Reid for Coach of the Year?
Should Andy Reid be considered the leading candidate for NFL Coach of the Year? One national columnist thinks so. Plus, a look at how Reid's teams close out the season.
Reid for Coach of the Year?
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Michael Vick's name has been in the league-wide MVP conversation for much of the season.
And now, one national writer is making the case for Andy Reid as the league's top coach.
Michael Silver of Yahoo Sports lists his top candidates for NFL Coach of the Year, and he has Reid at No. 1:
In a business that tends to inspire ultraconservative behavior and a cover-your-butt mentality at all costs, Reid not only sensed the sea change but also seized the moment. He named Vick his unquestioned starter at a time when few others understood what was happening and stuck with the decision even after Vick hurt his ribs and Kolb played impressively during a stretch in mid-October.
By mid-November, when Vick crafted a Monday-night masterpiece against the Redskins which people will still be talking about a decade from now, it was obvious to everyone that Reid had played it perfectly all along.
Has any head coach ever handled a tricky quarterback situation so deftly? Not in recent memory – and Reid has done a terrific job with the rest of his young squad as well. From admonishing DeSean Jackson before the young receiver’s discontent over his contract could become a locker-room liability to sticking with defensive coordinator Sean McDermott through rough times and seeing a marked improvement, Reid has pushed all the right buttons.
If I had to handicap it, I'd say Mike Smith of the Falcons and Todd Haley of Kansas City are probably the favorites. If Raheem Morris can get the Bucs into the playoffs, he will warrant serious consideration. Steve Spagnuolo might be there if the Rams take the NFC West, but probably not if they finish at .500 or below. No one saw the Jaguars potentially winning the AFC South under Jack Del Rio. And of course, Bill Belichick's name has to be in the mix with New England at 10-2.
But getting back to Reid, the consistency with which his teams close out the season is pretty remarkable. Take a look at this chart that details how the Eagles have finished in their final four games under Reid:
| After 12 games | Final Four | Final record | |
| 1999 | 3-9 | 2-2 | 5-11 |
| 2000 | 8-4 | 3-1 | 11-5 |
| 2001 | 8-4 | 3-1 | 11-5 |
| 2002 | 9-3 | 3-1 | 12-4 |
| 2003 | 9-3 | 3-1 | 12-4 |
| 2004 | 11-1 | 2-2 | 13-3 |
| 2005 | 5-7 | 1-3 | 6-10 |
| 2006 | 6-6 | 4-0 | 10-6 |
| 2007 | 5-7 | 3-1 | 8-8 |
| 2008 | 6-5-1 | 3-1 | 9-6-1 |
| 2009 | 8-4 | 3-1 | 11-5 |
| TOTAL | 78-53-1 (.591) | 30-14 (.681) | 108-67-1 (.614) |
In 10 of 11 seasons under Reid, the Birds have finished no worse than 2-2 in their final four.
In eight of 11 seasons, they have finished 3-1 or better. And that number is a little deceiving, considering the 2-2 record down the stretch in 2004 when the Eagles had locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Reid's winning percentage in the last quarter of the season (.681) is considerably better than his winning percentage (.591) in the first 12 games and even his overall winning percentage (.614).
The Eagles have only been better than 8-4 at this point in the season three times under Reid.
So if the Birds finish 2-2 or better down the stretch, they'll hit the 10-win mark for the eighth time in 12 seasons under Reid.
Of course, as I detailed earlier this week, 2010 is different because 10 wins might not be enough for the playoffs. Eleven wins might not be enough either.
The only two ways for the Eagles to ensure themselves a playoff berth is to finish with four straight wins (which has happened only once under Reid in 2006) or go 3-1 and beat the Giants in Week 15. Under any other scenario, they'll need some help from the other contenders.
The stretch run continues tonight against the Cowboys. As usual, you can join me for a live chat at 8:20 p.m.
And I had a couple posts Saturday in case you missed them: one on the Giants-Vikings game being moved to Monday night, and the roundup of who the national media are picking in Eagles-Cowboys.
