Jalen Hurts recently found himself in the spotlight, facing probing questions about former New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. During a recent media availability session, five of the first seven questions directed at Hurts centered on Martindale's strategies and their past confrontations.
Last season, the Philadelphia Eagles had a promising start with a 10-1 record, but their fortunes waned as they lost six of their final seven games, culminating in a wild card playoff defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Reflecting on that experience, Hurts has taken proactive measures to improve his game by reaching out to notable defensive minds within the league.
Seeking Knowledge from Defensive Masters
Hurts has been in contact with defensive masterminds such as Martindale and the Eagles' current defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. His goal? To gain deeper insights into how top defenses game-plan 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 shared candidly. "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."
For Hurts, it is not only about identifying weaknesses but also understanding the granular details of defensive strategy. He aims to apply this knowledge to hone his skills further. "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," Hurts added.
Respect and Rivalry
The relationship between Hurts and Martindale is characterized by mutual respect and professional rivalry. Despite the competitive edge, Hurts has high regard for Martindale. "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 noted.
The quarterback also acknowledged the importance of understanding the intentions behind defensive plays. "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—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 elaborated.
A Season of Learning and Growth
Reflecting on the past season's ups and downs, Hurts emphasized the lessons learned during the challenging period. "This team is one of those teams that's going to do that, especially with the things that we've been able to experience," Hurts said. The Eagles’ rollercoaster season was a time for development and self-assessment. “It was a developing time, it was a time of development for us, and that's something we learned from," he continued.
Jalen Hurts is committed to applying the insights gained from these conversations to improve both as a leader and a quarterback. Embodying the spirit of constant learning and growth, he looks to lead the Eagles to greater heights in the coming season.