The biggest question all offseason for the Eagles has been just how committed they are to Jalen Hurts as their starting quarterback.
Well, after months of debate, Hurts finally got a chance to get on the field this week for four practices to start to convince the team he should be their next franchise quarterback.
How has he done?
Here is a look at Hurts’ first four practices:
Stats (through 4 practices): 47/67, 6 TDs, 2 INT, 1 rushing TD
Accuracy:
Hurts has all the intangibles you would want in a quarterback, but the bottom line is that like all quarterbacks his career is going to be decided by his ability to deliver a consistently accurate pass. He doesn’t need to throw for 400-plus yards a game, or attempt 35-plus passes, but he does need to deliver accurate passes when a play is there to be made.
So far it isn’t completely clear if he will be able to do that.
What is clear is Hurts can deliver an accurate ball. That has been obvious when the Eagles have been in seven-on-seven drills and Hurts can just drop back and pass. He has excellent touch on the ball and delivers a soft, catchable pass. He also does an excellent job of hitting his receivers in stride on plays designed for yards-after-the-catch.
Where Hurts has run into some trouble is with being consistent.
In 11-on-11 drills, with a pocket around him, Hurts seems to struggle a bit more in going two, three, four plays in a row with getting the ball out accurately and getting the offense moving. He has made some excellent throws from the pocket, but he has also missed some easy throws that were there to be made. The offense hasn’t had many periods where they just go right down the field throwing the ball.
Part of that could be him getting used to be in an NFL pocket, something he didn’t get much experience with last season. It isn’t an arm-talent issue. Hurts has a strong arm and is capable of making all the throws. He has just been inconsistent through the first four practices.
Once Hurts becomes more calm in the pocket and does a better job just dropping back and passing, it seems the consistent accuracy will follow.
Grade: C+
Outside the Pocket:
Where most of Hurts’ issues so far in camp have come is when he breaks the pocket and has to decide whether or not he is going to run or throw.
A perfect example was during the second day of camp. The pocket collapsed on Hurts and he did a nice job stepping up away from the pressure. He had nothing but green in front of him and seemed to be ready to run, but at the last second he saw a wide-open Zach Ertz over the middle and tried to get him the ball. The pass sailed about three-yards over Ertz and fell incomplete.
There have also been some great examples of Hurts making plays outside the pocket, however. On the third day of camp Hurts escaped pressure and found tight end Jason Croom in the end zone for a touchdown from about 15-yards out.
Nick Sirianni has talked at length at Hurts and the coaching staff working on the quarterback’s feet when he throws the ball. The mechanics seem to be an issue in instances like the one above — where Hurts wants to throw instead of run at the last second.
On passes like the one to Croom he seemed to be focused on passing the entire time. On passes like the one to Ertz he doesn’t seem to be setting his feet and it is causing some issues with completing easy passes.
Grade: B-
Mobility:
There is no question the coaching staff is going to take advantage of Hurts’ dynamic ability as a runner.
At least two-to-three times a practice the first-team offense runs a designed quarterback scramble, sending Hurts off towards the sideline with blockers in front. Although there is no tackling, which certainly helps the offense, the plays have been impressive. Hurts is quick and decisive as a runner, putting pressure on the defense and getting up field quickly.
Hurts’ ability to make plays with his legs is going to really help him early on as he adjusts to throwing the ball from an NFL pocket with pressure coming.
Grade: A
Red Zone:
The Eagles first full-team drill of training camp came in the red zone, with the first-team offense going up against the first-team defense. Head coach Nick Sirianni admitted on Saturday that going to the red zone so early in camp probably put the offense at a bit of a disadvantage. Understandably, the results were not great.
Hurts worst day of practice came on Day 1 in the red zone. He made poor decisions, he missed open throws and his accuracy was an issue. The first-team offense ran about 15 plays in the red zone and only got in the end zone twice.
On Day 3, however, Hurts was better inside the 20. He had a really nice touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert from about 15-yards out. He hit DeVonta Smith in the front corner of the end zone from about 10-yards out on a low pass that only the rookie would have a chance to catch. His touchdown pass to Croom, which was mentioned above, was the perfect example of what Hurts can be in the end zone — he used his legs to escape pressure and then delivered a perfect pass on the move.
Add in a rushing touchdown, and Hurts has improved in the red zone as camp has gone on.
Grade: B-
Turnovers:
Hurts has done a pretty good job taking care of the ball with only two interceptions in 67 passing attempts.
His second interception of camp, which came on Saturday, was an ugly one, however. Hurts tried to connect with John Hightower over the middle of the field during a seven-on-seven drill, but didn’t get enough lift on the ball and linebacker TJ Edwards was able to intercept it. Throwing an interception is one thing, but throwing it in a seven-on-seven drill is another. That almost never happens and is almost always completely on the quarterback when it does.
Hurts has made some risky throws with the ball, but so far the defense hasn’t really made him pay for it. We’ll see if that changes as camp goes on.
Grade: B+
Overall:
Hurts is not having a dominant, eye-opening camp. There is no denying that is a bit disappointing.
The good news is that doesn’t matter just yet, as camp is only one week old, the team doesn’t open the season for another six weeks and the offense normally gets off to a slower starter than the defense.
Hurts has shown plenty of positives. He delivers a great deep ball. He is dynamic on the ground. When he has time he can definitely make all the throws needed to run the offense.
Consistency has been the issue for Hurts so far. On one play you can see why he has a chance to be a very good starter. On the next he looks like he still has plenty of work to do in order to even be an average NFL quarterback.
The reality is that right now, one week into camp in his second season, is that Hurts is somewhere in the middle. There is clearly a lot of talent there. He looks improved from last season. It will be up to the coaching staff to get the best out of him and work the offense around his weaknesses while he continues to develop.
There are definitely going to be some growing pains, however, as Hurts continues to develop.
Grade: B
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!