On Gus Bradley, the Seahawks defense, and postseason stock
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
On Gus Bradley, the Seahawks defense, and postseason stock
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
By ZACH BERMAN
For those who want Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to be the next Eagles coach -- and judging by my inbox and Twitter feed, there are many fans on that bandwagon -- the best news might have been the Falcons' 30-28 win over the Seahawks. That frees up Bradley to be hired by an interested team, and the Eagles and Chargers right now appear to be the interested teams.
One's judgment of Bradley should not be weighed by Sunday's game, though, even though the Seahawks surrendered a last-minute lead. For one, two passes in the fourth quarter of a road game against one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL is too small of a sample size to form any type of judgment. Also, it counters the very reasons a coach should be considered. Bradley oversaw the best scoring defense in the NFL this season, but that would be a foolish reason to hire him. Every season, top coordinators are hired by NFL teams. Every season, former top coordinators are fired by NFL teams.
The reason to hire a coach is for characteristics that go beyond scheme and stats -- what's his short-term, mid-term, and long-term plan; how does he lead a team; how innovative are his ideas; how well can he run a staff; how does he deal with problems in the locker room; how does he represent the team. When the coach is inside the building, he needs to hire skilled coordinators and strong coaches, and that's when scheme matters. (Of course, a good quarterback is also imperative.)
In speaking to Seahawks defensive players last week, three things seemed clear about Bradley:
1) Players want to play for him. He was described as a "player's coach" by multiple players. One player called him "new-school," and said that he's the type of coach whom players will listen to and follow.
2) He's full of energy and optimism. Cornerback Richard Sherman said Bradley never seems to have a bad day, ever boasting energy -- even when he's sick, or his voice is hoarse. So if a high-energy coach is appealing, Bradley should excite you.
3) The Seahawks run Bradley's defense. I wanted to know specifically what role Bradley possesses, particularly because Pete Carroll has a decorated resume with defense. I was told that Carroll has influence, but Bradley puts together the game plan and makes the calls.
None of this means Bradley will be the Eagles head coach, or even a good head coach if he becomes one. Frankly, that has as much to do with the roster that's assembled and the quarterback of the future.
But it helps show why Bradley is a popular candidate, and why he could potentially become the coach within the next days.
Comments (43)
Not impressed with this search for a new coach. Looks like they are wandering around lost, just like the team has been recently.— OverFiftyYears- OK, if jeffy is going to continue to interview disgarded coaches then he should have kept reid. Jeffy if you havnt noticed this year but our defense is soft, uninspired, and needs some motivation. Or offense is fine all wonderboy has to do is draft a BIG receiver not a 5'6 165 lbs guy.. So this is real easy jeff HIRE GUS BADLEY.— CSM2003
- The white Mike Tomlin and I love Mike Tomlin... we need a guy like this to energize the city and team... this coaching search has led me to feeling very depressed over the last week. Billick? Whisenhut? Lovie? please just bring back Reid because there is no difference.— Theo1980
- If he gets a choice between Philly and the chargers he goes to the chargers. They have a QB and no snow— Ssteve115
- A. It does not snow here anymore. And B. he is from North Dakota,and probably loves snow.
- Everybody loved Buddy Ryan, and all he knew was defense. His offenses sputtered every year; Randall, Quick, Jackson, Byars and CC made plays, but he couldn't find an O-lineman to save his life. Now we have O-linemen (assuming JP comes back healthy). Another defensive-oriented guy with leadership skills sounds like a good deal to me.— JBirks
- Mr. Lurie,please hire Coach Bradley as soon as humanly possible.
JBB.— James Broscius - Anybody who thinks Gus Bradley would not fit the "Philly Profile" as the HC of the Eagles is crazy! He's fiery, dedicated and he seems to be the type that would keep this team hyped up and motivated to win games. The locker room was lost to Fat Andy because they needed a new voice. Gus Bradley IS that voice!!! Hire him NOW Eagles!!!— Panthro2011
- This is exactly the type of coach the team needs to lead us back into playoff contention. The experts all agree he would make a great head coach as he is a motivator, technically proficient, and his players want to play for him.
