Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion: Andy Dalton interception, lack of play action ‘starts with me’
The offense's ability to turn the page will be easier if the Eagles have good luck on a growing injury report.
The play that could have helped turn the tide of Monday night’s game in Chicago is one that Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion wants back.
A negative run followed by a run for no gain left the Eagles at third-and-goal from the 2-yard line. Jalen Hurts was being evaluated for a concussion. Andy Dalton was in the game. Mannion called a shotgun pass out of 11 personnel. Dalton locked his eyes on Dontayvion Wicks and the pass was picked off by Bears safety Dillon Thieneman.
Instead of a tie game, the Eagles ended up being down 10-0 after the Bears took that turnover and turned it into three points.
“With the outcome, it’s one I certainly wish I could have back if I could do it over again,” Mannion said Thursday, his first time meeting with reporters since the 27-7 defeat. “It was a call that we felt confident in throughout the week. We had a good week’s worth of practice. It was something that Andy has banked reps on, so I felt like it was something he could execute.
“Obviously you got to protect the ball, particularly down in the red zone. He knows that. And on my end, hindsight being 20/20, I wish I would have called something different.”
» READ MORE: Jalen Hurts challenges Eagles to look inward following Monday’s loss to the Bears: ‘Who are we?’
Execution in the red zone, Mannion said, “starts with me.” That was the overarching sentiment Thursday from the first-year coordinator when he fielded questions about the things plaguing his offense through three games. The Eagles are 2-1 heading into their Week 4 matchup Sunday vs. the Los Angeles Rams, but they have some concerning issues on offense.
Among them is the way the scheme is looking right now. After Mannion and Nick Sirianni spent most of the offseason talking about marrying the run and pass games and utilizing more under center play action concepts, the Eagles are averaging fewer play action passes per game (5) than anyone in the league. And when they go to it, they haven’t been very successful doing it.
“I think some of it varies based on the opponent, based on the defensive front you might be getting, in terms of your protection plan and what things you can have up in the plan and not,” Mannion said Thursday when asked why they haven’t gotten to those plays more. “I was really encouraged with the run game. We tried to build off of it. Early in the game we had a keeper into a tough look. We had a couple things we just need to clean up in terms of the execution of our play-pass protection.
“Ultimately, I need to build the best plan possible to find that marriage. That’s on me to put us in the best position possible to build our marriage of the run and pass, the way we want it to look. I think with the way we got the run game going, there’s more to maximize off of that.”
It will be easier said than done against a tough Rams defense, especially if the Eagles are missing DeVonta Smith, who missed practice again on Thursday with a hamstring injury.
The Eagles found some success with their outside zone runs in the first half Monday night, but they couldn’t get to their play action game. Hurts was under pressure. The offense again got behind the sticks for various reasons. The Eagles lead the league with six passing plays at second-and-16 or longer. They lead the league with five passing plays on third down with between 11 and 15 yards to go.
It is, of course, harder to sell the run when you’re in obvious pass situations.
“If we get the run game going the way it looked last Monday, I think there’s a lot of big plays to be had in the play-pass game,” Mannion said.
» READ MORE: DeVonta Smith’s target share, intermediate issues, and other numbers to know ahead of Eagles-Rams
Injury report
Zack Baun remains in the concussion protocol and did not practice again on Thursday, making it even more likely he is forced to miss Sunday’s contest.
Other absences were Smith (hamstring), Hollywood Brown (ankle), Dallas Goedert (knee), and Fred Johnson (knee).
Jordan Davis (calf), Marcus Epps (groin), Moro Ojomo (calf/elbow), and Will Shipley (foot) were all listed as limited on Thursday.
It was a blowout, and it left a lot of questions. The Eagles’ 27-7 loss to the Bears Monday night at Soldier Field featured an offense that fizzled, a defense that folded, and a coaching staff that looked outmatched. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Jeff Neiburg provide a postmortem of the defense’s disappointing start to the season, critique of offensive coordinator Sean Mannion’s approach, and assessment of how some of general manager Howie Roseman’s moves have panned out so far. Listen here.
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