Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts, Dallas Goedert: 'Strange' Production Examination

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and tight end Dallas Goedert haven't been as productive in the run and pass game, respectively, so here's a closer look at why

PHILADELPHIA – The Dallas Goedert situation is, in the words of Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, “strange.”

The tight end’s situation isn’t that different from the one Jalen Hurts finds himself in, though Johnson termed his quarterback’s situation as, “a fine line and a balancing act.”

Whatever the situation, the lack of production from Goedert and the down production in the run game from the QB are two reasons why this Eagles offense, despite putting up more than 400 yards of total offense in the last two games, seems off.

Goedert has averaged just 6.8 yards on 13 catches, a total of just 88 yards in four games without any touchdowns. Last year, after the same number of games, he averaged 15 yards per catch with 16 receptions for 240 yards and one touchdown.

“There's been some opportunity,” Johnson said. “It's been pretty strange because he's had some opportunities where the ball could have or should have went his way, and for whatever reason, there might have been a breakdown in the play or a flushing of the pocket or something like that.”

As for Hurts, he had 53 runs for 205 yards (3.8 yards per carry) last year and four scores after four games. This season, he has 40 carries for 134 yards (3.3 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. Not a huge difference in numbers, but the eye test makes it look worse.

Jalen Hurts has found it more challenging this season to pick up yards with his legs / USA Today

So, what’s going on?

Hurts was asked in the days leading up to the Eagles' Week 5 matchup in Los Angeles against the Rams on Sunday (FOX/4:05 p.m.) if there is a conscious effort to try to keep him safe so he can play all 17 games for the first time since becoming a starter two years ago.

“I just think that it hasn’t been much of an opportunity to do so,” he said. “Other than scrambles or some of those busted plays out of the pocket, there haven’t been many designed runs there.”

Asked if his approach to running hasn’t changed, Hurts simply went: “Hmmm …”

Johnson added that the team always wants to keep Hurts out of harm’s way.

“It's a really, really long season,” he said. “You have to do a great job of keeping him upright. He has to continually use his instincts and everything that he has at his disposal to be the best player that he is, and his legs are definitely a part of that equation.

“So, I think for us, not only as a staff, but for Jalen as well, it's just continuing to find that proper balance in terms of him being able to use all of his God-given ability play-in and play-out.”

Hurts seemed to indicate that defenses are spying on him more, saying “I think there’s always an attempt to do that and take away some of the bright spots of what we’ve been able to do in the past.”

He then cut to the chase.

“Things just change from year to year,” he said. “You have different things. You have different ways of attacking people. And you have different ways that people are trying to attack you. The game is always changing, and I think that’s an adjustment in itself.

“To think that something would be the same that it was before if you have that mindset, I think you’re doing yourself a disservice. You’re trying to learn and continuing to grow, that’s the mindset that you have to have – continue to evolve.”