The Eagle never should have left the interview with him without a signed contract. Of course now they delay and we will lose him to a different team.— blackknight - One of the best series of bloggers' quotes in quite a while. It's good to see something positive.— 2smart4philly
- If you're going to hire a 'defensive' coach why not hire Lovie Smith who's proven he knows how to coach D in the pros.
The problem with the Iggles as a match for Lovie is the man had been looking for a franchise QB for years in Chicago...— Cameiros - The Eagles should have kept Andy Reid.— Dexter
- Bradley's defense stunk up the joint, they were getting pushed around all game, and finally in the last seconds of the game gave up a long drive for the go ahead field goal. What was different in the Seahawks loss that Eagles fans have not seen enough of from their defense over the last two years?— Dexter
- Bradley didn't lose this game. Did Bradley turn over the ball three times? Did Bradley get to the ATL 11 TWICE, then fail to make 4th and 1 or let his rookie QB be sacked with 17 seconds left and no time for a field goal? The Seahawks offense left 6 points on the board in the first half right there. Was it Bradley's punter who kept kicking touchbacks or 31-yarders?— operagost
- gus BRADLEY is my CHOICE for 'the birds coach johnnyu— john ullman
- What JBP said!— PhillyFaninNYC
- Do you remember what he said or is that the extent of your contribution to the discussion?
- Ghost and LB, I agree with both of you. I fall in between you in firing of Reid. At the lates I would have fired him 3 years ago. He stuck with McNabb way to long. Because of McNabb we did not draft a good QB. That is Reid's downfall but Lurie's ultimate responsibility.
Seems like Lurie is more aggressive since his divorce.
It is going to be tough for the next couple of years because Lurie does not know football and Roseman know less.— PhillySportsVet - I worked at One Novacare for 2 seasons and can tell you with first hand knowledge that Lurie is wholly and completely motivated to win the SB. Many of the characteristics he displays "in house" are what you want from a leader. Decisions are based on information and then character evaluated. The franchise is in good hands with him and Smolenski.— phildunphy
- The two you mentioned, are not as responsible for picking the talent (or lack of it) on the field these last three years. That is the job the the GM. We seemed to have a team someone picked for a fantasy league. They say an organization takes on the personality of it's leader, and we look like a bunch of stoned accountants. Football is a violent sport and it needs players who are intelligent and dedicated, but play with a controlled violence. We are sorely missing the Dawkins, Runyons and Ray Lewis types. — OverFiftyYears
- Honestly, I rather have Reid than any of these guys being mentioned. But that's not happening, so I guess Bradley looks like the best option. If he can't turn this team into a legit contender in 3 years, move on to someone else.— p-diddy
- Well Bradley is done when the fans want someone or something the Eagles totally ignore us. For example "We don't need wide receivers!"— consierge
- Let's get Bradley. For those liking that Lurie is a laid back owner, I think he is a tad too laid back. I would not like Jerry Jones, but I think Lurie is too hands off. Accepting Castillo as a Defensive Coordinator was too hands off and not firing Reid at the end of last year was too hands off. Not starting the search for Reid's replacement until the end of this season was too hands off. I like Lurie, but I would like a bit more aggressiveness when things are going loopy with the team.— Larry Byrd
- Wrong Ghost, Lurie is a good owner. Hiring bad assistants was never a known factor until after the results. You simply dont fire a coach that makes the playoffs every year after one season of missing them. Esp when that coach more than earned the extended time. His timing to fire Reid is about prefect imo. Maybe you could say a yr late max, before that it wasnt even questioned. We will see about Howie, I tend to agree hes not best fit. Try a tiny bit of objectivity at least. Living in the hindsight world, theres a name for that, mmqb. Classic example right there.— peteike
- I have to disagree. I still maintain that a good owner doesn't hire a wet behind the ears bean counter as a talent evaluator. You hire proven football minds to accomplish the team's goal in acquiring proven (or unproven) talent. I don't see Howie Roseman filling those shoes.
