More on Hurts

Last time out I shared my thoughts on Dan Pompei’s excellent piece on the process behind the drafting of Jalen Hurts. You can read that here. Someone asked me for my thoughts on Hurts as a prospect.

I had a second round grade on Hurts. I thought he had a chance to be a good backup QB and had the potential to develop into a starter. He wasn’t a polished passer and didn’t have a great arm. I thought his mobility would allow him to make plays, which can be important for backup QBs. If you haven’t practiced with the starters, coming in and being able to create with your legs can make a big difference.

Hurts had made a big jump as a passer when he went from Bama to OU. I thought pro coaching could help him to keep improving, but figured it would take some time. Still, the Air Raid offense can give QBs a lot of open receivers and make them look better than they are. That made me think it might take a few years. I saw Hurts as a project, but really valued his playmaking, intangibles and potential.

He showed good accuracy and touch on downfield throws. That translates to any offense. He needed to work on fundamentals and decison-making. That would improve his timing and accuracy, critical skills for a good NFL QB.

I did not think the Eagles would take Hurts for a couple of reasons. I thought he would go late second or early third. I didn’t see them investing in a QB that early. I also didn’t see him as a good fit for the Eagles QB situation. Hurts had starting potential. With Carson Wentz signed to a long term deal, I figured the Eagles would go for more of a pure backup.

I thought Hurts made sense for a team with a solid starting QB who had some age. Think of someone like the Lions and Jared Goff today. Goff has proven he can be a solid starter, but he’s not the long term answer there. Hurts gets picked and sits for a few years while honing his passing skills. The coaches could then see if he was worth putting in as the starter.

Luckily the Eagles played the situation just right. They didn’t mind spending pick 53 on a QB. Wentz had been hurt in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Worse, the injuries kept him out of the 2017 postseason entirely and limited to just a couple of snaps in 2019. The franchise simply couldn’t count on him to stay healthy all year long. They made the right call in taking Hurts at 53. I was critical of the pick, saying I loved the player, but thought that was too early for a QB. Give Howie all the credit in the world for taking Hurts.

I also think we have to give Doug Pederson a lot of credit. He signed off on the move and tried to get everyone on board with it. Pederson liked Hurts and helped to develop him in a timely fashion. He used Hurts as a rookie in creative looks. The results were mixed, but kudos to Doug for trying to get the most out of a talented athlete. That offense needed all the help it could get.

Hurts became a much better player than I ever would have guessed. There wasn’t an NFL player who was a great comp for him. He reminded you a bit of Russell Wilson. Hurts wasn’t as good a passer, but was a more dynamic runner.  I just didn’t think Hurts had this kind of ceiling. Think about the way people talk about him.

Fun debate: Who’s the second best QB in the NFC right now behind Jalen Hurts?

A ton of candidates. This debate lasted for a long time today and I wanted to share the question here.

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) June 28, 2023

Did you expect to see that question when Hurts was picked? The rest of the NFC can line up behind him.

By the way, if you want to go read a takedown of Dak Prescott, check out Jimmy Bama’s Dumpster Fire piece on the Cowboys. Great reading, as always.

One thing I didn’t count on is how Hurts would come to the NFL at a time when his full skill set would be embraced. If you put him on another team, he wouldn’t be the same player. Nick Sirianni and his staff know how to use Hurts for maximum effectiveness. It is crazy to see what a great fit Hurts is for this offense and this staff. They aren’t scared to take advantage of his legs. Check out what Lane Johnson said.

“He’s a unique player,” Johnson said. “I’ve had the ability to play with some mobile quarterbacks, from (Michael) Vick, you know Carson (Wentz) was able to do some things with his legs, and Jalen. Just having that guy that really gets into the minds of the defense. Gets into the linebacker’s head, it affects coverages. It really changes a lot of the things for the game. And so, I feel like for offensive linemen, it does make it easier. It makes it really tough for defenders to be right.”

We talk about Hurts running and passing all the time. The other key is decision-making. Option plays work well when a QB is making smart decisions and then executing them well. Hurts does both.

Arm, legs and brains. That’s proving to be a lethal combination for Hurts and the Eagles offense.

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