PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – With the star wide receiver saying postgame Sunday the passing game is a problem and a defensive leader going on 94WIP in Philadelphia to say they need to rectify the situation, the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator tried to explain what is going on Tuesday. He was defending an offense that has helped the Eagles win nine straight games.
Veteran receiver AJ Brown is frustrated that even though the team is winning, the passing game hasn’t been as impactful as previously.
“From a production standpoint, the passing game is something we would love to grow on and I think we have excellent opportunities to grow in that capacity,” said Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on Tuesday via the team website as he was left to defend the upset players.
Let’s first look into the numbers of Brown’s frustration. Considering some of the offensive struggles of recent years in Pittsburgh, this seems more like the spoiled kid whining. To note:
· Brown has only one game this season with fewer than four receptions
· While combining for 109 yards receiving in the last two games, in two of the three previous games, Brown went over 100 yards
· For the season he is averaging 17.4 yards per reception which is second-best in his career
· He’s 17th in the NFL in receiving yards and is top 10 in plays of 20-plus yards and 7th in plays of 40-plus yards this is despite playing in three fewer games than most of the other receivers
Moore lauded quarterback Jalen Hurts’ ability to protect the football. He has only five interceptions this year (one since the Eagles bye week) to 16 touchdowns. The Eagles OC dismisses that he’s being too conservative.
“You see aggressive throws,” Moore said. “You still see him throwing downfield. We didn’t hit the explosives from a passing standpoint. This is the challenge of the NFL. You have games like this.”
As a team, Philly threw for only 83 yards beating Carolina, following 112 passing yards against the Ravens and 167 against the Rams. During the nine-game winning streak, the Eagles have averaged 166.7 passing yards, but they are averaging 28.4 points per game and 212.3 rushing yards.
Did we mention they won every one of those games?
“I don’t think anyone is overreacting necessarily,” Moore said. “Just a bunch of competitive guys that want to give themselves the best chance to help the team win and perform at the highest level.”
“We got a bunch of really good dudes. They all work really, really well together. I think that’s the beauty of it. We get to spend each and every day together. We got the best of the best.”
Moore would go on to say again his group is competitive. That everyone is trying to help the team win. Whether he was just trying to convince himself of this or being honest.
“We got a special group,” Moore said. “I think they all work really, really well together. AJ, Jalen, Saquon (Barkley), the whole group. When you spend each and every day around the building and see these guys connecting and working. We have a special group.”
To be fair to the Philadelphia offensive coordinator, what could he say? Would gas-lighting the $96 million-dollar receiver or the starting quarterback do him any good? He said they continue to have conversations and ‘growth opportunities’.
It seems like growing up is an issue in Philly. They have a running back taking aim at the NFL single-season rushing record. Saquon Barkley is 482 yards away with four games to play.
They are winning, yet a few can’t stop whining.