Recently, the Philadelphia Hawks have come out of the bad shape of the early season, and a wave of three consecutive wins has improved the team's record to 8 wins and 7 losses, and has touched the threshold of the playoffs. Their pavement attacks the league's top, and they have the potential to be dark horses into the playoffs.
This season they have played seven consecutive games pushing more than 175 yards on the road, their first since the Chicago Bears in 1985. Miles Sanders has burst through over 100 yards in consecutive games, reminding fans of the heyday of LeShaun McCoy in the 2014 season.
In the first seven weeks of the season, the Hawks ranked eighth in the league in passing frequency in the top two gears; from the eighth week onwards, the Hawks jumped to the first place in the league in terms of rushing frequency. Ciriani adjusted his tactics in time to maximize the team's advantage, while also indirectly helping to keep the team's passing attack.
The key to the Eagles' road attack success is still in Jaylen Hertz. He is the best quarterback in the league after Lamar Jackson. He runs explosively, withstands the impact of his opponents, and can change direction flexibly. In the case of short yards, the Hawks designed the tactics designed for Hertz repeatedly.
Excluding Hertz's influence, the Hawks' traditional road attack is still very sharp. The most traditional road-propelled Hawks are ranked fifth in the league in offensive efficiency. Maybe the other side has to pay attention to Hertz's exclusive tactics, but the Hawks' main running back Sanders is the big trouble. His vision and decision-making power have improved considerably. Under the cover of the Eagles area, Sanders relied on his strong body to constantly impact the gaps in the opponent's defensive line.
Not only has Sanders played brilliantly this season, but even when he missed the Hawks' road propulsion, he was very efficient. From week eight to week ten, the backcourt trio of Howard, Scott and Gainville still played efficiently. During that time, the Hawks ranked third in the league in terms of punch efficiency, trailing only the Crows and Ponies.
This season, Sanders averaged 5.5 yards per push, Howard also had 5.2 yards and third-run back Scott also had 4.7 yards. Howard also had more codes of propulsion after impact than Sanders.
The smooth operation of the entire Eagle road attack system is by no means the work of one person, and every link in the system is tightly coordinated. One of the most critical is the role of the team's offensive front, which is the cornerstone of the road attack.
Even with injuries at its core, the Offensive Front is centred on Professional Bowl center Jason Kelsey, and the Hawks' offensive striker performance remains at a very high level, and no matter what kind of open-the-road tactics they use, they can execute in place.
It's not just the offensive strikers who are opening the way, but the Hawks' mid-range wingers, all-defenses and even the outside receivers have to open a gap for the team's running backs if necessary. In the video gallery, we can even see 170 Deventa Smith helping to open the way. Therefore, no matter what formation and tactics the Eagles play, the team's rushing efficiency can rank in the top ten of the league.
As far as opponents are concerned, the Hawks' road propulsion tactics are rich in layers and varied, and the defensive team is often prone to one or the other. Even if the tactics are right, the Hawks' players can still create opportunities on their own. No matter which team, facing such an offensive group will give them a great headache.
With more than 175 yards in seven consecutive runs, the strength of such a road attack is terrifying, and the Eagles' road attack will not stop there. With two games left in the regular season, if the Hawks win them all, they have a good chance of making the playoffs. With such a strong road propulsion coupled with cold weather, they are very likely to make big news in the playoffs.