All offseason, Nick Sirianni had said that progression is not linear, especially not in Training Camp.
"Naturally, you go up, you come down. You go up, down, but you're gradually moving forward," Sirianni said of installing a new offense in the most recent episode of All-Access.
Eagles Offensive Coordinator Sean Mannion will call his first-ever NFL regular-season game on Sunday against the Commanders after a long offseason of working with Sirianni and the rest of the offensive coaches to install and teach the new scheme. Instead of a question about the learning curve of calling an NFL offense, this week's game plan, or growth, the first thing Mannion was asked at his press conference ahead of Sunday's season opener was why he elected to call the game from the booth instead of the sidelines.
"Ultimately, I just felt like after doing both (in the preseason), it was the best decision for our staff for communication with the quarterbacks and best decision for the team," Mannion said. "When you're in the box, obviously you have a little bit more space. You're not pacing around. You got the tablet. It's a little bit like sitting at a desk, but I think just the vision is a little bit unique there, the higher vantage point.
"But ultimately the other part of it is we have a great staff. They communicate really well on the sideline. So, there's been constant lines of communication and I think all of that led to the decision."
The selection of playcalling from the booth instead of the sideline was a process within itself. Mannion called the first preseason game in Baltimore from the Eagles' sideline, then spent next week against the Patriots in the booth.
The foundations of the offense started to be laid in April. As OTAs, June Mini Camp, Training Camp, and preseason games came and went, layers were added and adjustments were made.
"I feel like we're in a good spot. Back in April when we started, (it) almost feels like ancient history at this point. I'm really happy with the work that the group has put in. We've been getting better and better each day," Mannion said. "I joke about it, but it does feel like a long time ago and I think it speaks to the sheer volume of work that our staff, that our players have all put in to putting us in a great position headed into our first game."
The former NFL quarterback described shaping the offense as "building a library." First, you work off the formations, motions, run scheme, and more that Jalen Hurts and the Eagles' offense had success with in the past (yes, including the Tush Push). Then, you implement the new scheme, which adds more and more books to the foundation.
"Now that we head into the season, you find yourself pulling a different book off the shelf here, a different book off the shelf here, as well as studying the opponent and finding new things, new books that you're putting on the shelf," Mannion said.
Mannion will go head-to-head against a familiar face on the Commanders' defense in his playcalling debut. While Mannion was an offensive assistant in Green Bay, new Commanders Defensive Coordinator Daronte Jones was a defensive assistant for the Vikings, the Packers' division rivals.
"I think we've seen (Jones) four times in two years, at least in my time there. But like I said, it's a new coordinator. I'm sure there'll be new wrinkles. We feel like we're ready for anything and we're ready to adjust," Mannion said. "We've gotten a lot of work against Minnesota, me and (Run Game Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach Ryan Mahaffey) in particular, just with our past experience. But, our staff has been working around the clock, looking at everything that they might do from across all their histories."
For the Eagles' offense, Mannion says gameplanning is centered around putting the players in the best position to succeed. Throughout Training Camp and preseason, players have been put in different roles as part of the scheme to evaluate their strengths. Then, you turn that around on the opposing defenses' strengths and weaknesses.
"As you study your opponent, you try to look at where that skill set, their strengths, align with how you think you can attack a defense," Mannion said. "It's why you practice with so much flexibility throughout OTAs, throughout Training Camp, working guys in different spots because come Week 1, come Week 5, come Week 12, you never know when you're going to want to move a person here, a person there to attack a specific opponent."
Saquon Barkley is a useful player for any offensive coordinator to have to attack a defense – especially a coordinator calling their first game. Eagles Offensive Line Coach Chris Kuper has praised Mannion's appreciation for the run game despite having the bias of being a former quarterback. Running Backs and Assistant Head Coach Jemal Singelton agreed.
"The cool thing is that he played in the system. He's been a quarterback in the system, and then also having been a coach in the system, and now he's got a chance to install it and implement it," Singelton said of Mannion last week.
The improvement in the running game from Week 1 of the preseason to Week 2 against the Patriots was noticeable. Eagles running backs only accounted for 29 yards on the ground in Baltimore. Seven days later and that number more than tripled to 90 against the Patriots.
"We were a little sloppy in terms of our fundamentals and execution at times in the (first) preseason game. I thought (the execution) was much improved in game two, particularly with the offensive line group upfront," Mannion said of the running game improvement throughout the preseason.
Again, growth is about gradually moving forward.
"There's so many different elements to it, but football's a beautiful game because they all come together," Mannion said. "I'm so thankful for the opportunity I've been given. I love the game of football and just to get to do this job every day, it's a blessing.
"It really doesn't feel like work to me because I enjoy what I do and I'm very, very lucky to get to work with these players, these coaches, this organization and feel great heading into the first game. There's been so much work and we're working relentlessly and ultimately that builds your confidence, knowing that I've spent hours and hours and hours thinking about the plan, preparing the plan, preparing the players. I feel confident and excited for Week 1." - Written by Caroline Connor
