Bleeding Green Nation
A closer look at the development of the Eagles’ franchise quarterback.
This is the third of a series of posts, breaking down how Jalen Hurts has dramatically improved his game since he joined the league. Each category focuses on a specific type of mistake he used to make—and how he’s grown past it. The whole series will be linked to an episode of my podcast, which you can find here. I have a huge thank you to James Foster (one of the best analysts out there) for providing me with old Hurts’ film and for helping with this series. Go and follow him and subscribe to his YouTube channel.
We got pretty technical in Parts 1 and 2, so let’s keep this one simple: Jalen Hurts is now one of the NFL’s best deep ball throwers. Even his harshest critics would struggle to argue otherwise. But it’s easy to forget just how far he’s come in this area. Rewatching his 2020 and 2021 film, you see a very different quarterback—one whose deep balls often died in the air, lacking the velocity or placement to consistently hit receivers downfield. It wasn’t just a mechanical issue; the throws simply didn’t have the juice or precision they do today. Arm strength is one of those areas that we don’t expect to improve significantly. However, by improving the fundamentals of quarterback play, it is possible to improve, as Hurts has shown.
Take a look at part 1 of the clips below. Warning: They are pretty brutal.
One of the first things that jumps out from the early clips is Hurts’ inability to manipulate safeties with his eyes. Look at the first play against the Giants. He’s staring that down the entire play. Early in his career, Hurts struggled badly in this area. He would often lock onto his first option and stare down the route, allowing safeties to rotate over and make plays on the ball. It’s pretty basic stuff in all honesty. There is a reason why I doubted him after his first couple of seasons!
His deep shots frequently floated and died in the air, allowing defenders to recover. It was a combination of a lack of arm strength and an inability to look off the safety. Some of his early deep balls looked like hopeful arm punts.
But fast forward to the second set of clips, and the difference is staggering. He looks like a different quarterback.
Just look at the difference in the very first clip! Hurts immediately looks off the safety before delivering a dime. He now actively manipulates safeties with his eyes, holding them in place or pulling them away from his intended target. This is the result of hard work and a willingness to be coached and improve. Of course, looking off the safety is one thing, but the ability to deliver the perfect throw down the field is...
