Eagles' Super Bowl hopes hinge on a crucial factor tied to Jalen Hurts' performance against the Chiefs' aggressive defense
Jalen Hurts might not be the transcendent quarterback that Patrick Mahomes is, but he is still a situationally impactful player and one of the reasons why the Philadelphia Eagles are in the Super Bowl. For the most part, Hurts has had an up and down season, especially as a passer. In the regular season, he […]
Jalen Hurts might not be the transcendent quarterback that Patrick Mahomes is, but he is still a situationally impactful player and one of the reasons why the Philadelphia Eagles are in the Super Bowl.
For the most part, Hurts has had an up and down season, especially as a passer. In the regular season, he was 29th in PFF passing grade and 12th in success rate. However, he adds value as a runner (5th in PFF rush grade among quarterbacks) and with explosives, putting him at fifth in EPA/play.
But nothing will be more important for Hurts against the Chiefs on Sunday than being protected. NFL analyst Warren Sharp brought this interesting element, showing how different of a quarterback Hurts is when pressured or not.
In EPA per attempt, which is basically a unit efficiency stat, The Eagles' offense is third when there isn't a pressure, just behind the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions. When there is a pressure, the offense goes all the way down to 29th.
Among 37 qualifying quarterbacks, Jalen Hurts individually is 32nd in yards per attempt, 33rd in sack rate, 37th in EPA/attempt, and 37th in success rate, according to Sharp.
If the Eagles want to avoid negative plays and lack of efficiency, they have to protect Hurts. But there's nuance to it.
Self-inflicted issues
Jalen Hurts tends to hold the ball too much. This season, he has the highest average of time to throw (3.21), just ahead of players like Lamar Jackson, Justin Fields, Sam Darnold, Deshaun Watson, and Caleb Williams.
Sometimes that's good, and allows Hurts to create plays after 2.5 seconds of the snap. But the Chiefs have the second best defensive coverage grade for PFF, so waiting for their coverage structure to fail is too risky.
The Eagles have to rely on their offensive line against what's not that good of a four-man rush. And when the Chiefs blitz, quick answers will be necessary—KC is fourth in blitz rate (34.2%), only behind the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Protection
While Hurts invites pressure by holding the ball, the offensive line is a big plus for the Eagles in all areas. Specifically in pass protection, Philly is sixth in pass block win rate and sixth in PFF pass block grade—the latter is even more impressive considering how much time Hurts averages between the snap and the throw.
Steve Spagnuolo is one of the most respected and creative defensive designers in football. Preventing him from finding ways to affect Jalen Hurts is the biggest key for an Eagles championship.
