Eight NFL Teams have new head coaches in 2013…

I tried to come up with something new and original about the Eagles over the July 6-7 weekend.  I failed. So I took a CHUT UP break…

I figured if I just went about my regular chores and kept moving, like washing down the deck in 90-degree heat, some smart inspiration would pop into my subconscious. But nothing happened. Training camp is close enough, but still far enough away to leave me on an island of speculation.

I think there are seven other cities besides Philly who are wondering about their home teams' prospects in 2013, but also have nothing concrete to anchor their midsummer nights' dreams.

I keep coming back to the slight tension of wondering just what is in store for us with Chip Kelly.

He was 46-7 at Oregon. I want to believe that record is a predictor of success at the NFL level. But it is probably just an indicator that he can put together a winning organization if given all the right parts.

The problem at the NFL level is there is a different game tempo, and many fewer parts to go around.

But if the Chippah is confident he can win in the NFL, well maybe that's half the battle. This is the "trust" part of being a fan of a team with a new head coach. And sometimes it's difficult for fans to temper their expectations with realism. I guess that explains my partial paralysis as an Iggles fan right now. I want 10-6 and a playoff run— but the experts tell me I may have to wait another year or two for that.

Eight cities in the NFL with a combined millions of fans are going through the same thing— they all wanted "NEW"—and now they're being told to be careful what you wished for…

Mark Eckel of the New Jersey Times produced a nice little breakdown of all the new head coaching regimes coming up this summer and fall. He thinks Chip Kelly will be hailed as a hero if the Eagles finish at 8-8.  I'm not so sure about that, but Eckel is echoing what most NFLN and ESPN pundits believe, too.

Eight new head coaches — seven of whom are first-time NFL head coaches — will attempt to turn around the fortunes of the team they inherit.

Six of the eight teams with new coaches came in last place in their respective divisions last season while two others — Chicago and San Diego — just felt they needed a change at the top.

Andy Reid, Kansas City
Replaces: Romeo Crennel, Last year’s record: 2-14

Short-term prognosis: Kansas City was not as bad as a 2-14 team looked last year. They have a good defense and a new quarterback in Alex Smith. Reid, with some breaks, can take them to a wild-card berth. For that matter they may be a Peyton Manning injury away from winning the AFC West.

Long-term prognosis: This isn’t a young team, so Reid better win quickly.

Chip Kelly, Eagles
Replaces: Reid,  Last year’s record: 4-12

Short-term prognosis: It’s going to take time. You can’t expect to put in a new offense and a new defense and win right away. If the Eagles are .500 this year, he should get votes for Coach of the Year.

Long-term prognosis: If the offense works, he’ll just need to add some better players on defense, and the Eagles could be back on top of a weak NFC East in no time.

Doug Marrone, Buffalo
Replaces: Chan Gailey, Last year’s record: 6-10

Short-term prognosis: Buffalo underachieved last year, which cost Gailey his job. The pieces are in place, but the big piece — quarterback — is still iffy. The AFC East, like the NFC East, is not very strong.

Long-term prognosis: Marrone is going to be tied to his first-ever first-round draft pick, quarterback E.J. Manuel, forever. As Manuel goes, so will go Marrone and the Bills.

Gus Bradley, Jacksonville
Replaces: Mike Mularkey, Last year’s record: 2-14

Short-term prognosis: Bradley takes over a really bad team with a dearth of talent on both sides of the ball. Don’t judge him on his win-loss record right away.

Long-term prognosis: If the Jaguars are in the playoffs before the Eagles, there are going to be a lot of upset people in the City of Brotherly Love, but I wouldn’t count on it.

Bruce Arians, Arizona
Replaces: Ken Whisenhunt, Last year’s record: 5-11

Short-term prognosis: Arizona plays in what has become the best division in football, the NFC West. It’s not going to be easy to win right away.

Long-term prognosis: The Cards had a nice little run in the West with Whisenhunt and Kurt Warner, but San Francisco, Seattle and St. Louis all appear to have brighter futures.

Mike McCoy, San Diego
Replaces: Norv Turner, Last year’s record: 7-9

Short-term prognosis: The Chargers’ job was probably the best of the ones open and McCoy knows the division coming over from Denver. If he can get Phillip Rivers back on the track, the Chargers could be winners.

Long-term prognosis: This isn’t a young, rebuilding team. So McCoy is not going to get a long time to win. He’d better do well soon.

Marc Trestman, Chicago
Replaces: Lovie Smith, Last year’s record: 10-6

Short-term prognosis: If 10 wins got the last coach fired, going 8-8 isn’t going to make the bosses happy. Trestman had better win now.

Long-term prognosis: Chicago is an aging team in a very good division. It doesn’t look bright.

Rob Chudzinski, Cleveland
Replaces: Pat Shurmur, Last year’s record: 5-11

The Skinny: This is a Joe Banner special. Chudzinski, 45, was a relatively unknown, young, offensive-minded coach.

Short-term prognosis: With Baltimore, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh in the division, the Browns aren’t winning anything right away.

And the beat goes on…summer in the city…training camp just weeks away…