By Jenn McGraw
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Though two years removed from his retirement, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce knows a thing or two about the offensive line.
From being the anchor of the "tush push" to just being the heart and soul of the line, Kelce's tenure with the Eagles proved his ability to see where weaknesses lie in the team.
Following a harsh loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, the Eagles have some issues that need addressing. Whether fans blame offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, receiver A.J. Brown, or quarterback Jalen Hurts, Kelce has a different perspective.
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"He does it all of just extremely well, but I mean, it's not just him this year," Kelce said of running back Saquon Barkley. "The whole offense line has been banged up, and I mean, this way you just said, the pressure rate was there last night. So was you go back and turn the tape the rundowns."
Offensive lineman Lane Johnson went down with an ankle injury almost a week prior when the Eagles beat the Detroit Lions. He suffered a Lisfranc sprain in his foot during the first quarter and did not return to the game. His absence has been felt.
With Johnson in the game, the Eagles are 120-62-1 and have a shocking 15-24 record without him. Their run game dips sharply, as the Eagles struggled with the run versus the Cowboys. The Eagles can win without Johnson, but not at the rate they're going right now.
"The way they were moving the front they weren't just led up playing to fight in front," Kelce said. "They were slanting those guys. They were working back over top of blocks, and, you know, this has been something that's hurt this offense all year.
"They've been a top ten rushing unit as an offense. The Eagles have since Jalen Hurts has been a star...This year is the first year where they have really struggled to run the football. A lot of it comes down to being banged up and not being a cohesive unit that they have been and healthy in the past, but it is crippling this offense right now."
The Eagles take on the Chicago Bears on Black Friday at 3 p.m. ET.
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