Recapturing the Run: Why the Eagles Are Betting Big on a Traditional Ground Game

The dual-threat element in Jalen Hurts game was diminished greatly last season, turning a historic ground attack into a pedestrian one in under a calendar year.

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The Eagles’ passing deficiencies usually dominate the offseason conversation, but multiple discussions with head coach Nick Sirianni make it clear the real priority is reviving the running game that was a cornerstone of the offense dating back to the head coach's first season in 2021.

Jalen Hurts’ dynamic presence as the “plus-one” in the running game fueled consistent success with Miles Sanders and D’Andre Swift before Saquon Barkley delivered a historic 2024 season that ended with a Super Bowl LIX championship.

That dual-threat element was diminished greatly last season, turning a historic ground attack into a pedestrian one in under a calendar year.

Much of the blame fell on an offensive line that failed to live up to its elite reputation. While the unit wasn’t flawless, it was never truly underwater compared to its peers. The bigger issue was that without Hurts keeping defenses honest on the back side, a good—not great—line wasn’t enough.

Barkley’s production plummeted after a staggering 482 touches in 2024-25.

A Perfect Setup?

Running back Saquon Barkley answers reporters' questions in the days leading up to the Eagles' home playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers. | Ed Kracz/Eagles on SI

“My only criticism is that he doesn’t always produce when things aren’t completely clean,” an NFL coordinator told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler when discussing Barkley for the reporter's annual survey on the league's top talent. “That’s dating back to the Giants. Tends to need things perfectly set up for him.”

Sirianni is determined to deliver exactly that.

The Eagles are shifting toward a Shanahan-McVay-style offense featuring more under-center work from Hurts. This foundational alignment gives Barkley clearer vision and more options to choose his running lane, unlike the more restrictive offset shotgun looks that rely heavily on execution.

“Under center, you could see a little clearer,” Barkley said this spring. “You’re not blinded, and when you’re in gun, you’re really focused on [one] side. You’re able to get your shoulders square easier. … From under center, it’s easier; you can get downhill a little quicker. You can threaten them with stretches and outside zone a lot more. There’s a lot of unique things you can do.”

There’s an unavoidable trade-off as well, however.

Emphasizing traditional under-center runs helps Barkley but removes many of the zone-read and RPO opportunities that made Hurts a constant threat on the running side.

It’s also a clear signal the organization has not changed its philosophy on limiting the quarterback’s workload as a runner.

“It’s not a secret what this system’s about,” Barkley added. “And I look forward to doing that. It’ll probably be the most I’ve ever done under center, too, and outside zone and all that good stuff. But it’s a challenge I’m looking forward to working on and getting better at trying to be the best at it.”

Meanwhile, any passing game improvement isn’t primarily about new route concepts or targeting areas of the field. It will be about the trickle-down effect of a more efficient run game that creates more manageable situations on second and third downs by keeping run or pass in the mind of the defense at all times.