Each week, I write a preview of the Eagles’ upcoming opposition. Nonetheless, I wrote about Washington simply two weeks in the past, so I assumed I might get round to one thing I’ve needed to write down for some time. What’s going on with the Eagles’ working recreation this yr? There are a number of statistics in right here, all from SumerSports.
The decline of the Philadelphia Eagles’ run recreation in 2025 is, in my view, the one greatest situation with the Eagles’ offense proper now, after watching this workforce all season. The Eagles’ dashing output has fallen from 3,048 yards final yr to 1,908 this yr. That decline just isn’t merely about calling fewer runs. Whereas whole rush makes an attempt are down from 621 to 459, effectivity has declined alongside quantity. Yards per carry have slipped from 4.91 to 4.16, explosive runs of 10 or extra yards are down by over 30%, and dashing first downs have fallen from 170 to 114. These numbers are fairly loopy. Particularly when you think about the roster is fairly comparable, and I feel Saquon Barkley seems to be pretty much as good as ever.
Superior metrics reinforce what the essential numbers counsel. Final season, the Eagles’ run recreation was a transparent constructive, ending with +54.62 whole anticipated factors added on dashing performs and a powerful +0.088 EPA per run. This yr, that very same unit is working in the wrong way, with a complete EPA of -11.59 and a unfavorable EPA per rush. Taken collectively, the info paints an image of a run recreation that’s not serving to the offense. It’s turning into a serious situation as a substitute of a minor weak spot because the season progresses.
This piece isn’t about assigning blame to 1 participant or one resolution. It’s not simply Kevin Patullo or Jeff Stoutland. It’s not all on Cam Jurgens or Landon Dickerson, which is why the problems are greatest understood by breaking them into classes and outlining how every can realistically be fastened. Which is what I’ve tried to do! Buckle up…
1. Decreased Quarterback Involvement
One of the crucial consequential adjustments within the Eagles’ offense this season just isn’t a brand new play name or a personnel tweak; it’s merely the gradual elimination of the quarterback as a constant structural menace within the run recreation. The offense nonetheless seems to be acquainted, however with out Jalen Hurts functioning as a real run constraint, the Eagles have misplaced considered one of their greatest weapons.
In earlier seasons, the Eagles’ run recreation benefited as defenses needed to account for Hurts as a runner on each snap. That menace didn’t simply create quarterback yards; it slowed linebackers, compelled defensive ends to hesitate, and prevented defenses from absolutely committing additional our bodies to the working again. Even when Hurts didn’t maintain the ball, his presence formed how each defender match the run.
This season, that stress is fading. Hurts continues to be cellular, nonetheless succesful, however he’s far much less more likely to maintain the ball by design. Defenses are adjusting accordingly. Linebackers are crashing downhill with out hesitation. Edge defenders are aggressively squeezing working lanes. Safeties are inserting earlier into the field. The run recreation is dropping the numbers benefit earlier than it even begins. The working recreation is all about numbers. The QB being a menace within the run recreation provides you an additional participant! I’m a fan of extra underneath heart seems to be (particularly play-action) to combine issues up, nevertheless it takes Hurts out of the play.
The remainder of the offensive design amplifies the issue. A zone-heavy run scheme with no quarterback maintain menace asks working backs and blockers to win straight up in opposition to unfavourable numbers. That’s a tough option to dwell within the fashionable NFL, and it exhibits up within the type of stalled drives, unfavorable runs, and fixed second-and-long conditions.
The Eagles clearly need to defend Hurts and run him much less, however I feel they’ve to just accept the place the offense is heading into the playoffs and switch Hurts again right into a high-volume runner. He doesn’t must run up the center and get hit each play. However they do want to revive defensive uncertainty. Selective QB attracts, counter reads, and occasional keepers power defenses to play the run recreation truthfully once more.
You possibly can run the QB in a approach that doesn’t get him hit. He can slide. It’s important to belief him to guard himself. Even a small variety of designed quarterback runs adjustments how defenders match the run throughout the complete recreation. The quarterback doesn’t have to hold the run recreation, however he has to exist inside it. At occasions this yr, he hasn’t even had an impression.
2. The Run Scheme is Predictable and has Modified
In 2025, the Eagles are working extra exterior zone, however with fewer of the weather that beforehand made it harmful. Final yr, the offense largely lived in inside zone and counter. We noticed some lure, exterior zone toss, and extra movement. The run recreation was extra different. This years offense has develop into more and more zone-heavy, with exterior zone taking over a bigger share of the run recreation whereas hole and pull ideas quietly fade into the background.
That shift issues as a result of Exterior Zone is without doubt one of the most demanding run ideas in soccer. It requires clear timing, lateral motion from the offensive line, dependable edge blocking, and it’s usually run by offenses that run boot-action to get the quarterback on the transfer. The Eagles’ offense doesn’t do that that always, so working a lot exterior zone feels a bizarre match. With fewer inventive runs and counter ideas, defenses are triggering downhill instantly and beating blocks to the spot. Final yr, the Eagles had some extra progressive concepts within the run recreation.
