“Finally Starting To Click For Him”
Q&A: Hurts, Birds Showing Progress
In Week 10, the Eagles played their most complete game of the year against Denver in a 30-13 victory. Devonta Smith caught two touchdowns and the Eagles improved to 4-6.
Former Eagles safety Quintin Mikell and former Eagles wide receiver Jason Avant discussed quarterback Jalen Hurts’ improved play in recent weeks and how the team is starting to learn how to win.
“I don’t know what happened, but [Hurts] was throwing the ball with so much confidence,” Avant said on the latest “Q&A” on Inside The Birds. “He was getting back in his drop with speed, timing, and urgency. That was the biggest thing that stood out to me. It was finally starting to click for him.”
Mikell agreed, noting Hurts’ production against the blitz.
“That was one of the things I was most impressed by,” he added. “Denver, they came after him on every play especially on first down. When he was getting those pressures, he was getting the ball out to the right guy, he was finding the open man. Nice easy, on-the-money throws on first and second down all game. I was very impressed with the way Jalen delivered the ball.”
Both former Eagles also agreed that the Eagles appeared to have turned the corner, something that couldn’t be said a few weeks ago.
“I think if they continue down this road, they’ve turned a corner,” Mikell said. “I think they’re learning how to win.
“That’s the most important thing. Once you learn how to win a game, it doesn’t matter how you do it. It doesn’t matter if you do it running the ball, or throwing it. As a team, if you figure out how to win you can always fall back on that. I think it’s definitely a turning point, and it’s long overdue. Hopefully, the people making certain decisions understand that winning cures all. If this is the brand of football that’s successful, that fans like, and that gets you into the playoffs, let’s roll with it.”
Also discussed: Davion Taylor’s development, and how his play helped the secondary play its best game of the year.
“Honestly, I didn’t know Davion was that fast.” Mikell told Avant. “He had been playing so slow because he was probably out there thinking too much. It looked like he finally just cut loose and was playing with instincts and speed.”
Avant said the secondary played its “best game.”
“They were in close proximity at the catch point,” he said. “We always talk about that. Where are the defenders when the ball is being caught? Balls were being jarred loose because of contact this week.”
– Tyler Strasser (@tylerstrasser7) is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.
Listen to the latest “Inside The Birds” podcast from Geoff Mosher and Adam Caplan here:
Or watch on YouTube:
Comments are closed here.