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.
Eagles should not pass over the opportunity to interview Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden and Lovie Smith. All three would bring the missing defensive swagger and smash mouth football on offense. Plus the first two know a thing about knowing what it takes to win a Super Bowl -- having done so.— dross- Cowher ain't leavin TV for a rebuilding process, Gruden is overrated...that Super Bowl is cool...but Dungy built the dang team....AND he isn't leaving TV for Philly....Lovie would work, but fans aren't patient enough for a Lovie team. — MrJayScott
- DUMB JEFFERY LURIE was trying to sell Chip Kelly on keeping the old failure Vick as the Eagles QB....WOW....Lurie is the sneaky guy hiding behind the curtain that loves all these fantasy football gimmicks, now Lurie is looking for a coach that he can sell the old shot Vick to as Eagles QB....pathetic.— jim35
- McCoy or Bradley would be my choice. Don't think NFL teams will be (or should be) interested in Chip Kelly in the future. Last year he strung Tampa Bay along, (even saying yes) before changing his mind. This year, he behaved in a similar way stringing Cleveland and the Eagles along. None of the above teams looked particularly good in the process.— MJSI
- kioto reed was drafted in the 4th round— barb908
- Please move on from considering college coaches. How many have been successful at the pro level? I can only think of three-Dick Vermeil, Jimmy Johnson and Pete Carroll. I believe that Vermeil and Johnson are the only ones to ever win a super bowl. My vote is either McCoy or Bradley. I would also be ok with Nolan.— jicook
- That louse in New York, Tom Coughlin...yeah, he was one of those know-nothing college coaches. I guess that fraud Bill Walsh from Stanford sucked when he tried to coach those 49ers. Speaking of Stanford, that Harbaugh is pretty much a loser in San Francisco right? Mike Holmgren coached high school, then college and THEN pro. Lombardi coached high school football. I could go on...but really...please move on from your nonsense of eliminating candidates merely because they come from college. Retreads aren't always the best solutions. You find the best fit and someone who is motivated to turn this thing around. — coachdent
- Thank god Chip Kelly is not the next coach.— cote32
- First of all, I wanted Marrone to be the next coach of the Eagles. That said, Chip Kelly is such a DB! He's like that beyatch who just wants hear you say all those nice, flattering things about her, wine and dine her, make much ado about nothing, just to tease you along, build up her (lack of) self-esteem, string you along, then...nothing! Haha! Good riddance!— 5NOT4
i'm wondering what zac berman is doing trolling in teams locker rooms?!- Great post about Gus Bradley by Sheil Kapadia at: http://www.phillymag.com/eagles/2013/01/07/getting-to-know-gus-bradley/— joephilly
- At this point, I say go with Bradley. Did anyone catch Brian Baldinger saying that "McCoy is not head coach material, and that he would not hire him in that capacity? Said he would not command the respect required to run the show.— 5NOT4
- ok so mccoy arrians or bradley top 3 lol ill put jay in my top 4 since i been talking about him for a while now.— defroe
- Does it really matter who the coach is? They need a player personnel guy who can draft a good roster. Fat Andy put them in a big hole with this horrendous group.— ArtieLange
- Why yes! I am available.— Rich Kotite
