Last week, Jalen Hurts addressed the media from the Philadelphia Eagles’ locker room clean-out, expressing his belief in franchise continuity.

“I believe in everyone here,” he explained. “We plan on fixing everything that we’ve done and growing together — Coach Sirianni, Brian, everyone.”

A week later, the Eagles revealed that head coach Nick Sirianni would return for a fourth season, with Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman meeting with reporters on Wednesday. However, the franchise has released offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, whom Hurts has known since infancy, after one year of coordinating and two years as Hurts’ quarterbacks coach.

The decision was hard. On the one hand, releasing Johnson allows Hurts to work with his ninth play-caller in the last ten seasons, dating back to his high school days. Perhaps not coincidence, Hurts’ best, MVP-caliber season during that time came when he didn’t have to adjust to a new coordinator. The Eagles reached the Super Bowl during Hurts’ second season with Shane Steichen.

On the other side, the Eagles were clearly on the verge of organizational transformation. They lost as many games in the final six weeks of the 2023 regular season (five) as they did in the previous 24 months. Hurts’ passer rating also fell from 101.5 to 89.1 between 2022 and 2023, and he threw interceptions on 2.8% of passes (15 total), up from 1.3% (six).

After the Eagles’ playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hurts questioned their lack of offensive identity. Like the defenders, his squad need new guidance. So, one year after losing both their offensive and defensive coordinators to head coaching jobs, the Eagles are looking to fill both positions again.

As they look for their third offensive coordinator in three years, it’s worth considering what the post will entail under the offensive-minded Sirianni. And, most crucially, how would the new coordinator help Hurts?

Eagles seeking for new OC ‘to wipe away the staleness’
Sirianni plans a three-part test for his new hire.

“A guy who has a vision, a guy who’s going to call the plays, a guy who’s going to be able to coach the quarterback in the same sense there,” the coach said. “I’m hiring him to do a job and to be in charge of the offense.”

Until that hire is made, it’s impossible to say how much influence Sirianni and the coordinator will each bring to Philadelphia’s 2024 strategy. Sirianni hopes to improve on the ideas that worked in the Eagles’ passing, running, and protection strategies during their impressive run of 25 regular-season wins over the last two seasons. No club reached that mark; instead, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers tied it.

However, the mounting defeats at the end of the regular season indicate that some change is required.

“Obviously, with the 1-6 finish, there were things that got stale,” he went on to say. “This new person coming is meant to take away the staleness.”

Sirianni anticipates a coach that either does not come from the same coaching tree as him or has worked for coaching influences Sirianni is unfamiliar with. Don’t anticipate this hire to have worked in Philadelphia for the last three years.

Sirianni also stated that he will not limit his search to prospects from a certain style of offensive system. His main issue is whether they can tailor the system they bring to the skill levels of the Eagles’ present squad. With Hurts, receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, tight end Dallas Goedert, and skilled offensive linemen, the Eagles continue to lead one of the NFL’s most potent offenses.

“We have a lot of those pieces in place,” Roseman said. “This cupboard isn’t even close to bare.”

However, the formula requires improved design and direction. According to Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice, the Eagles are looking for an offensive coordinator who can help Hurts improve his passing consistency, reverse the turnover trend that began this season, and rebuild the Eagles’ confidence and efficacy in the RPO game.

Sirianni claimed Hurts continued to play well over stretches of the Eagles’ six-game losing streak in their final seven games. Philadelphia’s defense was weak at the time, caused by a midseason coordinator change that color analyst Troy Aikman described as a “overreaction” to successive defeats. So, while Hurts is one of the Eagles who needs to improve in 2024, Roseman and Sirianni are confident he will.

“I believe there were many inquiries after the first year about certain topics. ‘Could he be the passer?’ or whatever the questions were, and he came out and had an MVP-type season the next year,” Sirianni explained. “For 11 weeks this year, he was considered the MVP. You asked about it, and then we all had a hard stretch at the end.

“I know what Jalen has to work on, and we’ll get down and discuss it. There is no doubt in my mind that he will go to great lengths to do this because that is who he is.

To’re-prove ourselves,’ Eagles must establish a fresh vision.
The Eagles must first select what type of coach they want to work with Hurts. How tough a leader do Roseman and Sirianni believe he must be to realize his full potential? Is it beneficial to work with someone with whom Hurts has no past history, as this results in less confrontations when critique is required?

Schematically, the Eagles must also decide how much emphasis they want to place on the run against the throw. How do they want to combine the concepts? How much of Hurts’ troubles this year were caused by knee and finger issues, and how much was due to his field vision and subsequent decision-making?

