No coach has been under more fire after a 4-0 start than Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo has been this season. Despite the perfect record through four weeks, the Eagles' offense is under heavy scrutiny, with many placing the blame directly on Patullo.
With the ferocious Denver Broncos defense next up in Week 5, Patullo is facing increasingly more pressure. The players' statements are certainly not helping the matter, either.
DeVonta Smith Puts Kevin Patullo on Even Thinner Ice Ahead of Week 5
Throughout the week, fans saw AJ Brown and Jordan Mailata voicing their frustrations about the offense. On Friday, fellow star wide receiver DeVonta Smith joined in on the fun. Per The Athletic's Zach Berman, the 26-year-old playmaker discussed Brown's frustrations and said, "He's a great leader. ...He wants what's best for the team. Things aren't necessarily going our way offensively. I don't think nothing wrong with him wanting better in that situation. I certainly feel the same way. Offensively, we need to be better."
After Philadelphia's victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where Brown finished with two catches for seven yards, the wideout refused to speak to reporters. Rather than meet with the media, Brown logged onto his social media platform of choice to send a cryptic message. Quoting a Bible verse, Brown said, "If you are not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way."
After a few days, the star wide receiver admitted that he was in the wrong and allowed his frustrations to get to him.
Now, two days before the Week 5 clash, it's significant that Smith came to Brown's support, saying that he "feels the same way" as his teammate, and that they need to be much better offensively. While it's certainly not surprising that two star playmakers would have each other's backs, especially since they would both benefit from fixing the offensive issues, it certainly places Patullo on thin ice.
Considering how dangerous an offense the Eagles were a season ago under Kellen Moore with pretty much the same core, it's hard to place blame anywhere but on the offensive coordinator change. The Eagles have a proven quarterback, an elite offensive line, and one of the best playmaking receivers in the NFL. The play-calling and the lack of adjustments have held them back through the first four weeks of the season.
If the offense doesn't improve right away, the Eagles may have no choice but to make a difficult decision on Patullo. This team has a Lombardi Trophy to defend, and they are not going to do so with a group of frustrated stars who feel like they are leaving money on the table with the offensive play-calling.