Making sense of Lurie's comments
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Making sense of Lurie's comments
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
There was a point during Jeffrey Lurie's press conference today where I thought he might actually shock the world and fire Andy Reid.
"This season was without question the most disappointing season since I’ve owned the team," Lurie said.
He used words like anger and frustration and unacceptable and dismal and unfathomable.
But eventually, Lurie explained that he had gone through his evaluation process and determined that Reid is the best coach to lead the Eagles going forward.
"Is this the right coach next year to maximize the talent we have and the opportunity we have?" Lurie asked. "And for our fans, it’s really a very confident yes in my opinion. He’s got all the ingredients to take the team to the playoffs and take them far."
That's really all it comes down to. This is the 13th straight offseason Lurie has had to ask himself the same questions about the coach he hired back in 1999. And while perhaps the decision was more difficult this time around, he came to the same conclusion.
Throughout the press conference, Lurie did his best to not make excuses for 2011. He didn't use the lockout, the shortened offseason or the team's "young" players as reasons for the Eagles' failures. Lurie even acknowledged that the four-game winning streak at the end of the season wasn't exactly against the league's stiffest competition.
At one point, he was asked the question that every player in the Eagles' locker room and every coach on the Eagles' coaching staff has had to answer: Why? Why did a team that won the division last year and added talent come up so small?
His response was probably the most telling of the entire press conference.
"I think maybe there was a miscalculation in terms of implementing big scheme changes in a lockout situation," Lurie said. "To me, I don't know why, I would've thought we would've been able to, during the abbreviated training camp and preseason, adapt to some of those schematic changes. They were bold changes, but clearly the team was not jelling and maximizing those scheme changes in the first half of the year. That’s one that comes to mind right away.
I would hold everybody accountable that's responsible for the scheme changes, yet there’s a payoff once it takes effect and you jell and have it. I think we saw tremendous benefits in the two lines, offensive and defensive, as the season went on and we will benefit from that as we go forward. But the first half of the season, it’s just ridiculously unacceptable to have a fourth-quarter lead and blow all those games. And if we just blew one less game, we’d be playing Atlanta next week, so that’s where it’s at."
That would seem to be a direct indictment of Reid, the man who hand-picked Juan Castillo and added Jim Washburn and Howard Mudd to his staff. At the same time, Lurie seems to legitimately believe the Eagles got better as the season went on and can compete for a Super Bowl next season without making a lot of changes. He made it clear that Castillo's future is in Reid's hands.
"Was he [Castillo] put into a situation where he couldn’t succeed early in the season? That’s for all of us to have answers to," Lurie said.
I wrote about this last week, but it bears repeating. Castillo's failure is Reid's failure. He's the one who decided to hand the defense over to someone who had never done the job before.
At this point, I'm not sure that Reid has even decided on Castillo yet. If he's going to replace him, Reid needs to have a logical successor in mind. You don't just fire Castillo and begin a prolonged search like you did after letting McDermott go last season. If you want Steve Spagnuolo and are certain you can get him, that's when you make the move.
Howeve, Lurie did acknowledge that making Castillo the defensive coordinator last offseason was not Reid's first option.
"He [Reid] made a list of all the top people he was looking at to replace Sean McDermott as defensive coordinator and things happen, circumstances happen, changes don't happen on other teams, certain coaches aren’t available," Lurie said. "And he became very, very interested in Juan because he knew what he could accomplish. Whether he could accomplish it fast enough was an interesting question, and he didn't. The whole team didn't, in terms of early in the season. The second half of the season, what was it? A 6-2 record? And regardless of the competition, you’re playing."
The final point to ponder is this: Will it be Super Bowl or bust for Reid next season?
"Every year, the goal is to win the Super Bowl," Lurie said. "I think we’ll let the process play out. There’s no ultimatums. That’s our goal, and every year that’s the plan."
