Eagles’ A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith like freedom of Kellen Moore’s new offense for wide receivers

PHILADELPHIA – “Movement” was the keyword in the Philadelphia Eagles offense last season, for all the wrong reasons.

O NFL There is a tendency for pass catchers to move fluidly across the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. The San Francisco 49ers used pre-snap motion 70.2% of the time, and the Kansas City Chiefs used it 60.5%. Both teams that reached the Super Bowl They were in the top four in offensive plays that had a player moving.

The Eagles ranked noticeably last in that category at 26.4%, the only team in the NFL with less than 30%. Somehow, the Eagles were the only one of the bottom six teams in percentage of offensive plays that had a moving player who made the playoffs.

As a result, the offense was predictable. He was old.

This is why Nick Sirianni’s offense is no longer at the forefront of the Eagles’ game plan. Kellen Moore arrives, adding a new touch and a new attack to a squad that already has immense talent.

More moves are included, which the Eagles playmakers are fully embracing.

“I think it’s going to be great,” DeVonta Smith said at mandatory minicamp last week. “Have a new style of attack. Let the guys – not have more freedom – but be able to do things that we weren’t allowed to do.

“Move guys around, stuff like that. Overall, it’s always (good) to start fresh.”

Since Nick Sirianni took over as head coach, the Eagles have put a receiver in motion on 30.1 percent of their plays — the fewest of any NFL team. The league average over that period was 47.0%.

Last season, it was 48.4%. As motion plays increased, the Eagles using motion decreased.

As a result, big plays were affected. Philadelphia had 16 plays of 20-plus yards from Weeks 13 through 18, tied for 26th most in the NFL. The seven plays of 25-plus yards were tied for 30th most in the NFL, ahead of only the Carolina Panthers.

A change was needed.

“I would say when it comes to certain routes, trusting each other, me and Jalen [Hurts]Smitty [DeVonta Smith], everyone on the field,” said AJ Brown. “Just trusting each other, being on the same page. Make sure you have the place when the time comes.

“I think that’s a really good, really fun thing for a wide receiver.”

How much change will the Eagles see in Kellen Moore’s offense? The Los Angeles Chargers were on the move 59% of the time last season (sixth in the NFL) as Moore adapted to the ever-changing nature of the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys used motion just 44.6% of the time when Moore was offensive coordinator from 2019-2022.

The league changed offensively, allowing players to run more freely. The Eagles are recovering.

“I love the dynamic that’s put in place in terms of everyone having a role and I think that’s the goal, for everyone to do their job,” Jalen Hurts said. “That goes for everyone. So just learning as much as I can from them, the coach, and Kellen is a well-mannered person, where he’s laid back, has a broader view, has his hands on pretty much everything.

“Just the learning conversations, they’ve been around for a good minute and have great experience with that, calling the plays and coaching the quarterbacks. I’m just there listening and absorbing this knowledge.”