Andy's defense?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Andy's defense?
Bob Brookover
The Eagles open a rookie camp this morning with local good guy Sean McDermott standing in for Jim Johnson as the defensive coordinator. The hope and prayers here are that legendary good guy Johnson returns soon having conquered cancer.
The possibility exists, however, that McDermott will be the Eagles' defensive coordinator in 2009. During a lengthy conversation with Ike Reese, the former Eagles linebacker and current 610 WIP host raised some interesting points about the prospect of somebody other than Johnson working as the team's defensive coordinator.
This was Reese's most interesting point: "Andy has always trusted Jim with doing it. He had the luxury of trusting Jim's experience. There's nobody coaching the defense now that gives him that luxury. That means Andy is going to have more of a role with the defense. There's automatically more on his plate. To what degree, I don't know."
In the past, the Eagles have really been two separate entities working harmoniously for the same goal. The defense belonged to Johnson. The offense was run by Reid and Marty Mornhinweg. Johnson chose when to dial up the blitzes and he always had Reid's trust that he was making the right call. Will McDermott inherit that same trust from the head coach?
"I think Andy will have more input," Reese said. "Will Andy have that itch late in the game to bring the heat and tell him to blitz? He didn't have to do that with Jim Johnson. It's going to be interesting."
We'd better hope Andy doesn't ask McDermott to pass on third and one. That will really confuse things.— B in DC- Andy will call for 80% pass defense as teams run the ball 70% of the time up the middle.— dutchman
- BLITZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.................... Make the QB uncomfortable make him pay for being the QB.......Ha ha ha ....Blitzzzzzzz I say!!!!!!!!— tonygreeneagle5
- I've seen a lot of QB's get uncomfortable when you blitz, specially through the middle, no where to hide if the DE are doing their job!!!— tonygreeneagle5
- is Freddie Mitchell available??— sohagan28
- This is not good news that Big Red might get involved with the defense. Now if Dawk was still here he would provide the glue to keep it together until Jim returns.— The Marco Islander
- Totally disagree. The eagles knew that Johnson wouldnt be here forever and have been grooming McDermott to be the next defensive coordinator. They have, on numerous occasions over the past few years, denied teams from interviewing McDermott to be a defensive coordinator because he was next in line here. This is a total non-issue. Ike Reese is awful, awful, awful on the radio and really uninformed about all sports, its really quite astonishing how little he knows.— phila1
Comment removed.- B in DC and Dutchman...both priceless comments— Mike8605
- Dutchman and B in DC are right on the mark. With Reid stuck watching the D a little more, maybe he'll let the offensive coordinators call practical things.
Noooooooooooooooooo— potus- Spags was unproven until given the chance and look at what happened - let the guy do his job and leave him alone if for some reason JJ does not make it back by the season. Banner said at the end of the year change was needed maybe this will be a forced change which I hope never happens and JJ comes back.— bsaw
- Comment removed.
This may be the initial step in the total changing of the guard in the Eagles coaching staff. I hope JJ overcomes his illness but if McD was groomed as the heir apparent so be it. This should also be ARs last shot too. He has had 10 years to win the SB as head coach and failed. That's time enough. There are 3 SB winning coaches available. Shanahan, Cowher and Gruden. Gruden actually beat AR head to head in his own backyard. AR has been outcoached often enough. Time to make the change and get a true winner to get us over the hump.— tpizza- 7.5 million for a team chearleader? Yeah, that makes sence. McDermott will be fine, we'll get everything JJ brought to the table plus whatever McDermott has be working on. I'm sure JJ and McDermott will be talking regualarly. No worries.— craig123
