Jerrod Johnson Reveals the One Thing Eagles’ Offense Must Do To Keep QB Playing Fast

The Philadelphia Eagles opened the season with a win; however, the offense didn't exactly cruise through it. The Eagles beat the Washington Commanders 24-22, but there were enough protection and execution issues to leave questions heading into Week 2.

Jalen Hurts was able to make plays when things broke down; however, the offense also had stretches where the Commanders created pressure and disrupted the timing of the attack, and with a new offensive staff in place, finding a way to keep Hurts comfortable and decisive will be a big part of the early-season adjustment.

Jerrod Johnson Explains What Philadelphia Eagles Need From Their Offense

On September 15, the current Eagles senior offensive analyst, Jerrod Johnson, explained what he believes is the key to helping a quarterback play fast. Speaking to Steelers Takeaways, Johnson focused on what happens before the ball even gets to the QB.

"I think everything goes through the eyes of the quarterback. If you can make defenses have to cover every inch of grass that's important – while allowing the quarterback to still play fast. If you can manipulate the defense and allow the quarterback to play free – that's the key. "

For the Eagles, that approach matters even more with the offensive line still finding its footing. They allowed three sacks against the Commanders, while the run game produced 136 yards but relied heavily on Saquon Barkley 's 42-yard burst.

Landon Dickerson is also now headed to injured reserve, meaning the Eagles will have to make another adjustment up front. The head coach, Nick Sirianni, confirmed Tuesday that the team already has a direction in mind for replacing him, but did not reveal who will get the job.

Johnson's point goes beyond one positio n group, though. He believes the offense has to give its QB answers without slowing him down. The defense should be forced to defend the full field, while Hurts needs to recognize what is happening and get the ball out quickly.

That fits with Johnson's broader philosophy as a quarterback coach. He listed accuracy and processing speed among the most important traits at the position, with mobility also becoming increasingly valuable as defenses get better.

It's safe to say that the Eagles have many things to clean up after Week 1, but one thing is sure: they won the game. Seven punts and three sacks were enough to show how fast the offense could get out of rhythm.

Now, the most important thing is to make sure that the issues will not make Hurts play at a speed he shouldn't be playing. If the Eagles are going to put more pressure on the defense of their opponents without putting Hurts under pressure, everything will be fine.