Post-2012 seems like a natural breaking point. Reid will only have one year left on his contract, and the team can part ways with Michael Vick if it chooses.
But I'm not ready to say it's definitely Super Bowl or bust. Lurie clearly has a fondness for Reid and a unique relationship with his coach. Reid could be back in 2013 and beyond, even if he doesn't win a Super Bowl. If the Eagles make the NFC championship in 2012, could Reid be back? What if they suffer a bunch of injuries, win the NFC East and make it to the divisional round of the playoffs? Reid could still return to give it another shot in 2013.
Overall, Lurie's strategy today was clear: Don't make excuses, voice frustration and disappointment over the team's failings in 2011, and do your best to explain to the masses why Reid is getting another chance.
The rest is now up to the head coach: Make a decision on Castillo, and start taking whatever other steps you deem necessary to make a run in 2012.
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Season tickets sold out again and Lurie laughs all the way to the bank. So does Reid who could care less about winning as long as he gets paid on Tuesday. Ditto for Vick. Just enioy the game boys for what it is:entertainment.— joeyrofrano- The only burning desire in Reid's stomach is the unsatisfiable desire for food: like 10 big macs for lunch and free reign at the Golden Corral buffet. Fat Boy obviously has some kind of dirt on Lurie. How many people could mess up as much as Reid and not get fired? Not be held accountable? What a joke this organization has become; the laughing stock of the NFL. As long as the foolish Eagle fans continue to buy tickets, concession, Eagle apparel and fill Lurie's pockets with millions and millions of dollars, the owner is not held accountable and will continue to take advantage of some of the most loyal fans in the NFL. Enough said.— oneway
- bpgavin1
I think we're all tired of hearing that old tune. In all honesty, this team hasn't been the NFL's dormat for a very long time. The last year of Ray Rhoad's tenure was probably the only true dormat year this team has had since pre-Buddy Ryan. Yes, Reid took them to the most success they have had in the superbowl era from about 2000-2004. Since then, they've been the poster child for mediocrity. Bad drafting, bad coaching, and poor coaching hires have been the norm for about six years now. Andy Reid does not have to coach the Eagles until he's dead. Tom Landry got fired. Chuck Knoll got fired. And Marve Levy got fired. All coaches who had a great deal more success than Andy Reid has had. Look, I like the guy. I think he was a very good coach. But he didn't get it done. It's long been time to move on. Instead, we get this circus next year as well. Maybe I'm wrong, and Andy will have the same swan song that Bill Cower did. I wouldn't bet on it, though.— Hemingway - Joeyrofrano; You are right...Lurie, Reid and Vick are laughing all the way to the bank with their mega millions they made from the fans.....LOL.— frank105
- As much as I lament about Reid not winning a Super Bowl, I can see some rationale in Lurie's decision. They spent a ton of money last off-season on free agents and to blow this up now makes no sense. Shore up Linebackers and Safety. Keep Vick from getting killed. Give Desean Jackson what the Bears pay Hester. Let go of Samuel and maybe the Eagles can return to the playoffs.— rbecker1963
- Looks like the Lurie and Reid families read these articles based on the first few comments. Cmon people, this is an insult. If I finished at 50% of my quota last year I'd be out of a job. And for Lurie to say Reid isn't arrogant? Wow Jeff you can't be further from the fan experience. What a total farce.— scoob
- Whenever Philadelphia is ready to tread Jeffrey Lurie, Andy Reid and Mike Vick to Washington,in exchange for Danny Snyder, Mike Shanahan, and Rex Grossman, please let me know. Everyone in Washington would make that trade in a heartbeat.— sherberg
