It is official, Jack Del Rio is out as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. This means that on November 29th, the first head coach firing of the NFL season has occurred and it also means, let the frenzy begin!
Typically head coaching vacancies open up in drouths and with more than a handful of friable candidates, it is time to really evaluate who will be the next coach to go.
I think it is a safe bet to say that most people in Philadelphia are ready for the Andy Reid era to come to an end. Sure he has led the team to division championships, NFC Championships and a Super Bowl, but that is it. It is partially the fact that he has only gotten them to the Super Bowl and not won it that has had fans pining for a new coach for some time, even before this debacle of a season. It is fair to say that Reid is a good coach but to a great one. He is still a good coach but hopefully next season he will be a good coach on some other team.
Andy Reid is probably public enemy number one in the city of Philadelphia right now and as a result he is in line to be thrown to the den of wolves that is the Philadelphia media. Hoping to be one of those wolves one day, I still do not change what I said. Just like the fans can be, the Philly media is vicious. More than reporters most of them are passionate fans and they do not like to see the Eagles or other Philly teams fail. Unlike fans who can just take the losses and forget about it, the media has to actually analyze those losses and pinpoint what exactly their favorite team is doing to lose so many games. Reid has been of some help though to the media, as he constantly puts blame on himself. Sure, it all starts with the head coach but if Mike Vick throws an interception or Desean Jackson drops a pass, that isn't Reid's fault, or Marty Morningwheg's either. They may be the guys calling the offensive plays but if a QB doesn't have a good read and throws a pick, it is his fault and his alone, not yours Andy. Reid might have helped himself out if he had just put the blame where blame was due. Instead of always blaming himself, Reid should have given blame to some of the players or other coaches too. At least then, he could have led the media to believe that he actually knows what the problem is and is not just copping out and seeming uneducated about his own football team.
So for those who want Reid gone, I am with you. Before this season I thought he was still doing a good job. He finally had the talented players and core to have a monster season. I mean considering what Reid was able to do with teams in the past, I was extremely optimistic of what he could do with Vick, Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Lesean McCoy and Steve Smith just to name a few. Optimism still high after the Nnamdi signing, the Eagles really did look like they could win a super bowl. Then Reid made longtime offensive line coach the defensive coordinator and although it is not entirely Juan Castillo's fault, it seems the Eagles trail of decline in 2011 starts there. Promoting Castillo to DC may have been the nail in Reid's head coaching coffin. If it worked out Reid is a genius but it didn't and that is a big part of the reason everyone is calling for his head.
Fans can be fickle at times and may not see past wins and losses. Since the Eagles are 4-7, fire the head coach. Normally I would disagree with this but the proof is in those seven losses. Looking back the Eagles should have won at least five of those games. The offense played pretty well and continue to be one of the NFL's highest scoring teams but in the 4th quarter it is almost as if the entire team takes a break. Most of the blame has been squarely put on what was supposed to be an unstoppable secondary with CB Nnamdi, DRC and Asante Samuel. The trio that was supposed to be lights out has been anything but and have seemed to struggle the most in the game's most important moments. With leads in the fourth quarter in six out of seven losses, you would think the record would be different. Unfortunately however it isn't and due to horrible defensive breakdowns, it has the Eagles with a losing record.
Plain and simple, Juan Castillo has to go and Reid who made the decision to promote Castillo to DC should pack his bags and go right along with him. Do I think it will happen before the end of the season? No, and here's why. Most if not all fans, myself included have given up on the Eagles making the playoffs. At this point they would be lucky to just finish as a five hundred team. However, and statisticians will probably eat this up, the Eagles are not mathematically eliminated. If they win their remaining five games against the Dolphins, Jets, Seahawks, Cowboys and Redskins and if the Cowboys (7-4) lose three of their remaining five including one against the Eagles, that would put the Eagles in a tie at the top of the division but because they beat the Cowboys head-to-head, they would make the playoffs and not Dallas. However all of this is still dependent on the Giants (5-6) losing two of their remaining five games. The Giants still face the Packers and Cowboys twice and surprisingly enough the two games the Giants-Cowboys play could determine the Eagles fate. So mathematically, yes the Eagles can still make the playoffs and mathematically, Andy Reid can still win the remaining five games and mathematically, if all of this happens and the Eagles make the playoffs, it is a safe bet that in a "what have you done for me lately" league, Reid will not be going anywhere.
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