The Defense Dominates, but Jalen Hurts Shows Promise

As noted in the headline of this article, the defense dominated, but I still thought Hurts had a decent day. With Lane Johnson, Mekhi Becton, and Tyler Steen all out, the pass rush got consistent pressure on Hurts all day. Despite that, Hurts had three shaky moments which stood out:

Otherwise, I thought he was good and made several really nice throws.

The linebackers and defensive backs also made good plays all day with the ball in the air. Overall, it was a thumbs-up day for Hurts considering the relentless pressure he faced. Our Jalen Hurts thumbs-up/thumbs-down tracker:

🏈 Day 1: 👍
🏈 Day 2: 👍
🏈 Day 3: 👍
🏈 Day 4: 👎
🏈 Day 5: 👍
🏈 Day 6: 👍
🏈 Day 7: 👍
🏈 Day 8: 👍
🏈 Day 9: 👍
🏈 Day 10: 👍
🏈 Day 11: 👍
🏈 Day 12: 👍
🏈 Day 13: 👍
🏈 Day 14: 👍

The other quarterbacks had rough days, especially Kenny Pickett (QB2) and Tanner McKee (QB3). Pickett had some bad moments, including a near interception by Cooper DeJean. McKee threw two interceptions, one of which was returned for a 95-yard pick-6 by Parry Nickerson.

Defenders in general got hands on passes all day, with multiple players making pass breakups. The pass rushers also won their reps decisively, with players like Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham standing out.

DeVonta Smith had a highlight-reel play, while Ainias Smith made a nice catch on an underthrown ball. The team also had a live game situation series featuring the deep backups, keeping key players safe from contact.

In summary, it was a mixed day for the quarterbacks, with Hurts standing out despite the pressure. The defense dominated, with players like Parry Nickerson and Nakobe Dean making strong impressions. Stay tuned for more updates as the preseason progresses!