Eagles Therapy

Another week, another loss that was nothing short of embarrassing.  And, now we have to look forward to another prime time debacle, as the Birds are, legitimately, 10.5-point ‘dogs against the Cowboys this Sunday night.  And, yes, I know, I know – the Phillies have a win more recently than the Eagles.  It amazed me when Doogan told me that A MONTH AGO…and it’s still true.

So, clearly we need to “talk.”  I am just gonna ramble on about random topics and hope it makes me forget about 3-8, forget about Chooch’s ADHD or Andrew Bynum’s knees, and forget about the dissolving of the Big East before Temple even plays a single conference game.  Oh, what a month it has been!  So, here are the random Eagles thoughts on this cold November day.

It’s Time…Obviously

Hi, I’m Bryan, and I was an Andy Reid Apologist.  I couldn’t help myself.  The guy took us to 5 NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl.  He averaged 10 wins a season for more than a decade.  He went a dozen years without losing a first-round playoff game and a baker’s dozen without ever losing after a bye week.  And, he did it all after inheriting, arguably, the most dysfunctional and flat-out bad football team in franchise history.  We lived through Rich Kotite, Ray Rhodes, Bobby Hoying, Rodney Peete, and not one, but two Detmers.  And, Andy Reid brought us out of it.  But, even I, a disciple of that sentiment, am ready to move on.  The time has come (and gone), and we need to turn the page.  Period.

The Next Guy Up

So, the question then obviously lends itself to – Who’s Next?  The way I see it there are three species of head coaching candidates out there right now.

1. The Highly Successful Former Coach Currently in Broadcasting
   We all know the names – Cowher, Gruden, Billick, Dungy, even Mariucci.  This particular species would give the big impact owners want, the legitimacy fans want, and the authority and credibility the players may want.  But, it also comes with the big-dollar price tag, as well as, in most cases, an equally big ego.  My guess is that Jon Gruden and, maybe Brian Billick, are the only two in this group with any chance of succeeding Reid.  And, then there is the wild card that is Sean Payton.  Clearly, Payton would be essentially a DREAM hire, but it is really hard to imagine him leaving New Orleans.  And, if he does, it will probably be only for his hometown of Dallas.
2. The Highly Successful College Coach – Often with a “System” that will Change the Game
   Until very recently, this almost never worked.  The NFL is littered with the corpses of Lane Kiffin, Dennis Erickson, Butch Davis, Barry Switzer, and Bobby Petrino.  Even some of the most highly successful college coaches like Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban failed miserably in the pro game.  However, owners in the NFL (and, the NBA, for that matter) are always drawn to the guy with the fancy resume thinking that they are bringing in some mad football genius.  And, now they can even point to the Jim Harbaughs, Pete Carrolls, and Greg Schianos, as to why this will work.  And, who knows, maybe it will.  Those three may all be heading to the playoffs this year; Jimmy Johnson won several Super Bowls in the ’90s; and, people often forget that Tom Coughlin was hired away from Boston College by the expansion Jaguars before winning a pair of Super Bowls in New York.  With the way the NFL is going – and its rules committee – maybe Chip Kelly’s crazy offensive system will revolutionalize the game as we know it.  Or, maybe guys like Bill O’Brien, Brian Kelly, David Shaw or even Bo Pellini would bring a fire and accountability to these pampered NFL millionaires.  One thing is certain – we will find out because someone will hire them – and it might just be the Eagles.  I wouldn’t rule out Oregon’s Chip Kelly, Penn State’s Bill O’Brien or even Stanford’s David Shaw from consideration here.
3. The Hot Young Assistant Coach
   Usually this has been a pretty competent way to find a new coach.  And, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a DC or OC.  Andy Reid was an offensive line coach; John Harbaugh was a special teams coordinator; Leslie Frazier was a defensive backs coach.  These names are harder to really know, and probably won’t become apparent until the playoffs play out.  If I had to throw out one name to keep an eye on it would be the 49ers DC, Vic Fangio.  There is no need to go into the job he has done with that Niners defense, but he’s actually a Philly guy.  Fangio hails from the Scranton area, went to East Strousburg, and was actually a coach for the USFL’s Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars in the mid-80’s.  Another name out there that I heard for the first time when BSB’s own, Gross, made his bold prediction is Rob Ryan.  Gross has predicted that Ryan, the current Cowboys DC and son of former Eagles coach Buddy Ryan, will be the next head coach of the Birds.  Honestly, anyone who grew up watching Rob’s dad’s teams here would probably welcome either Rob or his brother back to our city, regardless of the unneccessary pomp and bluster that they both bring with them.

Either of these guys look like Andy Reid's successor?

Should Jeffrey Lurie Speak Up?

Apparently, the city is demanding that Jeffrey Lurie speak to the fans in this trying situation.  The whole fanbase has completely lost faith in the entire organization and is clamoring to hear from the head man, himself.  My opinion:  Lurie is absolutely within his right for doing what he has always done – speak once at the beginning of the season and once again at the end of the season.  I honestly do not understand all the vitriol aimed at an owner who has opened up his checkbook time and time again to try and put the best product on the field, but has done so without meddling in the football operations in ANY way.  It is a combination rarely found in sports owners – particularly in the NFL.  There are countless examples of high-spending, but highly meddlesome (and destructive) owners – the Jerry Jones/Al Davis-type.  And, then there is the opposite type headlined by guys like Mike Brown who don’t even care enough to upgrade the ancient practice facility for his Bengals.  The Robert Krafts, Dan Rooneys, and Wellington Maras of the league are few and far between – and they win.  Jeffrey Lurie is from the same mold as these guys, and we should welcome and encourage that.  Lord knows, I would not want anyone that even resembled Daniel Snyder anywhere near the owner’s box in the Linc.