I think most of you guys are really young and don't remember the days of having a dominate defense, actually a defense that was feared. An offense that had the most dynamic QB at the time in Randall Cunningham and couldn't win a single playoff game. Do you remember that SB against a Raider's team that we should have dismantled in the 1st quarter, but instead watched Jaws whither like George Castanza in a swimming pool. Do you remember the days when the owner was too cheap to pay core players like Seth Joyner, Reggie White and others just leave in free agency? Do you remember the days of Bobby Hoying, Rodney Pete, that QB from Chicago way past his prime and oh yeah the Detmner brothers? We have seen the wins and playoff wins with Reid. We have seen him put together a decent core of guys. Once he figured out you need wide receivers with actual talent to go along with your QB you can get to play for the NFL championship. I just feel bad for guys like Westbrook, McNabb, Runyan, and Dawkins who had all the heart and desire and never won the SB. Reid, rather you like it or not and I'll go on record and say I don't like it, gives us the best chance to win it next year. Putting emotion aside, Lurie made a good football business decision. He's giving Reid one more shot. If Reid doesn't get it done he and his staff most likely will be gone. If the Eagles didn't have the talent it has, Reid probably would have been fired. We are only a few pieces away. I agree that we need much better talent at the MIKE and SAM positions but we are fine at safety. I think those guys will play much better next season now that they have a grasp of the scheme.- TNEaglesF, been dittoing your comments all along. Could have lived without another year of Reid but can also understand why Lurie is keeping him. I'd wager most of the whiners ARE younger folks who need instant graification and think this 13 years of frustration add up to a lifetime. I've [and probably you] have seen coaches come and go with no difference made. It makes complete sense to me that after bringing in Mudd and Wash, signing Vick and changing schemes that Lurie stay the coarse for another year. Changing coaches with the same players and redoing schemes yet again will only produce a worse result for next year. After that, if you want to ax Vick and go in a totally new direction...have at it. But Lurie isn't going to flush those millions just to pacify the fans. He would be nuts if he did. He COULD get rid of Howie though. Now there is a place where the end product shows no sign of improvement. So in the end it is what it is. People can still root or hibernate. I know what I'm doing.— tpizza
- When you turn a losing $150M franchise into a $1B winner, although not yet champions do ya think, maybe just maybe you know something. Go Eagles 2012.— oldBird
- Nah, some of these guys think operating a NFL team means buying the latest version of Madden football. They haven't a clue but like to yell and stomp there feet. Can understand the frustration but it isn't like anyone is being forced to donate and if they no longer want to root, well, they aren't hardened Eagle fans after all and won't be missed.— tpizza
- this is a business and in business you produce or you are replaced, this is a what have you done latley game this getting to the playoffs and losing poorly and being outcoached is not a winning record, and those who foster this point, to keep a one man band coach are just fools for fodder to think no one else can do better than reid, is a joke, in house or out house— Gmario
- "One Super Bowl appearance in 13 or whatever seasons." - During the same 13 years, Giants appeared 2 times, Cowboys 0, Redskins, 0.
"Zero playoff wins in 3 years." - Why stop at 3 years? Andy's playoffs record 10-9.
"The Castillo fiasco. The lost 4th quarter leads fiasco, which actually made history. That horrible Seahawks loss. That horrible Niners loss." - No mention of goin 5-1 in the division and sweeping the Redskins and Cowboys?
"Never running enough when having a lead despite employing tbe best RB in the NFL." - Same broken record about the running game. Eagles are top 5 in rushing yards, top 50% in rush attempts this year. How you think McCoy were close to the rushing title? Btw, the superbowl year, Eagles were 30th in rush attempts.
"The handling of the Desean Jackson situation." - How should this have been handled? Pay DJax with the outrageous contract he wanted? Cash strap the team for future FA signings?— penncrow19 - Quixote - You just can't give a post without your standard Philly writers suck rant can you? It must be hard to type with all your journalism awards getting in the way. Also, loved how you crept into Lurie's mind to decipher what he meant by the word "We". Amazing.— Matt321
- and the oscar goes to- jeff lurie!!!!!! whoever wrote lurie's speech for yesterdays podium scene mustve been the same person that wrote the screenplay for " v.i. warshawski".— bloodymess
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