Eagles DC search: What we know, or think we know
With Dick Jauron reportedly headed to Cleveland, here's what we know, what we think we know, and what we've heard but aren't quite sure of when it comes to the Eagles defensive coordinator search.
Eagles DC search: What we know, or think we know
Jonathan Tamari
With Dick Jauron reportedly headed to Cleveland, another rumored defensive coordinator candidate is likely off the table without the Eagles so much as formally interviewing anyone in the week since word trickled out that Sean McDermott was fired.
It's been even longer since McDermott was actually axed (reports vary on the exact day) and yet most of what we have on the defensive coordinator search has come in the form of rumors, speculation, denials and reversals. With six days to digest what’s happened, here’s a look at what we think we’ve learned, what we’ve heard but still aren’t so sure about and what happens next.
The vacation: The hardest thing to figure in all of this is how a control guy like Andy Reid leaves the country – let alone his film room – when a decision of this magnitude is coming down. Unless he really wants someone off the staff of one of the four NFL finalists playing this weekend. The most plausible scenario in my mind is that Reid watched last Sunday’s games play out, knew the guy he wanted would be totally unavailable for at least another week, and took the chance to relax while he could. This team moved aggressively for a defensive line coach, and aggressively in the draft when they wanted Brandon Graham. Sitting back like they have is odd. Again, unless they want someone still in the playoffs.
In that case, everything since McDermott's firing has been the kind of smoke we see right before the draft. After all, Reid is a lot of things, but he’s never been someone to put things like enjoying himself ahead of football. If, on the other hand, Reid has been gone while the Eagles left a crucial position open, and they're dawdling while their top candidate is available, we're looking at serious dysfunction from the brass. I think that's far less likely, though.
Dennis Allen: As Jeff McLane and others have reported, the Eagles expect to talk to the young Saints defensive backs coach this weekend. They don’t seem to be in a rush to do it, though, and may not even get the chance, since Allen reportedly will meet with the Broncos first. It seems that if the Eagles really wanted Allen, they could have moved far faster on this. That, or they had all their eggs in the Jim L. Mora basket and have had to scramble once he dropped out. Allen, young and unproven, would seem to face the same challenges as McDermott.
Dick Jauron: Looks like he’s headed to the Browns, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Eagles never seemed to make a strong play for him, a sign that they weren’t really that enamored of a secondary coach who, after all, had a hand in the Eagles soft pass defense last year.
Mora: He was a hot candidate, right until it came out that he didn’t actually want the Eagles job. Then it turned out the Eagles weren’t very interested in him to begin with. How convenient.
Mike Trgovac: The Packers defensive line coach is another hot name in the speculation circles, but not one person has even pretended that anyone tied to the Eagles has confirmed his candidacy. It could be because the team doesn’t want to get close to a tampering charge, or it could be just one of many names that make sense enough to throw up against the wall. Eventually, someone will be right. We think. It might be a long while before we find out, though, because if the coach the Eagles want is on one of the remaining playoff teams and he advances to the Super Bowl, the Birds will have to wait until after the game to do an interview. Trgovac might be worth the wait, though. His resume is the best of those who have been rumored to have a shot.
The 3-4: OK, if the Eagles really want someone on the remaining four playoff teams, could they be interested in a 3-4 defense? After all, three of the four teams remaining play that system. Doubt it.
The Eagles don’t have the personnel and, as many others have pointed out, might not have the time to install a new system if there is a lock out. If the Eagles did go to that formation, they’d probably need to play Antonio Dixon at nose tackle, Mike Patterson at one defensive end and either Trevor Laws or Brodrick Bunkley at the other end spot, just to have enough size up front. The 3-4 requires a much bigger front line, and they are the only Eagles linemen similar in height and weight to the 3-4 starters on the Packers, Jets and Steelers. But there would be no depth. Trent Cole and Brandon Graham would be pass rushing outside linebackers – so you would have the same guys attacking the passer as last year, just standing up. It’s not clear where Juqua Paker or Darryl Tapp would play, since they’re not as big as 3-4 linemen nor as fast as 3-4 linebackers.
Does that somehow mean the Eagles don’t value the kind of edge-rushing players we see in the 3-4? Not at all. They still try to find those players (not always successfully) and play them at defensive end, much like other 4-3 teams. The Giants have Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora to create havoc from defensive end spots. The Bears have Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije. It’s not the 4-3 scheme that prevents attacking; it’s a matter of getting the right individuals.
