For the Philadelphia Eagles, Nick Sirianni’s in-game decisions have been a matter of incessant debate on sports talk radio through the first three weeks. He has opted to go for it on 4th-and-1 in crucial spots instead of attempting chip-shot field goals to add on necessary points.
One of those head-scratching moves resulted in a turnover on downs against New Orleans when the Eagles ran a fake tush push, with Jalen Hurts tossing it two yards into the backfield, only to see Saquon Barkley stopped dead in his tracks. Sirianni immediately took responsibility for the failed play-call — “That was me. I called it,” the head coach said — but that hasn’t quieted people from continuing to question if Sirianni or offensive coordinator Kellen Moore was to blame.
“It takes everybody,” Sirianni told reporters on Sept. 25. “There are different guys that have different assignments that you give them throughout each week. Kellen [Moore] has a couple different ways that he does some things as far as how he splits up who has red zone, who has third down, who has this. That’s what’s so cool about football is the collaborative effort, and that it is a true team game, and that you cannot be great without the greatness of others. Again, that holds true in every aspect of football. Not just on the field, but also on the coaching staff.”
Later, Hurts was asked to further elaborate on how Sirianni has dealt with the adversity and how the head coach reacts to things in the moment. The smooth-talking quarterback reached into his bag of cliche coach-speak to quiet the din.
“I’ve been really focused on attacking every day, and I think the team has been the same way,” Hurts said. “And Nick’s putting his best effort forward and doing that, and he’s doing great job in leading and in the end, we just have to stay together and get through any moment … I mentioned it in the game, I mention it all the time, you know, not riding waves and just keeping the main thing the main thing.”
Keeping the main thing the main thing. Staying away from the rat poison. Rent is due every day. Just trying to be a coffee bean. He never misses an opportunity to weave in a Jalen-ism.
Jalen Hurts hypes up Eagles backups stepping up due to injuries
The Eagles are dealing with some major injuries heading into Week 4, including a concussion for DeVonta Smith and bum hamstring for A.J. Brown. If their two starting wide receivers can’t suit up on Sunday, it’ll likely mean that Parris Campbell gets elevated from the practice squad for a second straight week.
Hurts isn’t too worried about the Eagles’ injury bug. He has all the trust in the world for Campbell and the rest of the backups.
“His professionalism when he comes to work, his will to learn, how invested he is … you can see that clearly during those times we’ve had to build that chemistry,” Hurts said of Campbell. “You know who your guys are, but you never know when your number is going to be called, and I think guys have done a great job of stepping up, and I have a ton of trust in all of those guys.
“I think, it was a funny moment to me, and I wouldn’t have acknowledged it in the huddle, but I looked in the huddle one time and I saw so many different faces … but the game goes on, it’s truly a next man up mentality, and that’s a testament to the work that everybody puts in in this building.”
Here’s how those “different faces” fared: Campbell, a six-year veteran, made two receptions for 13 yards on 36 snaps. Rookie Johnny Wilson made one catch for 9 yards on 24 snaps. And fill-in starter Jahan Dotson caught two balls for 8 yards on 63 snaps. Those numbers aren’t awe-inspiring, prompting one reporter to ask if the Eagles’ offense needed to be “reinvented and changed” with the team’s top playmakers out.
“Reinvented and changed? I don’t think those are the words,” Hurts said. “I think that everybody is here and has something that makes them great, and so it comes down to putting them in position to shine in the places that they excel.”
Quote of the Day: Jalen Hurts Talks Vocal Leadership
One of the topics du jour this offseason revolved around Jalen Hurts’ vocal leadership. He’s always been respected in the locker room, walking with a certain swagger while “setting the temperature” and pushing teammates to work harder.
Yet Hurts’ critics want to hear him speak up and take charge when the cameras on. Has he done that? Well, listen to his answer when asked if he’s become a more vocal leader in 2024 …
“I know there are a lot of eyes [on me] and I know I set the pace, ultimately, you just want everybody to know the vision,” Hurts said. “Everybody’s role matters. And that’s communicated by action and that’s communicated by work, by the time you put in, and by extra meetings that we’re having. And, obviously, just speaking and communicating, you know … ultimately, people want to play with people that play hard, and I think I just try to be the best I can be for the team and do that.”
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
