Reid: McDermott will be back
Andy Reid said that defensive coordinator Sean McDermott will be back next season for the Eagles.
Reid: McDermott will be back
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Andy Reid said that defensive coordinator Sean McDermott will be back next season for the Eagles.
"You're dealing with a guy that's a tremendous worker and is a very smart individual," Reid said Monday, the day after the Eagles' season ended with a 21-16 loss to the Packers in the playoffs. "And so, I look at it a little bit different than you do. In that I've seen him work with young guys, I've seen him work through injuries, I've seen him stay positive through those situations, and still put us in a position to win football games.
"And know that he's going to do nothing but improve as a coach, just like all of us, with experience. I got a lot of respect for him and the way he does business."
McDermott, in his second season in charge of the defense, had to deal with a number of significant injuries to his unit. He lost six of his 11 starters at various points in the season. But even McDermott would have to admit that his defense underperformed this season. It allowed 31 passing touchdowns -- the worst number in Reid's 12 seasons -- and had the worst red zone percentage in the NFL since 1988.
"The problems? You can't say the scheme because they give you a play and you have to go out there and execute it," Eagles linebacker Moise Fokou said. "And if you want to blame it on personnel, then blame it on the player. But I don't think it was ... I don't know. You got me stuck. We just didn't execute as well as we thought we would. I think we had some shining moments here and there."
But what if the scheme isn't right?
"Come on, the scheme's not always going to be perfectly correct," Fokou said. "Sometimes you're going to make a mistake here and there and things are going to happen. You're never going to play a perfect game. Let me put it like that."
McDermott rose up through the ranks with the Eagles under Reid. Initially an assistant to Reid, McDermott then became a defensive coach, working mostly with linebackers and the secondary, until he was named coordinator in July, 2009 shortly before his predecessor, Jim Johnson, died.
@ChrisM: Not a single DE on this roster could play in a 3-4...they're all too small. Plus, they don't have 3 decent LBs to put on the field at once, much less 4. They'd have to get a whole new front 7 to switch to a 3-4.- I have been a huge Reid supporter since he got here. I don't really care for the pass only game plan but it works most of the time. But, He has to see that Mcdermott is not ready for his position yet. For the love of god, if you must keep the slug at least order him to evaluate his game plans and make better adjustments throughout the games. If the players are the problem then fix it Mcdermott. If this defense looks the same next year, I will be forced to switch to the Reid haters club if no change is made. I would like to see a SB win at least once before I die. I hopefully have about 40 years left in me so hopefully that will be enough time for you Andy Reid.— snyder6557
- I have been a huge Reid supporter since he got here. I don't really care for the pass only game plan but it works most of the time. But, He has to see that Mcdermott is not ready for his position yet. For the love of god, if you must keep the slug at least order him to evaluate his game plans and make better adjustments throughout the games. If the players are the problem then fix it Mcdermott. If this defense looks the same next year, I will be forced to switch to the Reid haters club if no change is made. I would like to see a SB win at least once before I die. I hopefully have about 40 years left in me so hopefully that will be enough time for you Andy Reid.— snyder6557
- Reid=no super bowl. Never. I'm sure in the off season he'll sign another loser O lineman and a couple of midget DEs.— Justaschmuck
- Come on Andy, send him back to DB coach. There were 7 head coaches fired this year, had to be one decent Def coordinator in the bunch. Maybe Del Rio gets the ax and we can get him. And yes, they really blew it with Babin and Clemons. I guess they were too physically large to play DE for the miget DE Eagles.— rob808pf
How could anyone believe anything Reid says at this point?- When it comes to Roseman as GM, I still laugh at that. They reached for Graham when the guy I was dying for was Marquise Pouncey and sure enough he is a rookie starting in the pro bowl at center. Imagine having a running game with a center who is proven. Dont worry, we will get another free agent signing to take that position.— rvb2321
- Former players from last year's roster Jason Babin now with Tennessee had 12.5 sacks on way to making the pro bowl and Chris Clemons had 11 sacks for Seattle. Paging Sean McDermott, will you please explain those two moves to the fans? Time was when Jimmy Johnson was coach that former Eagle defenders faded into oblivion. Now apparently they have break out seasons and make pro bowls.— curran1702
- The only way we lose this stiff now is if he gets hired away as a head coach. I have taken the liberty of sending his resume to Lenape High School to be considered for their vacant head coaching postion. Now everyone pray he gets it over the gym teacher— Luriesucks
- don't do that, it will ruin those kids chances of a football scholarship. — snyder6557
- Quality of personnel has been on decline ever since AR forced Tom Modrak out!!!— PortCity
- i'd give him one more year, plus dislike all you haters, your not true Eagles fans. your as bad as the sorts writers around here, just plain haters
Comment removed.- You guys are all missing it. This means he is gone! He doesn't adjust, calls the wrong packages, and can't get the right people on the field at the right time. Call Mike Singletary!— NC Eagle Fan
- Blaming McDermott for the defensive struggles is like building a Ferrari with Kia parts and wondering why it doesn't reach 180 mph on the highway. Not once in Jim Johnson's tenure did he ever have so little to work with from a personnel standpoint. Not once, not even close. Get the guy some actual players on that side of the ball, THEN evaluate him
