How the Eagles Will Return to the Super Bowl: Hurts & Mariota
If I had told you in 2013 that the Eagles would acquire former University of Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, few in Philadelphia would have been surprised.
Mariota had a tremendous College career culminating with a Heisman Trophy at Oregon under Eagles former coach Chip Kelly.
Spoiler Alert: The Eagles have acquired Marcus Mariota. A decade later.
When coach Chip Kelly became coach of the Eagles in 2013, he brought an offensive plan that allowed quarterbacks to thrive. Initially, that is precisely what they did. In September of 2013, against the San Diego Chargers, Michael Vick passed for a career-high 428 yards. Long before the Philly Special, Nick Foles threw for 406 yards and 7 touchdown passes which tied an NFL record against the Oakland Raiders in a 49–20 victory under Kelly’s offense.
Unfortunately, playing defense for Kelly wasn’t nearly as much fun. During the 2015 NFL Draft, Eagles fans were expecting Howie Roseman and Chip Kelly to jump up and draft Mariota. They did not.
Marcus Mariota’s career at Oregon reads like a five-page resume. A former high school state champion in Hawaii, Mariota’s Oregon Ducks appeared in the National Championship Game 2015. Mariota is also a Heisman Trophy winner, a Rose Bowl Offensive MVP, and both a Maxwell Award and Manning Award Winner.
In 2015, the Tennessee Titans selected him with the 2nd overall pick. After four seasons, the Titans chose Ryan Tannehill as their long-term quarterback over Mariota. In 2020 and 2021 with the Las Vegas Raiders, he was utilized in the offense in a wildcat-like fashion, handing the football off and running on certain plays to stretch the defense.
In 2022, Mariota was named the starter with the Atlanta Falcons until rookie Desmond Ridder took over as the starter in week 15.
Could the Eagles be interested in a facet of Mariota’s game utilized by the Raiders and the Falcons?
Mariota’s ability to run as a change of pace could be just what the Eagles are banking on.
The Eagles know that to win the NFC in 2024, they need a healthy Jalen Hurts. They have already taken steps to bolster their running game in the offseason with Philadelphia native DeAndre Swift and also Rashaad Penny. An even more productive ground game will be a huge boost for Hurts. But could Mariota’s skillset with designed wildcat plays as another way to tax NFL defenses be precisely what the Eagles are planning?
The Eagles have done it before.
In 2020, Jalen Hurts came in as a change of pace for Carson Wentz before he became the permanent starter. In 2009, Michael Vick was utilized in certain plays in Donovan McNabb’s offense. Under Ray Rhodes in 1996, both Rodney Peete and Randall Cunningham shared quarterback responsibilities.
In 2023, the Eagles have a better quarterback room than they had last year.
With former Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book also on the roster, the Eagles quarterbacks have a total of three College Football National Championship appearances, one Heisman Trophy, one Super Bowl appearance, and one CFP National Championship. Ian Book holds the Notre Dame record for being the only player with 5 touchdowns in one half in a game.
Is quarterback play one of the most important things?
It may be the most important thing.
Few around Philadelphia would argue that if Jalen Hurts had 1:15 on the clock in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl, the Eagles would have at least tied the game or possibly marched down Broad Street.
In 2023 and with the determination of this quarterback group, they just might walk down Broad Street.
And a trip to Disney World.
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Categorized:Eagles