Dallas Goedert Offers Insight into Eagles' Obsession with Route-Running
PHILADELPHIA - Back in November of 2021, the Philadelphia Eagles had perhaps their worst offensive performance of the coach Nick Sirianni era, a comedy of errors en route to an almost inconceivable 13-7 loss to the hapless New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
The Eagles still had a chance to win the game late when Jalen Hurts gave Jalen Reagor two opportunities to erase the bad taste and the failed 2020 first-round pick came up empty.
Fans were incensed with the dropped passes but Sirianni offered a window into his DNA as a coach, instead focusing on poor route discipline throughout the game.
A former receiver himself, Sirianni’s first training camp was marked by just how much time he spent watching the receivers, then a group featuring a rookie DeVonta Smith with A.J. Brown still tucked away in Nashville, a year away from relocation to Philadelphia.
Tight end Dallas Goedert has also hinted toward the obsessive nature of the Philadelphia coaching staff when it comes to attention to detail with route running.
“The first thing I can remember is I was running a corner stop [route at practice] and they wanted me to stick my foot and get vertical,” Goedert said back in January. “The first clip they showed was Julio Jones running that route.”
Goedert, a 6-5, 256-pound TE, was initially a little angry, expecting perhaps some Travis Kelce or George Kittle tape, players he might have a better opportunity to emulate.
“Initially I’m getting a little upset,” Goedert admitted. “In my opinion, that was a really good route for a tight end that I just ran.
"‘You want me to look like Julio?’”
Theoretically.
The Eagles coaching staff often uses these teach tapes to correct minor errors and the focus is on the technique, not the player or his traits.
Goedert ultimately took the advice and noted the defense backing off a bit when he made the adjustment into the cleaner and sharper action.
By last season, Sirianni and his staff expected even more when it came to route-running.
“Kinda the expectation of our routes changed. The details of our routes changed,” Goedert said this week at the NovaCare Complex. “We had more specific things that the coaches are looking for so that just hits your brain.”
What seemed so foreign in the beginning is now second nature for Goedert, one of the more gifted tight ends in the NFL.
“I’m not really watching tight ends run routes,” he said. “I’m watching Julio Jones, Keenan Allen, I get the benefit of watching A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith first-hand every day, who are just phenomenal receivers who seem like they can get open at ease.”
Goedert doubled down on that sentiment earlier this week.
“Smitty and A.J. you see what they do day in, day out, game in, game out, just constant wins so I'm just gonna try to pick their brains so I can elevate my game,” he said.
The goal is to keep getting because stagnation, even with the more gifted players, doesn’t win in the NFL.
“This game is so close. Everyone you're going against is good. They're getting better in the offseason,” Goedert said. “... I feel like this is a profession you can never stop growing.
“As soon as you do that, you'll get passed."
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-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen
