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For all of Jalen Hurts' early NFL success, one issue continues to follow him: his production against zone coverage. ESPN published a scathing article calling out the quarterback for "pushing back on changes that would diversify the scheme," including going under center more often. Hurts's also reportedly diverts from the game plan to what some in the organization feel is "an excessive degree."
The quarterback's struggles against zone coverage were also highlighted, and that will be priority No. 1 for offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and pass game coordinator Josh Grizzard. According to ESPN stats, Hurts faced zone on over 56% of offensive plays—one of the highest rates of his career. While his completion percentage remained solid, the impact plays dropped significantly. Against man coverage, Hurts threw 19 touchdowns to just three interceptions. Against zone, that number drastically fell to six touchdowns and three interceptions.
The difference is stark—and defenses around the NFL have taken notice. Teams increasingly forced Hurts to operate in tight windows, limiting explosive plays and exposing inconsistencies in the passing game. Hurts' penchant for avoiding negative plays and interceptions has resulted in the quarterback shying away from throws over the middle or situations in which time and anticipation are warranted.
The result? An offense that became more predictable and reliant on the run game.
Mannion is expected to implement a system based on the ultra-successful, widely used Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan offensive systems — emphasizing under-center play-action, heavy pre-snap motion, and zone-based running.
For the Eagles to reach their full potential, solving the zone coverage puzzle may be the single biggest step forward.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Improving Jalen Hurts vs zone coverage tops Sean Mannion’s priorities
Continue reading...
The quarterback's struggles against zone coverage were also highlighted, and that will be priority No. 1 for offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and pass game coordinator Josh Grizzard. According to ESPN stats, Hurts faced zone on over 56% of offensive plays—one of the highest rates of his career. While his completion percentage remained solid, the impact plays dropped significantly. Against man coverage, Hurts threw 19 touchdowns to just three interceptions. Against zone, that number drastically fell to six touchdowns and three interceptions.
The difference is stark—and defenses around the NFL have taken notice. Teams increasingly forced Hurts to operate in tight windows, limiting explosive plays and exposing inconsistencies in the passing game. Hurts' penchant for avoiding negative plays and interceptions has resulted in the quarterback shying away from throws over the middle or situations in which time and anticipation are warranted.
The result? An offense that became more predictable and reliant on the run game.
Mannion is expected to implement a system based on the ultra-successful, widely used Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan offensive systems — emphasizing under-center play-action, heavy pre-snap motion, and zone-based running.
For the Eagles to reach their full potential, solving the zone coverage puzzle may be the single biggest step forward.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Improving Jalen Hurts vs zone coverage tops Sean Mannion’s priorities
Continue reading...
