Eagles’ dysfunction on RPOs can be fixed, according to this OL: ‘It’s not that complex of an issue’

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles' offense has been difficult to stop in past years when they have used run-pass option (RPO) concepts.

During the Eagles' Super Bowl run in 2022, they led the league in passing yards using the RPO (1,281), according to Pro Football Reference. Last season, the Eagles ran the play a league-high 171 times.

BUY EAGLES TICKETS: VIVID SEATS

Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore brought in a new scheme this season, but he didn't take the RPO out of the playbook. They have used the RPO 28 times in the last two weeks, the third-most in the league. However, the play hasn't been a strength of their offense.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts has only finished with 18 yards on seven RPO passing attempts.

In the Eagles' 22-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, three ineligible man downfield penalties were called against them. Center Cam Jurgens was flagged twice, and offensive tackle Lane Johnson was called for it once.

These five-yard penalties are the result of poor RPO execution. Before Hurts throws the ball, the Eagles' offensive linemen can't go down the field to make blocks. They can't go down field until the ball is thrown or until they know it's a run play.

The Eagles have a solution to clean up these penalties to make the RPO effective again.

"It's just a timing thing on our own end," Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata told NJ Advance Media on Thursday. "It's a simple fix. Put a tag on the play call so we know that we need to hold onto the blocks a little longer. That's pretty much it. It's not that complex of an issue. It isn't.

"Again, once you add that tag, you become more clearer on what read comes first and what you need to do as an offensive lineman. It's not that deep. Everybody's making a big deal about it, but it's not a big deal on how to fix it."

NFL analysts Brian Baldinger and Dan Orlovsky are both concerned about the Eagles' penalties.

"What is the CP on this RPO? How is the offensive line supposed to know if the ball is pulled to throw? Birds are constantly penalyzed on this issue," Baldinger tweeted during Monday's game .

"This has gotta get fixed in Philly," Orlovsky said on Tuesday, via X .

Former Eagles center Jason Kelce responded to Baldinger's question and explained the nuance of the play. Kelce said RPOs "bail out a lot of bad run looks," but he hated the play because it made him run block timidly.

The Eagles have run the ball 21 times for 123 yards on RPOs, the second-best total in the league.

Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley are one of the league's most dangerous backfield tandems. The Eagles could finish with the most rushing yards on RPOs this season, but that won't happen if the passing offense can't execute it better.

"We had some really, really good discussions just because it's been a really successful component for us," Moore said. "So we don't want to lose that element of our offense. There's part technique, part scheme. There's really a combination of that. ... The timing of everything and when to make those decisions and when to call those plays all have critical moments. We had some really fun discussions about this that I think will help us moving forward."

Mailata said the Eagles' offensive line is "taught to do our job and take care of our job first." On RPOs, they don't know if Hurts will choose to throw or run the ball.

Eagles guard Mekhi Becton said the "communication" has to be better. Becton also said the Eagles use a code word on RPO plays to make sure everyone knows it's coming.

Over the next few weeks, the Eagles' offense has to be more efficient.

They need to score a lot of points to beat the New Orleans Saints on Sunday and to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4, so they can't make too many self-inflicted mistakes.

"The thing that led to our downfall is the penalties," Mailata said about their performance against Atlanta. "You break momentum. Then, you have to fight and claw back to get a first down again or get back to where you started. The momentum kind of gets broken up. If you keep letting penalties in, eventually they are going to (expletive) you. They (expletive) us."

MORE EAGLES COVERAGE

Eagles, after gut punch from Falcons, will learn a lot about themselves against high-flying Saints

* UPDATE * Eagles' injury report: C.J. Gardner-Johnson sidelined by foot injury, A.J. Brown remains out

Eagles' Saquon Barkley knows Giants fans were 'ecstatic' after his drop against Falcons

If Eagles' run defense doesn't improve, the team could implode: 'This s*** (has to be fixed) right now'