Maintaining a Super Bowl team for multiple years is no small task. Especially with the wave of talent that the Eagles had to let go due to cap issues. However, with several restructures and a favorable draft selection, the Philadelphia Eagles are expected to continue right where they left off last year. Here are some of the biggest acquisitions from this year’s offseason that will be the most impactful for the 23/24 season.
Coaching Staff: Brian Johnson.
Eagles OC Brian Johnson – Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Stechien’s play calling and confidence in Jalen Hurts’ decision-making and ball placement made him an integral part of the Eagles’ offense. Being the offensive play caller for both seasons, Shane Steicten is mostly credited with the development with Jalen Hurts.
However, Philadelphia Eagles QB coach, Now offensive coordinator Brian Johnson had more to do with the rise of Jalen Hurts’ ability than some like to admit. While Stechien called the plays that put Hurts in a position to succeed, Brian Johnson was a big contributor to Jalen Hurts progression as a pocket passer. He along with a professional QB program that Jalen joined were amongst the two biggest reasons why the Eagles QB improved the way that he did.
Now that he’s the new Eagles play caller, there should be no reason why the Eagles should take a step back and many including myself expect the Eagles to have an even better offense than last year. During the offseason, the Eagles only lost two offensive starters that were replaced by the draft, trade, and free agency so on-field personnel shouldn’t be a concern for this offense.
As good as Shane Stechien’s play calling was, he does have some faults that aggravated the fanbase. In 2022, the Eagles were absurdly good in the second quarter, gaining 12.6 points per game and placing first in the specific category. However, the aggressiveness in the second quarter caused them to play extra conservatively in the third and fourth quarters, leading to some games being finished closer than what they needed to.
Time will tell how Brian Johnson will manage the tempo of the game. But with the personal relationship he has with Hurts and two new running backs to work with, I don’t see Brian Johnson taking his foot off the gas if the Eagles manage to gain a large halftime lead like they did last year.
Offense: D’andre Swift.
Former Lions RB D’andre Swift – Ron Schwane/AP Photo
Speaking of running backs, D’andre Swift will most likely be the feature back and will be tasked to provide both a consistent running attack to tire out defenses and be a safety blanket for Jalen Hurts on check downs and screen passes.
The former Lions running back was acquired through a draft day trade and was embraced by the team with open arms, being the perfect replacement for Miles Sanders due to his agility and pass-catching abilities. However, injuries and the breakout of Jamaal Williams prevented him from being the main target in the running plan in Detroit.
When the ball is in his hand he does have playmaking ability, hence his 5.5 scrimmage yards per touch in his three years with Detroit. If Johnson and Sirianni make him RB1 on the team, it won’t be crazy that he’ll have a breakout year behind the best o-line in the NFL.
Defense: Jalen Carter.
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Former Georgia Bulldogs DT Jalen Carter (88) – Joe Robbins/ICON SPORTSWIRE
Is this really a big surprise? Well, getting the best interior d-linemen in the draft was probably the biggest surprise for the Philadelphia Eagles this year. But Jalen Carter being the best player that the Eagles got this year should be a unanimous opinion.
Dropping down the draft board due to off-field controversies, Jalen Carter was originally supposed to be a top-five pick, with many analysts having him being picked before Will Anderson and Tyree Wilson, but because of the drag racing incident, many teams took him off their draft boards. Allowing Howie Roseman, who prioritizes the D-line position over anything, to snag him off the board with the ninth overall pick.
Being compared to greats such as Warren Sapp and Jeffery Simmons, Jalen Carter’s versatility in run-stopping schemes and pass-rushing makes him a tantalizing prospect. Allowing him to be used in multiple positions in the defensive line can cause major problems to opposing offenses. Being an understudy to a top-ranked D-line who just placed themselves in 5th place on the team sack leaderboard helps tremendously.
