New Orleans – The sustained dominance of the Eagles' offensive line can be traced back to three small pigs.
Earlier in Jeff Stoutland's tenure as offensive line coach, long before he was considered the best position coach in the NFL, the Eagles brought in Philadelphia-based primary school teachers to create best practices for learning. I shared it. This is the origin of the “cold call” method Stoutland uses to keep a 300-pounder on its toe during a meeting.
The premise is that asking questions and calling random students keeps the entire audience involved, while asking one person questions can be tuned by others.
“It was played in front of me in front of 'Three Little Pigs' and the house they lived in,” Stoutland told the Post. “They said, 'Pig No. 3, which house did you live, Coach Stout?” And I said, 'Don't call me. I don't want you to call me!”
Since then, now in its 12th season, Stoutland will begin all offensive line meetings with the “dirty dozen” list of 12 pop quiz questions.
“Everyone is on the hook right now,” Stoutland said. “You ask all week, stack it up, stack it up with the number of people in the room, bingo! You just did more.”
For example, if the Eagles call this play to the right for this defensive alignment, what techniques does the Jordan Mail use?
“That's what they use in law school,” laughed Tackle Myrata on the left. “Do we look like we're in law school?”
Behind Saquon Barkley's 2,000-yard rushing season, “Tush Push” creates as the most unstoppable play in football, his run to the Super Bowl Ricks is the best offensive line in the NFL. What else is new in Philadelphia?
Under Stoutland's Watch, seven Eagles offensive linemen combined with 26 Pro Bowl choices since 2013 are far more of the league. According to NBC Sports Philadelphia, that's 70% of the players he coached at least 25 career start.
“I don't think there's a secret sauce. It's culture,” said Kam Jurgens Centre. “Everyone is so invested in working hard. … You're promoted or you're out. You can bite and spit out, or you lick your wounds and make your mistakes. You can continue to get better and learn from it.”
The baton pass from Trathomas to Jason Peters, left tackle, John Lanyan Jr. to right tackle Lane Johnson and more recently Jason Kelse to Jason Kelse to Jurgens at center has been elite since the turn. We kept the line on an elite line. century. It's no wonder the Eagles have gone to eight and four Super Bowls out of their last 25 NFC Championship games.
“They may have had the best tackle in football for 25 years,” said NFL analyst Brian Bardinger. “The organization is always thinking about who will lose, who wants to take it, who is down the pipeline. They are never reactionary. They missed the guys, but they raised them So, “If this doesn't work, we're ready to go here.” ”
Is it not, or more?
Does the Eagles do things differently in advance from the rest of the NFL? Or is it okay? Or both?
Stoutland is the only offensive line coach with a starter on the field two hours before kickoff, logging around 30 extra practice reps in stunts, Run Fit and Blitzes, and says Baldinger, a well-traveled color commentator. A detailed note to deal with a specific run-blitz in the third week led directly to Berkley's 65-yard fourth-quarter touchdown run in a victory over the saint.
“I think they're going to do more repetitions than anyone else. It makes them better because there's less thoughts about the appearance you've never seen,” Baldinger said. “We were able to create an entire game of running in variations in six plays. They have big, powerful people who move their bodies. They may still break down or miss out on assignments. You won't see indecisiveness in the Eagles.”
Nick Gates began 39 games with tackles, guards and center for rival titans and commanders before curiosity led to the Eagles as backup.
“We're doing it better than anyone else,” Gates said. “From looking outside, I'm always in 'What makes these people stand out?' and that's what Coach Stout expects from us (greatness) every day. . He's on you no matter what, but if you're not incredible effort or lazy, that's what he's saying he can't coach. All coaches say that, but they let you get it away. With stout, that's not the case. ”
Stoutland navigated the most slippery slopes in professional coaching where Mega signs up for her birth ego. He is “relentless” – a self-description that the player agrees with, but is loved. He is a stickler about many things, but not an arbitrary scale number that does not interfere with athletic ability.
“When Stout first got in, he wasn't a hard butt,” said Todd Helemans, a 2005-14 Eagles security guard. “He asked a lot of questions. He leaned over to the vet to get the temperature. No one is constantly screaming. His strategy is to say that as long as they respect you, you can't help but be yours. I think the player can work as hard as you want. He first gets your respect, then he can raise you and talk to you like he is a father figure. Masu.”
Stoutland listened to Herremans' architectural design advice and knocked down the walls of his home. Certainly, he can listen to what makes the player comfortable.
Right guard Meki Bicton said that was the difference.
“He takes time to learn about his players and how they accept coaching,” Becton said. “The main thing you have to do as a coach is that not everyone is the same coach. I've dealt with such a coach for the rest of my life.”
The best?
Creating and reworking the offensive line begins with the eyes of general manager Howie Roseman's value and loophole, and is proof of the entire operation. Some organizations (read: Giants) have spent a decade pouring countless resources into the emphasis on offensive lines without getting above average results.
“I have the best offensive line in the league,” Berkley said. “You can have an argument [for] One of the best offensive lines ever. I'm standing on it. ”
The four-man starter against the Chiefs on Sunday is different from the 2018 Super Bowl lineup, but two Super Bowls. Where did they come from?
- Johnson's mainstay was drafted in 2013 in the fourth overall draft, and is now one of only 18 active players in that class.
- Left guard Landon Dickerson played guard at the college center drafted in the second round of 2021.
- Jurgens was the second round pick in 2022, when Kelce helped Scout and Groom become his successor.
- Becton was the Jets' first round draft bust, who had never played in interiors in his life but quickly became a source of strength under Stoutland.
- Mailata was an Australian rugby player identified by Stoutland in the NFL's International Playwway Pathway program.
“You go to some places and don't sniff the backup,” Helemans said. “The Eagles are reloading with people who can replace the legendary figures. They are waiting to start here or get a deal somewhere else.”
It is immeasurable that the Eagles lost their future Hall of Fame [Kelce] And it's getting better. Except that once happened when Peters left in 2021.
“This year is much more difficult than the previous year,” Mailata said.
Jurgen and Dickerson were selected as professional bowlers. Mailata was a Pro Bowl snub. All three are under 27 years old. It is proof that the greatness of the Eagles' offensive line is a flat circle.
“Why are the meeting rooms so busy? [starters] When you get off, everyone comes out and plays at a high level,” Johnson said. “There are many different faces here, but how we go about things is always consistent. They came long before I came here, and I thought they were me I feel like I've been doing that ever since she left.”
