Deflated Andy, Dispirited Vick
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Deflated Andy, Dispirited Vick
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Not much to do today other than try to find a secure spot for my recycling bins, and think about what happened to the Eagles yesterday.
I'm most fascinated by the postgame scene. When Andy Reid trundled into the interview room, I was struck by how deflated he looked. Almost literally. Not making a weight joke here, but we all know the coach has lost more than a few pounds this year, and he's been growing out that brushy mustache until it dwarfs the rest of his features. The man who stood at the podium Sunday, swathed in rain-spattered black, looked like a shrunken, diminished version of the familiar coach.
We've seen Andy lose games before, and then brusquely declare how he has to do a better job. This was different. This time, the 14th-year coach seemed to be questioning himself as much as we were questioning him. I asked Reid if the change in defensive coordinators during the bye week, intended to galvanize the defense, had instead unsettled it.
"How can I stand up here and tell you it didn't, with the way we played?" he said.
That is not an Andy Reid answer. I have been asking this man questions since 2002, and I know an Andy Reid answer when I hear one. An Andy Reid answer to that sort of question usually involves everyone looking in the mirror while sharing pieces of pie.
Reid summoned a tiny bit of snark when ESPN's Sal Paolantonio asked him if he thought the team needed to hear a different voice. Reid asked if Sal wanted to talk to 'em. Otherwise, we seemed to be talking to a man as bewildered by the Eagles' response to the Falcons' sharp, focused play as we were.
I've heard this theory floated by former Eagles such as Brian Westbrook, and I think it resonates: So many of these Birds are not Andy guys. The great free agent coup of 2011, when the Eagles outsmarted the rest of the league by going out and signing everybody on the market in a few days, still resonates. Vince Young and Ronnie Brown are gone, but Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins play on. Plus, some of the young guys who were drafted here have known nothing but struggle and failure; they've heard about Reid's successes, haven't lived them. Remember, the Eagles last won a playoff game in the 2008 postseason.
In the NFL, you can't paper over draft failures with free agent signings. Uusually in NFL free agency, you wind up paying for glittery things a guy now at the end of his prime did while he was playing for somebody else, not what he is going to do for you in the future. That's not the way to win.
Moroever, when guys are drafted together and grow up together, win together, they build a strong bond, among themselves and with their coaches. Guy comes in from some other organization, gets a big guarantee, where's his incentive? What's his bond with you?
Also disturbing was Vick's postgame interview, at the same podium. I don't think Vick was saying he wants to be replaced, when he told us Reid was "obviously" considering a QB change, and that he would support whatever the coach did. I think he was trying to be a team guy, and acknowledging that he has not played well.
I think being unable to get this offense going has sapped Vick. The turnover problems have made him hesitant, tentative. He can't trust his constantly changing o-line, and at 32, Vick can't trust in the one thing he always believed in, his own superior athletic ability, which he used to think could solve any problem.
Vick is a crucial step slower than he was a few years ago, but he isn't as slow as he looked against the Falcons. The QB moved like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
I don't think handing the season over to rookie quarterback Nick Foles is going to save the Eagles, who really can't give up on the playoffs at 3-4. But Reid needs to get Vick's mojo back, and maybe his own, as well. And I have no idea how that is going to happen.
Hey Andy, I have a suggetion for you. When that bus full of angry, torch and pitchfork carrying eagle fans comes by, please throw yourself under it. When this nightmare is over, Mr Laurie, please do not hire that fool and loser Gruden. He took a great super bowl bound Bucs team, when Dungey was fired and won a super bowl with no added imput from himself. He would be a total disaster. So would Cower who took 13 years to win a super bowl with the Steelers, a team who wins super bowls every couple of years. We need to hire Holmgren to oversee an obvious rebuilding project as either coach or GM. This is not simply underachieving by a talented team. This team has washed up disspirited veterens and a history of recent bad drafting. It has to be completely rebuilt, which will take two to three years. Either Gruden or Cower would be a complete disaster. There is a reason that, with dozens of coaching changes over the last three years, they are both still on TV. NO ONE WANTS THESE GUYS.— costaricaeaglesfan- This comment has been deleted. — Dew Schbag
- Uhh, the Steelers won won two SB's in three years, one of them under Cowher. You know nothing, — mike l
- Reid has all the pieces handed to him last year... This year Reid acquired middle LB that was needed. The offensive Line has had major injuries. The center going down had more of a negative impact than loss of the tackle. I think you can hold Roseman responsabity— missurichie
- The Birds arrogance in going against everyone else and the consensus in the drafts has drowned this team.— Earl J
- I believe that Lurie should make coaching changes BEFORE the end of the season. Apparently Lurie has already announced that this is Reid's last chance at glory or he is fired. As soon as we are mathematically eliminated we should definitely be going to an interim coach getting ready to bring in the new guy so we can get him involved in player evaluations and the draft. Hope springs eternal. I am so very tired of Reid.
— DarnelX - Actually detailed studies have been done that show Reid has had better drafting than 27 other teams during his tenure. Also I thought this Spring's draft was fantastic. We all want the Eagles to win, lets keep it real here.
- don't forget Reid lost his son only a couple of months ago. he hasn't really had any time off to process that. The antipathy shown Reid continues to baffle me. Ray Rhodes, Rich Kotite, Buddy Ryan never won a playoff game, Marion Campbell, Vermeil lasted what 5 years. I would rather have Reid than any one of them. Andy will have a good life when he leaves the Eagles, the fan's will get to bash another coach and will miss Reid. The Falcons are a good team. No shame in losing to them. I'm more concerned that Vick seems to have a lack of fire and conviction. After getting pounded all season he showed the effects yesterday. For that reason I don't think FOles would be that bad an option at this point, it's not like we're scoring any points anyways.— notch44
- Sorry Notch, but there were plenty of reasons for the Eagle players and coaches to feel SHAME and embarrassment about the way they have played, last year and this year both. — Dr Bri
- Rhodes and Kotite each won a single playoff game. Look it up. I always remember Rhodes's win -- a big blow-out over the favored Detroit Lions. — s
- Reid ain't in the business of losing faily members. We don't shell out money to see the same bumbling game-day mistakes, bad drafts each offseason, and (not that it's important) no Super Bowl W - I - N - S.
— Atomic Fury - Reid not taking time off after his son's death was his decision, no one else's. He could have had time to process it all he wanted. But it is not just a problem this year. He's been sliding for a couple now. He and Roseman can't pick players to save themselves. Dawkins got let go and he took the last bit of fire this team had. Raid never drafted anyone with the fire that Dawkins and Trotter and other Rhode's draftees had. Reid wants choirboys and now we're singing the blues. — mike l
- Andy Reid needs time to be with his family; the guy was back at training camp the day after his son's funeral. He's not right, and it's been evident since July. I can totally empathize with him. I hope that once the season's over, he takes a year or two off to process. I would be highly upset if he took another coaching job right away. Secondly, I wish that just once he would lash out at the media and fans on his way out the door. That would be hilarious!— kjuggs77
- kj, I am with you! Andy has been the leader of the longest period of Eagles prosperity ever. Yes he fell short of winning the SB, yes he can be stubborn and arrogant, but he is also a very good leader of men, and he bleeds green. I wish there were only 1 game left in the season so Andy could finally rest and regain perspective in the important things of life. He is a good man, flawed like us all, but a good man indeed. — JBP
