Despite Kellen Moore’s Success, Jalen Hurts Not Expected to Thrive Following Eagles Saquon Barkley and AJ Brown Boost

Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles are going through a major team overhaul. Forget all the off-season moves and the draft picks. The team just changed their offensive coordinator from Brian Johnson to Kellen Moore. Moore is known for his work with the Dallas Cowboys as a QB coach. The Cowboys offense even ranked no. 1 under his regime.

After the Cowboys’ job, he moved to the LA Chargers, where he had a dismal season and the team ranked 21 in the offense. Now, the Eagles are willing to take their chances on him and he will soon be coaching Jalen Hurts, who is preparing himself to be in tune with a revamped team.

Will this transition be problematic for Kellen Moore and Jalen Hurts?

The hosts at SPEAK talked about the ongoing changes with the Eagles and how they are shaping up for the new season after their Wild Card round exit this year. They pointed out that Hurts might face issues adjusting to the new team since the QB is used to relying on the defense to get things done. James Jones mentioned how he feels “nervous” for the Eagles and doesn’t know if they can bounce back, citing one particular reason.

Jones began, “I’ve never seen a quarterback truly lead a team on his shoulders and carry a team on his shoulders. When you see Jalen Hurts at his best, the defense is playing at a high level, he’s doing his job.” He further explained, “You have lost your All-Pro center right, they have paid everybody on the offense, they have given you Saquon Barkley. This is an offensive football team now, he’s going to have to deliver on the offensive side of the ball.”

Now the Eagles have changed and are more offense-centric with inclusion of players like Saquon Barkley. Further, AJ Brown’s record-breaking $96 million contract that runs through 2029 gives an extra flare to the offense. Jones believes that Jalen Hurts will have to change himself this time around. But Jones doubts whether Hurts is up for the challenge.

Jones pointed out, “If this team is going to get to where they are trying to go making a run in the playoffs is going to have to be on the quarterback’s shoulders I’m not necessarily a believer in the quarterback that he is going to live deliver week in and week out and get them there that is my worry.” But what about Moore? Can he improve Hurts? Jones has his reservations.

David Helman said, “The Cowboys had a top five offense like every year Kell Moore was there,” but Jones protested and said, “What’s the difference between the quarterback play this year and last year when he had Kellen Moore? Totally different. He’s totally different under a different coach, (Justin) Herbert totally different under a different coach. I understand what Kell Moore was doing with these top five offenses and all that type stuff but he hasn’t shown developing none these quarterbacks.”

Under Moore, Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert had the sixth-best touchdown-to-interception ratio (2.9) and ninth-most passing touchdowns (20) in the NFL through Week 14 before sustaining a broken finger that ended his season.

He also mentioned how it won’t be a help to Hurts having yet another offensive coordinator. Jones explained, “What’s it going to look like? It’s back to another year with another offensive coordinator. He had a different one last year, he is about to have another different one this year. What is that going to look like I don’t know. Because the last time I seen Kellen Moore with quarterbacks they look better with different people calling the plays.”

Moore spent the first five seasons (2018-22) of his coaching career with the Dallas Cowboys. During this four-year stint as the OC, Moore helped build a side that ranked second in the NFL in total offense (391.0 ypg), scoring offense (27.7 ppg), and touchdowns, third in first downs per game (22.5), fourth in passing offense (264.4 ypg).

Still Jones remains unconvinced, But despite all the questions surrounding him, Jalen Hurts is excited to work with the Eagles’ new OC.

Jalen Hurts is embracing the changes

From what Hurts has told the media, he is ready to learn the new offensive schemes under Kellen Moore and is committed to improvement. An ESPN report shed light on what Hurts is expecting from the new offensive coach.

“I think as a player, I definitely yearn for the sustainability and the consistency there. … As a quarterback, I yearn for those things in a play-caller and a quarterback coach because you kind of see how consistency in those areas can breed excellence,” the QB said. The report further suggested that the Eagles’ QB never really had a stable coaching staff, and his coaches came and went with time.

Jalen Hurts started his NFL journey in 2020 under HC Doug Pederson and QB coach Press Taylor. Then 2021 brought in Shane Steichen as the OC while Nick Sirianni became the new HC. After working under the two till 2022, Hurts was introduced to OC Brian Johnson in 2023. Now it’s Kellen Moore as the OC this year. These changes might have been a hindrance in solidifying his play style.

This is also evident with the QB’s inability to lead his team in the postseason. Despite a win-loss rate of 37-24-1, the 25-year-old has a 50% win rate in the playoffs. Now that the team is more offense-driven, we might see a new Jalen Hurts for good.