Sean Mannion’s biggest concern after his debut as the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator wasn't play selection, personnel usage, or overall design. Philadelphia must do a better job of staying ahead of the chains.
Missed communication, unblocked defenders, penalties, and negative runs repeatedly placed the Eagles in unfavorable down-and-distance situations during their 24-22 victory over Washington.
“The biggest takeaway for me from the game was just being able to stay on schedule,” Mannion said.
Philadelphia overcame third-and-goal from the 17-yard line when Jalen Hurts found Dallas Goedert for a touchdown. Hurts later rescued the decisive fourth-quarter possession by scrambling 22 yards on third-and-18. Those plays showed Philadelphia’s
high-end talent, but expecting the offense to convert those situations consistently isn't sustainable.
The Eagles finished with only 10 first downs and punted seven times. Their first three possessions of the second half were three-and-outs, with five of those nine plays losing yardage. Mannion said some problems resulted from fundamental mistakes, while others came from communication breakdowns against Washington’s pressure looks. Philadelphia wants to account for every defender at the line of scrimmage and keep free rushers out of the backfield.
Tennessee’s defensive front makes those corrections particularly important. Jeffery Simmons and Jermaine Johnson II can create negative plays without requiring Robert Saleh to blitz.
Philadelphia survived its Week 1 mistakes. Improving on early downs would let Mannion use more of his playbook and keep the Eagles from repeatedly asking Hurts to rescue the offense.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles must stay ahead of chains to unlock Sean Mannion’s offense
