No one expected much of the 2021 , who welcomed first-time full-timers at head coach and quarterback following the collapse of the Doug Pederson-Carson Wentz era the year prior. So by all accounts, new coach Nick Sirianni and new starter exceeded expectations, guiding Philadelphia to a 9-8 finish and wild card appearance. But at the hands of and the defending champion was a reminder just how far the Eagles are from returning to true contention. It was also a firm argument that, regardle s of Hurts' promise, Sirianni and Co. must explore QB alternatives in 2022.Hurts has a lot going for him. The former second-round pick is just 23, the New Orleans Pelicans Jeresy youngest Eagles QB to ever start a playoff game. He's a smooth runner who's built like a running back. He's always unfazed. And he showed genuine improvement as a pa ser in his first season as a starter -- under a new coach and alongside just so-so weapons, for that matter. But just because Hurts flashed in middling circumstances doesn't mean he's built for (or earned) the QB1 job in 2022, let alone beyond next season. PHI QB #1 The Steven Adams Jersey Eagles followed a general pattern in 2021: against similar or le ser teams, they thrived as a run-first attack, with Hurts rightly deployed for his legs as much as his arm. Against actual contenders (or, alternatively, when they just tried too hard to throw the ball), they failed. Hurts' defenders might pin blame on Sirianni for refusing to lean on the ground game more, and the coach certainly put a big burden on the young QB out of the gate, but that's ignoring the greater reality: when push came to shove against good teams like the Bucs, Hurts and Sirianni tended to hurt -- not help -- each other.And in today's , you shouldn't be able to criticize a coach for . That's not to say Hurts can't grow as a decision-maker, or that the duo can't run it back in 2022 with better help and better results. But the former Alabama and Oklahoma star has long leaned more on scrambling than pa sing to win, Derrick Favors Jersey and that remained the case in big spots this year, with Hurts notably struggling to read opposing looks or properly time throws early in games. The fact the Eagles enter 2022 with literally -- a rare ble sing for any organization -- puts more pre sure on the guys up top. If Sirianni, general manager Howie Roseman and team owner Jeffrey Lurie believe their a sets can help them secure a more talented QB this offseason, they owe it to the team, the fans and themselves to consider their options.The last time Roseman and Co. gambled with picks to take NBA New Orleans Pelicans Jeresy a big swing on a QB, they landed . That name may elicit more wincing than smiling these days, both in Philly and Indianapolis, but Wentz's elite gifts coming out of the draft were a primary reason for the Eagles' sudden 2017 ascent, which ended with a Lombardi Trophy. There may or may not be a franchise QB in the 2022 draft, and veterans like and and, heck, even lower-tier starters like , may or may not be worth the price of potential trades. But the Eagles have the ammunition to explore everything, so they should.Again, that doesn't mean the Eagles use all their resources to build around Hurts, hope for more growth and re-evaluate in 2023. But they proceed without at least looking elsewhere. Why? Because 2021 was Sindarius Thornwell Jersey never about contending for a title as much as it was evaluating the new coach and QB combo. And at the end of the day, a QB with elite gifts -- or at least a top-tier ability to -- hides warts better than most anything in the NFL. It's not every day you properly evaluate or acquire, say, a , but just imagine how differently the Eagles would've looked Sunday with the QB under center. Herbert's team didn't even make the playoffs in 2021, but his talent alone offsets so much. It gives you a chance. And that, really, is what matters.
No one expected much of the 2021 , who welcomed first-time full-timers at head coach and quarterback following the collapse of the Doug Pederson-Carson Wentz era the year prior. So by all accounts, new coach Nick Sirianni and new starter exceeded expectations, guiding Philadelphia to a 9-8 finish and wild card appearance. But at the hands of and the defending champion was a reminder just how far the Eagles are from returning to true contention. It was also a firm argument that, regardle s of Hurts' promise, Sirianni and Co. must explore QB alternatives in 2022.Hurts has a lot going for him. The former second-round pick is just 23, the New Orleans Pelicans Jeresy youngest Eagles QB to ever start a playoff game. He's a smooth runner who's built like a running back. He's always unfazed. And he showed genuine improvement as a pa ser in his first season as a starter -- under a new coach and alongside just so-so weapons, for that matter. But just because Hurts flashed in middling circumstances doesn't mean he's built for (or earned) the QB1 job in 2022, let alone beyond next season. PHI QB #1 The Steven Adams Jersey Eagles followed a general pattern in 2021: against similar or le ser teams, they thrived as a run-first attack, with Hurts rightly deployed for his legs as much as his arm. Against actual contenders (or, alternatively, when they just tried too hard to throw the ball), they failed. Hurts' defenders might pin blame on Sirianni for refusing to lean on the ground game more, and the coach certainly put a big burden on the young QB out of the gate, but that's ignoring the greater reality: when push came to shove against good teams like the Bucs, Hurts and Sirianni tended to hurt -- not help -- each other.And in today's , you shouldn't be able to criticize a coach for . That's not to say Hurts can't grow as a decision-maker, or that the duo can't run it back in 2022 with better help and better results. But the former Alabama and Oklahoma star has long leaned more on scrambling than pa sing to win, Derrick Favors Jersey and that remained the case in big spots this year, with Hurts notably struggling to read opposing looks or properly time throws early in games. The fact the Eagles enter 2022 with literally -- a rare ble sing for any organization -- puts more pre sure on the guys up top. If Sirianni, general manager Howie Roseman and team owner Jeffrey Lurie believe their a sets can help them secure a more talented QB this offseason, they owe it to the team, the fans and themselves to consider their options.The last time Roseman and Co. gambled with picks to take NBA New Orleans Pelicans Jeresy a big swing on a QB, they landed . That name may elicit more wincing than smiling these days, both in Philly and Indianapolis, but Wentz's elite gifts coming out of the draft were a primary reason for the Eagles' sudden 2017 ascent, which ended with a Lombardi Trophy. There may or may not be a franchise QB in the 2022 draft, and veterans like and and, heck, even lower-tier starters like , may or may not be worth the price of potential trades. But the Eagles have the ammunition to explore everything, so they should.Again, that doesn't mean the Eagles use all their resources to build around Hurts, hope for more growth and re-evaluate in 2023. But they proceed without at least looking elsewhere. Why? Because 2021 was Sindarius Thornwell Jersey never about contending for a title as much as it was evaluating the new coach and QB combo. And at the end of the day, a QB with elite gifts -- or at least a top-tier ability to -- hides warts better than most anything in the NFL. It's not every day you properly evaluate or acquire, say, a , but just imagine how differently the Eagles would've looked Sunday with the QB under center. Herbert's team didn't even make the playoffs in 2021, but his talent alone offsets so much. It gives you a chance. And that, really, is what matters.
