Doug Pederson on the Hot Seat?

PhotoCredit: NJ.com; Cover Photo: PhillyMag

I’ve moved onto football. Training camp is one week away and the Phillies (aside from some recent success…) still suck. It’s time to focus on the Eagles.

There are some question marks surrounding the team. One that I have heard talked about a lot is Doug Pederson and everyone’s confidence in him. I believe the majority of Philadelphia was not happy with the selection of Doug Pederson as Head Coach. I believe that is the main reason people want him fired. He was the boring hire; he was a bad QB when he played here. The reasons go on and on. But, you don’t fire a coach after one year. That is just plain dumb.

He actually did much better than my expectations last year. The Eagles finished 7-9 and missed out on the playoffs. But, everyone knew they weren’t going to make the playoffs. It is how the team looked and how they got to 7-9 as to why I was pretty impressed with Pederson.

Going into the year, we had drafted our franchise QB (hopefully…Joe says “DEFINITELY” because he is obsessed with our Ginger…but I digress) with the 2^nd overall pick, after trading up to get him. If you believe in the guy, you make that trade all day long. However, the Eagles had Sam Bradford as the incumbent starter. It looked as though the rookie would be the 3^rd string QB, and would sit out all year. But, a strange and unusual thing happened a week and a half before the regular season opener: Teddy Bridgewater blew out his knee and all Superbowl aspirations of the Vikings left with him. The Eagles were so impressed with their rookie QB in training camp and the preseason that they decided to trade their opening day starting QB to the Vikings. In exchange, they got a first-round pick for 2017.

With little time to work with the first team guys, Pederson and his staff had to manage a game plan to ease him into action. The Eagles started 3-0 and the season couldn’t have been going any better.

The season sort of hit the rails after that, as some of the weaknesses started to show. The lack of wide receivers, lack of cornerbacks, a suspension of their best offensive lineman and injuries to some other starters. Even with all those issues, the Eagles were in virtually every game. If Ryan Mathews doesn’t fumble twice late in games, they would probably have won a couple more.

I personally loved Doug Pederson’s aggressiveness. On 4^th and short, he went for it almost every time (when they were in good position). You can say that cost the Eagles the first time they played the Giants last year. Pederson passed up 3 field goal attempts and went for it instead. Those 9 points would have won them the game. But, if they had converted on those 4^th down calls, they would have probably won as well.

I think Pederson did a fine job last year. He wasn’t perfect, but given the team he had and a rookie QB, 7-9 was about all anyone could have asked for. After the 3-0 start and a blowout of the Steelers, you can make the case that they should have finished better than that, but still, it wasn’t that bad.

The Eagles should be improved this year. They went out and improved the receivers, adding Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith.  Wentz is not a rookie anymore, and Lane Johnson hopefully won’t get suspended again… Pederson should improve as well. If the team struggles, Wentz doesn’t improve and they finish 4-12, maybe you can start to look for another coach. A 7-9 or 8-8 season isn’t ideal, but that still wouldn’t be enough for Pederson to get fired in my opinion. However, his seat would be extremely hot next year if the team finishes with either of those records.

I feel more confident in Pederson going into this year after what I saw from him in year 1. I think people who want him fired are overreacting.  I was hearing it on the radio before last year was even over. You don’t fire a coach in one year: That’s not the way to build a winner.

We all feel like we have a franchise QB in Wentz, and part of the reason he looked good is because of Pederson, it’s not all Wentz on his own. Offensive Coordinator Frank Reich and QB Coach John DeFillipo helped as well. All three were former QB’s. So, as long as Wentz looks good and continues to improve, Pederson’s job will probably be safe. He is tied to Wentz. Let’s hope that he is the right coach because you don’t want a young QB to face multiple coaching changes. That would stunt Wentz’s growth and he may never live up to the QB we all hope he becomes.

We’re pulling for you Dougie P, as are all of Philly, even if some don’t want you around. We all want you to succeed.

FLY EAGLES FLY!!

#TEAMNOBODY