With the NFL calendar in hibernation mode, it’s time to be a reflective Eagles fan.
Hop on YouTube. Watch some highlights. Perhaps a compilation of Saquon Barkley’s finest runs from his 2,000 yard season. Perhaps it’s a mash-up of the Eagles’ playoff run. Perhaps it’s simply re-watching Tremendous Bowl 59 in its entirety.
It’s additionally time to ask questions. With coaching camp nonetheless a bit of over every week away, there are blessedly few issues to fret about for Eagles followers right here in mid-July, however that’s to not say there aren’t some query marks in regards to the defending champs.
Whereas there are greater than what’s under, listed below are 5 questions I’m ruminating on with the NFL information grinder caught in impartial.
1) Will There Be Rising Pains with Kevin Patullo because the New OC?
After a superb 2022 by which Shane Steichen put collectively one of many biggest play-calling seasons in franchise historical past, he departed Nick Sirianni’s workers to take over as head coach of the Colts. In his wake, the Eagles employed QB coach Brian Johnson to exchange him. Johnson had by no means referred to as performs previous to taking up as offensive coordinator for the ‘23 season, and it didn’t go effectively.
Final low season, Kellen Moore was introduced aboard after Johnson was fired. Whereas the offense, particularly the passing sport, didn’t blow anybody’s socks off, it in the end did operate at the next degree and reached new heights within the playoffs, led primarily by the operating prowess of Barkley and Jalen Hurts. However after only one season, Moore is gone and the staff is as soon as once more turning to an untested play-caller, former passing sport coordinator Kevin Patullo.
Patullo served as an assistant for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs below Chan Gailey, after which as large receivers coach with Nick Sirianni in Indianapolis. Delivered to Philadelphia by Sirianni in 2021, Patullo has climbed the ladder and now takes over as offensive coordinator, calling performs for the primary time in his profession.
Will this time be completely different than Johnson’s failed run as OC two years in the past? There’s purpose to consider it should.
First, the Eagles nonetheless have Barkley. Second, Hurts’ mobility appeared missing throughout the ‘23 season, and re-emerged final 12 months as a signature a part of his sport. Third, the offensive line stays among the best in soccer, and regardless that Hurts can have his fourth play-caller in 5 seasons, the offense goes to look loads prefer it did a 12 months in the past. This actually is the Hurts/Saquon offense greater than it’s “Patullo’s” offense.
That mentioned, we gained’t know the way successfully the Eagles’ offense will operate with Patullo as the brand new play-caller till the common season will get underway.
2) How Shut Will Saquon Barkley Get To His 2024 Season?
It’s not out of the realm of chance Barkley may strategy 2,000 yards once more. The offensive line continues to be extraordinarily good, there are nonetheless simply as many threats to catch the ball and take some focus off him, and Jalen Hurts continues to be an excellent quarterback.
That mentioned, the percentages are lengthy. He virtually actually gained’t break as many lengthy runs as he did a 12 months in the past, however even a 1,500+ yard season can be excellent. Maybe it is a season the place the passing sport carries extra of the load.
Barkley’s 2024 season will virtually actually by no means be repeated, however how shut will he get in Yr No. 2 in Philly?
3) When Will Nakobe Dean Be Again?
All the fanbase breathed an enormous sigh of reduction when the staff re-signed Zack Baun following the Tremendous Bowl. It means there may be a minimum of one top-notch participant at that place heading into the season.
Well being is the query mark, primarily Nakobe Dean’s, who’s within the ultimate 12 months of his rookie contract and will definitely miss a piece of this season as he recovers from a torn patella tendon within the wild card win over Inexperienced Bay. How large a piece? Dean nonetheless doesn’t know, and neither do the Eagles, it appears.
It’s additionally unclear when first spherical choose Jihaad Campbell can be prepared. Recovering from surgical procedure to restore a torn labrum, Campbell would possibly want a pair weeks of the common season earlier than he’s trusted to play, very like Cooper DeJean a season in the past. Within the meantime, can the Eagles run with Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. because the second linebacker? How lengthy will he be capable of maintain down the fort?
4) Can the Eagles survive the losses alongside their line of defense?
Josh Sweat is gone. Milton Williams is gone. Brandon Graham is gone. Bryce Huff, effectively, he by no means was actually all right here. The Eagles are going to be counting on youthful gamers to generate a move rush this season, however will they be as much as their elevated roles?
Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt and Moro Ojomo all discovered one other gear late within the season and all through the postseason. Can they carry that into 2025? Does Jordan Davis have one other degree, or is what we’re seeing what we’re going to get? And what’s Jalen Carter’s ceiling? What can we count on from him in Yr No. 3?
Sweat and Williams weren’t superstars and Graham was growing old, however all have been productive members of a D-line rotation that obtained higher because the season went alongside. Hopefully, the kids they’re relying on for manufacturing will present it.
5) Did the postseason repair Jake Elliot?
Jake Elliot was brutal within the common season. His 77.8% discipline purpose fee was twenty eighth out of 36 NFL kickers, and he made simply certainly one of seven makes an attempt from 50 yards or longer.
Then, the playoffs got here, and Elliot was on fireplace.
He nailed large kicks within the snow in opposition to the Rams, and calmly poured one lengthy discipline purpose after one other via the uprights within the Tremendous Bowl. Kickers, by nature, are unstable. Elliot has been one of the constant kickers within the NFL since he arrived in 2017. As he endured his struggles final 12 months, there was some thought he was nearing the top of his tenure in Philly, however hope is renewed that Elliot discovered himself throughout the greatest moments of the Birds’ season final 12 months.
So, did the playoffs repair Jake Elliot? We’ll see.
