The 2024 Philadelphia Eagles will be a different-looking team when the season opens in São Paulo, Brazil, in the NFL's first-ever regular-season game in South America, against the Green Bay Packers on Friday, September 6, at Corinthians Arena.
When you have an elite roster but lose six out the final seven games of season after getting off to a 10-1 start, changes were inevitable.
There have been roster changes on both sides the ball. The coaching changes were significant with Kellen Moore coming on board as offensive coordinator and Vic Fangio joining the Eagles as defensive coordinator.
Fangio-who brings 41 years of coaching experience, 33 in the NFL- is an old school, no nonsense coach who is not afraid to ruffle feathers regardless of the player's status on the team.
Fangio spoke after a recent training camp practice. He was first asked about when you have some competitions at certain positions, making sure he can get a good look at everyone.
“Well, you got to give them all fairly equal opportunities,” the 65-year-old said. “And you don't want guys that right now might be listed at second or third team not get reps with the first team against our good offense.
“So, you're constantly manipulating their practice reps from a numbers standpoint and also who they're going against. Basically, that's it.”
Fangio talked about the difficulties the new shortened training camp practices can cause when getting his players acclimated to his system.
“Yeah, it's a feel,” he said. “We're not there yet obviously one day in, but basically, we told the players that whatever was installed in the Spring is already in, but we're having a focus each and every day so they kind of know what is going to be called on that day.
“But what was put in during the spring is in....back in the day, when you had 40-some practices in training camp, you could go very slowly and install very slowly. You can't do that anymore. You got to go.”
One big change comes at the defensive tackle position. Pro Bowl DT Fletcher Cox retired. Last season rookie Jalen Carter started off strong but faded.
Second-year starter Jordan Davis played poorly and wasn't in the shaped need to dominate the line of scrimmages.
Fangio was asked if he likes what he's seen so far.
“I don't have a reference to compare it to not being here before,” he said, “but I do think based on yesterday's practice, which yesterday was the first time the 2024 Eagles had any team reps, so really the first time they have done anything outside of individual drills, I think they looked good.
“I thought Jordan showed some good movement ability. Was able to bend his body that I don't think I've seen him do before. So, it's encouraging right now.
He was also asked about 6-foot-3, 254-pound defensive end Bryce Huff. Huff was signed to fill the void left when the Eagles and Pro Bowl pass rusher Haason Reddick decided to part ways.
Huff played his first four seasons with the Jets. He was used as a pass rusher – third downs - most of the time. Many thought his roll developed because of lack of ability against the run.
The Eagles signed Huff to be a three-down player. Fangio was asked if Huff is good enough for that role.
“I think everybody thought he could, and knowing that the floor was just rush downs, but he's taken the challenge on very well,” Fangio said. “I do think he has the talent to do what we want him to do. It's just he's got get familiar with doing it. So, it will be a work in progress. Does he look like he can do it today? No. I do think eventually he will.”
Huff said he does not understand where people go the idea he was one-dimensional.
“I don't know where that reputation came from,” Huff said. “If you watch my film, I've been physical against the run since I've been in the NFL.
“I was starting year two. I played a lot against the run. Last year I put good film against the run as well. I'm not sure where that reputation came from. Maybe because of my size, people might assume that. But if you watch the film, I felt I did well against the run.”
OFFENSE WILL ALSO BE SHOWING A FACELIFT
The eyes of Eagles Nation are no doubt cast most on new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Eagles fans say he on the sideline as the OC for the Dallas Cowboys between 2019-2022.
Moore's record against the Eagles over those four seasons was 5-3.
While he may have had a regular season edge on the Birds, He never enjoyed the playoff runs the Eagles have enjoyed since 2001.
The Cowboys playoff record during Moore's four seasons running the offense was 1-2, missing the playoffs twice. It wasn't because of Moore, Dallas struggled in the post season.
It had become a decades-long tradition with the Cowboys to fold in the playoffs.
The Eagles have been perennial contenders while the Cowboys have not made it to a conference title game since Troy Aikman led Dallas to a Super Bowl win in 1995.
During Moore's four seasons as the Cowboys OC, the Eagles were 2-3 in the playoffs, won the NFC title after the 2022 season before losing in the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs in a three-point classic.
Moore comes to the Eagles with a roster on offense that is considered elite by any and all observers.
He is working with an offensive line that has two Pro Bowlers plus Jordan Mailata, who is knocking on the door to join Landon Dickerson and Lane Johnson on the list of all stars.
Speaking about the offensive line, Moore was asked about O-line responsibilities and how it is shared across the offensive line.
“Yeah, I think when the offensive line, they all have different vantage points,” Moore said at a post training camp press gathering at NovaCare. “And so whether it be your tackles, guards, or your center, it's critical that those guys are communicating, making the communication. A tackle may identify a particular look that may present something we need to make an adjustment to.
“So those guys teaming up together and making the call and Jalen [Hurts] having the ability to make any adjustments necessary, because he knows where his route combinations may allow him to throw it, whatever it be a hot or an adjustment, whatever it may be.
“[Hurts] knows where his answers may be and where he needs to protect himself.”
Moore played college football at Boise State where where he was named Quarterback of the Year twice (2010, 2011). Moore was also named First-team All-American (2009, 2010) and two-time WAC Offensive Player of the Year (2009, 2010)
The Detroit Lions signed Moore as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and stayed on the roster until 2014.
The Dallas Cowboys signed him in 2015 and was on and off the roster until the Cowboys released him in 2017.
Over six NFL seasons, Moore played in three regular season games with two starts...he lost both games.
Moore was considered an overachiever just to stay in the league for six seasons. His experience has transferred well at the NFL level.
He was asked, from his experience, when it comes to handling pass protection at the line of scrimmage, is it better for the quarterback to take the lead than the center, or vice versa? Cam Jurgens or Jalen Hurts?
“There is different ways of approaching it,” Moore said. “Obviously really when you've been around both aspects of it, I think at the end of the day those two guys have to team up together.
Ultimately sometimes the QB can see a little bit of a wider lens. His perspective maybe a little bit different. He does have a trump card ability to make those adjustments when necessary.
“But Cam certainly gives us the ability to speed the process up, make a decision. Jalen can work with him and team up together. Those guys are doing an excellent job the first couple days. Just continue to build on that.”
Jurgens arrived at NovaCare with a slightly different look. The third-year lineman out of Nebraska looked a little leaner, but with a little more muscle.
The first question asked at his presser was directed at his new look.
“It's more like what weight can I be at to be the best athlete and football player I can be,” Jurgens said. “I kinda feel good where I'm at. [Eagles coaching staff] work with me on my weight range. I'm pretty similar to what I was last year. I think I was a little undersized guard...it's a little bit closer to the weight I should be for center.”
Jurgens was asked if he was having any challenges switching back from guard to center.
“It's the NFL, nothing's easy,” Jurgens said. “But I feel a lot more comfortable being back there. The nice thing about being at guard last year, I wasn't just going up there and worrying about blocking assignment, I was still thinking like I was a center...what protections, what calls we were going to make and going through my mental routines.
“Playing center is so ingrained in me...it's kind of all I've done. So that aspect of it hasn't changed that much. It's a little bit like riding a bike. Except you're blocking 300-pound dudes, 350...who knows?”
Eagles fans can only hope the rest of training camp runs this smooth. *
Email Al Thompson al.thompson@footballstories.com.
Some stats from Wikipedia.com & www.pro-football-reference.com/
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