I actually thought Reid should have been let go after last season, but this season he's really doing a great job with the very young team he has, my biggest surprise is to see him show more passion on the sidelines, I'm a big Reid fan now and we Eagle fans really need to embrace him more. I've been an Eagles fan since 1971 so I'm very happy with Reid. Coach of the year! Yeeeaaaa!!— philsfan417
Comment removed.- Is always surprised how stupid our fan base is sometimes. Reid would be hired by almost 28 other teams if let go. The indisputable fact is his record and winning percentage over the last decade is one of the best. I think everyone should watch the NFL films piece on Reid. Proud to have a class act coach who has his faults like EVERY NFL coach. He will win his championship, just hope it's not against the eagles. For once be happy we have a great coach who consistently puts us in the running for a championship. There is a reason front office execs and fellow coaches and players rate Reid as one of the best, because they know more than fans who are not or ever will be involved in the league.— Fritzc
Wiff, as long as Reid mismanages the clock, calls horrible game plans, doesn't run, throws away draft picks on bad players and a lot more you can rest assured I'll blast him. How about this one: He's had 12 years to get it done and hasn't won a thing? Sound familiar? And please post the proof of those predictions. Hahahaha, like you ever could. They are right next to the Jim Johnson bash that I have been asking for for over a year, right wiff? Just more lies wiff and this really is Kolb's last half season. I'll remind you every chance I get till it happens. Is that OK ex-eagle wiff? I'm watching a bit of the Cincy game...hmmm...KK's next home? You'll look good in orange wiff and I'm sure you've worn "stripes" before and with a number on the unie too! Hahahahaha, idiot. My last half season? Man, is that weak. Hahaha.— tpizza- watsonmr, agree. Never have been able to understand why Reid discounts parts of his team as unneseccary or unimportant. It's always been my biggest gripe about him. First it was on the O with his neglect of the WR and RB positions. At least he seems to have corrected that but the LB situation is still awful. He has a small DL and then backs it up with weak LBs. Then he brings in that "beast" Sims. He at least HAS invested some picks in LBs but none seem to make an impact. That's why Kolb has to go IMO. You can't have that luxury when you need other things and for Gods sake can they stop dropping back and take a few picks in the 2nd and third for a change. Haven't read Sheridan today but I don't think Pitts or Baltimore believes that D can't win. The league has made it harder to defend but you have to adapt.— tpizza
- tpizza, I agree with your assessment of the D, but I believe most thought that could be a problem going into the year. I posted a comment on Sheidans column today, as he saying that offense was taking over pro football, which is a good point, but my point was, that no matter what your defense was doing, if you had a good playmaking LB which the Eagles haven't had, that player can help you win some games, and I mentioned a few. One I didn't mention was Clay Matthews, as a current player. Try comparing Bradly to him, there's no comparison.— watsonmr
- I hope like hell our Iggles win out. If that's what it takes for Andy to win it, I couldn't care less. I just want to win out and get a first week bye! But I WILL "settle" for beating the Giants, and getting two home wins.....if I MUST.— TBear
- really pizzacrite,you were driving the Fire BIG RED Bus the last 3 seasons,while i said McFraud was finished you said fire BIG RED,while i said this team would win atleast 10 games this season,you and philmeme,birdsh**,CYO,49cent,zero07 said 4 wins,6 if they were lucky,,pizzacrite you're the biggest flip flopper since john kerry,,and BTW this is Your last half season..LOL.— wolf 4
- watsonmr, Reid has a shot but I agree he isn't the favorite. Been an interesting season and I'm satisfied to go on with Vick. I'd like to see Kolb get shipped of for picks. Biggest disappointment to me has been the D. They invested heavily in the draft for D help but I'm not seeing any real results yet. May be too early to judge though. Comments?— tpizza
- Reid has done a great job of coaching up Vick to be a better , all around QB.However, in this case it works both ways. Vick's all around versatility has won some games for Reid, that may have been lost because of the porous defense, therefore putting the Eagles in contention. Reids been lucky also. He's had some of his starters go down with injuries, only to be replaced by bench players who played better, namely Kolb, Bunkley, Hobbs. Reid will probably lose to M.Smith,Belichick, Haley or Morris.— watsonmr
- Really wiff? It seems to me that when Reid started Vick over Kolbjob that the one yelling the loudest about it was YOOOOUUUU!!! Right ex-eagle wiff? You bailed on the team, not that you ever cared about it, and have been trying to get back on the bus ever since. Well, all the seats are filled and there's no standing room wiff so hit the bricks like you wanted to back then and please stop proving that you are a complete wiffocrite and that you flip flop on every issue there is, ok fraudwiff? Oh, and lest I forget, this is Kolb's last half season.— tpizza
CG really needs to get laid.- as i said a month ago BIG RED is having is finest season as head coach,BIG RED was the favorite whipping post of the McFraud diehards and wanted Big Red fired last spring summer and fall,BIG RED took alot of heat for MV7 and taught him how to be a NFL QB,,most of the diehards had the BIRDS winning no more then 6 games this season,,BIG RED will be coach of the year-book it...wolf.— wolf 4
what a genius assessment by the writer for yahoo sports. Reids teams finishing the regular season strong is the only reason he still has a job. I would have fired him affter 08. Eventually he will be fired or be forced to resiegn because HE WILL NEVER WIN THE SB IF HE IS IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING. For the people who are like slow, or dont understand football very well it may take them a bit longer to realize. REID WILL NEVER WIN THE SB. collecting a nice win % in the regular season is garbage for a franchise that has never won a SB since the creation of the event. let him coach the cowboys or niners where they will gladly take the stupid 10 wins and a playoff loss every season. IT WILL NOT WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP AS 60% PASSING NEVER HAS WON ONE IN 46 superbowls being played. Hes tried it 11 YEARS in a row and failed EVERYTIME. GIVE IT UP. His idea is stupid. Theres nothing more to see. HE WILL NEVER WIN THE SB and will FAIL every year like he has in the first 11. 11 times in a row is not bad luck, bad players play, or any other combination. ITS A BAD STRATEGY AT THE TOP. AND IT WILL NEVER WIN.- Reid has done a pretty good job with a team I picked to go 8-8. But, if I'm thinking coach of the year, Spags, Belichick, Morris, Tomlin, Mike Smith, Haley, and Lovie Smith would probably rank ahead of Reid. If we win the Super Bowl, then yeah, clearly he's #1. It's funny how the media starts talking MVP or coach of the year around week 8. Shouldn't we just go ahead and play the season first?— tacklinjoe
- Reid's unprecedented amount of regular season stunning victories should earn him coach of the year, its a no brainer, isn't the regular season what its all about.— Carlos2
Follow
Sheil on Twitter. And become
a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for even more Birds
coverage, including app-exclusive videos and analysis. Download it here.
