NFL defenses spend countless hours searching for ways to slow down Jalen Hurts. Few people are better qualified to evaluate the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback from that lens than Vic Fangio, a defensive mastermind who watches him every day in practice.
The veteran defensive coordinator offered an encouraging assessment of Hurts' performance during training camp while speaking with reporters recently. Fangio acknowledged the quarterback has enjoyed a productive summer and noted one trait that has stood out immediately.
"I think Jalen's having a good camp. I think he looks faster."
That observation is significant considering how much discussion surrounded Hurts' rushing production a season ago. While the Eagles have understandably limited contact
with their franchise quarterback during camp practices, Fangio suggested Hurts' mobility continues to create problems for defenders.
"Obviously we can't touch him during practice, so there's always that debate of whether you had him or not. I think there's been a few times where our guys think they had him and they really didn't."
Jalen Hurts appears comfortable despite another offensive transition
Hurts has become accustomed to change throughout his NFL career, but this offseason represents a different type of challenge. While the Eagles have changed offensive coordinators multiple times during his tenure, much of the offense has remained rooted in concepts established when Nick Sirianni arrived in Philadelphia.
Sean Mannion's system brings a more significant adjustment. New terminology, new responsibilities, and new wrinkles have all been added to the offense. By most accounts, Hurts has handled that transition well. He is even being asked for his input. Fangio noted that while people often focus on the number of coordinators Hurts has worked with, this is one of the first times he's truly been asked to learn a substantially different offensive structure.
Despite that challenge, the quarterback appears to be adapting quickly. So are his teammates. The next step in that process for the entire collective arrives Thursday when the Eagles face the Baltimore Ravens in their preseason opener. Hurts likely won't see much, if any, action. Philadelphia has little incentive to expose its franchise quarterback to unnecessary risk in August.
Instead, much of the attention should shift toward Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton as the battle for backup quarterback snaps continues. The Eagles already know who their starter is. If Fangio's evaluation is accurate, Hurts is giving them plenty of reasons to feel confident about his standing heading into another season.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Vic Fangio offers his critique of Jalen Hurts at training camp
