SÃO PAULO — “It was sloppy,” DeVonta Smith mentioned. And he wasn’t speaking about caipirinha cocktails. He wasn’t speaking about area situations in a soccer venue within the first-ever NFL recreation in South America. No, the extensive receiver was stating what was seen because the Philadelphia Eagles debuted their revamped system underneath offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
“It was sloppy,” Smith repeated. “However we responded effectively.”
Certainly, they did. They’re 1-0 after their 34-29 victory over the Inexperienced Bay Packers at Area Corinthians; regardless of Cam Jurgens snapping the ball to Jalen Hurts when the quarterback wasn’t prepared; regardless of Hurts twice forcing the soccer into heavy protection on passes that resulted in picks (one in the long run zone); regardless of Jurgens and Hurts mishandling a last-minute “Brotherly Shove” snap that, as a substitute of securing sure victory, preceded a area purpose that gave the Inexperienced Bay Packers one final try at a doable comeback.
“We’re figuring out kinks,” mentioned Jurgens, who took possession of each fumbles. “When you may work issues out and nonetheless get a win, it’s a great feeling.”
Saquon Barkley saved their pigskin. He jumped on that last fumbled snap. He accounted for 3 of Philadelphia’s 4 touchdowns. He logged 109 yards on 24 carries and two scores, plus two catches, together with an 18-yard landing on a well-timed wheel route. He made basic supervisor Howie Roseman fairly comfortable that he set a franchise file in per-year spending on working backs by signing Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million deal within the offseason.
Saquon Freaking Barkley#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/ZdXg8tLqB0
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 7, 2024
“He had a hell of a recreation tonight,” Hurts mentioned. “I’m comfortable that he’s on our aspect.”
The Eagles haven’t wielded a weapon fairly like Barkley since LeSean McCoy. As ample as D’Andre Swift and Miles Sanders had been in Philadelphia’s backfield the final two seasons, neither working again possessed the start-stop velocity or the burst that busted Barkley deep past the Packers protection on an 11-yard landing run and a 34-yard scamper into the open area.
Eventually, he had blocking. Barkley, who averaged 1.35 yards earlier than contact in six years with the New York Giants, in keeping with TruMedia, mentioned in coaching camp that he selected to signal with the Eagles partly as a consequence of Philadelphia’s formidable offensive line. There, on that 11-yard rating, was a colossal chasm between Jurgens and proper guard Mekhi Becton. Barkley made one sudden minimize, and the Eagles instantly led 14-12 with 5:38 left within the first half.
“They did a extremely good job of simply establishing for me,” Barkley mentioned. “I simply attempt to keep on with my guidelines. That’s my massive factor to share is, , generally I can are likely to attempt to do an excessive amount of. And I don’t should have that mentality, however I let (the offensive line) work. And when it’s time to do additional stuff, I’ll be prepared for that too.”
Talking of “additional stuff,” Moore wasn’t restricted from deploying the pre-snap motions that’d been a part of his philosophy. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, whose 2023 system was probably the most stagnant within the NFL, had mentioned earlier this week that “nobody actually is aware of what we’re going to do.” By my depend, the Eagles used pre-snap movement on 47.3 p.c of their performs in opposition to the Packers.
That included Dallas Goedert motioning left right into a swing cross during which Goedert gained 1 yard. That included Britain Covey switching from extensive proper to extensive left and Hurts hitting Goedert for a 4-yard acquire within the area Covey as soon as crammed. That included A.J. Brown rapidly stepping from the slot to only past Goedert, matching Brown in opposition to Jaire Alexander. Brown’s double transfer — exterior, inside — left him open alongside the sideline. Hurts struck Brown in stride, and the receiver weaved previous the Packers’ secondary for a 67-yard rating.
Brown’s 23.8 yards per reception (5 catches, 119 yards) had been his highest common since Week 16 of the 2022 common season. Hurts managed to seek out Brown in essential third-down conditions during which he confronted a heavy rush. On third-and-8 on Philadelphia’s fourth drive (Barkley’s first speeding landing), Hurts zipped the ball to Brown for a 20-yard conversion simply earlier than getting demolished by a defender. Hurts was 6-of-7 passing for 91 yards and his 18-yard landing to Barkley whereas dealing with the Packers blitz, in keeping with TruMedia.
It was a promising signal for a system during which Hurts is dealing with extra of the pre-snap safety calls and designations for which a receiver is “scorching” in opposition to the blitz. Hurts was sacked twice. The second he appeared to attract himself simply earlier than halftime, which restricted a promising two-minute drive to yielding solely a 38-yard Jake Elliott area purpose and a 19-17 deficit to the Packers on the break.
