Deflated Andy, Dispirited Vick
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.
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.
- Prosperity is winning championships. Anything less is just entertainment. Winning gets you invited to the playoffs, but an 0-16 season is just the same as losing in the Super Bowl. Second place is the first loser they say.
— Atomic Fury - Your bluster about what constitutes success makes me think of a frustrated wanna be coach or player. You must be very young or very stupid or very arrogant take your pick.
— JBP - Don't worry, guys. Really. Trent Cole is ready to fight anyone. Really. He can beat up anybody. He is really tough. He'll go in to the street and fight you if you get in his way. And for his sidekick, Kurt Coleman? He's ready too. There they are. They're ready to be really tough. And their co-conspirator? Babin? He's right behind them.
What a joke. They're so tough and rough and ready to rumble. Yet, they can't seem to even get to the playoffs. In the last 25 games they're 11-14.
This defense has more hot air than Hurricane Sandy.— rubicon24 - you know why coleman is right there with cole, right?
its because HE BIT ON THE FREAKIN PLAY FAKE!!
- AGAIN!!!!!!!— bloodymess - The team has been below average since the SB year of 2004. 2005 with the TO debacle was a disaster. 2006 was saved by a miracle Jeff Garcia run at the end (5-6 in Week 11). 2007, team was 5-8 before winning 3 meaningless games at the end of the year. 2008, defense propelled them from a 5-5-1 record to a playoff miracle when Chicago and Tampa lost on the last day. 2009, 2010...both 1st rd playoff losses. 2011, team was 4-8 until winning last 4 meaningless games. If JJ and Rhodes' draft picks / FA signings on D weren't here (Dawk, Vincent, Trot, Hugh, etc), Andy wouldn't have lasted more than 3 years.— vdstrading
- Everything goes in cycles. The losers eventually win (except the Cubs and Chiefs). The winners eventually lose. What we are seeing now in all sports is that the team who gets hot at the right time wins the prize. You want to tell me the Giants...either one, baseball or football...are dynasties. A guy named Scutero who is a low level SS becomes the hero. Timing is everything. With the Eagles, Reid has been a great coach, but it is his time to cycle out. Thing that bugs me is that idiot carpet baggers like Babin and DRC will get a job somewhere else when they both deserve to be gone for their arrogance. Neither is even close to being even in the vicinity of good. I was here when Kuharick was here....my thanks to Reid for making the Eagles relevant. But the cycle keeps turning.— Bob K
- costaricaeaglesfan what a joke the Holmgren signing would be. LOL look what he did in Seattle and how long that took. also recent history in Cleveland i not great. Drafts have been decent but no one wants Holmgren; not even the browns. He runs same offense Reid did. Time for a fundamentals guy with some fire and b-lls!! This young Diva think they are such a talented team need to be shook up and held accountable. Jackson has been good, but rewarding that attitude and work ethic was not how you win championships. Would the steelers, patriot, giants, or any other legit franchise keep him after he half a**ed it last year? NEVER its a pattern hear with these guys. Avant is from those old teams and he said it right!!!— mcalabrese
- this eagles team plays just like megamind marty's detroit teams.
eagles will be lucky to win 2 more games this year.— bloodymess - Its time to blow up this team and start from scratch, with a new coaching staff and many new players (I realize you can't fire the entire team). Sadly, that won't happen until after the final game of the season is played. Until then, its going to be painful to watch.— SteveS11
- i think people would have more empathy for reid if he actually ran the freaking ball and stopped with all the "we saw opps to pass" nonsense. sorry, we watched westbrook be wasted and now mccoy.— djack10
- Yup, it's time to start over. Keep a few of the core players that are "of good caliper" like we use to do. Drop or trade everyone else and let ANDY build up a winning team like he did before. No one else has that ability.— Beagle Fan
- Notch, you're the voice of reason. I completely agree. And Les, the Westbrook theory makes some sense. Everyone used to get on Reid for choosing character guys over talent. And yet, when he did that, the team won. THe last several years have had a ton of big FA signings, adding more talent. But the team as a whole has gotten worse. I actually think the unpopular, "stubborn" Reid who had the binder with the 4 year plan, who stuck with the system, who valued character and who made unpopular choices like not re-signing guys over 30 was the more effective one. It's that old chestnut: listen to the fans too much and you'll be sitting wiith them.— FKD215
- Nothing personal Sal. This is strictly business. Reid has to go. And, he should take Vick with him.— BillyBob369
- If the media would just stop spending the whole spring and summer telling us how talented this team is, we would realize they are the same mediocre team that went 8-8 last year by winning 4 in a row against the dogs of the NFL. This is an average team, with an average coach and a below-average QB. What other result do you expect, people?— Bama
- # 24 has got to go!!! This guy sux beyond belief. How much did Jones beat him by?— mainstreet
