Some critics like to say that all Nick Sirianni has to do is get out of the way. With a great roster and good coaching staff, the team is going to win regardless of anything he does. I disagree with that strongly. I think Sirianni is a good coach. He is a strong motivator, communicator and leader. He’s also a great teacher. The Eagles have had good player development in his tenure.
I think a big difference between the current time and the first Super Bowl team is that this is a much younger bunch and it feels more sustainable. Back in 2018 I felt good about the Eagles. Corey Clement was great in the Super Bowl. I expected him to become a key RB for the team. Didn’t happen. He’s scored 5 TDs in the six seasons since that game.
That team had some interesting young talent. Mack Hollins, Big V, Derek Barnett, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Jalen Mills, Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas. Those guys did not become long term starters or key players in Philly. Most have played their best football elsewhere. Doug Pederson was the right coach for the 2017 Eagles and their SB run, but a lot of that was based on veterans. Pederson had the emotional intelligence to get the most out of those players. He and his staff didn’t do a good job with developing talent.
They didn’t miss on everyone. Dallas Goedert became a stud TE. Avonte Maddox was a good nickelback. Jordan Mailata developed into a very good LT.
Think about what Sirianni and his staff have done. I’m going to skip the first round players for now and focus on other guys. Tanner McKee looks like he could be a future starting QB. Kenny Gainwell became a dependable backup RB and RS. Milton Williams developed into a disruptive DT and just got huge money. Moro Ojomo looks like he could have a breakout season filling in for Williams. Jalyx Hunt really came on during the 2024 season and could be a key part of the 2025 defense. Vic Fangio seems to be his biggest fan, which is a great sign. Nakobe Dean developed into a good LB. Reed Blankenship went fro UDFA to starting safety. Britain Covey was another UDFA who panned out, becoming a very good RS.
Jalen Hurts has become one of the top QBs in football. You can argue Top 5 or Top 10. Doesn’t matter exactly where, but he went from a second round pick to a guy coming off his second SB appearance.
I skipped over OL and early picks. Jeff Stoutland was the OL coach for both Pederson and Sirianni. As for 1st rounders, the current staff has done a great job with them. Jordan Davis is the closest thing to a disappointment and he’s at least been a good role player.
The Eagles defense in 2024 ranked first in percentage of plays using a light box (6 or fewer defenders) at 68.5%.
They also ranked 4th in rushing yards allowed per game and 5th in EPA/rush.
I haven’t even gotten to the pro side of things. Zack Baun went from role player to All-Pro. Saquon Barkley went from good to great. He just had the most yards in the history of pro football in 2024. CJGJ played his best football under Sirianni. Mekhi Becton had his best season in 2024 and got big money in free agency.
The coaching staff does a great job of connecting with players. That helps a lot. Guys will buy in when there is a tight bond between them and the coaches. The staff has special periods set aside for young guys and backup players so that they get reps and hands-on coaching. I also think Sirianni does a great job of pushing players. His ultra-competitive nature rubs off on the team and has brought out the best in more than a few players.
This isn’t luck. This isn’t an accident. This isn’t all about who gets drafted. Howie Roseman and the personnel department do a great job of finding the right guys, but don’t overlook just how important the coaches are in getting the most out of the team. There is nothing more frustrating than watching a player go somewhere else and shine.
The Eagles had a good draft class in April and have a bunch of picks for next spring. Sirianni and his coaches are going to have a chance to keep developing talent and keep this team chasing championships.
Occasionally I will listen to ESPN Radio on my drive to work. They will have an interesting discussion if there is a major sporting event or something topical to discuss. The show goes off the rails when things are quiet and they share questionable opinions. That’s what happened a couple of days ago.
Harry Douglas was talking about Jayden Daniels. He had a ton of praise for the young QB. Nothing wrong with that opinion. Daniels looks like a special player. But Douglas said something that bordered on asinine. He said that the Eagles fans he knows have told him they would trade Jalen Hurts for Daniels in a heartbeat.
Say what?
