Uncoordinated
Posted: February 14th, 2023 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 3 Comments »The Eagles offseason is only two days old and already things are off to an interesting start. There will be coaching changes.
Colts announced they officially hired former Eagles’ OC Shane Steichen as their head coach. pic.twitter.com/DFRbcQxL71
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 14, 2023
And…
Welcome to the Valley, Coach!
We’ve agreed to terms with Jonathan Gannon to become our next head coach! pic.twitter.com/jDp9MezorO
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) February 14, 2023
Nick Sirianni doesn’t have a Super Bowl win, but he’s got a coaching tree with two branches already. Who saw that coming in January of 2021?
Losing Steichen hurts. He did a terrific job of calling plays the past year and a half. He worked well with the other coaches and had a good feel for how to bring out the best in Jalen Hurts.
It seems like QB coach Brian Johnson will replace Steichen. Hurts has spoken highly of Johnson and Johnson is seen as a coach on the rise. He’s not someone you want to lose right now. With Johnson, Sirianni and passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo, you’d still have a lot of the brainpower that helped the Eagles score all those points this past season.
One of the challenges that comes with winning is having to replace good assistants. This hurt Reid after his first five or so years in Philly. It really hurt Doug Pederson. One of the potential advantages with Sirianni is that he coached for three teams before coming to the Eagles. Sirianni got to meet different coaches at each stop. He met Steichen in San Diego. He met Gannon in Indy. Sirianni should have relationships with plenty of candidates and ideas on who he might want to hire. He also has ties to college staffs and could tap into that area.
Sirianni believes in promoting from within. He’s not looking for big names. He wants teachers and guys who will fit into the Eagles culture. As coaches move up, there will be some lower positions that come open.
Replacing Gannon is a complicated subject. His defense played well the past two years, but gave up 31 points in the playoff loss to Tampa and 38 in the Super Bowl loss to KC. He struggled against good QBs. Most defenses do, of course. Still, it felt especially challenging for him. I need to think about this and write a whole post on the subject.
Gannon did more right that wrong to be sure. The defense had a team record 70 sacks and did some amazing things. They were dominant at times. Unfortunately they couldn’t get the stop they needed in the second half on Sunday night and that’s what people will remember.
DBs coach Dennard Wilson seems to be the internal candidate to replace Gannon. I know what you’re thinking…where can I find out more about Wilson? Jimmy Bama has you covered.
Wrote a thing on Eagles DB coach / defensive passing game coordinator Dennard Wilson during training camp. (Wilson is the most likely DC candidate if the Eagles promote from within):https://t.co/XsdhY1zZoX
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) February 14, 2023
The Eagles aren’t looking to change schemes or systems. The personnel fit the schemes and the schemes worked well this year. I think you build on that rather than changing.
It is possible Sirianni will have a change of heart and hire from outside. I just don’t think that’s likely. He’s got good internal candidates and would like to reward them. After all, that’s how Sirianni got where he did. He knows the value of giving chances to young coaches. If he does go outside, it would be on defense. There are reports Vic Fangio never officially signed his deal in Miami. That could make things interesting.
Steichen and Gannon will want to take some coaches with them. I’m sure Sirianni will help them a little, but he can’t afford to be too generous. As much as he wants to help his friends, Sirianni’s first obligation is to win games for the Eagles.
Hearing Nick Rallis and Mike Zimmer could have spots on Jonathan Gannon's defensive staff. Rallis will be 30 in July. Five years as assistant with Vikings, last two as LB coach. He might be DC or assistant head coach/LBs with Zimmer possibly DC or senior defensive assistant.
— Howard Balzer (@HBalzer721) February 14, 2023
Rallis is a good young coach, but I’d be fine with Gannon taking him to Arizona. If you deny coaches good opportunities or promotions, you can hurt relationships with the rest of the staff.
The 2023 offseason is off to a challenging start for Sirianni and the Eagles.
*****
The NFL is kind of crazy.
Musical chairs?
February 2018: Colts hire Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich as head coach
January 2021: Eagles hire Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni as head coach
February 2023: Colts hire Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen as head coach— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) February 14, 2023
I hope we don’t hire anyone from Indy for a few years. Would like to see Sirianni sticking around for the next few years (prefereably 27).
Maybe we could hire Jeff Saturday to help with media relations.
*****
Sirianni preaches accountability and you can see that here.
A masterclass on losing with class. pic.twitter.com/rrLVlWsEnb
— Michael Schlact (@michael_schlact) February 14, 2023
The @Eagles have been all class since Sunday’s heartbreaking loss. Props to them reppin everyone the right way.
— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) February 14, 2023
I hate losing, but I do love this team. The Niners and Giants could learn a thing or two about how to handle defeat.
_
[…] Uncoordinated – Iggles BlitzReplacing Gannon is a complicated subject. His defense played well the past two years, but gave up 31 points in the playoff loss to Tampa and 38 in the Super Bowl loss to KC. He struggled against good QBs. Most defenses do, of course. Still, it felt especially challenging for him. I need to think about this and write a whole post on the subject. Gannon did more right that wrong to be sure. The defense had a team record 70 sacks and did some amazing things. They were dominant at times. Unfortunately they couldn’t get the stop they needed in the second half on Sunday night and that’s what people will remember. […]
[…] Uncoordinated – Iggles BlitzReplacing Gannon is a complicated subject. His defense played well the past two years, but gave up 31 points in the playoff loss to Tampa and 38 in the Super Bowl loss to KC. He struggled against good QBs. Most defenses do, of course. Still, it felt especially challenging for him. I need to think about this and write a whole post on the subject. Gannon did more right than wrong to be sure. The defense had a team record 70 sacks and did some amazing things. They were dominant at times. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get the stop they needed in the second half on Sunday night and that’s what people will remember. […]
[…] Uncoordinated – Iggle’s BlitzReplacing Gannon is a complicated subject. His defense played well the past two years, but gave up 31 points in the playoff loss to Tampa and 38 in the Super Bowl loss to KC. He struggled against good QBs. Most defenses do, of course. Still, it felt especially challenging for him. I need to think about this and write a whole post on the subject. Gannon did more right that wrong to be sure. The defense had a team record of 70 sacks and did some amazing things. They were dominant at times. Unfortunately they couldn’t get the stop they needed in the second half on Sunday night and that’s what people will remember. […]