Hurts is an early bird out of the pocket

PHILADELPHIA » Nick Sirianni confirmed what TV viewers and critics observed Monday in the Eagles’ 41-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts left the pocket early. Sirianni certainly didn’t trash the work of Hurts, as he appreciated the decisions the quarterback made operating the run-pass option.

“I heard something one time where his off-schedule throws on first and second down were like 50 percent, and then I heard that our old quarterback in Indy, Philip Rivers, was like 14 percent,” Sirianni said at his presser Monday. “So, they were at the vast difference of the spectrum. One was No. 1 in the league, one was 32.”

Sirianni wants Hurts to lower the 50 percent figure of throwing off schedule to about 35 percent because his skills set is totally different from Rivers and his reliance on throwing off-schedule just 14 percent of the time to be effect.

“Different players,” Sirianni said. “(Hurts) still has this unbelievable weapon of being able to extend plays and being able to make things happen out of the pocket. Yes, we want him to throw in rhythm but we don’t want to limit him because of who he is and what he can do. Again, it’s a fine line there. I think he’s done a better job. Are there plays that I thought he got out of the pocket too quick? Sure, there’s going to be a couple of those, but those are things that we’re constantly talking about.”

Leaving the pocket prematurely can be a major issue because the quarterback is supposed to go through his progressions and reads unless of course, he’s running for his life, if you will.

When the quarterback resorts to throwing off schedule, the timing is thrown off, receivers tend to run routes less enthusiastically and the offense turns into a playground game.

Sirianni didn’t mention it but

Hurts got conservative after throwing his first interception of the season on the Eagles’ first possession. Hurts was picked off twice on the night, Trevon Diggs taking the second one to the house.

“I think what matters is that no matter how it unfolds throughout the game, however the plays are made, we just want to get positive plays, keep the sticks moving and win,” Hurts said, “No one really cares how it looks.”

Of course, when you move the sticks and win, it tends to look much better aesthetically. The Eagles (12) have lost two straight after shellacking the Atlanta Falcons in the opener.

“I don’t think he played his best game,” Sirianni said of Hurts. “I don’t think he played a bad game. There’s improvement. We all need to improve. When you lose like we lost on Monday night, everybody needs to improve. Everybody needs to look in the mirror, starting with myself. And people are going to look up to Jalen and the things that he says and he does, and he leads by example, so I’m glad that he’s living that way and taking his responsibilities as he needs to.”

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The Eagles held a walkthrough in shirts and shorts Wednesday.

The only player who didn’t participate was left tackle Jordan Mailata, who likely will miss his second straight game.

With Isaac Seumalo (Lis Franc sprain) out for the season, the Eagles have to decide whether rookie Landon Dickerson stays at right guard or if he’s better off moving to the left side, next the Andre Dillard.

Sirianni declined to name the starter for competitive advantage purposes.

The Chiefs could be without cornerback Rashad Fenton (concussion) this weekend.

• • • Newly signed receiver Josh Gordon is unlikely to play this weekend according to Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.

Gordon basically has been out of football for two years.

“He had his issues and he’s working on them,” Reid said. “Everybody deserves an opportunity to at least try to do the right thing.”

• ••

Andy Reid is 2-0 against the Eagles with a win here and a win there.

The Chiefs are favored by seven points over the Eagles. K.C. is 1-10 against the spread over the last 11 games.