I haven’t written much about the Birds this week as there isn’t much left to say. The media has covered all the angles: the defense is too small and doesn’t tackle well; the draft picks haven’t panned out; Andy Reid the GM is killing Andy Reid the coach; the team has quit on Reid.
Seriously, there ain’t much for me to say on this topic that hasn’t been beat into the ground this week on 610 and the papers. However, I think it is pretty clear that this team needs a new vision and leadership. Although none of this will ever happen, the Birds need to clear house with front office, players – save a few, coaches, etc. and start over. The Banner/Reid/McNabb era was great while it lasted, but their philosophy of paying one or two stars and filling in the rest of the roster with adequate well coached players signed to below market deals is simply failing them and not fitted to today’s NFL.
I just can’t get excited any longer about the process this team takes in putting together their team and competing week to week. Big changes have to be made. I’d start with Banner and his “capology” philosophy. Banner’s authority over controlling salaries has to be scaled back. He’s doing nothing but creating animosity throughout the team and preventing the team from retaining players who have the audacity of wanting to paid on the same level of comparable players on other teams.
Also, Reid’s role in player evaluation has to be taken from him because he simply cannot identify supremely talented players, let alone above average starters. This team’s philosophy is to live and die through the draft, but you can’t do that if you keep missing on high picks. As for his head coaching role, I’d give Reid one more year to turn things around, but only if he agrees to fire JJ and bring in a defensive coordinator who is an expert in either the 3-4 schemes used by the Parcells/Bellichick disciples or the 4-3 Cover Two defenses employed by the Bears, Broncos, and Colts of the world. Clearly, the last two years have demonstrated that the NFL has caught on to how to beat JJ’s blitz packages. Then, if the team still disappoints next year, it’s time to cut the cord with Big Red.
Hand in hand with stripping Reid’s personnel duties, a legitimate GM needs to be located and given absolute control over the roster. I would really like to see someone like A.J. Smith of San Diego given the job here. Who knows, maybe Heckert could be that guy if Reid is removed from the equation…that’s only if he didn’t ok the Matt McCoy selection. If he did, it’s time to pack his bags.
As for the players, I’m fine with McNabb as the QB and the offensive line, but the rest of the team needs a major talent infusion. I think that is pretty evident to most honest observers.
Wow….I had no idea I would go on for that long….I suppose this team does have a lot of issues!
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4 comments:
I couldn't have said that better myself. I agree 100%. we are in for some rough "sixer-like" years
I sure am not a football, guy, but I agree with what you are saying.
Like our good friend big daddy, you're about 50% correct, but way off at the sametime. You're like that guy on WIP that says we need a "Big RB". Please tell me the last team to win anything that had a "Big Back" sans Bettis in a limited role in Pitts. I agree some changes are needed, players, coaches, everyone should be evaluated.
"The Banner/Reid/McNabb era was great while it lasted, but their philosophy of paying one or two stars and filling in the rest of the roster with adequate well coached players signed to below market deals is simply failing them and not fitted to today’s NFL"
This statement although well presented holds no water considering the most dominant team of the last 5 years acts exactly as we do. The Pats have continued to do it with young players, a franchise QB, and I guess the greatest coach in the history of the World. Fat Andy will never approach this guy as a coach or GM but the blue print works.
"He’s doing nothing but creating animosity throughout the team and preventing the team from retaining players who have the audacity of wanting to paid on the same level of comparable players on other teams."
Name exactly one FA other than possibly Burgess you wish we could have back. Duce, Bobby Taylor, Troy, Corey, Wellbourn, the one eyed guard. They were all cooked.
As for the players, I’m fine with McNabb as the QB and the offensive line, but the rest of the team needs a major talent infusion. I think that is pretty evident to most honest observers.
Even if this was true which its not, you couldn't accomplish this in 3 years let alone one. We need to address the LB's for sure. The secondary is fine, another young safety would be nice. The D-line was pretty good until week 6, I guess the Freak and that whole rotation thing F'ed us big time. We need more from Patterson, and have to figure out if Bunkley can play. The truck driver, Darwin, and the rest of those guys need to be our depth or be gone. A WR would be nice, Mr. Saint can play when he's not washing his Pu$$y. Westbrook has been the only bright spot, put him on any of the NFC contenders and he's a differnce maker. He's stayed healthy and can run inside. Buck has been fine, Moats needs to learn the plays, or join Freddie hitting on 9th graders.
Now, for the real issue with this squad. Our DRAFTS have been awful. We havent' gotten anything from any of them since the Lito, Sheldon class. Patterson's been invisible, Reggie drops as many as he catches, all the young OL's except for the "big kid" are on the bench. The whities Mccoy and the safety, i don't know if they can play. McCoy looks tiny and so does the safety. This league blows, McNabb just turned 30, we could be back next year.
What scares me, heart disease, inflation. Oh about the Birds. IF Andy's lost the team, or that we become the Pack. I don't think weve approaced either as yet. Dont forget we were 4-1 pissed that Giant game away, destoryed what looks to be the best team in the NFC, lost on a 62 yd FG, Gave up 2 offensive TD's on the road to lose a game, lost our QB, lost our best defensive lineman, played half the year w/ out our #1 WR.
Add some on D, get another WR, pray the QB heals in time for the opener and were a playoff team again next year.
Capt...I'd love to debate this, but I'm loaded and borderline suicidal. Just remember this team blows and you'll feel much better about yourself in the morning.
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