Admin September 6, 2024
The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2024 season in a confusing place. While they still boast one of the strongest rosters in the league, notable retirements, staff changeover, and not-so-subtle locker room tension indicate that this season can go either way.
A Historic Collapse
Tensions are high following the disappointing conclusion to the 2023 campaign. After starting 11-1, the Eagles looked certain to return to the Super Bowl. However, the wheels came off hard. They lost five of their last six games, losing the NFC East in the process, despite a commanding lead.
Their late-season collapse was compounded by a 32-9 defeat at the hands of Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Thus completing one of the worst in-season collapses in the history of the NFL.
Regardless of their impressive start, there were signs that it was fraudulent. Their offence wasn’t nearly as effective as it had been the year prior under, then-offensive coordinator, Shane Steichen and their defence wasn’t setting record sack totals anymore.
The quality they still had on their roster managed to paper over the cracks, with fail-safes such as the ‘tush push’ making any short-yard situations an instant conversion.
As the season continued, their flaws became more apparent, and they rode their luck in wins against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills. Two games they perhaps should have lost.
But in a rematch of the NFC title game against the 49ers, it all fell apart. The Eagles were outclassed this time, suffering a 42-19 defeat, confirming that they were a shell of the team they were a year ago.
What followed was a heavy defeat to division rivals the Dallas Cowboys, the Drew Lock-led Seattle Seahawks, and NFL minnows the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants. The team had checked out and entered the playoffs as the most pitiful team in the league.
Coaching Changes
Following the season’s conclusion, the future of head coach Nick Sirianni was in doubt. His ability to prevent his players from phoning it in brought the question of his ability to lead a team. He had already lost the opportunity to call plays for the team, due to the improvement seen in 2021 when he yielded to Steichen.
His decision-making throughout the year was heavily scrutinised. The decision to promote Brian Johnson to OC, based on his relationship with Jalen Hurts, backfired. He followed this up by handing defensive play-calling over to the much-maligned Matt Patricia, which resulted in the defence quitting in a similar manner to his Detroit Lions teams.
His personality flaws were also highlighted. He often displayed arrogance and immaturity, whether it had been insulting officials or goading fans, but this was masked by his team’s excellent form. Now that the wins have stopped, it has become all the more grating, with many Eagles fans calling for his sacking.
The decision was made to keep him on, though there appeared to be heavy consideration for letting him go. They did, however, limit his influence.
Established play callers were brought in to fill the vacant coordinator roles in the form of Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio. Both of whom have head coaching ambitions of their own and could believably take over for Sirianni should a similar in-season collapse transpire.
Squad Departures
The Eagles suffered the sting of retirement, resulting in the loss of several stalwarts of the teams. How they will replace wide receiver DeVante Parker?
Outside of him, Philly icons Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox have called time on their incredible careers. Kelce’s talent never seemed to waiver but the call of becoming a full-time talking head and content creator was too much to resist. In the case of Fletcher Cox, the writing has been on the wall for several years now as his skill level has been on the decline.
The Eagles front office has worked to mitigate this, drafting Cam Jurgens in 2022, with the input of Jason Kelce to find his successor. In recent drafts, they invested heavily in their defensive line in a bid to replace Cox. They drafted in the likes of Jordan Davies and Jalen Carter in back-to-back first rounds.
Other notable departures include Hasson Reddick and D’Andre Swift, two players who performed at their highest level during their time in Philadelphia.
Incoming
The Eagles had a workman-like offseason in regards to plugging roster holes. Defensive end Bryce Huff was brought in as a direct replacement for Reddick. Zach Baun, Matt Hennesey, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson will help bolster the roster while Kenny Pickett should eventually become a quality backup at quarterback, though reports have been worrying.
Their most exciting move, however, was bringing in one of their inner division rivals’ star players, Saquon Barkley. The dynamic running back’s contract dispute was the main vein of the New York Giants offseason hard knocks, and his signing for the Eagles feels partially motivated by spite. Both sides appeared done with each other during this round of contract negotiations.
Barkley, a former second-overall draft pick, has not had the career many expected. A combination of injuries and playing within a poor Giants offence has been why his potential has not been fulfilled, as of yet.
In Sirianni’s side, Barkley will be playing behind the best O-line of his career and there will be quality wide receivers that the defence will have to respect. On top of that, Jalen Hurts is a rushing quarterback, which creates indecision among defenders.
This is an optimal situation, which could help fulfil Barkley’s potential. You saw D’andre Swift and Miles Sanders look their best in this Eagles run game and Barkley is a much more talented running back than either.
Howie’s Done it Again
The most exhausted narrative of every draft season is the genius of Howie Roseman. Roseman is a very good General Manager. He is clearly capable of building strong teams and dealing with contracts before they become an issue.
But when it comes to the draft, his mystique is overblown. He simply takes advantage of other GMs overthinking it. Following the high-profile error of taking Jalen Raegor over elite receiver Justin Jefferson, Howie has been on a roll.
Davies, Carter, Smith, and Nolan Smith have all been highly touted draft prospects that have either fallen directly into the Eagles’ laps or have fallen close enough for them to move up and pounce upon.
This year was no different. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper Dejean were two of the most highly touted defensive backs in this year’s draft with PFF ranking them both as top 10 players. The Eagles managed to secure them with their first and second-round picks.
Media outlets were once again aghast at how they both managed to drop into the Eagles’ lap. Howie may not be the genius that everyone calls him, but he may be the luckiest GM in all of football.
Many touted their 2024 draft class as one of the best in the NFL, as it looks to maintain its strong roster for years to come.
Expectations
This upcoming season can go either way for the Philadelphia Eagles.
On one hand, the talent in the roster is undeniable. Their only obvious weakness in the roster was the secondary, and they targeted that heavily in the draft. They have elite talent littered all over the field.
However, it’s only a few weeks into training camp and reports are already suggesting a conflict between Jalen Hurts and the coaching staff, with the dynamic being described as ‘fractured’. For someone who is often known for his composure in front of the mic, it was surprising to hear Hurts be open about a potential rift.
There is tension that needs quashing between both sides if they hope to repeat the success that they saw in the 2022 season.
They reside in a division that’s there to be won. The Giants and the Commanders still don’t possess rosters capable of winning the division, while the Cowboys appear to be on the edge of spiralling.
Offensive creativity held the Eagles back. No team in the league used motion less than them last year. In shifting to a Kellen Moore-run offence, expect this stat to change.
That simple change alone will be enough to significantly improve their offensive output and allow Jalen Hurts a better chance at reading defences.
This will give the team a better chance to utilise receivers AJ Brown and Smith, who struggled to make an impact down the stretch last season.
Their defence should improve massively as Fangio has regularly coached up strong defences. The secondary has been revamped and should Davies and Carter take the next step in their progression, they will have one of the league’s strongest defensive lines.
It could all come crashing down. Sirianni could be gone halfway through the season. But at the same time, they should also be considered serious Superbowl contenders.
They all just need to mature a little.