Expect Sirianni to collaborate with his new coordinator to develop a healthy schematic blend, and the coaching staff to examine principles with which they have never previously worked.

“We will attend a college. Sirianni stated, “We’ll bring someone in here to make sure we’re studying the things we want to learn more about.” “Whether that’s something we want to just learn more about, whether that’s something we were deficient in last year, those will be all the different topics of what our professional development is.”

“Then you have the aspects of our offense that we have done successfully in the past. This will be our offence. This will be the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense, not somebody else’s or my name on it… “This will be our offense.”

Hurts execution will eventually influence it. However, he stated from his locker last week that he preferred not to create it.

“Owners own, coaches coach, and players play,” Hurts said in a statement. “I only want to play at a high level. I am very confident in coach [Sirianni], Howie, and [club owner Jeffrey] Lurie.

“I have to do my job and control the things that I can.”

Sirianni will do the same, but his control will be extended further. He stated that he did not need to “sell” the Eagles on bringing him back despite the late-season slump, since Philadelphia’s success over the previous three years weighed more strongly than its fracturing over the last two months. Nonetheless, all eyes will be on Sirianni to engineer a swift start to 2024 and erase the end-of-2023 memories from his locker room.

“We need to re-prove ourselves,” Sirianni remarked. “We need to go prove it again. This is how I feel right now. That’s how I’m approaching the offseason. That’s how I’m approaching the upcoming season as we prepare for it. I just want to be able to prove myself again.

“We’re going to prove them right again.”

Nick Sirianni survives as coach of the Eagles, but with minimal power over the offense.

On November 26, the Philadelphia Eagles were 10-1 after winning in overtime against the Buffalo Bills. Going back to the start of the 2022 season, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni had a 24-4 record in his previous 28 regular-season games.

Less than two months after the Bills’ victory, calls for Sirianni’s dismissal resounded throughout the NFL following a humiliating wild-card playoff defeat to the Tampa Bay Bucs. Sirianni, however, survived as Eagles coach and will be Philadelphia’s leader for the 2024 season.

However, Sirianni stated at a news conference on Wednesday — which was delayed due to a rumored meeting between Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman — that the offense will be overseen by the team’s new offensive coordinator. This implies Sirianni will have less control over the unit. The Eagles are looking for a new offensive coordinator after it was revealed that Brian Johnson would not return to the same position next season.

The Eagles are searching for new coordinators. Defensive coordinator Sean Desai, who was demoted late in the season, was fired. Sirianni, who has an offensive experience, stated that the new offensive coordinator will implement a fresh strategy, according to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Sirianni’s return was called into question when the season ended poorly. Prior to the disappointing 32-9 loss in Tampa, the Eagles had lost five of their last six regular-season games.

Sirianni has three winning seasons in three seasons as Eagles head coach, including a 34-17 regular-season record in Philadelphia. Sirianni’s firing seemed unthinkable a few months ago, but the Eagles’ season continued to spiral downward. The loss against the Buccaneers was ugly and uncompetitive, and as Tampa Bay wrapped up its blowout victory, Sirianni appeared to be in trouble. Nevertheless, he survived.

Perhaps the best indication that Sirianni will continue prior to the new report was Desai’s termination on Sunday, who was relieved of his defensive play-calling duties following Philadelphia’s 33-13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on December 10. That was the Eagles’ second straight loss, dropping them to 10-3 at the time. With Matt Patricia calling the plays on that side of the ball, the Eagles concluded the regular season 11-6.

Patricia will not return for the 2024 season.

Nick Sirianni’s 2023 season disaster with the Eagles

At the outset of the season, it appeared like the Eagles had continued up where they left off, following a magnificent season that culminated in a Super Bowl appearance with another great start.

However, when the Eagles were 10-1, there were flaws. They’d won a number of close games, which was unsustainable. The defense took a step back. The offense was not the same either.

The Eagles maintained what appeared to be an insurmountable lead in the NFC East. The losses started stacking up. They finished the regular season with five losses out of six. They lost a large lead at home against the Arizona Cardinals, who are coached by Jonathan Gannon, a former Philadelphia defensive coordinator. That paved the way for the Dallas Cowboys to win the NFC East. The Eagles were still in contention for the division title in Week 18, but were routed by the New York Giants to finish the season.

The Eagles were in a complete tailspin, and they did not recover in the playoffs. The loss against the Bucs was surprising. The Eagles were terrible on defense yet again, while the offense only scored one touchdown. Late in the season, there were rumors of locker room tensions, which manifested themselves on the field. Nobody in Philadelphia was pleased to watch a Super Bowl contender have such a horrible season finale. It did not reflect favorably on Sirianni, prompting a reorganization of his coaching staff.

