The Eagles offense is stuck in the mud, again

The Eagles offense has been ugly. If it feels more than a bit like 2023 all over again, you’re not wrong. In some ways, it’s been worse.

For the second time in three seasons the Eagles had to find a late replacement for their offensive coordinator. The first time they went with an inexperienced internal promotion, and it burned them; as did going with an inexperienced defensive coordinator. As teams often do when making changes, they went the opposite way last year and brought in experienced coordinators, and it obviously worked out. It appears that they did not learn their lesson. Continuity concerns for an offense that is on its fourth play caller in as many seasons are not unfounded, but also a bit unrealistic. 9 other teams have a new playcaller this year, turnover at the position is the norm these days. And they did pick last among teams changing playcallers.

But this is a premiere job, one that has gotten two coaches hired as head coaches in three seasons. Though obviously good enough to win the Super Bowl, Kellen Moore wasn’t even great here, the bar for springboarding to a head coaching job isn’t even that high. And they were able to hire a college head coach (granted, one in the worst and lowest paying conference in FBS) to be a position coach. People are going to take your call.

We have said it before and we will say it again: Everyone has to start somewhere, but a team with legit Super Bowl aspirations is not the place for on the job training. It seems that Kevin Patullo has much to learn.

Just as Brian Johnson seemed allergic to putting players in motion, Kevin Patullo seems allergic to RPOs and play action, and he too appears to not know that you are allowed to move receivers around before the snap. Last season the Eagles led the league in number of RPOs by over 100 more than the next team (274 to the Colts with 171). Through two games they are a distant third, 18 plays behind the Packers.

It might only be Week 2, but early season concerns with Brian Johnson turned out to be warranted. This team is trying to win another Super Bowl, the standards have to be higher. Patullo isn’t solely to blame, there are two other similarities to the 2023: the head coach and the quarterback. This is not the Eagles offense we expected to see, and everyone shares responsibility for the struggles.

There is time to improve, but not much. 20-something point performances aren’t going to get it done against the Rams and Buccaneers over the next two weeks.

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