Key Points
- Barkley consulted former Rams RB Todd Gurley on running in a McVay-tree scheme
- New OC Sean Mannion installing more under-center looks and outside zone runs
- Eagles shifted offensive philosophy after parting with OC Kevin Patullo in January
Saquon Barkley revealed after the Eagles' Wednesday OTAs practice that he reached out to former Rams running back Todd Gurley for advice on running in the McVay-tree scheme that new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is installing in Philadelphia. The Eagles parted ways with Kevin Patullo as offensive coordinator in January and hired Mannion, who is moving the offense toward more under-center looks and outside zone runs after a 2025 season that finished short of expectations.
What Barkley said
"It's no secret what the system is about. I look forward to doing that," Barkley said of the new scheme. "Probably be the most I've ever done it under center too, and outside zone." On the consult, the choice of Gurley was deliberate: Gurley ran for 1,000+ yards in three of his five seasons under Sean McVay with the Rams, led the NFL in rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns twice apiece, and won 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year — all in a scheme built around outside zone and under-center looks. The same architecture Mannion is bringing to Philly.
Why the scheme matters
Outside zone runs let the back read defensive flow at full speed and cut back against the grain — which means downhill backs like Barkley who hit holes vertically have to retrain to bend horizontally before the cut. Under center adds a fraction of a second of running start through the mesh point compared to shotgun, and gives the quarterback a cleaner pre-snap read. Pulling Gurley into the prep is the kind of cross-team intelligence-gathering Barkley didn't do before the Eagles' last Super Bowl run — the system then was familiar; this one isn't.
OTAs continue through next week. The Eagles open the 2026 regular season on the road.
Off the field, Barkley and his family were unharmed after a home invasion at their Pennsylvania residence in July.
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