Should the Eagles dial back how often Jalen Hurts runs the ball to protect their 24-year-old franchise quarterback?
That was the question Joe DeCamara asked former Eagles legendary coach Dick Vermeil on the 94WIP Morning Show.
"I think you've got to be very, very careful of being overprotective of your entire roster. Injuries happen in the game," Vermeil explained. "I've seen guys pull Achilles tendon in pre game warm ups...I think you've got to let him play and be intelligent about what you do with your quarterback, and they certainly do that. Plus, Jalen will get better in regards to self protection, now in a cowardly way, but in a way of intelligence and awareness. You know, 'I don't need another yard right now. It's not the fourth quarter or the last series of downs in a ballgame where we're one point down.' All these things will factor into his experience and the coaching with him."
Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick, Carson Wentz. All four were athletic quarterbacks for the Philadelphia Eagles and while each of them had a great degree of success, they all eventually suffered serious injuries.
DeCamara and Jon Ritchie debated this topic on Monday's 94WIP Morning Show.
"Here's the thing, it's a complicated one because on one hand he is superb at running it this way," DeCamara said. "He does a pretty damn good job at protecting himself, but let's not act like he always just goes down. He does take inordinate number hits to be a pro football quarterback. Now, part of why he can take a lot of him is because he is physically big—which McNabb was, he is physically tough—which also McNabb was, which also Carson was by the way."
Hurts accounted for 139 rushing attempts in 2021 and 165 attempts last season. Over those two seasons, Hurts rushed for a total of 1,544 yards and a staggering 23 touchdowns.
In Week 15 against the Bears, however, Hurts sprained his throwing shoulder while being tackled on a rushing attempt.
"When you have 200 carries, I bet you the way he got hit by that Bears player on a read option keeper, I bet you he dealt with 35 or 40 tackles like that last year, maybe more," DeCamara.
"This is so much ado about the very basics of football," Ritchie argue. "I can't believe the way you worry yourself sick about protecting this guy."
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