Exterior zone is a foundational idea reasonably than a complementary one this yr, which makes little sense to me. I checked the numbers, and the Eagles are working fewer inside zone, counter, and energy performs than final yr. That matches the attention check. Hole schemes may be simpler to execute at occasions, as they offer offensive linemen a transparent goal to purpose for, and the angles within the run recreation can typically be higher.
The Eagles used to run cool ideas akin to Dart (deal with energy). I don’t assume we’ve seen all of it yr! The issue isn’t that exterior zone is a foul idea; it’s that the Eagles are working it in opposition to loaded bins and five-man fronts. Zone runs with out misdirection develop into a race to the sting that the protection usually wins. We’ve got seen it too usually this yr.
The reply just isn’t abandoning exterior zone, however working it much less. The Eagles must get again to what made their run recreation tough to defend final yr. They should pair zone runs with extra hole schemes that punish stream, use pin/pull and counter to gradual linebacker suits, and reintroduce quarterback involvement to power defenders to hesitate. Exterior zone doesn’t really feel related to the passing recreation a lot in any respect, and it usually seems like a random play.
3. Personnel is a Downside
One of many quieter however most restrictive points with the Eagles’ run recreation is that the roster itself locations a ceiling on what the offense can realistically do on the bottom. Across the league, most of the most effective dashing assaults are constructed on tight ends who can operate as true blockers, vast receivers who constantly win on the perimeter, and fullbacks or hybrid gamers who permit offenses to shift between unfold and energy seems to be with out substituting. Proper now, the Eagles don’t have that form of versatility. The personnel is a matter. The Eagles’ roster feels constructed for a barely totally different model of offensive soccer that’s dominating the NFL proper now.
Goedert stays a high-level receiving menace, however he isn’t a constant point-of-attack run blocker this yr. Grant Calcaterra struggles much more in that position, notably when requested to deal with defensive ends or inside defenders in condensed formations. And not using a true specialist blocking tight finish on the roster, the Eagles are compelled to both ask gamers to do issues they’re not constructed for or keep away from total sections of the run recreation altogether.
That limitation exhibits up in what the Eagles don’t do as a lot as what they do. Many groups use tight ends and fullbacks to create split-flow actions, Wham blocks, and backfield misdirection that may punish aggressive fronts with out counting on dominance from the offensive line. The Eagles don’t run something like wham this yr. They don’t have the personnel to dwell in that world constantly. The absence of a real fullback additional narrows the playbook, eradicating a complete layer of downhill and counter-based ideas that would assist in brief yardage and in opposition to loaded bins. They even tried Dallas Goeder at fullback this previous week…
The difficulty extends to the vast receiver room as effectively. Whereas the Eagles are elite on the prime with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, neither is a improbable blocker. Jahan Dotson isn’t a very good blocker. The Eagles don’t have a Puka Nucua. With out reliable perimeter blockers, the offense has fewer solutions when making an attempt to hit the sting or create numbers benefits exterior.
Within the brief time period, the Eagles have to just accept the restrictions of the roster and cease calling runs that require personnel they don’t even have. Meaning fewer ideas that depend on tight ends successful one-on-one on the level of assault and extra designs that house the protection out. Long term, this turns into a roster-building query. Including a real blocking tight finish, a hybrid fullback/H-back sort, or receivers with extra run-game utility would instantly broaden what the offense can do schematically.
4. A number of Tight Finish Units
One other situation that retains surfacing on tape is how usually the Eagles are shrinking the sphere for themselves. The offense leans closely on condensed formations with a number of tight ends, making an attempt to impose physicality, nevertheless it’s simply not working in any respect. I’m shocked they maintain doing it. Prepared for some loopy numbers?
My goodness. The Eagles’ condensed 12 and 13 personnel units are bringing extra defenders nearer to the ball, compressing working lanes, and forcing tight ends into matchups they don’t seem to be constantly successful. With out robust edge blocking or a dependable quarterback menace, these formations flip into crowded bins the place defenders can assault downhill instantly. It’s merely insane to me that they’re working 86% of the time when in 13 personnel. 86%! You possibly can’t win that approach.
The result’s a run recreation that feels claustrophobic. Working backs have fewer choices. Linemen have worse angles. One missed block turns right into a deal with for loss as a result of there isn’t a house to recuperate. As an alternative of making house, the offense is eradicating it. I don’t assume it fits this workforce. It feels just like the Eagles are doing these items as a result of a few of the greatest offenses within the NFL are doing it, reasonably than doing it as a result of it fits their present personnel.
The Eagles must cease utilizing heavy personnel as a lot. Extra snaps out of 11 personnel create pure spacing, lighter bins, and cleaner run lanes. If you unfold the protection out, you usually tend to get split-safety protection, as groups are petrified of AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. They aren’t as afraid of them when they’re lined up condensed!
It actually doesn’t appear that sophisticated to me.
5. Late Huddle Breaks Are Locking the Offense Into Unhealthy Run Play
One of the crucial-discussed points of the Eagles’ offense of late is how late they’re attending to the road of scrimmage. Deniz Selman has been throughout this on Twitter.