McDermott: Obviously the Eagles had to whack him. After all, he’s “a guy that's a tremendous worker and is a very smart individual” and despite facing many injuries on his defensive unit we’ve seen him “stay positive through those situations and still put us in a position to win football games.” And that’s why the Eagles had to let him go. Huh?
Well, that’s all we know because that’s the last official word of any kind we’ve heard from the Eagles on McDermott. That was Andy Reid at his post-playoff press conference. Since the firing, nothing, not even a cursory “we felt we needed to go in a different direction” to explain why one of the top three football people on a football team was axed. No decision-makers have made a public comment of any kind on the firing, even though McDermott’s introduction in Carolina is a pretty good hint that it’s official.
I’m told that this is just the way things go across the secretive NFL – which doesn’t make it any less strange.
On the same day word leaked out about McDermott’s departure, the New York Times published a 2,700-word article richly detailing a secret Israeli-U.S. operation to disrupt Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Maybe while they wait to make a move on a DC, the folks at the NovaCare Complex could lend Mossad a hand. The Eagles could probably teach the Israeli intelligence agency something about keeping things quiet.
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Are there any sports reporters left in Philadelphia? This is amazing, a huge story like this and NOT ONE REPORTER, in the entire city, has any contacts to find out what is going on. No guys, you won't find it on the internet. You have to actually get off your A** and do you job. It's called "building relationships". Freaking amazing. Well, I'll just keep an eye on ESPN and Fox Sports, they will get the story before these knuckelheads.— craig123
The Sixers and Flyers have their own propaganda arm with The Evil Empire; hence, they do not care. The Eagles have their 20,000 people season ticket holder waiting list; hence, they do not care. The only team still working the leaks or "unnamed sources" tid bits in order to gain good will with the local media is The Phillies.
Tamari is making an admirable attempt here, but the reality is "we" don't know, and the Eagles do not want "us" to know. If you were the owners, would you really do anything differently?
— Nuutron- You people are right on top of things .... Singletary has had a job for a week now ....
McDermott wasn't the problem; a total lack of talent on the D side of the ball is the problem. This team has no defensive talent at all; not one player who could start for the Ravens or Steelers D. Not one, not Samuel, not Cole, not one.— JBinPA - Who should the Eagles hire??? HAAAAA like it matters with the Dumbest Head Coach in the NFL,,, and Woof Woof QB with No heart.... Egals will Never win a SB, Never.— Calabrese10
- OK I figured it out...you are 10 years old, so sorry if I offended you in any way...I don't want to berate children, so enjoy your elementary school classes next week..... — JJack
Exactly, ej610. The hardest thing to figure in all of this is why Tamari is a reporter and not a rocket scientist.— Richard Saunders- As an Eagles fan, I don't WANT then to tell me what is going on right now. They need to make these moves in private and not give away to other teams who they think are the best candidates. We will find out when its time. As for the reporters, its a complete embarrassment that all you obviously do is scour the internet for "news". Develop a contact or two of your own. AT THE VERY LEAST, STOP COPYING NAMES DOWN FROM BLOGS CONCEIVED IN SOME IDIOTS PARENT'S BASEMENT. JIM MORA? Come on! Dick Jauron? This is the first article(after weeks) that pointed out the obvious fact that he is the secondary coach on a team that gave up a league high 31 TD passes. Please set higher standards for yourself.— ccheung
- Glad Jauron is out. His resume was not that impressive and hes D-backs didn't exactly light it up. I hope their waiting to talk to Trgovac, we need some with a good resume this time. How many gallons of sunscreen does A.R. take on a daily basis anyway?
- craig123
I believe the reporters in this town have had inside knowledge on several issues over the years (how could you not when you are around the team all the time) but they are afraid to write it for the sake of getting reprimanded by the organization and getting on their list...if there is a story write it!— keepitreal1234 
Comment removed.- Flush Reid too— cm3737
- Dick LeBeau. We can dream.
no matter who we get as coach, it will take 5 yrs to bulk up the defense with playmakers.
Even if Reggie White said he was a Packer, he was a playmaker.
Andre Waters (ok, sometimes). Wes Hopkins. the first version of Jeremaih Trotter. Clyde Simmons. God rest Jerome Brown. the younger Brian Dawkins.
Right now, Asante is occasionally a playmaker. Sometimes Trent Cole. that's it baby.
and we need leaders - the Farriors of the world. We have none on D. None like that. - Howard Eskin's name has been mentioned.— chops10
There's another candidate from Chicago I haven't heard mentioned anywhere, who's already announced this is their last season: Oprah. You heard it here first, folks. Book it! (can't be any worse than wolf's "predictions" lol)— Mabus
