Hard for Wentz to shake hunter mentality

Flushed from the pocket, Carson Wentz is conflicted, kind of like the wild game he hunts in the Wentz Bros. Outdoors YouTube series.

Wentz’s instinct is to attack. The Eagles’ coaching staff wants him to take cover. Testosterone generally wins, and it’s endeared Wentz to teammates all the more inspired when he gets back on his feet. There’s not much Doug Pederson and his staff can do but repeat their mantra en masse and individually.

“Protect yourself, whether it’s sliding, going down or getting out of bounds,” is the way Pederson put it Wednesday. “I’ve said this before that unless it’s the game-winner in the Super Bowl, protect yourself.”

From his role of hunter to hunted, has been anything but a seamless transition for Wentz. This is a serious outdoorsman who uses all of the tricks of the trade to hunt all kinds of game, from decoys to whistles to camouflage. It’s unnatural for a guy who has his prey in his crosshairs to protect himself. That’s what the game is supposed to do.

Finding the off button probably always will be an adventure, although Wentz has downshifted from the guy who took that huge hit trying to run through two Panthers near the goal line during their Thursday night game.

heard it 1,000 times.

“It’s part of it,” Wentz said. “It’s always a process. I mean, we talk about it, shoot, it seems every week. About just where you can improve in really every facet of the game. And that comes up here and there.”

And so it is for Wentz. The second-year quarterback has sparked the Eagles to an NFLbest 8-1 record ostensibly by throwing a league-high 23 touchdown passes and putting up a conference-best 104.1 passer rating.

The Eagles lead the league with 32 touchdowns. They average 31.4 points, second in the league. They’re fourth in total offensive yards, fourth in rushing yards, sixth in yards per play and third in third down conversion percentage.

The defense is playing well, for it leads the NFL in rushing yards allowed and ranks 10th overall in yards surrendered.

The Eagles are among six teams, almost all division winners, who rank in the top 10 in offense and defense this season.

And Wentz has been the catalyst for all of it.

“The biggest thing is just putting in the work, putting in the work every day,” Wentz said. “Did you get better on the field or did you not? Whether it’s on the field, but also in the film room, whatever it is, just working your tail off every day, and taking

one day at a time. It’s just a way for us to not get ahead of ourselves, not look behind us either. Just take it one day at a time and that’s kind of our mentality.”

There’s no question Wentz is the illustration of the Eagles’ work ethic. His commitment — at least in the eyes of teammates — has become legend.

Cornerback Ronald Darby, acquired late last summer, didn’t realize how much time Wentz spent honing his craft until that unfortunate ankle injury in the season opener against the Redskins.

Darby’s knew the rehab on his dislocated would be long and arduous, the veteran finally being cleared for full practices just this week. Darby’s days used to begin around 5 a.m.

“I was like one of the first ones here and last ones to leave,” Darby said. “Wentz would be here early as hell. Every time I came scooting in on my scooter, Wentz would be sitting there at his locker. I was like ‘damn, what time did you get here?’ Him and Nelson (Agholor). Nelson would be here sweating and doing Jugs and things like that.”

The early mornings with film study and workouts has put the Eagles in position to virtually eliminate the Dallas Cowboys from playoff contention this week. The road is another challenge for Wentz, who’s 3-1 away from the Linc with just eight of his TD passes and two of his five interceptions.

The Cowboys (5-4) are in trouble. They haven’t been able to replace players remotely as seamlessly as the Eagles. The Eagles haven’t lost a game since losing left tackle Jason Peters, middle linebacker Jordan Hicks and running back Darren Sproles. The Cowboys were waffled last week playing without left tackle Tyron Smith, middle linebacker Sean Lee and suspended running back Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott reportedly won’t appeal the rest of his suspension meaning he’ll be eligible to play in the regular season finale against the Eagles.

But back to reality. The Eagles owe the Cowboys after blowing a lead and losing, 29-23, in overtime last year at AT&T Stadium.

“We let it get away,” Wentz said. “At the same time, that was last year. We’re a different team, they’re a different team. We’re just really focused on this one. The thing from this year to last year is just winning ballgames at the end of games, winning lose games and finding a way to do that.”

The Eagles are the hunters, not the hunted. And their quarterback is the biggest hunter of them all, literally and figuratively.

“He’s a beast,” Eagles veteran Nigel Bradham said. “He’s a sharpshooter. And he plays that way at quarterback. I’m not going to coach him up because he’s playing amazing. Just let him do his thing. As long as he’s the quarterback, I want to be a linebacker here.”