It also resulted in a change in his duties.

Sirianni wants the next OC to have fresh ideas and be in control of offensive.

Sirianni wants the next offensive coordinator to have new ideas and be in command of offense originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

During Wednesday’s end-of-season news conference, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni admitted that the team’s offense became stale in 2023.

And this is causing significant change.

The Eagles fired offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, but Sirianni wants the next OC to bring fresh ideas, a new scheme, and be in charge on that side of the ball.

“This is our scheme. Sirianni stated, “It will be our plan of action.” “So, again, I’m not sure what that will look like yet, right? We’re bringing in a guy to bring in new ideas and accomplish what he’s done before. We’re doing a thorough search to find the appropriate person, but it would be remiss not to include some of our previous accomplishments here as well. I’m not sure if it’ll be 95% this; we’re not there yet.

“We’re working on getting the best guy in here for the job, a guy with a vision, a guy who’ll call the plays, and a guy who can coach a quarterback in the same way.” So it’s simply a matter of finding the perfect guy and deciding where to go from there. But I’m hiring him to do a job and take leadership of the offense.”

Sirianni, 42, has been the Eagles’ head coach for the past three seasons and will be back for a fourth in 2024. However, after running the Eagles’ offense for the last three seasons, he is plainly handing authority to the next offensive coordinator.

The Eagles’ new offensive and defensive coordinators, as well as special teams coordinator Michael Clay, will oversee the offense, defense, and special teams. So what is Sirianni going to do?

“My job is to be the head coach of the team,” Sirianni stated. “Be the head coach of the football team rather than the offense, defense, or special teams. So that’s developing the culture and ensuring that it aligns with our five key values.

While the Eagles are unlikely to abandon some of the offensive concepts that have helped them be an effective attack in recent seasons, Sirianni appears to be transitioning to a more executive-level head coach position.

In 2023, the Eagles’ offense was seventh in the NFL in points scored and tenth in total yards. But no one is celebrating them, especially after a 1-6 regular season record. And especially not when the Eagles returned 9 of 11 offensive starters in 2023 only to see a significant decline.

A top-10 offense isn’t worth celebrating. And in 2023, the Eagles did not appear to adapt or change despite having an exceptional offensive during the Super Bowl season in 2022.

The Eagles’ hunt for a new offensive coordinator has already begun. Former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury and Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson are the first two recognized contenders for this job, but many more are anticipated to apply.

“There’s been some things that we’ve done really well on offense too in the past that you’ll mesh in some of that together as well,” said Sirianni. “I think with some of the success that we’ve had over the previous three years and the things that our men do well. So I’m excited about it. We’ll see how the new concepts combine with some of the old ideas as we progress through our offseason process and where we end up.

“But, clearly, we became a little stale on offense at the end of the year. And these concepts, as well as this new individual, are intended to remove the staleness and increase the value of what they bring to the offense.”

Lions unsure if Zach Ertz will play Sunday

Veteran tight end Zach Ertz is in Detroit today, but it’s unclear whether he’ll play in San Francisco on Sunday.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that Ertz is at the team’s facility, but he does not know if he will be ready to play in the NFC Championship game.

“Right now, he just arrived, and I know he’s in shape. I talked with him the other day. “He understands that we’re going to gauge this and see where we’re at,” Campbell told ESPN’s Eric Woodyard.

The Lions signed Ertz this week after backup tight end Brock Wright sustained an injury that would keep him out of the NFC Championship Game. If Ertz isn’t going to be ready to play on Sunday, signing him seems meaningless, but Campbell admits there’s no assurance he’ll play.

Packer fans got their wish: Maligned defensive coordinator Joe Barry will not return.

After the Green Bay Packers missed the playoffs last season, coach Matt LaFleur kept defensive coordinator Joe Barry on staff. The majority of fans did not like the move.

This offseason, the Packers made the playoffs and won one game. And Barry will not be back next season.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that Barry is out in Green Bay. That will appeal to supporters who thought Barry’s defenses were underachieving.

This season, the Packers’ defense struggled at times. Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers achieved a perfect passer rating at Lambeau Field, becoming the first opposing quarterback to accomplish so. Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young had by far his greatest game of the season against the Packers. Green Bay’s defense improved late in the season, but in the divisional round, the Packers allowed the San Francisco 49ers to score a game-winning drive in the dying minutes.

This past season, the Packers were 27th in DVOA on defense. Last season, they ranked 25th. That’s despite Green Bay’s use of its last four first-round picks on defense and the presence of other elite players on that side, notably cornerback Jaire Alexander.

The Packers should hire a top defensive coordinator. There is talent on that side of the ball. The club is on the rise following a good season-ending performance, with Jordan Love taking over at quarterback. This offseason, LaFleur, like many others, concluded that the defense was inadequate. A change has been made, and if the next coordinator can get more out of the defense next season, the Packers’ chances improve even more.

Four Verts: Savvy rookie picks helped the Lions reach the NFC Championship Game. So… my apologies on that ‘F’ NFL Draft grade.

There are three games left in the 2023 NFL season. There’s a lot to talk about as conference championship weekend approaches, but first, let’s look at an infamous draft grade issued by yours truly.

Whoops! Sorry about the draft grade, Detroit.
It’s time to repent.

In April 2023, after the 2023 NFL Draft, I graded the Detroit Lions a “F” for their draft haul. That was abhorrently erroneous, and it is one of the few draft evaluations that can be described as horribly wrong less than a year after the draft.

Normally, people prefer to wait a few years before reconsidering a draft take or draft rating, but the Band-Aid can be removed here. Not only did the Lions’ draft not go horribly wrong, but numerous rookies emerged as high-impact players to begin their careers in a season in which the Lions reached the NFC championship game.

Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch. All studs. It just cannot be a “F” grade when some teams waste whole drafts.

I disagreed with some of the guys they chose, but my main point of argument was that they were in a unique position of being a winning club with the draft capital to move up for a franchise quarterback if they so desired.They had the sixth and 18th picks in the draft, and it was clear they needed to move up to the third pick if they wanted to have a chance to select a rookie quarterback to groom behind Jared Goff — in this case, current Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Goff is a talented quarterback who has demonstrated in two separate settings that he can produce with talent around him and be a QB for championship-caliber teams. Goff has appeared in a Super Bowl and has a chance to win another with a road upset of the 49ers this weekend. I felt the Lions might want to get ahead of the cycle and seek for someone better because they have the assets to do so without jeopardizing their future draft picks.

“Whomp, whomp, whomp.” Loud and incorrect. As head coach Dan Campbell recently stated, “You’re good enough for f***ing Detroit, Jared Goff.”

Goff has weaknesses, but he will be able to command a big contract extension, keeping the Lions in the most crucial position in the sport. He’ll still need the support of a good running game, but the Lions’ ability to run the ball isn’t going away anytime soon, even if offensive coordinator Ben Johnson leaves this summer for a head coaching position. They have probably the strongest offensive line in the sport and two talented running backs—including Gibbs—to rely on.

There are numerous debates about the benefits of selecting a running back with a top-12 pick, but it doesn’t matter much right now because Gibbs is good and the team is on the verge of winning the title. His next deal, which could be rather large, can be addressed in a few years’ time. Linebacker Jack Campbell’s selection appears to be bad right now, but the Lions can live with it after nailing all of the other premium picks.

I’ll undoubtedly be loud and wrong again, but it’s critical to note mistakes when you’re completely wrong so you can learn from them. I doubt I will, but it is a pleasant concept.

49ers vs. Lions has serious shootout potential.
San Francisco is back in the NFC title game for the third consecutive season, thanks to an offense full with superheroes capable of scoring on anyone. The Lions are here for the first time in over 30 years, and they are headed by a high-scoring attack.

These clubs are ready to face battle in a game that could easily light up the scoreboard based on their attacks — and defenses that don’t appear to match up well on paper with what each offense delivers.

San Francisco is dominant on offense. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has undoubtedly been the best play-caller in football for the past decade, and his offense is loaded with playmakers. Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo Samuel form the league’s most skilled bunch of skill players. Brock Purdy is a quarterback who has proven himself capable of running the offense in a way that allows these players to shine in the majority of their games. Even when Purdy faltered against the Packers last week, the Niners relied on their playmakers to help them cross the finish line.

Samuel’s status for the game is unknown, but even without him, the 49ers should be able to score because the Lions’ defense is not particularly strong. According to RBSDM.com, the Lions finished 21st in projected points added per play on defense (-0.008), and they suffered in the second half of the season. They don’t have many defensive studs to worry about, especially with a strong and dynamic offense like San Francisco. If the 49ers can withstand the Lions’ use of Aidan Hutchinson on the defensive line, they should be able to score big.

The Lions’ game plan for this week should be straightforward: run the darn ball.

The 49ers have an excellent defensive line, but they can be beat in the run game. An aggressive, penetrating defensive line has the disadvantage of leaving channels wide open in its attempts to advance the ball. That benefits Detroit’s superior offensive line and the Lions’ ability to run the ball in a number of ways. Their performance on the ground and with play-action will be critical because they do not want to be forced into a dropback passing game against Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead, and the rest of the 49ers’ pass rushers. Stick to the core plan.

