Eagles announce coaching changes
Defensive backs coach John Lovett and tight ends coach Ted Williams were named pro scouts and replaced.
MOBILE, Ala. - Bill Davis, the defensive coordinator who kept trying to single-cover star receivers with Bradley Fletcher as the Eagles slipped from the playoff picture, remains secure in his post. But the late meltdown of the Birds' secondary has claimed some victims.
Last week, former Pro Bowl corner Todd Lyght, who'd assisted Eagles defensive backs coach John Lovett the past two seasons, left to coach Vanderbilt's corners.
Yesterday the Eagles announced that Lovett is now a pro scout. Lovett is being replaced by Cory Undlin, 43, who coached three Pro Bowlers in the Denver Broncos' secondary this past season. Undlin came available when the Broncos and coach John Fox parted ways last week; presumably, Fox declined to take Undlin with him to Chicago.
Lovett, 64, who has spent his entire 36-year career in coaching, has never scouted. Also making a very late career move into pro scouting is Ted Williams, 71, a member of the Eagles' coaching staff since 1995 in various roles. Williams coached the tight ends the past 2 years; he is being replaced by his assistant, former NFL tight end Justin Peelle. Peelle turns 36 in March.
Williams and Lovett were the oldest coaches on Chip Kelly's staff.
The moves were announced as the Eagles' coaches and scouts headed to Mobile for the Senior Bowl practices, which start today. The Eagles still haven't hired a head of personnel to assist Kelly, who took control of that area earlier this month when Howie Roseman basically was demoted.
Roseman is supposed to retain in control of contracts, and some agents with concerns in that area had hoped to speak with him this week in Mobile, but Roseman is not expected to attend. More and more, it seems Kelly will make contract decisions and Roseman will execute details.
Speaking of that unfilled personnel job, the, Bucs have denied permission for the Eagles to interview Tampa Bay's personnel director, former Patriots exec Jon Robinson, Pro Football Talk reported. A few teams have now denied such permission, because an exec already running pro and college personnel would be making a lateral move to become Kelly's personnel guy.
Kelly will be looking for a quarterbacks coach for the second year in a row, with the Raiders hiring Bill Musgrave as their offensive coordinator yesterday. Musgrave joined the staff last year, after Bill Lazor left to become Miami's offensive coordinator.
Also, there was more Eagles Pro Bowl news yesterday. Rookie kicker Cody Parkey officially was named, since New England's Stephen Gostkowski will be getting ready for the Super Bowl instead of playing an exhibition in Arizona this weekend. And Eagles left tackle Jason Peters withdrew from the game.
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