The film analysis confirms that Jalen Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, experienced a significant decline in decisiveness during the previous season, marking the first notable regression in his football career since his college days at Alabama and Oklahoma.
This decline is supported by statistical data. In 2022, Hurts displayed remarkable decisiveness both before and after the snap, ranking second in the NFL in delivering the football to his primary target with a rate of 73.5 percent. This represented a notable improvement from his performance in 2021, where he ranked 24th with a rate of 65.7 percent. However, in 2023, Hurts regressed to his pre-2021 levels, with only 61.1 percent of his first reads, once again ranking 24th in the league. This regression of 16.9 percent was among the most severe in the league, surpassed only by Seattle’s Geno Smith.
These statistics, sourced from FantasyPoints Beta via @PHLEaglesNation, align with observations from watching the games, where Hurts appeared notably more indecisive in 2023 as opposing defenses adapted to the Eagles’ offensive strategies from the previous year.
The reasons behind Hurts’ regression are now a focal point for the organization moving forward. The consequences of this regression led to changes within the coaching staff, with former offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and young QB coach Alex Tanney departing from their roles. Their departure suggests that the league may not share the same views on the issues with Hurts as the Eagles initially did.
Johnson has since been appointed as assistant head coach/passing game coordinator in Washington, while Tanney will serve as the passing game coordinator in Indianapolis under Shane Steichen.
The organization attributes Hurts’ setback to a disrupted offseason. According to a team source, Hurts, known for his disciplined work ethic, faced distractions such as contractual matters and endorsements, which diverted his focus from his football duties.
Looking ahead, the Eagles have placed their hopes on new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and his chosen QB coach, Doug Nussmeier, to guide Hurts in improving his decision-making both pre- and post-snap.
While opposing defenses may not have consistently eliminated Hurts’ primary read, the team acknowledges that some presented challenging defensive schemes that led to doubts and hesitations, resulting in missed opportunities on the field.
