PHILADELPHIA — Wide receiver A.J. Brown thought his message came through loud and clear after the Rams game in Week 3, when offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo finally got him the ball to ignite a 19-point rally in the second half.
“We have so many good players. At times you can feel like we’re being conservative,” Brown said. “I don’t think it should be like that. Let your killers do their thing. Play fast and play aggressive. Not saying we haven’t been, but me personally, that’s what I would like. I feel like you should just let us go.
“I don’t mean this in a negative way, but I just got the ball. I think it’s that simple.”
He later elaborated:
“I was saying, let’s not continue to hit our head on the wall and see if it’s gonna work. Let’s mix it up and do what we need to do. That’s what I mean.”
It really couldn’t have been any clearer, both in words and results on the field. But apparently Patullo and the Eagles didn’t get the message.
Brown had just two catches for seven yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon. The stats show he was targeted nine times, but several throws from Jalen Hurts were off line and not legit targets. Also, a frustrated Brown ran some sloppy patterns and at least once gave up on a route in the Tampa humidity.
Most of the failure, though, fell on Patullo and head coach Nick Sirianni.
They showed no creativity with Brown’s usage. He was stationed almost exclusively on the outside, where the Bucs could shade a safety over him. Most of his patterns were either short hitches or deep go routes — nothing to stress coverages or to scheme him free.
This is not how you handle an elite wideout.
Where were the quick slants, lining him up in different sets, putting him in the slot, setting him in motion — like Bill Walsh used to do with Jerry Rice?
Most offensive-minded coaches would salivate at having weapons like Brown, DeVonta Smith and running back Saquon Barkley at their disposal. They’d lock themselves in a room every week to scheme up ways to unleash these guys.
Imagine Andy Reid with this trio.
Yet the Sirianni/Patullo Eagles continue to fumble around and screw it up. These three elite players have yet to get rolling this year.
It is ineptitude by the coaching staff.
Yes, the wins keep coming. The Super Bowl champion Birds are 4–0 after a 31-25 victory in Tampa. But this formula is not sustainable. And Brown knows it.
After the game, he went Biblical, posting a passage from Luke 6:11: “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”
The context of that quote obviously wasn’t meant for football, but it showed that Brown is on the verge of checking out. Perhaps Sirianni, a professed Christian, should take note.
Nine targets, two catches, seven yards for Brown. That’s malpractice when you’re calling plays for a Pro Bowl receiver.
Smith had four catches for 31 yards. Goedert had four for 37 and two scores. Barkley was bottled up again — 19 carries for 43 yards — though he added four catches for 31 yards. Hurts led the ground game with 62 rushing yards.
None of those numbers scream offensive juggernaut.
How do you mismanage such talent so badly?
“We need to be more consistent across the board,” Sirianni said Monday, but deflected blame from his offensive coordinator. “I’m responsible for everything that happens on that field.
“A.J. is very important to this football team. I know he wants to contribute. I know he wants to do the things that he’s capable of doing. … Obviously I talked to him, somebody I talk to on a daily basis. … I won’t get into any private conversations that we have with any players about any topic, but I’m always in constant communication with all these guys.”
That’s fine, but Patullo has repeatedly shown a lack of midgame adjustments, and Sirianni keeps covering for him. This problem has ballooned to a point it’s undeniable.
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Christiaan DeFranco covers the Eagles and Phillies for MediaNews Group. Email him at cdefranco@medianewsgroup.com. Follow him on X at @the_defranc.
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