Happy Friday. Today, we have a variety of notes and quotes about the Eagles from a number of sources. If there is a theme, it is this: The Eagles and Jalen Hurts are highly regarded around the league and definitely a team on the rise.
Adam Schein is a columnist for NFL dot com. He hosts “Schein on Sports” radio show on SiriusXM. He hosts “Inside the NFL” on Showtime.
- He has been around and he knows the NFL.
- Schein posted a list of the nine players he guarantees will improve in 2022.
- No. 3 on the list is Eagles third-year quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Schein is feeling the love for Hurts. He writes:
“I believe. I love the arm, the smarts, the athleticism. And now I love the talent around him, with A.J. Brown joining DeVonta Smith to comprise quite a 1-2 punch at wide receiver.
“Brown’s catch-and-run ability and Smith’s pristine route-running will mitigate Hurts’ inaccuracy issues. And now that the quarterback has a full year’s experience as an NFL starter — as well as coaching continuity, with head man Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen back for Year 2 — I think his clutch play will skyrocket.
“Hurts is a winner and a natural born leader. This fall, I see him guiding the Eagles to an NFC East title. And you better believe this team will be a tough out in January.”
Geez, tell us how you *really* feel, Adam.
Here is Schein’s list:
- CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver, Dallas
- Patrick Suratin II, defensive back, Denver
- Jalen Hurts
- A.J. Dillon, running back, Green Bay
- Michael Pittman, wide receiver, Indianapolis
- Gabriel Davis, wide receiver, Buffalo
- Evan Engram, tight end, Jacksonville
- Marquise Brown, wide receiver, Arizona
- Andrew Thomas, offensive tackle, NY Giants
HURTS HITS HIS STRIDE AT OTAs
Jalen Hurts made people notice on the final day of Organized Team Activities. He threw long strikes to John Hightower and Quez Watkins on consecutive plays.
It’s OTAs. It’s not Micah Parsons bearing down on you from the edge and it’s not 75,000 Cowboys fans screaming at you in the fourth quarter.
“His determination to be great is something that you see every day,” tight end Dallas Goedert said at the OTAs. “I was out there in California with him working, and the detail that he has with the coaches looking at film, looking at his throwing mechanics, things like that. He really wants to be great and he shows that each and every day.”
The Eagles are now off until training camp begins July 26.
HURTS IS NFL’S ‘MOST EXPLOSIVE’ RUNNER
NFL dot com’s Nick Shook recently ranked what he called the NFL’s 10 “most explosive” runners. He used a slide-rule necessary formula based on a minimum of 100 carries in 2021 and at least 20 or more carries of 10-plus yards.
Here’s where it gets a bit complicated. He utilized the total number and percentage of 15-plus mph runs as the defining measure of an explosive run.
A bit too much analytics? Don’t blame you. We wouldn’t even bring this up except … sitting at No. 1 is Jalen Hurts.
Shook says Hurts had 29 runs of 10-plus yards last year, 20.9 percent of his total runs. Shook calculates that Hurts had an NFL-leading most 15+ mph runs with 78 and his 15+ mph percentage rate was 56.1.
Shook’s analysis:
“Philadelphia found itself in a bit of an offensive rut in 2021 before reimagining itself as a run-first, dual-threat attack with Hurts leading the way. From there, the Eagles, well, took flight, with Hurts using his abilities to keep defenses guessing. The shift in philosophy produced the league’s top rushing offense.
“If the Eagles can [get] 2 or 3 explosive runs out of Hurts, coupled with improved accuracy and decision-making, Philadelphia will certainly win the NFC East.”
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, who is a South Jersey guy, was second, followed by Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, Browns running back Nick Chubb and Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
I’m not sure I’d buy Eagles Super Bowl tickets based on this “most explosive” analysis, but it is fun to read.
EAGLES OVER-UNDER AT 9.5
WynnBet, based in Jersey City, N.J., has the over-under line on Eagles wins at 9.5.
There are seven other NFC East teams who are predicted to have at least nine victories. They are:
- Green Bay Packers (11.5)
- LA Rams (10.5)
- Dallas Cowboys (10.5)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10.5)
- San Francisco 49ers (10)
- Eagles (9.5)
- Minnesota Vikings (9)
- Arizona Cardinals (9)
FANDUEL’S ODDS ON EAGLES
Over at FanDuel dot com, the Eagles betting odds are listed at -155 to make the postseason and +210 to win the NFC East. The Cowboys have the best odds in the East at +115. The Commanders are +450 and the Giants are +700.
Based on these odds, the Eagles are looking at another wild card berth.
The Eagles’ over-under on wins is 9.5. FanDuel predicts the Eagles will finish with a 10-7 record.
SKIP BAYLESS SAYS WHAT?
Skip Bayless has made a handsome living with loud, controversial takes meant to incite.
He is a serious Dallas Cowboys fan who works for Fox Sports. Skip once was a respected print journalist working in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Bayless isn’t on that Cowboys bandwagon this offseason. He thinks the Eagles will win the NFC East, not defending champion Dallas.
“I truly fear Jalen Hurts and the Eagles. I believe they’ll win the NFC East. My expectations for the Cowboys will be none,” Bayless said on “The Skip Bayless Show.”
Not sure if he’s serious, since his currency is being contentious.
