Summer is about to get into full swing.
The National Weather Service issues heat advisories and extreme thunderstorm warnings. The kids are home from school. The basketball and hockey seasons have wound down to their conclusions.
Another great start for the Phillies means we could be in for another long playoff run. Heck even the WNBA is worth watching for the time being. Plus, there is a whole world of sports, for everyone to become an expert in, at least as long as the Olympics run over in Paris.
All that must mean that it’s a quiet time for the Eagles.
And yes, the Eagles will step out of the spotlight until training camp starts late next month. Until then, we can all pretend we care about other sports for a while.
While we’re pretending, there is plenty to be excited about with the Eagles.
Try this on for size.
There is a new offense.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts is learning yet another new offense. Hurts has seen offenses by Doug Pedersen, Nick Sirianni, Shane Steichen and Brian Johnson. These days, former Cowboys and Chargers coordinator Kellen Moore has the reins.
Hurts has a history that extends back to college where he saw multiple coordinators with Alabama and Oklahoma. Each year Hurts has battled through and for the most part thrived. Even last season, when the Eagles faltered after a 10-1 start, Hurts battled through injury and uninspired play calling.
The hope for 2024 is that the play calling from Moore will be a bit more inspiring.
Hurts will definitely have weapons.
AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith return as one of the league’s top wide receiver combinations. Dallas Goedert gives the team and Hurts a reliable and dangerous outlet in the middle of the field.
The Eagles broke character this offseason to give Hurts the most interesting weapon he’s had. The Eagles signed former Giants running back Saquon Barkley.
After years of treating the running back position as an afterthought, the Eagles went and upset the running back market by signing away one of the top backs from one of its division rivals.
If he’s healthy, Barkley is one of the most dangerous weapons in the league. He’s an elite runner, a capable pass protector and possibly the best receiver the Eagles have had out of the backfield since Brian Westbrook.
In short, Barkley has the best qualities of a combination of LeSean McCoy and Westbrook. If it all pans out, the Eagles offense has a chance to be as good as it has ever been.
There are definitely some concerns with the offense. Installing an offense that Hurts described as 95 percent different than last year’s edition. The offensive line will have a new look for the first time in a decade and a half. There still isn’t a reliable fourth receiving option with either a second tight end or third wide receiver.
Hurts does have some adjustments to make.
That shouldn’t be a problem. History tells us Hurts knows how to make adjustments.
If he does, we might just see the most explosive offense the Eagles have had in decades.
