Pederson eyes gadget play changes
Realizing how predictable the use of Jalen Hurts has become, Doug Pederson said the Eagles would consider adding another wrinkle to the play package they’ve given the rookie quarterback.
Hurts might even be allowed to line up behind center Jason Kelce without starting quarterback Carson Wentz on the field.
“It’s a great idea,” Pederson. “Something we’ll look into.”
Wentz was unavailable for comment.
The Eagles have netted 80 yards on the 30 offensive snaps played by Hurts, who they took off the board in the second round of the NFL draft.
Hurts has 11 rushes for 50 yards (4.5 ypr.) and four first downs. He’s completed both of his pass attempts for 27 yards, including a 19-yarder to tight end Richard Rodgers.
Hurts also caught a threeyard pass from Wentz.
Pederson bristled when Hurts, who has been credited with three fumbles, two of them the Eagles recovered was considered a turnover concern.
“The issue is we have to do better with the center snap,” Pederson said. “I’ve talked to Kelce about this before, and he’s had a little history and he knows it, and listen, he’s a pro and he’s going to get it fixed, but we have to get that center-quarterback exchange dialed in. And a couple of those were low and those are hard to handle.
“So, I wouldn’t put them all on Jalen, no.”
The Saints typically use quarterback Taysom Hill as a changeup to starter Drew Brees, who now has injured ribs. Brees leaves the field when Hill checks in. Hill has rushed for a touchdown, caught a scoring pass and produced 10 first downs for the Saints.
Pederson believes Hurts has a lot more upside than what he’s shown.
“I think early on, we’ve been very explosive with him,” Pederson said. “Gosh, I think we were close to 11 or 12 yards per attempt when he was in the game, something like that. I would say here recently, defenses are playing him a little bit differently. They have had
chances to scout him. … Sure, we could probably do a little bit more with him.”
Or the Eagles simply could run a play where Hurts throws the ball to Wentz, who usually lines up as a tight end or wide receiver. Like they’ve done in practice. But that’s just us.
• • •
Pederson couldn’t say enough Monday about the
opportunity the Eagles have ahead of them without specifying what that is.
The Eagles begin the toughest stretch of their schedule, one in which they oppose in order, the Browns (6-3, away), Seahawks (6-3), Packers (away, 7-2), Saints (72) and Cardinals (away, 6-3).
The Eagles have beaten just one team with a winning record this season in the 49ers. Rewind to the start of the 2109 season and they’ve defeated just two other winning teams — the Packers and the Bills.
Their 12-12-1 record over
that span has been formed largely against teams that had losing records at kickoff time.
•••
Alshon Jeffery made his season debut Sunday as he played 18 snaps.
Though Jeffery didn’t catch the sole pass thrown his way by Wentz (it was more like a wild pitch), his mere presence reduced the playing time of rookie receiver John Hightower to three snaps.
It also meant JJ ArcegaWhiteside, the 2019 secondround pick out of Stanford
was a healthy scratch for the first time in his young career.
“We knew Alshon was coming back and listen, we have to make some tough decisions on who is up and who is down,” Pederson said. “I think moving forward, we know that Alshon is healthy and I know his play time will increase probably each week. They are tough decisions and it could change this week again. We just have to make those decisions as we go each week but it’s nothing against J.J. We’ve still got a lot of confidence
in him.”
Hightower is averaging almost 33 snaps per game this season, although the numbers have lessened in recent weeks. The Eagles basically send him on go routes to stretch defenses and draw interference penalties. He’s averaging 18.4 yards on nine receptions.
Hightower also has three drops and a drop percentage of 12.5 percent. The latter figures trail only Miles Sanders on the Eagles. Sanders has five drops and a drop percentage of 13.3.
Arcega-Whiteside has two
receptions worth 45 yards. He’s averaged just 14.3 snaps per week. It could be awhile before he sees that kind of time.
“The thing is, we’ve got to get more out of the guys that are playing,” Pederson said. “And that’s something we’ve got to focus on this week.” •••
Wentz has sloppy practie habits, if you believe a recent report quoting sources by the NFL Network.
Pederson, of course, said that’s news to him and denied that his quarterback had sloppy habits.