- Good article. Any coordinator is a risk, but Bradley looks like a potential Super Bowl head coach to me.— armchairGM
- @JBP: Great owner? You, sir, are delusional. If he was such a "great" owner, he would have replaced Reid about 6 years ago, after 8 previous years of poor clock management, poor play calling and in game decisions, a ridiculous pass to run ratio, clueless assistant appoitments, and "I've got to do a better job putting the players in position" and "that's on me" B.S. we heard from Reid, ad nauseum. Also, a truly "great" owner hires football men who can judge real talent -- NOT bean counters.
- Taser, you cant look at one game and make all those assumptions. Thats a top notch offense in Atl with the best WR combo in the league, Sea also missing its best pass rusher. Being intense has its good and bad times, you cant be like that all the time but there is more to be said about leading a group and being HC material. He comes with high praise from other top sources and you do have to have leadership qualities. All of that wont mean much if he doesnt come with a top OC also. I think that is phase 2, look what Reid is doing. Every hire he seems to be filling with young new guys in new jobs, very risky. What if Gus hires a lower end coach and promotes him to OC, still a lot of things need to go right for a HC to succeed esp drafts and FA signings.— peteike
- Gus is intense, check out this clip someone else posted elsewhere. Starts at 2:15 or so. This team needs some of that, a guy thats not afraid to tell grown men how it is and get in their face. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofv2MgMoFG8— peteike
- Great clip, love to see this guy on the sidelines to meet DRC after one of his turnstile attempts at tackling — DogBiscuitthedope
- PLEASE sign this guy NOW!!?— MJSI
I wasn't ready to hand Gus Bradley the keys because of one good season, but I'm also not ready to yank them away after one game either. I still like him the best among the current options, but that and 75 cents will get you a newspaper.- Gus and his defense was Seattle's weak link in their loss to the Falcons. A really good coach does not come up small in the big games. Too many people jump on his wagon because of the yelling and screaming sound clips. Motivating people has little to do with that type of verbiage. The screaming at players is way over rated.— Taser
- Well written with the right perspective, Zach. Thank you for not falling prey to the "what's taking so long to hire a coach?" hysteria that seems to have overcome most of your fellow journalists in Philadelphia. It's refreshing to read an objective, fact-based article about the Eagles head coaching search, for a change.— fentonhardy
- He is the right guy for this team, he reminds me of a guy who would sit down with the fans and have a beer and a good time then go out and coach the lights out he is a perfect fit.— angrywhtguy
- I am willing to overlook the failure of Seattle's defense yesterday -- especially on Atlanta's final drive -- when I look at how it performed over the course of the year. The guy who oversaw that D has got to have something good going for him.— Dave Clemens
- JBP, Bravo to you. Lurie has been an excellent owner. I hope he own this team until after I'm dead. However, that doesn't keep the negadelphians from making their snide comments.— maurysline
- One last thing...the biggest drawback to getting a great HC is not Lurie or Howie or a lack of a franchise QB...it is the ridiculous PORTION of the fan base that tears down anything good if things don't go perfectly right away and all the time. The radio and print press plays a role as well by playing to this PORTION of the fan base.— JBP
- Please hire Bradley.— CaptAwesome
- CSM, A coach cannot be hired while his team is still alive in the playoffs. Gus Bradley wasn't available to be hired until approximately 5:00 yesterday afternoon. My guess is that he will be hired as a head coach (hopefully by the Eagles) in the next few days.— maurysline
- Zack, I believe your perspective dovetails with Lurie's...a focus on leadership, strategy, creativeness. It amazes me, even after all these years as a Philly sports fan, that so many posters and callers are sooo negative towards ownership and management. IMO Lurie is a GREAT owner who loves the Eagles, invests in the team, and doesn't interfere in football operations. Would this city want Jerry Jones?! Luck plays a part in any HC hiring but I like the odds of Lurie finding us a good one.— JBP
- Of all the candidates interviewed, Bradley proved Sunday and during the season to be the BEST guy for the Head Coaching position with the Eagles. Let's stop the merry-go-round search and get serious. Hire Bradley!— walt1
- Great article can you pass this onto lurie. Why has this guy not been hired yet.— CSM2003
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Birds' Eye View is the Inquirer's blog covering all things Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL.
Jeff McLane
Inquirer Staff Writer
Zach Berman
Inquirer Staff Writer
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