The 2023 Philadelphia Eagles season ended bitterly. However that was final yr. That is this yr. Why can the Eagles bounce again in a giant means in 2024?
The Eagles teaching employees is best
Philly’s play-callers final yr had been lifeless weight. Offensive coordinator Brian Johnson was in over his head, defensive coordinator Sean Desai obtained benched throughout the season, and alternative Matt Patricia was Matt Patricia. Competency can be an improve over what the Eagles coordinators dropped at the desk final yr.
The Eagles did higher than mere competency. Vic Fangio on protection and Kellen Moore on offense had been the most effective hires the staff might make.
Moore gained’t give his prime working again simply two touches in a recreation. He understands that the principles permit a large receiver to maneuver from one a part of the sphere to a different earlier than the ball is snapped. With 5 years of play-calling expertise, Moore gained’t want the coaching wheels that Johnson wanted however lacked.
Simply as importantly, Moore and his lieutenants — Doug Nussmeier and Kyle Valero — are recent voices. Over 2022 and 2023, the Eagles solely employed one offensive coach from outdoors the group; Marcus Brady, who had beforehand labored with Nick Sirianni. Moore and his employees are a lot wanted new views for an offense that had gone stale.
In the meantime, somewhat than attempt to use one other copy of the Vic Fangio protection, the staff went and employed the real article. They didn’t simply herald Fangio, they rebuilt the protection in his imaginative and prescient. Vangio is prone to have a minimum of 5 new starters via the free company additions of Bryce Huff, Zack Baun, Devin White, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, together with draft picks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. The staff additionally drafted Jalyx Hunt, reportedly a private favourite of Fangio.
What was a weak spot in 2023 ought to be a power in 2024.
The Eagles secondary is gifted and deep
For the primary time in what appears like perpetually, the Eagles have honest-to-goodness depth within the secondary. The depth comes with a caveat: a lot of the gamers didn’t play final yr. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are rookies, Isaiah Rodgers was suspended for all of 2023, and Keele Ringo solely performed six video games on protection.
However the expertise is there, what has been a handicap in recent times ought to be an asset. Vic Fangio isn’t any stranger to taking part in younger gamers or to rotating his secondary, so they need to all get an opportunity to contribute. Gardner-Johnson, DeJean, and Avante Maddox have positional versatility that ought to assist when accidents occur. Final season, too many apply squad gamers had been compelled into motion within the secondary. That shouldn’t be a problem this yr.
Philadelphia’s offense is just too good to fail
The 2024 Eagles will go so far as their offense takes them. Happily, it ought to be the most effective within the league. Regardless of every little thing that went flawed final yr, they nonetheless completed fifth in EPA per play, sixth in success charge, seventh in scoring, eighth in yards, and tenth in DVOA. The Eagles don’t want to guide the league in scoring and just one staff previously decade has had the highest scoring offense and gained the Tremendous Bowl. They simply should be constant and dynamic.
The Eagles nonetheless have a fantastic line even with out Jason Kelce and so they have an elite WR duo. The addition of Saquon Barkley and a wholesome Jalen Hurts, who spent a lot of the 2023 season taking part in via a knee harm, ought to see the run recreation return to dominance. The items for an elite offense are there, and Kellen Moore has proven that he can get a gifted offense producing. His offenses have completed 1st, 4th, and sixth in factors; 1st in yards twice; and 2nd and sixth in DVOA.
Philadelphia has delight
The final seven-game stretch of the 2023 season was probably the most depressing endings in franchise historical past. There are solely two responses the staff can should that bitter ending: combat or flight. Throughout the season they selected flight, however issues have modified.
New key voices on the teaching employees on each side of the ball aren’t neophytes. There are veteran additions at each place that weren’t right here for the slide, together with CJGJ and Devin White bringing some a lot wanted angle.
And the coach and the quarterback have a historical past of rebounding. Nick Sirianni’s first season was a bounce again for the staff after the depressing 2020 season. After some course corrections halfway via 2021, the staff completed 7-3 to succeed in the playoffs. This yr, the course correction occurred within the offseason.
Then there’s the quarterback. Jalen Hurts has a historical past of bouncing again from low factors in his profession. Don’t wager in opposition to him.
