The Eagles Can't Run the Ball Because Opponents Are Calling Out Their Plays Pre-Snap

Why can’t the Philadelphia Eagles run the ball through the first two games of this season? It might be the rebuilt offensive line. It could be that none of the receivers scare opponents – they lack a speedy deep threat, but rookie Nelson Aghlor could be that guy later in the season – so safeties are able to creep up to the line of scrimmage. Perhaps it is that DeMarco Murray can’t make people miss in the backfield like LeSean McCoy used to.

Or maybe … Chip Kelly needs to change his play calls?

I had a feeling this was the case in the 1st half of the Atlanta game. Rarely do you see every single run gobbled up a yard or two behind the line of scrimmage … against Atlanta. Yes, the Falcons are improved defensively under Dan Quinn, but it felt like they knew what was coming. The Eagles completely abandoned the run in the 2nd half.

The Eagles running game was worse against Dallas: 17 carries for seven years. Murray carried 13 times for two yards, and that outing against his former team can be summed up with this:

The Eagles travel to the Jets Sunday for a game that could decide the season. Teams that have started 0-3 have made the playoffs just 2% of the time. Of course, the Cowboys are without their two best players for the next two months, the Giants are 0-2, and you never know which Redskins team is showing up each half.

The Jets were susceptible against the run vs the Browns and Colts in the 1st half, but made adjustments and improved in the second half. Cleveland averaged 3.7 ypc; Indy 3.9. Given the fact that the Jets have a better secondary than the Falcons and Cowboys (combined?), if the Eagles can’t run, I’m not sure how they’ll be able to move the ball against New York.