With the NFL calendar in hibernation mode, it’s an excellent time to be a reflective Eagles fan.
Hop on YouTube. Watch some highlights. Possibly a compilation of Saquon Barkley’s finest runs from his 2,000 yard season. Possibly it’s a mash-up of the Eagles’ playoff run. Possibly it’s simply re-watching Tremendous Bowl 59 in its entirety.
It’s additionally an excellent time to ask questions. With coaching camp nonetheless somewhat 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 concerning the defending champs.
Whereas there are greater than what’s beneath, 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 an excellent 2022 through which Shane Steichen put collectively one of many best 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 properly.
Final low season, Kellen Moore was introduced aboard after Johnson was fired. Whereas the offense, particularly the passing recreation, didn’t blow anybody’s socks off, it finally did operate at a better degree and reached new heights within the playoffs, led primarily by the working prowess of Barkley and Jalen Hurts. However after only one season, Moore is gone and the group is as soon as once more turning to an untested play-caller, former passing recreation coordinator Kevin Patullo.
Patullo served as an assistant for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs below Chan Gailey, after which as broad receivers coach with Nick Sirianni in Indianapolis. Dropped at 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 totally different than Johnson’s failed run as OC two years in the past? There’s cause to consider it’s going to.
First, the Eagles nonetheless have Barkley. Second, Hurts’ mobility appeared missing throughout the ‘23 season, and re-emerged final yr as a signature a part of his recreation. Third, the offensive line stays top-of-the-line in soccer, and although Hurts may have his fourth play-caller in 5 seasons, the offense goes to look quite a bit prefer it did a yr in the past. This actually is the Hurts/Saquon offense greater than it’s “Patullo’s” offense.
That stated, we received’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 remains to be extraordinarily good, there are nonetheless simply as many threats to catch the ball and take some focus off him, and Jalen Hurts remains to be an excellent quarterback.
That stated, the percentages are lengthy. He nearly actually received’t break as many lengthy runs as he did a yr in the past, however even a 1,500+ yard season can be excellent. Maybe it is a season the place the passing recreation carries extra of the load.
Barkley’s 2024 season will nearly actually by no means be repeated, however how shut will he get in 12 months No. 2 in Philly?
3) When Will Nakobe Dean Be Again?
Your complete fanbase breathed an enormous sigh of aid when the group re-signed Zack Baun following the Tremendous Bowl. It means there’s not less than 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 last yr 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 massive a piece? Dean nonetheless doesn’t know, and neither do the Eagles, it appears.
It’s additionally unclear when first spherical decide Jihaad Campbell might 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 similar to 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 have the ability to 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, properly, he by no means was actually all right here. The Eagles are going to be counting on youthful gamers to generate a go 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 anticipate from him in 12 months No. 3?
Sweat and Williams weren’t superstars and Graham was getting older, however all have been productive members of a D-line rotation that obtained higher because the season went alongside. Hopefully, the children 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 one in every of seven makes an attempt from 50 yards or longer.
Then, the playoffs got here, and Elliot was on fireplace.
He nailed massive kicks within the snow towards the Rams, and calmly poured one lengthy discipline purpose after one other by way of the uprights within the Tremendous Bowl. Kickers, by nature, are risky. Elliot has been one of the constant kickers within the NFL since he arrived in 2017. As he endured his struggles final yr, there was some thought he was nearing the tip of his tenure in Philly, however hope is renewed that Elliot discovered himself throughout the largest moments of the Birds’ season final yr.
So, did the playoffs repair Jake Elliot? We’ll see.
