson. This situation is unacceptable. Hurts’ interceptions have often resulted from being overly aggressive, contributing to a staggering total of 27 turnovers since last season.

While it’s important to acknowledge that he may experience occasional bad luck, the reality is that every quarterback faces challenges. The data reveals that he is attempting too many risky passes.

Moreover, Hurts has struggled with fumbles, having committed two this season, one of which was particularly damaging.

Nick Sirianni frequently emphasizes fundamentals during press conferences, and it’s crucial for the Eagles to have their quarterback prioritize ball security and reinforce the foundational skills of the position.

Expanding the Horizontal Passing Game

Reflecting on my previous analysis of Kellen Moore’s offensive strategy, I identified a potential concern. Moore tends to favor vertical routes and comebacks. While these are timing-based routes, I believe Hurts struggles with executing them promptly. Additionally, these routes often lack the ability to stretch the defense horizontally, limiting opportunities for yards after catch (YAC). One aspect I admired about Moore’s Cowboys offense was its effectiveness in horizontally spreading the defense using motion. Here’s my favorite example of this approach.

Interestingly, we saw a significant amount of horizontal passing concepts in week 3, particularly through the use of Mesh concepts. However, in the subsequent week, the Eagles reverted to a series of vertical routes that failed to effectively challenge the defense. I would love to see a return to more horizontal concepts that force defenses to cover the sidelines while providing the Eagles’ receivers with increased opportunities for YAC, similar to this!

Enhancing Early Down Run Game Strategies with Pistol Formation

I may have slightly bent the rules by combining two points into one, but bear with me. The first point is straightforward: the Eagles need to run the ball more effectively on early downs!

Additionally, I would like to see the Eagles commit to incorporating true designed runs for Jalen Hurts, such as QB counter bash and QB power, instead of relying solely on RPOs or read option plays for his carries. While this isn’t the most critical adjustment, it’s worth noting.

Historically, Kellen Moore has favored running outside zone from under center— and I mean a lot. His running strategy typically mirrors the Shanahan-style offense focused on under center outside zone runs.