Where Have You Gone, Joe

I usually don’t mind playing the role of contrarian and disagreeing with the masses.  But, this one if one where I am not all that proud to be on the other side, but here goes:  we will miss Joe Banner – and probably already do.  Ya, I said it.  Banner and his condescending nature were very good for this franchise.  You need someone to play the role of a$$hole.  You just do.  And, he played it as well as it has ever been played in the NFL.  He let guys go when they got old, and he was a hard negotiator with the current and future talent.  Now, depending on the new coach they bring in, they might not need the Banner “style,” but you never know how much you need something until it is gone.

Anyone ever think we'd miss THIS guy?!?

The Jason Babin Situation

18 sacks one year.  Released midseason the next (without injury).  That just doesn’t happen in the NFL.  But, honestly, it is probably a good sign.  Despite what he will tell you, Babin was not having a good season and clearly would not be back next year at that high dollar mark, particularly with the depth at that position.  So, cut him loose, send a message to the locker room, and let the kids play.  I am curious to see what Brandon Graham and Philip Hunt can do.

Oh, and was anyone else secretly – and maliciously – happy when he was claimed by the 2-9 Jaguars after running his mouth about being excited to play for a contender?

The LeSean McCoy Debacle

3-6 on the season, down 25 points, less than 2 minutes left before a 6th consecutive loss, and NOW is when Andy Reid and company decide they want to run the ball?!?  It almost makes poetic sense that Shady McCoy was concussed on that play against the Redskins two weeks ago.  This coaching staff really has to realize that they are NOT in the playoff hunt this year, and we really need to start thinking long-term, even if the guys making these decisions are not going to be here, which leads me to…

In Ray We Trust

The great Ray Didinger stepped out of character recently by speaking strongly and dramatically.  The usually cool, calm, voice-of-reason Hall of Fame writer wrote a brash, provocative piece on Philly.com this week, calling for the immediate firing of Andy Reid IF he wants to play Michael Vick again this season.  Histrionics like this are usually reserved for us overreactionary, sophomoric bloggers, not Hall of Fame writers who have made a name for themselves with their measured rationality, which is all the more reason to take the message seriously.  The season is lost.  Andy Reid will not be back.  If he wants to be given the respect and privilege to finish out the season, he has to do so thinking about a future in which he will not be playing the part of head coach.  Unless convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that playing Nick Foles behind this joke of an offensive line would be clearly detrimental to his development as an NFL quarterback (which is not out of the realm of possibility), Reid MUST play the kid to see what he can do.

Ray Didinger: If Reid wants to play Vick, he should be fired

Unchartered Territory

Obviously a lot of what has gone on this season is flat-out appalling, but the play of the safeties – particularly, Kurt Coleman in the past couple of weeks – has been downright offensive.  I cannot recall ever seeing receivers so unbelievably – laughably – wide open so consistently as I have in the past couple of Eagles games.  And, it’s not like we’re talking 3rd-and-goal from the 1-yard line, where the defense is lined up in goal line formation, and the QB pulls off a nice play fake and the 3rd tight end slips to the end zone – that happens.  We are talking about 60-yard touchdowns without a defender in sight.  This happened on the first two Carolina possessions on Monday night.  What is going on?!?

What to Watch For

If you are like me – a sports masochist (and if you’re from Philly, you probably have to be) – you will still be tuned in for the final 5 games of this dreadful season.  So, what do we watch for?  Well, there are a couple things – and they are all focused on the future because that is really what I care about now.

1. Nick Foles
   Considering quarterback is the most important position in sports, most of the attention for the next 5 games has to be on the play of Nick Foles.  Is he the one or do we have to shop this offseason for another one?  And, if so, where do we go for said “new guy?”  If the jury is still out on Foles, do the Eagles target a guy like Alex Smith or Matt Flynn to come in here, start for a year or two, while Foles learns?  Or do they keep Vick around (under a restructured contract, clearly) and let the two compete?  Or, do they cut bait and use their high draft pick on a Geno Smith or a Matt Barkley?
2. Nate Allen
   This secondary is a mess.  Nnamdi has appeared to be a disaster (though I think he is much more valuable than people give him credit for) and may go the route of Babin.  DRC is a free agent who will most likely walk.  And, Coleman hasn’t given the Eagles any reason to bring him back next year.  That leaves Nate Allen.  Is Allen a starting safety in this league?  I think he can be, but there are question marks.  Maybe these 5 games will give us some insight either way.
3. Bryce Brown
   For Bryce Brown, the football player, the good is really, REALLY good, but there are serious and frightening red flags at every turn.  178 rushing in his first NFL start – wow!  Red flag:  it came against an abysmal defense and was accompanied by two crucial fumbles.  He was the #1 ranked high school player in the country when he committed to Tennessee his senior year.  Red flag:  he never started a single collegiate game at two different schools.  So, while we can all dream about how good Bryce Brown could be, I’m very interested to find out just how good he will be.
4. The Whole Defensive Line
   I still believe that this unit is overflowing with talent, but when will they show it?  It should be interesting to see if Trent Cole ever comes back to the bonafied 1st-team all-NFL defensive end that he has been for the better part of a decade.  And, will Brandan Graham we the guy the Eagles thought he would be when they traded up for him and took him over the “boom-or-bust” JPP – who clearly has boomed?  Same question about Fletcher Cox on the inside?  And, will my favorite current Eagle, Cullen Jenkins, earn himself a spot on the roster in 2013?  All of these will probably be decided over the course of the next 5 games.