The Philadelphia Eagles are still undefeated, but they haven't been as dominant as the fans thought they would be. The offense hasn't been operating smoothly, leading to wideout A.J. Brown making it clear that he isn't happy with offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo's current game planning.
"We have so many good players. At times, it feels like we're being conservative. I don't think it should be like that," Brown said after Week 3. "Let your killers do their things. Play fast and play aggressive."
Brown's statement may have been the wake-up call Patullo needed. Talking to the media, the veteran assistant coach claimed that he always wanted his team to be the aggressor.
A.J. Brown's Pushback Was What Eagles OC Kevin Patullo Needed
"You want to be the aggressor," Patullo said, per The Athletic's Zach Berman. "What we did in our first drive, we were doing stuff on purpose. We didn't really care what they were doing. We were going-- and like I said, situation a little bit with the way the kickoff played out for us. We had some different things happen, and we were really one play away from just getting out in front of it, making one first down, staying at a second-and-long, and being perfectly on track. We've just got to continue to improve that as a staff and work through that with those moments when they come up in the game. But no, you always want to be the aggressor."
Reading Patullo's quote following Brown's pushback, it's easy to see that the Eagles OC knows that the status quo can't continue. Philadelphia is the defending Super Bowl Champion for a reason, and it's time for the offense to play like that.
Getting the offense back on track will start through the air. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has two of the most explosive playmakers in the game, yet they have been little more than expensive decoys through the first three games of the season. So far, DeVonta Smith has logged 15 receptions on 18 targets for 129 receiving yards and one touchdown, while Brown has been marginally better with a 12-144-1 stat line.
Brown and Smith are two of the NFL's most dangerous WRs, and it's time for Patullo to treat them as such. The current offensive situation isn't unsustainable, and not using the elite weapons that the Eagles have feels like a disservice to this roster.