By Christiaan DeFranco / cdefranco@medianewsgroup.com
PHILADELPHIA — As a protegee of Chan Gailey, an adaptable and innovative offensive mind, Eagles first-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo says he isn’t having much trouble adapting to quarterback Jalen Hurts and his surrounding cast.
“I think we’ve tried to streamline as much as we can to keep (the offense) consistent for the guys,” Patullo said Saturday, emphasizing continuity and familiar terminology. “But at the end of every year — I think I talked about this in the spring — is when you look at it as a whole and you can take steps out of it and see the big picture, you can basically say, ‘OK, if we put this over there and this over there,’ it’s a little cleaner for guys that are now coming into a new system because the guys that have been here know the history of it.”
Perhaps not the most streamline of comments, but Patullo is impressed with what he has seen from Hurts early in training camp. Although the Super Bowl MVP wasn’t quite as sharp on day three as he was on the first two days, overall he has been on target.
Hurts has had to adapt a bit himself, because there is some terminology that’s different than it was under the departed Kellen Moore. Then again, he’s used to it, since this is his 10th OC in as many seasons, including college.
“I think Jalen’s done a really good job of just kind of understanding everything now,” Patullo said. “He’s becoming a really complete player in the pass game. He puts a lot of work into it. Quarterback meetings have been tremendous as far as just understanding what the defense is doing and what we’re trying to do and how to attack them. And he takes a lot of pride in it, right? I mean, he really, over the years, has taken a lot of pride in not turning the ball over and completing balls, and understanding how to stay on schedule and keep us moving in the right direction.”
Despite winning the Super Bowl, Hurts has taken some flak in the national media for perhaps not being a “complete player in the pass game” and benefiting from a loaded roster. Such criticism dogged him much of last season. Never mind that he didn’t need to throw very often, because the offense revolved around Saquon Barkley, who had an historic season, or that no team wins without a good roster.
After torching the Pittsburgh Steelers by going 25-of-32 for 290 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air, plus one on the ground, in Week 15 last year, he opened his postgame press conference by asking, “So that’s what y’all wanted to see, huh?”
Patullo, who will be calling plays this season for the first time in his career, said he’ll do it from the sideline rather than from the coaches’ box. And he expects the offense to look similar to last year.
“I think we’re still the Eagles offense,” he said. “I don’t think that’ll change. I think it starts with the run game up front and then we just build from there. And then, obviously, we’d like to try new things here and there, and we’ll see how that goes throughout training camp and where it leads us to.”
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NOTES >> Defensive tackle Jalen Carter (shoulder) missed practice. Rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell (shoulder surgery) and center Cam Jurgens (back) saw limited action. … Guard Kenyon Green (knee), who was acquired from the Houston Texans in the C.J. Gardner-Johnson deal, participated for the first time this camp on a limited basis. … Cornerback Adoree’ Jackson was up first first snaps opposite Quinyon Mitchell for the second practice in a row, but Kelee Ringo also got first-team reps. … Tyler Steen continued to impress with the first team at right guard, where he’s replacing Mekhi Becton.
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Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.
Source: Berkshire mont
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