Eagles coaching search: Moving on from Chip Kelly
So where do the Eagles turn? They could always expand their search to include more candidates, but pay attention to these three names in particular.
Eagles coaching search: Moving on from Chip Kelly
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
By Zach Berman
The rumors started to trickle out on Sunday and became more definitive Sunday night: Chip Kelly did not want to coach the Eagles and decided to return to Oregon.
This is a blow to the Eagles because Kelly was at or near the top of their list, according to sources. Plus, it appeared he favored the Eagles job to the Browns job. He just didn't like it more than his current job. It's unlikely money was the issue -- the Eagles can pay -- so one must wonder if control over personnel was an issue. The Eagles have an attractive structure in which the coach reports directly to the owner -- not the general manager -- but the next coach will work in tandem with general manager Howie Roseman.
Of course, Cleveland does not have a general manager, and he decided not to go there. But Joe Banner is also heavily involved. In college football, the coach has control over everything in the program. That's not the way it is in the NFL, save for New England and Washington (and, previously, Philadelphia).
The point is moot. The Eagles must move on, and not just from Kelly. They also liked Penn State coach Bill O'Brien and wanted to speak with Syracuse coach Doug Marrone. O'Brien elected to stay in State College; Marrone took the head coaching job with the Buffalo Bills.
So where do the Eagles turn? They could always expand their search to include more candidates, but pay attention to these three names in particular:
Mike McCoy, Broncos offensive coordinator: The Eagles met with McCoy on Sunday. He's 40 years old. He's made the playoffs with Jake Delhomme and Tim Tebow as his quarterbacks before entering a coaching paradise, as Peyton Manning's offensive coordinator. McCoy was actually a quarterback in the Eagles training in 1998. He fits the offensive profile that it's believed the Eagles desire, and his adapability with different quarterbacks and different approaches must be a plus.
He's also been involved with some outstanding running offenses. He's worked under John Fox and Josh McDaniels. He's worked with Jack Del Rio, Mike Nolan, and Dennis Allen.
Gus Bradley, Seahawks defensive coordinator: The Eagles will meet with Bradley this week. Bradley, 46, oversaw the NFL's top scoring defense and his group looked outstanding in Sunday's win over the Redskins. (However, Robert Griffin III was clearly hurt.) I was in the Seahawks locker room after the game and talked to a collection of their defensive players. They raved about his personality, calling him a "people's person" who always has energy and commands respect.
"You've never seen him have a bad day," cornerback Richard Sherman said. "He's been sick, no voice, hoarse, and he comes in with the most energy. And you're like, 'There's nothing that can bring this guy's energy down.' And he's never down. No matter the score, he makes his guys show up, presses his guys to be the best, and that's what makes Gus Bradley a great head coaching candidate."
Bradley is a protege of former Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. In Seattle, he runs a 4-3 scheme with principles of the 3-4, so it's actually more of a hybrid. He has a lot of size, and a lot of speed. The size of his defensive backfield is particuarly impressive. They're required to play physical and matchup against taller receivers.
Jay Gruden, Bengals offensive coordinator: The Eagles requested permission to speak with Gruden, but it has not been granted yet. Gruden, 45, is also a candidate in Arizona. He has an intriguing resume, with head coaching experience in the Arena Football League and the United Football League. Since coming to the Bengals, Cincinnati has made the playoffs two consecutive seasons. The roster has been exceedingly young, too, and he's helped develop Andy Dalton and found ways to maximize wide receiver A.J. Green and tight end Jermaine Gresham.
A plus with Gruden is that he can be hired right away. That should not be a priority, but if the Eagles wait to hire a coach in the Super Bowl, it makes it difficult to recruit a staff that late in the game. Not impossible, but not ideal. That could work against McCoy and Bradley, depending upon how far the Broncos and Seahawks advance.
***
This above list does not mean that Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong, and Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians are not realistic candidates. The first two have interviewed; Arians is expected to interview this week.
But at the current stage of the search, pay attention to McCoy, Bradley, and Gruden.
Of course, this could change. And the Eagles could have additional candidates. They targeted college coaches early in the search, and there's no saying that there's an under-the-radar college coach they'll pursue.
Continue reading The Inquirer and philly.com for all your updates.
I nominate Hannibal Barca as coach— onlinescrabblecreep- I nominate Hannibal Barca as coach— onlinescrabblecreep
- Nick Saban has to finish his winning his 4th National Title (3rd with 'Bama), then the Eagles can back the Brinks truck up to him.— EmanuelP
- so you expect the eagles to wait another year, as saban returns to alabama next season to win that elusive 3rd title in tuscaloosa?
— hannibal barca - RAY HORTON or GUS BRADLEY!!!! We need an attacking defense that creates turnover— ewsavage
- Two words: Phil Jackson— EmanuelP
- Gus seems like the type of coach the Eagles need right now. He took the Seahawks D from being one of the worst and in a few years of work has made them one of the best defenses in the league(4th in yards 1st in scoring).With a good OC to help develope Foles this team could be back in the playoffs with some work.— LX1991
- My vote is for Rich Kotite's son Mitch to give it a try.— MrBigDizzle
- I'm starting to like the idea of Bradley. A defensive minded coach will hire an offensive coordinator to mesh with his defensive philosophies. Most offensive minded coaches care only about their egos and the amount of points they can put up. Haven't we seen enough of that?— Charburger
- Nick Saban, please shut up. Hes forever a college guy and you cant trust the guy to commit, you cant have that in the NFL. Hes as flaky as a bowl of cereal. 1000 hugs is right, if you are ripping the owner before he even hires someone, you are just hatin to hate. I remember the previous owners as well. Read my post above, trust me, my vast expertise with insider NFL information coupled with the ability to predict the next great coach makes me far smarter than any of you. After all, this is an exact science.— peteike
- Bring back Kotite!!!— OnTheBandwagon
- Bradley has attytude,is young and a defensive coach with proven results...I like him as a candidate. I want a coach who has some swagger and gets the team to follow him through a brick wall for a win. Winston Moss needs to be interviewed as well...a young coach in his forties who the players will respect is what's needed IMO...there has to be more young coordinators other than Bradley who fit that mold. Intensity is a must in whoever Lurie hires...a word I have not heard in describing McCoy. He may be a QB guru but will the team as a whole play for him?— greenbloodVAEagle
- Some have mentioned Shaw, he signed a 10 year extension w/ Stanford. Have no inside info, but why would Shaw want to leave Stanford? He is well paid, makes all the decisions,lives in a great part of the country, with wonderful weather, and works with some of the smartest players in the country. If he was the least bit interested, the NFL owners would be lining up.— camasbud
- Championships begin with defense. Our defense and special teams are most in need of improvement and an injection of the Dawkins style of toughness and determination. Gus Bradley seems like the right choice to accomplish these goals.— joephilly
- wrong. only complete fools by the old adage about defense and rushing winning championships. look at these recent champs; all are offensive juggernauts:
Giants 2012
Packers 2011
Saints 2010
— hannibal barca
