I haven’t jumped onto the blog in a long time, but felt it was necessary after calming myself down after the debacle we watched unfold for the last two months of the Eagles season. How did this 10-1 team fall into the Sarlacc Pit and shit down their legs?
Well, the only answer I’ve stumbled upon is an unprepared team with zero confidence in their gameplan and themselves. To totally say that the players don’t bear responsibility as well would be irresponsible of us as fans. However, the blame can mostly be bestowed upon a mundane, vanilla and predictable gameplan week in and week out. We watched this build up and knew the crash was coming. The 10-1 Birds were a car stuck on the tracks with a steam engine headed at them as fast as possible. The wreck was inevitable.
They needed a change and change they made (kinda). Sirianni’s ass was in the jackpot and he needed to scramble to his feet like a 125 pounder against a heavyweight. He must be a decent wrestler because he got himself back on his feet in the eyes of the team ownership and management. His gameplan (the first in which we’ve seen since last year) was to move on from first time coordinators Sean DeSai and Brian Johnson. Both seem like nice guys, but they just looked overwhelmed. Additionally he moved on from Matt Patricia, who was as prepared to call a defense as Patricia Heaton. Nonetheless, we entered the coordinator hiring cycle and needed to make the right picks.
Vic Fangio
A name as respected in the football world as anyone else. Fangio has many protégés in the NFL, but nobody seems to be able to replicate what he does. Fangio was not successful as a head coach, but his defenses still bring it. The Fangio defenses have notoriously brought it. The 49ers connection under Harbaugh was a success, the Bears defenses under him drastically improved and as of recent, the Dolphins were near the top of the league in most categories.
The thing the Eagles need the most is for Fangio to play to the strengths of the players already in the system. Fangio has been dependent upon pass rush and play from the safety position. Our pass rush was underwhelming to say it nicely last year. Our safety play was bottom tier. The hope is Fangio identifies new ways to reinvigorate these spots and also gets someone with a pulse to man the middle of the field as well. The Eagles left the middle of the field more open than a store front window during a riot. This needs to be addressed.
The hope is that Vic works magic. The grizzled veteran coach is what is needed in defensive meetings. We know he’ll have them doing the basics again. Which includes, tackling, an element of the sport that the Eagles forgot existed.
Here’s to you Vic, please save this defense.
Kellen Moore
The Eagles have star players. There is no more simple way to say it. It’s unacceptable to not have excelled on that side of the football. In stepped Brian Johnson, who forgot that there were plays besides go routes, bubble screens and QB draws. The play calling was as diverse as a political science classroom at BYU.
Kellen Moore has experience. That’s the biggest positive. Looking beyond the stench of Dallas that’s on him, you can objectively say that he calls a good offense. The Dallas offenses were strong. He utilizes motions, goes under center and has balance in his offense. If you look at those Dallas offenses under Moore, they relied upon layered route running and had Dak utilizing check downs and hot routes. Jalen unfortunately would see a blitz this year and his only hot routes were 35 yard plus go routes which can’t develop while under pressure. I also love the utilizing of the tight end position in motion which is a staple of a Moore offense. Use different ways to have Goedert moving while defenses are focused on Brown and Smith.
I personally think this was the only hire to make. Kliff Kingsbury was the sexy name probably because he’s a handsome man. Moore with the right players will get this team on track. Let Sirianni do whatever he’s going to do and have Moore focus on moving the chains.
My favorite hire so far was Clint Hurtt, mainly because we can have him rotate at Defensive Tackle when someone gets tired. Look at the size of this man. If that doesn’t get the players fired up, than we are hopeless.
Here’s to hoping for better times ahead. A Super Bowl is not out of reach, it’s time to refocus and explode.
Burbs of Philly 