Getting their running game going is one of the Eagles’ main priorities as they look to bounce back against the Cowboys after taking a beating from the 49ers in Week 13.
In the 42-19 loss, the club managed 46 running yards, with quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Jalen Hurts accounting for 26 of those yards. The Eagles trailed by 15 points when they received the ball in the third quarter, which could account for their running backs’ meager total of nine carries, of which two came after the break.
That’s not how offensive coordinator Brian Johnson sees it. “A balancing act” is required, according to him, between the score and the necessity “to continue to hammer attempts and try to get the guys in a good rhythm and a good flow.”
“I think that’s feel and feeling how the game is going and what is needed in that certain point because, to your point, you could have seven yards on four carries and then break one for 30, and now you’ve got 37 yards on five carries or whatever it is,” Johnson stated in a press conference. “Those figures, that average, appear rather different. At this point, your average carry yardage is seven yards, or whatever. All we need to do is keep going
The Eagles have demonstrated a willingness to commit to the run in the past; they rank seventh in the league in total rushing attempts this season. We’ll watch this weekend in Dallas to see whether they pick it back up.
One of the favorites to take home the league MVP trophy is still Jalen Hurts. Hurts has a solid chance of winning if the Eagles secure the first seed in the NFC.
That hasn’t stopped a pundit and former NFL quarterback from making a bold suggestion, though.
The brother of Saints quarterback Derek Carr, David Carr of NFL Network, suggested on Tuesday that the Eagles bench Jalen Hurts in favor of Marcus Mariota to give Hurts more time to rehabilitate.
Carr argues that in order for the Eagles to maximize Hurts’ potential, they must bring him back to 100 percent.
“Clearly, Jalen isn’t comfortable reading through a defense in a drop-back pass scenario,” Carr stated. Some claim he’s not even competent in it. And if you’re Philly, you really need to have a serious talk about this team, in my opinion. And you really have to ask yourself, “Is it better for us to play Marcus Mariota now and wait for Jalen to recover fully?” Since I contend that it makes no difference if they are the top seed. Because they don’t care if the 49ers visit Philadelphia once more.”
Carr argues that in order for the Eagles to maximize Hurts’ potential, they must bring him back to 100 percent.
“Clearly, Jalen isn’t comfortable reading through a defense in a drop-back pass scenario,” Carr stated. Some claim he’s not even competent in it. And if you’re Philly, you really need to have a serious talk about this team, in my opinion. And you really have to ask yourself, “Is it better for us to play Marcus Mariota now and wait for Jalen to recover fully?” Since I contend that it makes no difference if they are the top seed. Because they don’t care if the 49ers visit Philadelphia once more.”
