Jalen Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback, recently found himself facing a barrage of questions during a media availability session, much of it centered around former New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. In fact, five of the first seven questions directed at Hurts were about Martindale, underscoring the depth of interest in this particular topic.
Last season, the Eagles experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, starting with an impressive 10-1 record, only to falter and lose six of their final seven regular-season games. Their campaign ultimately ended in disappointment with a wild card playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Seeking Insights from the Defensive Minds
In an effort to better understand and improve his gameplay, Hurts has proactively reached out to defensive masterminds such as Martindale and the Eagles’ current defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio. Hurts made a noteworthy call to the former Giants coordinator to delve into how New York game-planned against him. "I was just trying to pick his brain, see what he saw in us, trying to get some tips on some things," Hurts said. "I think it was more so for me trying to continue to pour into my cup in terms of knowledge, and I've had a lot of respect for what he's done."
In addition to his conversations with Martindale, Hurts has been engaging with Fangio to gain various perspectives on defensive strategies and techniques. His goal is to leverage this knowledge to elevate his performance as a quarterback and leader on the field.
Aiming for Continuous Improvement
Hurts understands the importance of continuous learning and development to succeed at the highest level. Reflecting on his outreach to Martindale, he remarked, "Sometimes I think people are only able to know what they understand. Sometimes people don't know what they don't know. But in that regard, I think where we are is you have reports and you have rumors and then you have reality. We're in reality right now."
His comments underscore the need to ground one's efforts in reality and actionable insights. Hurts emphasized, "We've had a lot of success against him, and I think that was one we were trying to make a run, make a push, and I wanted to pour into my cup of knowledge, pick his brain, and get some things."
Learning from Mentors
Hurts' respect for Martindale extends beyond football. "He's a very respectable person, actually a great person, a great coach and has a great mentality on how he goes about his business," Hurts stated. Through their conversations, Hurts has gained valuable insights into how defensive coordinators like Martindale approach the game. "I joked about the competitiveness between the two of us, but having those conversations with him and seeing what certain techniques defensive backs are playing and what his intentions are behind each play, what's he trying to take away, where's he vulnerable at."
These discussions are not just about gaining immediate advantages but are part of a broader strategy for long-term development. "All of that is an eventual tool for me in my development and understanding where the boys are so I can play better football," Hurts added.
Eyes on the Future
Despite the challenges of last season, Hurts remains optimistic about the Eagles' potential. "This team is one of those teams that's going to do that, especially with the things that we've been able to experience," he said. The past season served as a period of growth and learning for the team. "It was a developing time, it was a time of development for us, and that's something we learned from," Hurts concluded.
With unwavering determination to improve and a commitment to leveraging insights from some of the NFL's most respected defensive minds, Jalen Hurts is focused on leading the Eagles to greater heights in the coming season.