It’s no secret that Jalen Hurts hasn’t been utilized as much in the Eagles run game this season, but even 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan knows it’s something they’ll still need to prepare for heading into wild card weekend.
Several weeks ago, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni spoke about Hurts role this season, and alluded to reduced QB runs being a result of trying to keep the quarterback healthy. Still. the offense has been much more dynamic when they let Hurts do his thing, and despite reporting
that suggested the QB was the one who didn’t want to run as much, he has said he was willing to do whatever was asked of him.
When speaking to reporters on Wednesday, it was pointed out that Hurts is the healthiest he’s been entering a post-season in a few years, and was asked if that was at all attributed to him running less during the season.
“No, I think the season is just kinda going the way that it has. The approach this year, and how the games have been called with this coordinator — with coach KP —it’s just kind of gone that way. So, I’ve just kinda taken it in stride and try to give my best with whatever position I’ve been put in.“
Hurts later said that he does have influence on the offense, but ultimately, he’s not the one who makes those final decisions.
The 49ers know they have to plan for Hurts and his ability to make a play with his legs, even as Shanahan acknowledged they haven’t let the QB run much this season.
“He’s got a big-time arm, so with those wideouts and stuff that he has, he’s capable of making any throw, whether on time or whether extremely late— because usually when a quarterback’s late, he can’t throw it that far to catch up with those guys, but he can, so you have to honor the entire field with them. Anytime we have a quarterback’s who capable of doing that , who also is a threat every single play throughout an entire game with his legs, it’s an issue — whether he uses it or not. When someone is a threat like that, you have to adjust.”
It was interesting that Shanahan would go on to mention twice that Hurts’ ability as a runner will slow down their defense as a whole “whether he uses it or not.”
It’s become increasingly clear that Eagles OC Kevin Patullo is among the biggest reasons that Hurts hasn’t been utilized as much this season, and it’s also clear that letting him use his legs gives the offense a big advantage.
