More importantly, what did we learn about ourselves and about what it takes to win in the NFC and Super Bowl.
The Eagles won the Super Bowl against a very good Chiefs defense that was able to shut down Saquan Barkley (25 carries for 57 yards and no TDs, and they only attempted 22 passes, 7 of those were to the RB, so only 15 passes directed towards the TEs or WRs. When is the last time a team won the SB with so little passing?
It didn't matter than they were getting nothing out of the run game;
they leaned on their defense and still ran the ball more times than they passed it.
All those seemingly meaningless handoffs to Barkley made the Chiefs focus on the run game, and that gave Hurts 1) good protection and 2) good receivers running open all over the field.
What did the Eagles learn as their season rolled along? You tell me. Here are their passing attempts across 16 games.
- 34
- 30 - L
- 38
- 30 - L
- 25
- 14
- 20
- 24
- 20
- 28
- 22
- 19
- 21
- 32
- 28 - L
- 19
I'm not including game 17 because they played their 3rd string QB in a meaningless game with backups and let him throw the ball 41 times....haha.
It's obvious they were not thrilled with their 2-2 record after 4 games when they averaged passing the ball 33 times per game.
In the next 12 games, they averaged 22.6 passes per game, and in games 14 and 15, they saw that they were heading in the wrong direction again.
Playoffs?
Round 1 - 21 passes
Round 2 - 20 passes
NFC title - 28 passes
Super Bowl - 22 passes, 7 to RB -------this is much more reminiscent of the 90's Cowboys and how little Aikman was required to pass per game than today's pass happy NFL.
I was also a little shocked by the note shared on their OL. I knew they were the best, but the biggest ever? Averaging 6'6" and 338 lbs? Yeah, that helps.
Meanwhile, despite McCarthy's verbal desire to run more, we have had an offense under McCarthy that has been pass happy.
Dak's career
Garrett 1- 16 games, 28.69 attempts per game as a rookie
Garrett 2- 16 games, 30.63 attempts per game
Garrett 3- 16 games, 32.88 attempts per game
Garrett 4- 16 games, 37.25 attempts per game.....more and more passing during Zeke's prime
McCarthy 5- 5 games, 44.4 attempts per game prior to injury
McCarthy 6- 16 games, 37.31 attempts per game
McCarthy 7- 12 games, 32.83 attempts per game
McCarthy 8- 17 games, 34.71 attempts per game
McCarthy 9- 8 games, 35.75 attempts per game prior to injury
5 trips to the playoffs in 9 years
year 1 - 1 game, 38 pass attempts
year 2 - 2 games, 65 pass attempts
year 3 - 1 game, 43 pass attempts
year 4 - 2 games, 70 pass attempts
year 5 - 1 game, 60 pass attempts
7 games, 91.8 passer rating, 14 TDs, 7 INTs.....2-5 record,
but 39.4 passing attempts per game
First, we all know Dak Prescott was not drafted in the 4th round due to his elite passing skills; he worked hard and improved his processing, passing, accuracy, etc, and he IS an above average QB in the NFL, but not a guy who should be throwing the ball at the exorbitant rates he has had every season since his rookie year.
Second, we all know that this is not the recipe for winning tough football games in the playoffs no matter who your QB is. No, we don't have the Eagles OL, nor their RB, but they handed Barkley the ball 25 times for only 57 yards and no scores because 1) they did not want their QB passing the ball 30+ times; and 2) they wanted KC in there preparing for the run every down in order to get their guys open in the secondary.
Whether you think our QB is above average or below average or you're a true homer who wants to believe he's elite, you have to admit that we've done him no favors over his 9 seasons asking him to throw the ball so many times per game, especially in so many seasons when we have had only 1 significant receiver.
Maybe Schottenhiemer won't be the guy who gets us over the hump, but if he can get us focused on being a tougher team, a team that can run the ball and play defense up the middle, it will be a step in the right direction.....because these stats over the past 9 seasons (and probably throughout Romo's career if someone wants to look into it) are not the recipe for success with any team, any QB, any defense.