If the Lions can remain ahead of schedule, run the ball efficiently, and pick up chunks off play-action, they will be able to compete with a 49ers attack that has a significant talent advantage over their defense. It’s easier said than done, but the Lions have a legitimate scoring opportunity here.

A shootout is on the horizon, which could provide a riveting conclusion to intraconference play for the 2023 season.

Patrick Mahomes may be facing the hardest test of the season.
Mahomes’ focus this season has been on climbing mountains. He figured out how to get a shaky offensive to explode at the right time, allowing them to get to the AFC title game. He is now facing what could be the most difficult test of his career. Going to Baltimore is no laughing matter, especially with the defense that coordinator Mike Macdonald has developed over the last two seasons. Aside from Super Bowl championships, Mahomes doesn’t have much to add to his legacy at this point, but a road win in Baltimore on his way to another Super Bowl appearance would be quite the accomplishment.

Simply ask the Houston Texans how different the Baltimore defense is. Houston demolished the Cleveland Browns’ tough defense in the wild card round before scoring three offensive points against the Ravens last Sunday. They struggled to run the ball and stay on schedule, and they would have had a lot more bad plays if C.J. Stroud hadn’t been under center. This is a different beast than what Mahomes and the Chiefs encountered last weekend against the Buffalo Bills. The Ravens’ defense is about as healthy as it gets, and their overall talent level eclipses that of their Kansas City opponents.

Based on what has been shown this season, the Chiefs are at a significant offensive disadvantage, but they have Mahomes’ magic elixir, which has kept them Super Bowl-relevant in a season when things looked bleak at times. It’s a credit to Mahomes’ dominance as a player that they can score against a defense like Baltimore’s. Even in adverse circumstances, Mahomes has acquired an unquestionable reputation.

Fortunately, Mahomes brings a terrific defense with him into this game, and that squad will have its hands full attempting to keep soon-to-be two-time MVP Lamar Jackson under wraps. The Chiefs may be able to slow Jackson down, but it is on to Mahomes to perform well on offense to ensure the Chiefs win and progress to their fourth Super Bowl since Mahomes took over as starting in 2018.

Mahomes won his first road playoff game of his career last weekend and now has the opportunity to do something much greater. Take down the MVP. Take down football’s best defense. Advance. This is a legacy moment for Mahomes, and it will only add to his well-deserved mythmaking.

One more game for the AFC titan to prove that this is his conference and league. If he can lead the Chiefs over the Ravens, there will be no doubt about his abilities for the foreseeable future.

The Bills face an offseason of upheaval, but it should not include Sean McDermott.
Another playoff loss to the Chiefs means another Bills season cut short. As the Chiefs and Ravens compete for a chance to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, the Bills confront an offseason full of change and turmoil.

According to Spotrac, the Bills are expected to exceed the permitted 2024 salary limit by $43 million, indicating that big changes are on the way to becoming cap-compliant. As they make changes to the roster, they may lose some talented veterans. Stefon Diggs, Tre’Davious White, Von Miller, and others will be addressed in the coming weeks, but the man in charge, head coach Sean McDermott, should be OK.

It’s easy to see why some Bills supporters might be furious with McDermott. They’ve been stranded in the divisional round for numerous years, thanks to some disastrous playoff performances versus the Chiefs. There have been coaches who have lost their jobs due to playoff defeats, but McDermott has remained employed despite the difficulties. This makes sense, given how difficult it is to find coaches as excellent as McDermott at putting together teams.

Consider all of the ailments that the Bills had to overcome to reach to this point. White, Matt Milano, and Daquan Jones are all out for the season or have missed substantial time. They had several players suffer with injuries, thus the defensive depth chart became confused near the end of the season. Nonetheless, the Bills played some solid defense until they ran into the Chiefs. That’s a difficult thing to coordinate, and it primarily relies on McDermott’s ability.

There have been mistakes along the road. The offensive coordinator swap from Ken Dorsey to Joe Brady went mostly as planned, but it’s hard not to believe the Bills saved some juice in their passing game for later in the season. They might undoubtedly benefit from some outside input in terms of offensive coordinators, unless they stick with Brady.

It may benefit the Bills to have consistency on their coaching staff as they deal with the next version of what this squad will look like with Allen at the helm. McDermott should keep his job, but he’ll need to put together a strong postseason run soon enough. Josh Allen is a capable quarterback who must do well in the next postseason. It would be difficult to find someone who has performed as well as McDermott in bad situations.