I don’t think there is a question that Daniels has more raw talent. There is a reason he went second overall while Hurts fell to the second round. Daniels is a more explosive runner and has a stronger arm. He was a more polished passer coming out of college. Then Daniels went and had an amazing rookie season. He has the potential to be a great player.
But Hurts just won the Super Bowl. I’m sure there are a small percentage of Eagles fans who would trade him, but the vast majority wouldn’t trade him for anyone. Winning a Super Bowl in Philly makes you special. Donovan McNabb had a better career than Nick Foles, but Foles won the SB so that makes him the hero. Hurts has a chance to go down in history as one of the greatest Philly athletes of all time. He’s still got a lot of football left to play. Hurts isn’t just special because of what he does on the field.
.@LaneJohnson65 on what makes Jalen Hurts a great leader for the Eagles:
“His personality and how he handles the brashness of how Philadelphia can be. He’s the perfect even keel temperament we need.” pic.twitter.com/uX6xFhGN3v
Maybe Douglas only knows a couple of Eagles fans. It didn’t sound that way when he made his comment. Maybe he was just trying to stir the pot. I just found the comment so strange that I felt the need to address the general topic.
Football is unlike basketball and baseball. To some extent, those are plug ‘n play sports. Shortstop is shortstop. Jimmy Rollins played it better than Steve Jeltz, but the position was the same. The role of a point guard in basketball is going to mostly be the same from team to team. The player playing the position can make it different, but the role is the role.
Football is scheme driven and positions can have very different requirements. Matt Stafford and Jalen Hurts both play QB. The offenses and requirements of them are very different. Both guys have won SBs. Stafford has a solid shot to make the Hall of Fame. Hurts isn’t even half-way through his career. It will be interesting to see where he stands when all is said and done.
Comparing QBs is tricky business because of all the nuance involved. Are we judging players purely on physical talent? QBs tend to get judged on team success as well. How do we factor in the supporting cast?
I watched John Elway lead the Broncos to three Super Bowls in four years. They lost to the Giants in 1986, the Skins in 1987 and the Niners in 1989. None of those teams won more than 11 games. There wasn’t anything great about them. Elway came up big in key moments and carried those teams to the big game. Denver got better coaching and better players over the years. They won the SB in 1997 and 1998. Those teams were much better. Elway didn’t have to do as much, but won two rings.
Elway was more individually impressive when he was on lesser teams. He had to do more and he did. That’s why more than a few people from my generation think he’s such a special player.
— Old Time Football (@Ol_TimeFootball) June 28, 2023
Jayden Daniels is the right QB for Washington. He was a huge part of that team going from awful to the NFC title game. Jalen Hurts is the right QB for the Eagles. He has led the team to two SBs in three seasons. I can’t stress how impressive that is. Some people love to say any QB would have gotten to those SBs because of how talented the roster is. What a load of crap.
Part of being a QB is being a leader and setting the tone for your team. Hurts does a great job of that. Think about how focused he was in the SB, even with the Eagles firmly in command. He didn’t want to let up at all. Hurts focus and determination helps his team show up in big games.
Aaron Rodgers won a SB in 2010. He played on some loaded Packers teams after that, but never made it back. Lamar Jackson has played on some loaded Ravens teams, but he’s struggled mightily in the postseason. Having talent around you guarantees nothing.
I think Dak is a good QB. He does come up short in the postseason. It’s absurd to deny he had this team and didn’t even make the title game.
How are they not embarrassed pretending he’s played with bums his entire career? pic.twitter.com/c6uhHYXYjL
Right now Hurts is the perfect QB for the Eagles. That doesn’t mean he’s the best QB in the league, but he’s the right guy for this team and this coaching staff. Hurts says the right things and does the right things. He helps the players around him perform at a high level. Hurts gets them to buy into the team mentality. There is a little griping here and there, but that happens to any team with a bunch of stars. Everyone wants the ball. Hurts gets them to think We Before Me.
I’m not sure how you quantify that.
One way would be…two SB appearances and one SB ring.
*****
I will write a separate post about Jalen in the coming weeks, trying to evaluate him as a QB. Where does he rank in the league and why?