Philadelphia – Everyone knows that Carson Wentz has lengthy since moved from the Eagles, as is the Eagles from Wentz.
However now that Wentz is again within the NFC East with the Washington captains, the Eagles need to face him twice every season, beginning September 25 in Washington.
So the comparability is related right here.
Certain, it is good to say the Eagles fare higher with Jalen Hurts than with Wentz. It is also instructive to return to that conclusion after seeing the Wentz three interception catastrophe on Monday throughout a command coaching camp exercise.
Marquee MatchupThis huge rear nook receiver rivalry is essentially the most thrilling for the Eagles since Terrell Owens
Who’s the quickest?These Eagles WRs say they will beat their Olympic teammate; And 4 excellent gamers early coaching camps
Reporters on the observe had been booed by followers and largely booed over the truth that the group secured Wentz’s $28 million contract for 2022. This determination, largely, compelled the leaders to half with veterans like Landon Collins, Matt Ioannidis and others as a result of this The choice needed to match Wentz’s contract beneath the wage cap.
However actually, the the reason why the Eagles did higher with Hertz run a lot deeper than a nasty day throughout the first week of boot camp.
We noticed some on Tuesday with a steamy morning exercise as Hurts hooked a deep ball with Galen Rigor, went on to attain his first AJ Brown, and made good total choices with the ball.
Sure, the standard caveats actually apply both means.
Wentz actually is not as dangerous as his third day smarts. Hurts threw one interception in every of the Eagles’ first three practices, together with a brutal one he threw throughout his physique whereas working to his left.
Nevertheless, Hurts is a schoolboy within the recreation, and it would not take a lot to see that he is not above criticism. He is additionally in a significantly better place, with higher gamers round him. He’s in the identical system, with the identical coaches for the second yr in a row.
That issues.
Wentz, in the meantime, is on his third group in three seasons. He just about ran out of Indianapolis final season after a tough finish to the season. It got here a yr after it was reported that he had requested the Eagles to commerce him largely as a result of he didn’t wish to compete with Herts for the place after being benched for the final 4 and a half video games of the 2020 season.
“I feel it is within the particulars,” Hurts mentioned of his enchancment. “I feel the main points are fine-tuned and fine-tuned over time. And from yr one to yr two, working the identical offense…fixing the identical issues, tweaking them, making an attempt to do the issues that (the coaches) suppose are most useful, you may begin to tune in additional.”
“It simply takes time. And it is going to be that means for years to return.”
Keep in mind Hurts will solely be 24 subsequent week. There may be nonetheless loads of room for development. In the meantime, Wentz will flip 30 in December. It’s attainable that he has already reached the roof of his home.
Wentz could appear to have had a greater 2021 season than Hurts. Wentz had 27 landing passes for 7 interceptions, in comparison with Hurts’ 16 and 9.
However look intently.
Their completion percentages and bystander scores had been practically the identical (62.4% and 92.4 for Wentz, in comparison with 61.3% and 87.2 for Hurts).
However you can also make the argument that Hurts’ working means must also be taken under consideration. Hurts led all NFL quarterbacks in speeding yards with 784 and scored 10 touchdowns, an Eagles file for TDs by a quarterback. Mix that along with his passing yards and TD passes, and Hurts will complete 3,928 yards with 26 TDs.
Add Wentz’s streaming yards and TDs and you find yourself with 3778 and 27.
Certain, each groups completed with the identical file, 9-8, however the Eagles made the playoffs and the mills did not. And a whole lot of that’s on Wentz.
In any case, the Colts had been so disgusted with Wentz’s efficiency throughout these final two video games that once they wanted only one win to make the playoffs, they traded him with Washington earlier than they even knew who would exchange him (which turned out to be Matt Ryan).
Wentz was significantly brutal in that closing match towards Jacksonville. He additionally missed the whole week of coaching within the penultimate week of the sport towards the Las Vegas Raiders after testing optimistic for COVID-19. He was unvaccinated.
The intangibles of the midfield are as vital because the stats.
Hurts had a brutal closing as effectively, throwing three interceptions in a complement loss to the Buccaneers. However he did spend the sabbatical touring from Texas to California to and between Philadelphia to work with QB coaches and teammates.
Definitely, within the grand scheme of issues, Wentz’s day of three interceptions will change into a distant reminiscence. He’ll in all probability come again with some good days and publish some nice stats.
Hurts might simply observe his robust efficiency on Monday and Tuesday along with his share of struggles, missed throws and interceptions.
Nevertheless, it will not be for lack of making an attempt, Eagles coach Nick Siriani confirmed by breaking all of Hurts’ objections.
“Two of them are dangerous choices,” he mentioned. “One was a poor determination within the pocket. One was a poor determination on the go. The opposite, a miss throw the ball and Marcus (Epps) truly made an unbelievable play. You are going to miss some throws…however the ones you appropriate onerous are these dangerous choices.”
Examine that with Wentz. His achievement share final season, ranked twenty fifth within the NFL, forward of Hurts at twenty sixth, displays his 62.6% profession share.
There may be not a lot room for enchancment. That is very true of a brand new group rising from two consecutive seasons of seven wins, with solely Terry McLaurin because the star future.
With Hurts, loads is feasible.
“Simply take steps day-after-day,” Hurts mentioned. “Do a greater job than I did final time. It is easy. I do not wish to make it tougher than it’s. Simply pushing myself, pushing the gamers round me to be a greater captain and a greater midfielder for the group.”
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Comply with us on Twitter @Mfranknfl.