MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – There are a lot of good things going on for the Eagles offensively two games into the preseason, and coordinator Shane Steichen points to the quarterbacks and the decisions they are making as a prime reason why. With Jalen Hurts and Gardner Minshew each starting a game, the Eagles have opened with touchdowns on successive drives in each game.
That's efficiency. That's starting strong.
That's what Steichen wants to see when the regular season begins and it all starts with Hurts knowing what to do with the football – the balancing act of being aggressive and knowing when to get rid of the football safely.
"He's done a hell of a job making the right decisions, especially in practice, going through his reads, going through his progressions very nicely," Steichen said on Wednesday prior to the first of two joint practices against Miami. "Then when he's had a chance to make a big play out of the pocket, he'll take it. If not, he's doing a good job of throwing the ball away when he needs to."
In Sunday's 21-20 win at Cleveland, Minshew engineered an offense that put together two long touchdown drives and a third that reached inside the Browns' 10-yard line before a failed fourth-down shot into the end zone. The second-team offense, with Minshew at the helm, has put the ball in the end zone three times in the preseason.
"He did a nice job. He came in, he operated at a high level, I believe he was 14-17, had over a 100 quarterback rating," Steichen said. "Really pleased with that group in general and just overall. We had three drives, scored on the first two of them and then got down there and missed that opportunity on fourth down, but almost had three scores on three drives with that second group that was in there. So really pleased with their performance, and we just have to continue that."
With Jason Kelce sidelined after a right elbow procedure, the Eagles have turned to rookie Cam Jurgens and have been impressed with his ability and his performance. Kelce is making good progress in his recovery and is wearing a jersey watching the practices, helping to coach up Jurgens and the offensive line.
Steichen likes what he's seen from the rookie as he made progress in Cleveland in his second start.
"I thought he did a hell of a job," Steichen said. "First play of the game, he got out on the edge and put that guy on the ground. He's doing a really nice job with the calls, the points, the protection stuff, and then you can see the athleticism getting out in space. He's a really good get for us. We're excited about his future."
