Recognition to Hudson Hawk, longtime poster here and at PE.com, and even longer-time friend of mine who resides in the Los Angeles market… yes, maybe I did generalize in characterizing the L.A. fan base as somewhat unreceptive to NFL football in general…in fact, there are thousands of passionate pro football fans in L.A. County who welcome the return of the Rams to their local market… But I stand by my comment that it’s all about the TV money, and not the fans…
Anyway…
Another consideration for the move of the Rams back to L.A. from St. Louis is the theatrical quality of owner’s Kroenke’s proposal for a 298-acre stadium site and its amenities. One high-ranking club executive said the inclusion of a new campus for NFL media—NFL Network, NFL digital ventures and NFL.com, including a theater for premieres of NFL-produced programming and documentaries and films—was a big factor in swaying so many owners to the Kroenke side.
Show Biz accessibility… Why not? Isn’t that why Johnny Carson and NBC moved the Tonight Show from New York to Hollywood?
But I digress…
The Eagles’ head coach candidates are dwindling to a remarkably low number. Adam Gase is hired by Miami, Hue Jackson takes the Cleveland job, and Ben McAdoo agrees to take over the HC job for the Giants.
That leaves Doug Pederson, former Giants head honcho Tom Coughlin and in-house candidates Duce Staley and Pat Shurmur. Staley is the Eagles’ running-backs coach. Shurmur has been the offensive coordinator since Kelly became head coach in 2013.
“We’re looking for the best leader,” Lurie said on Dec. 30. “I’ve looked carefully at coaches around the league and where they come from, and I don’t think there’s any clear evidence of offense over defense or defense over offense. It comes down to the leadership ability with today’s athlete. … I don’t treat offense or defense differently.”
Is it just me or has this latest search for a new head coach become just a bit awkward?
And why are we just looking at guys with offense as their primary backgrounds?
Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com is blowing a gasket over these guys the Eagles may be overlooking:
“Lovie Smith, who was fired as head coach in Tampa Bay, might be a head coaching candidate elsewhere. If not, and if he doesn’t want to sit out a year, Smith would be the perfect combination of experienced coach and defensive innovator.”
“Mike Pettine, who was fired as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, has a similar choice to make. Pettine is from the Philadelphia area and might welcome the chance to coach the Eagles defense.”
“Ray Horton, Leslie Frazier, Eric Mangini and Steve Spagnuolo were defensive coordinators for head coaches who were fired this offseason.”
“Horton was most recently defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. He previously ran the defenses in Cleveland and Arizona.”
“Frazier and Spagnuolo were both defensive assistants on Andy Reid’s staff. Frazier was with Smith in Tampa Bay and Spagnuolo was Tom Coughlin’s defensive coordinator with the Giants.”
“Mangini is a former NFL head coach who was defensive coordinator in San Francisco. His former boss, Jim Tomsula, is another recently fired head coach who could be interested in a defensive coordinator job.”
Welp, it seems apparent that Jeff Lurie is pre-sold on hiring an offensive-minded head coach to cleanse the palate of the Chip Kelly Experiment. But I would find it much more refreshing if he was thinking more about hiring a defensive-minded master of war.
I prefer a defense-oriented head coach. I can’t say why scientifically. Maybe the Philly-boy in me tells me I’d rather lose 16-13 than 45-28.
See that? That’s the inbred Iggles stupid gene in me… Born to lose… I have got to work on that…I can shake that inferiority complex if you can just work with me…
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