Eagles’ Secret Weapon: Unsung Assistant Coach Receives praise for His Role in Jalen Hurts Striking…
After taking a step back in 2023 from his career-best 2022 run, Jalen Hurts’ offensive development has been one of the most underrated reasons for the Philadelphia Eagles’ success in 2024.
Sure, he’s throwing the ball a bit less frequently than during his past starting seasons, and the Eagles have been embracing the run more than seemingly ever before. But when it’s time for Hurts to air it out, he’s been doing so at a career-best efficiency and with a career-high yards per attempt to boot.
But how has the fifth-year signal-caller improved his efficiency despite throwing the ball less often? Well, part of it could be the addition of new quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier, who Nick Sirianni took some time to praise on Wednesday during his media session.
“I think he’s an outstanding coach who played the position at a very high level in the NFL and in big time college football. [Quarterbacks Coach] Doug [Nussmeier] has been a great coach for a long time, too, in college and in professional football. Coached a lot of good players. Has been a coordinator,” Sirianni told reporters.
“I just think he’s done a really nice job of coaching [QB] Jalen [Hurts] and coaching the other guys. I think he’s fit in really well with our staff. Obviously, he and [Offensive Coordinator] Kellen [Moore] have a prior relationship. Really pumped that he’s on our staff because I think he’s a heck of a football coach, heck of a person, and he’s doing a great job.”
After largely working with his family friend Brian Johnson through his initial run as the Eagles’ starting quarterback, first as a quarterbacks coach and then as an offensive coordinator, getting some fresh blood has done wonders for Hurts in 2024. If he can match his efforts from Week 15 into the future, no one will be able to say that passing is the Eagles’ weak spot ever again.
