Philly selecting Jalen Hurts in the second round of the draft will go down as one of the most shocking selections of the entire event. We all know that they paid Wentz trust-fund level money to be their quarterback. Likewise, we know of his long history of getting knocked-out of games and seasons. So it makes sense that they would want someone with a similar skillset and the upside to perform if needed but no one thought that they would go after that guy in the second round. Not with plenty of other needs in a division that seems primed to be much more competitive from Washington on up.
So the debate has raged for the last week & a half about what Hurts role will be with the team. Will he be a true challenger for the starting job? Will he be a Taysom Hill sort of gadget? Has Doug Pederson devised a way to get both of them on the field in a way that won't line Wentz up as a receiver (because that's such a sad gimmick)?
No real answers will be known until after the season concludes, whenever that will be. But during the sports sleep, I'm game to speculate.
With his world-class strength and running style I see a scenario where Hurts will line up in the backfield with Wentz on several occasions this year. Going all the way back to his first days in Tuscaloosa he has shown the ability to run the ball. It wasn't until he ended up with Lincoln Riley that he showed reliable passing but he may still be evolving in that aspect. So say they line them both up behind the center, Wentz could still be the trigger-man but runs and passes could involve the new guy. Perhaps a hybrid version of the Flea Flicker? The multi-dimensional quarterback worked for Pittsburgh with Antoine Randle-El and it's worked in New Orleans with Hill.
How will it work in this instance? Again, no one knows yet but I'm intrigued to find out. Because really, how often does a game that's been played as often as it is, for over 100 years really get a dose of new? It's intriguing.
For the record, I don't think Hurts will be a threat to Big Red, not in year 1 and likely not in year 2. Though, if Carson has continued to be susceptible to significant injury by that point then a change may take place. All the hemming and hawing about it right now has more to do with the ongoing lack of content than anything else. Wentz will handle it with as much class as it has handled pretty much everything else and that team may be better for it. The topic deserved mention since he's from the Prairie and there are plenty of bandwagon fans in the region because of our guy but that's a wrap on the subject from this end.
If you see it differently, hit the comment section!
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