Eagles fire Daisher, hire April
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Eagles fire Daisher, hire April
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Updated:
The Eagles have fired special teams coordinator Ted Daisher after one season in his second tour with the Eagles and replaced him with Bobby April, who spent the last 6 years with the Buffalo Bills.
April opted out of the final year of his contract with the Bills, effectively deciding he would rather take his chances on the market, as the team searches for a head coach. He has the kind of reputation that makes a move like that less than suicidal. April joined the Bills in 2004 under Mike Mularkey as the special teams coordinator and then was promoted to assistant head coach/special teams when Dick Jauron was hired in 2006.
The Eagles did not release terms of his contract but ESPN reported that the deal is for 3 years. Several other teams were interested in April, including the Steelers.
April told reporters in a conference call that good special teams have to have "a tremendous selflessness," since their work is so anonymous. He said it's important to set up an internal rewards system for special teamers. "It takes a special guy," he said.
"My main attributes -- and hopefully I have more than just these two -- I have the ability to be optimistic, and I have a lot of energy," April said.
He said he had known Eagles coach Andy Reid since the early '80s, when Reid coached with April at San Francisco State.
“Bobby April has proven himself as one of the top special teams coaches in this league,” Reid said in a statement. “I have spoken with many coaches and players who have worked with and played under Bobby directly and they have had nothing but the highest regard for him in terms as a coach and as a person. We look forward to adding him to our coaching staff and building upon the excellent job our special teams did last year.”
During April's tenure, Bills punter Brian Moorman earned two Pro Bowl berths and punt returner Roscoe Parrish led the NFL with a 15.3-yard punt return average in 2008. That year, rookie kickoff returner Leodis McKelvin finished third in the NFL with a 28.2-yard average. In addition, Terrence McGee earned a Pro Bowl berth as a kick returner in 2004 under April as he set a franchise record with three kickoff returns for a touchdown. In 2005, Bills long snapper Mike Schneck joined Moorman on the AFC Pro Bowl squad.
April, 56, was twice named special teams coach of the year by his peers, in 2004 and 2008. He has 18 years experience in the NFL with Atlanta, Pittsburgh, New Orleans and Buffalo.
As for Daisher, the Eagles' units struggled at times, including the Birds having to use a timeout against Dallas on a punt when Reid said the correct players were not on the field. However, the Eagles did have a Pro Bowl kicker in David Akers and a Pro Bowl punt returner in DeSean Jackson, and they seemed to make progress in coverage from 2008, when now-defensive line coach Rory Segrest ran the special teams.
In a statement, Reid also confirmed what we reported earlier (see below) about the dismissals of strength coach Mike Wolf and assistant Jay Merlino.
“We appreciate the efforts and contributions of those three men," Reid said. "I have the highest regard for Ted as a special teams coach and as a person. He’s an excellent football coach and the numbers and production on the field this past year proved that. We just decided to go in another direction. I have no doubt Ted will land on his feet with another NFL team and do a great job. As far as Mike Wolf, he has been nothing but a professional and diligent strength coach for this franchise over the past 15 seasons. He has been a big part in the success the Eagles have had in recent years. We appreciate all the work he and Jay Merlino put in with our players to help them maximize their efforts on the field.”
Updated: A source close to the situation confirms the team has dismissed strength coaches Mike Wolf and Jay Merlino.
An Eagles spokesman could not confirm or deny the report, he said. There is a fan discussion thread of the move on the team Web site's "talk about the Eagles" section, started last night, that has not been locked or taken down, as one would expect if a baseless rumor about a staff dismissal was being discussed.
This is an interesting development, coming after the back-to-back blowout losses to the Cowboys, who seemed bigger and better conditioned than the Eagles.
A Jan.8 Daily News story detailed how several Eagles players felt they'd improved their strength and conditioning working with a Cherry Hill trainer, Steve Saunders.
Wolf just completed his 15th season with the team. He was the NFL's strength and conditioning coach of the year in 2001, voted by his peers. Merlino, an assistant, worked for the team 8 years.
The other assistant to Wolf, Barry Rubin, is being retained. Rubin was the Packers' head strength and conditioning coach from 1999-2005, and an assistant before that, from 1995-98, when he would have known Andy Reid. It's unclear whether Rubin will replace Wolf.
An attempt to contact Wolf was unsuccessful.
***
Also, Eagles fullback Leonard Weaver was a first-team All-Pro selection by the AP. Second-teamers were kicker David Akers, defensive end Trent Cole, returner DeSean Jackson and corner Asante Samuel.
***
To read our previous post on Tim McDermott, Sean's brother, being hired to head up the Eagles' marketing efforts, click here.
You know what grows under cowdung? Magic mushrooms and the Dalass Star. And don't mention Tony H0m0.— 46 and 2
Comment removed.- They fired the wrong coach! Fire the fat one!— Harry Hadit
- They fired the wrong coach! Fire the fat one!— Harry Hadit
- No, they fired at least ONE of teh right coaches. Daisher was a dope. His fate was sealed on the field in Dallas. They must have found him on the trash heap. Oh right. Cleveland.— Bob1
- Of the 3, special teams were the best...— phillyflava
- What a joke. These firings solve nothing. Alot of people in this organization need to be held accountable and deserve a ton of blame for how the season ended. So they fire the ST coach and strength and conditioning coaches what a joke. So they are the reason we didnt beat a winning team this year. They were holdin us back from winning the big one. i think Andy thinks he can make this small change to make it look like hes changing things when really hes not. We still havent solved any problems at all. When is Andy finally going to wake up and do what is necessary to win. I just pray he fires MM.— Joey0210
- Found this on an "Iggles Blog" site when Daisher was hired. Ted Daisher, the assistant special teams coach under John Harbaugh in 2004-2005 and then the special teams coordinator in Oakland and Cleveland since, has returned to assume the role of special teams coordinator here. "Ted broke into the league with us, so I have had the chance to see him coach," said Reid. "Then he moved on and had success in Oakland and for the last couple of years in Cleveland. I had the chance to interview a few guys, and Ted did a great job. Ted became the obvious choice to fill this role." Sound like scapegoat to me.— watsonmr
- Our special teams wasn't that bad to warrant daisher's firing. The special teams was average at best.The defense is what got us beat and stunk almost all season, not too mention the offensive playcalling. How can u allow a team to call wr screens 10-15 times a game and not take that away from them? How can u see your QB pressured and continue to call 7 step dropback pass plays every single time. Run playaction pass plays and not run the ball enough to even sell it? I will say April is one of the best special teams coaches and was a great hire. I hope mcdermott is next cause he sucks. Cant start different linebackers and safties every week and expect consistency, plus he cant adjust if the defensive gameplan is not working. I dont know why u guys want marty to be gone cause marty is a "yes" person so its not gonna make a difference. Reid will just find another OC to run what plays he likes. Thats why childress bolted out of here when the minnesota job opened. You see how childress calls plays. I would like to see mcnabb stay, but he just is not a fit with this offense. If the offensive philosophy changes with a run first aproach to set up the pass then keep him if not..then trade mcnabb.— bigjay215
- Too many injuries the last 4-5 years. The first 4-5 years of Reid era the team was very injury free. This is a good move. Maybe complacency took over, fresh air in conditioning is a good thing.— Cant Climb
