Eagles' Shanahan Pivot: A Scheme in Search of a Roster

The Eagles are pivoting to a west coast, Shanahan-style passing attack. It's the trendy thing to do in the NFL right now. Everyone wants to be the 49ers or the Rams. The problem? You need the right pieces to make it work.

And right now, the Eagles might not have them.

The Quarterback Question

Shanahan-style offenses thrive on timing, anticipation, and accuracy on intermediate routes. Think Matt Ryan in Atlanta. Think Jimmy Garoppolo in San Francisco. Now think about Jalen Hurts.

Hurts' strengths are his legs and his toughness. His weakness has always been consistent passing, especially in the intermediate zones. This scheme asks him to do more of what he's struggled with and less of what makes him special.

The Offensive Line Factor

West coast offenses also require a different kind of blocking — more pass protection, less mauling. That was Stoutland's specialty, and he's gone. The new staff will need to completely retrain an offensive line that's been built for a different style of play.

This is a scheme in search of a roster. The Eagles are betting they can reshape their team to fit the vision. It's a bold gamble — and it might not pay off.

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