“I assumed cross safety was fairly good at present,” Jurgens mentioned. “I assumed we did a great job. We’ll watch movie, see the way it was. However it felt good on the market. We’ve bought some weapons on the surface. I believe we actually used them at present and performed rather well.”
Sloppiness stemmed to the Eagles protection, too.
Sirianni fired former defensive coordinator Sean Desai partly as a result of his system surrendered the NFL’s second-most passing yards in 2023. The Eagles thought they’d enhance the protection by hiring the system’s creator, Vic Fangio. However there have been moments when it wasn’t clear there’d been any change in any respect. Jordan Love, who accomplished 17-of-34 passes for 260 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, exploited an obvious protection bust by placing Jayden Reed for a 70-yard landing to grab their halftime lead. Security C.J. Gardner-Johnson, signed in free company to enhance the again finish, missed a deal with that might’ve saved the rating.
Apparently, Gardner-Johnson caught some warmth from the fan base by the point he returned to the locker room.
“All them followers that bought some s— to say. Y’all get y’all a– on the market and are available deal with with us. Put that within the information,” Garnder-Johnson mentioned. He turned to his left and noticed Eagles proprietor Jeffrey Lurie. “Inform them, Jeffrey. Each fan say they’ll make a deal with, we’re gonna invite everyone that say we suck at tackling, we’re gonna convey them on the market with A.J. Brown and see if they’ll make a f—ing deal with. Everyone know that s— ain’t really easy.”
Lurie simply laughed.
Reed Blankenship, flushed within the face however not disagreeing, continued his post-game interview. Sure, they’d had some protection breakdowns, Blankenship mentioned. Sure, they hadn’t accomplished simply “what we did in observe.” However when the Packers had a shot to go up two scores within the third quarter, Blankenship hawked Love’s throw into the seam for a game-shifting interception. Blankenship mentioned he’d seen Love make as if he needed to throw to Reed alongside the sideline, however turned again to the center of the sector as soon as Gardner-Johnson minimize off that choice.
Security Reed Blankenship picked off Jordan Love’s throw into the seam for a game-shifting interception. (Pedro Vilela / Getty Photographs)
“So, it was a kind of anticipation moments,” Blankenship mentioned. “However I couldn’t have accomplished it if he didn’t do his job on the again finish.”
It’s troublesome to right away deduce the place the breakdown occurred on Reed’s 70-yard rating. The Eagles had been enjoying dime, their six-defensive again package deal designated for passing situations comparable to that third-and-10. Second-round rookie Cooper DeJean and veteran Avonte Maddox gave the impression to be masking brief zones within the slot. Gardner-Johnson was the deepest security, however on the very least caught unexpectedly that Reed was working alone into the fitting hash.
“That is the toughest sport as a result of it consists of all 11 guys,” Gardner-Johnson mentioned. “And if all 11 aren’t on the identical web page, stuff occurs. That doesn’t imply you’re the (worst) participant on the earth. If that’s the case, the proprietor would’ve allow you to go. We’ve bought to grasp that this recreation proper right here, we’ve bought to grasp that as younger guys, we’re simply now getting good. We’re enjoying collectively and we’re understanding we may be dominant in each f—ing side of the sport.”
Rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell revealed himself to be a dependable starter in his skilled debut. Love examined the No. 22 choose on a deep ball early within the first quarter, however Mitchell swatted the ball from Christian Watson’s grip. Later, Mitchell prolonged himself laterally to deflect one other Love cross close to the sticks.
Mitchell performed totally at exterior nook, an fascinating growth contemplating Fangio’s devotion all through coaching camp to platooning the rookie at nickel. Mitchell had performed exterior cornerback in base packages, then switched to nickel throughout preseason video games. However Maddox began at nickel in opposition to the Packers. The association could also be untenable. Maddox was focused on back-to-back performs by Love, first drawing a cross interference, then a landing on the next play.
The absence of Isaiah Rodgers could have performed a task. He’d primarily been the surface cornerback all through coaching camp when Mitchell performed nickel. Rodgers was dominated inactive with a hand harm. When requested if Rodgers’ absence performed into the choice, Sirianni mentioned, “That’s nonetheless a aggressive edge that we now have that I’ll preserve to myself.” Fielding Maddox at nickel additionally raises the query of whether or not the Eagles had been assured Kelee Ringo might’ve fulfilled the sport plan at cornerback in nickel packages.
Sirianni, who has additional embraced his CEO-type position in 2024, has 10 days to cut back the sloppiness earlier than the Eagles host the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, Sept. 16. The 43-year-old coach is now 4-0 in regular-season openers.
“Excited to proceed to maneuver on,” Sirianni mentioned. “We’ll have some powerful conversations about what went proper and what went mistaken, however happy with these guys and we’ll get higher from this recreation.”
(High picture: Pedro Vilela / Getty Photographs)
