Defenders Can’t Keep Up
Jalen Hurts looks like he is moving in slow motion for everyone else. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jalen Carter admits he feels helpless trying to catch the quarterback during drills. The defensive coordinator Vic Fangio agrees with the observation. He noted that defenders think they have a sack only to realize Hurts slipped away. This speed surge comes after Hurts posted career lows in rushing stats last year.
A Fresh Start on Offense
The speed change is just one part of a massive overhaul on the offensive side. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion has installed a system that relies heavily on motion and play-action. The team is now using the shotgun less and putting Hurts under center much more often. This shift marks a clear break from the previous five seasons under Nick Sirianni. Jordan Mailata, the massive offensive tackle, described the current state of the offense as a new beginning. He also noted that the results have been promising to say the least. The team is trying to fix a lack of synchronicity that caused pre-snap penalties early on. Mannion, who played until 2023, is bringing a style influenced by Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan.
Stats Show the Real Deal
The numbers back up why this change matters so much for the roster. Hurts is entering the fourth year of a five-year, $255 million contract. Since his debut in 2020, he has 3,554 rushing yards. That total trails only Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen among quarterbacks. Despite being a top rusher, Hurts saw his yardage and touchdown counts drop in 2025. He ranked 32nd in dropbacks from under center last season with a rate of just 8.2%. The team was also 27th in snaps taken from under center and 29th in motion usage. Now, the Eagles are leaning into wide-zone blocking to create big gaps. Hurts denies that his offseason conditioning changed to cause this burst. He says he does not feel any different than he has in the past. Mailata noted that the team is finally assembling the pieces and discovering their identity at this stage. If the footwork holds up, the ball will come out fast. The defense will have to adjust fast to stop a quarterback who seems to have found a new gear.
Sources: NY Post Sports, ESPN Top