This isn’t scheme design or play choice. It’s simply timing. Too usually, the offense is solely attending to the road of scrimmage too late to alter something, even when it’s apparent the run look is unfavourable. In easy phrases, this implies the Eagles are sometimes locked into their unique play name even when the play is destined to fail.
That is particularly damaging for the run recreation. When the Eagles line up late, defenses have the liberty to point out heavy bins, roll safeties down, and align five-man fronts with out concern of being checked out of it. The offense merely doesn’t have the time to audible, reset protections, or flip the run. It’s not all the time that the play itself is dangerous; it’s that the offense is snapping the ball into a glance the protection has already gained.
The answer right here is solely urgency. The Eagles want to interrupt the huddle earlier and get to the road sooner to permit Jalen Hurts to take a look at of dangerous seems to be. Till the Eagles repair how they handle the play clock, the run recreation will proceed to be snapped into seems to be that had been already misplaced earlier than the ball was ever handed off, and it will imply wasted performs.
6. The Offensive Line is Not as Good
Generally, the reality is straightforward to identify. The offensive line simply isn’t taking part in in addition to it has in recent times. For a protracted stretch, the Eagles have been in a position to paper over small structural issues as a result of the offensive line was dominant sufficient to win anyway. That margin for error is smaller proper now.
Landon Dickerson has clearly been coping with bodily points, and whereas he continues to play via them, his mobility and energy don’t look the identical snap to snap. Dickerson used to dominate guys.
The Eagles ask numerous their guards in house, particularly in zone ideas, and when Dickerson isn’t absolutely wholesome, these calls for develop into more durable to satisfy. Cam Jurgens has additionally had uneven stretches, with some tough particular person reps that disrupt run suits earlier than they will even develop. I watched some previous clips for this piece and a few of Jurgens previous reps simply look a special participant to me. He was far more explsoive.
On the perimeters, the usual has dipped barely as effectively. Jordan Mailata continues to be an excellent participant, however he hasn’t been the overwhelming, tone-setting power he has been at his peak. Lane Johnson lacking time is clearly an enormous deal.
The lack of Mekhi Becton removes a novel bodily presence from the inside. He was somebody able to producing vertical motion that may be very uncommon. This doesn’t imply the offensive line is dangerous. As the road isn’t dominating the way in which it as soon as did, the offense can not depend on brute power to bail out poor seems to be, predictable calls, or unfavourable numbers. I put much less blame on the offensive line than I do on the coaches and the design.
The Eagles must acknowledge that the road isn’t presently at a spot the place it may constantly win tough blocks in house or overcome loaded bins by itself. Meaning leaning extra closely on hole schemes that permit linemen to fireplace downhill, simplifying assignments to scale back psychological errors, and pairing the run recreation with the specter of the QB run to gradual defenders earlier than contact.
This can be a bizarre level, as I’m uncertain who’s at fault. Too many run performs are failing due to fundamental execution and communication breakdowns. There are frequent situations on tape of bottom linebackers working free via the outlet, unaccounted for. On different snaps, two blockers are working to the identical defender whereas one other is left utterly untouched.
These errors usually compound the opposite issues already current. If you’re working into heavy bins, snapping the ball late, or counting on tight home windows in condensed formations, there’s little or no margin for error. When the run recreation was at its peak, I’m positive blocks had been missed, however the points weren’t magnified. This confusion additionally ties again to tempo and cohesion. Late huddle breaks restrict communication time. Extra advanced zone guidelines enhance the prospect of hesitation or misreads.
Extra hole ideas with outlined obligations can cut back psychological errors. Attending to the road of scrimmage earlier ought to assist to determine who is obstructing who. However this can be a robust one to analyse as a result of it’s unimaginable to know who’s at fault.
I do know everybody hates listening to ‘it’s not one factor, it’s a lot of issues’ however it’s the reality. None of those factors alone have induced such an enormous decline within the run recreation.
Personally, I consider essentially the most important points with the run recreation are structural and occur earlier than the snap. Whereas the offensive line just isn’t taking part in effectively, it might look much better in a more healthy run atmosphere. I’m extra important of the coaches than the gamers relating to the run recreation. It’s not Grant Calcaterra’s fault he can’t block very effectively. It’s the coaches for frequently taking part in 13 personnel and asking him to tug.
The Eagles are too gifted for this to maintain taking place. The offensive line continues to be gifted. Jalen Hurts is a good cellular quarterback. Saquon Barkley is elite. Regardless of personnel points, this isn’t only a roster drawback. It’s a structural one. The excellent news is that some simple fixes are there.
It’s exhausting to think about the Eagles successful one other Tremendous Bowl with a run recreation that opponents can cease so simply. Tremendous Bowl winners don’t must dominate on the bottom, however they need to be capable to run the ball with function, effectivity, and reliability when it issues most.
Proper now, the run recreation isn’t doing that. And till it does, every thing else about this offense has a decrease ceiling than it ought to.
