Andy Reid: Attack of the Clones?
By: TJ Moos (10-14-2003)
The time has come for me to finally add my two cents worth of commentary> on this years football campaign, and it ain't good. I think that it is about time that someone, I don't know who because he holds too many titles within the organization, but someone needs to step up and tell "Big Red" that his way is not working. Yeah, we went to 2 straight NFC Championship games, but as Janet, Ms. Jackson if you're nasty says, what have you done for me lately? Now I am sure that there are some people out there who think that I might be rushing to judgement (see Rush Limbaugh stories),and that we are only 5 games into the season, but if you have been watching and paying attention, can you honestly see this season, and this team doing a complete 180 and playing like they have the last 2 years? If you need help answering that question, here is the one word answer.....NO...
When I watch the Eagles, I think that I am more "juiced up" for the game> then the team is. I look at them and they look lifeless and limp. The team has taken on his entire personality of Big Red, and by that I mean that they show no emotion. Reid has managed to get rid of 3 very emotional guys (Douglas, Mitchell, Trotter) and turned the team into 53 church going Mormons who walk in a straight single file line with no talking behind him. In other words he has cloned his personality and imposed it on all of his players. Football is a game, and the players are supposed to talk trash, and supposed to be mean and nasty. They are supposed to show emotion. I know that the aforementioned Douglas, Mitchell, and Trotter have not set the world on fire since leaving the nest, but I really think that the Eagles miss their swagger and attitude.
Big Red needs to step back and stop being so power hungry and give up some responsibilities to other coaches. Let those coaches earn a paycheck. It is obvious that he knows that he is not doing a good job, because all we ever hear is "I take full responsibility for that" or "I need to do a better job at that." When is that time coming? Or even better is his answers of "That's for me to know" or "I'm not going to answer that." That is great that he is taking the blame, but who does he have to answer to? Is it the person calling the plays? No because that is him. Is it the general manager? Guess again, because he holds that title too. The season is more then a quarter of the way over and we stand at 2-3, with only one home win. His cockiness is beginning to become unbearable, and I want, and I think we all deserve answers. After all, isn't it us, the fans and season ticket holders paying something toward his salary? Wake up Jeff, get your head out of your ass and stop hosting parties to celebrate your new stadium, and realize that you made a mistake by giving him all of the power, and do something about it before Andy's play chart gets any bigger (if you haven't noticed his play chart, it covers his stomach when he holds it in front of him, so it must be big) and he turns into Richie The K. By the way, what in thee hell was Billy McMullin doing in the game with 50 seconds left, the game on the line, and then they call his number? Didn't Big Red learn his lesson opening night that throwing to a rookie during a crucial point in the game does not work? (see L. J. Smith and the 2 passes he missed in the endzone against Tampa). I am the last person that will toot Freddie Mitchell's horn, but yesterday he made a nice catch and picked up good RAC yards. Did he have the ball thrown to him after that? Why not? He has made some nice catches this year, but only gets 1-2 a game, but all we heard all summer was what a good camp he was having. Don't even get me started about the on-sides kick. If Bill Maas, and the other no name Fox announcer have enough presence of mind to say "watch out for the on-sides kick", don't you think that Bill Parcells has his team ready for that?
Andy Ried's mentor was Mike Holmgren. In Holmgren's first 4 years with Seattle his total record was 31-33, with his best year being 9-7 which he did twice. For those 4 years he was coach and general manager. This year he gave up the general manager role (mostly because he was not given a choice by the owner) and the team stands at 4-1 which is 1st place in the NFC North by 2 games. Does this mean that Seattle is going to win the Superbowl? Probably not, but they are in a lot better position then our East Coast Birds. I just think that Andy has too much on his plate, no pun intended. He has built a "character" team, but the problem is the character is modeled after him.
Another problem, and perhaps just as big as Ried's problem (once again, no> pun intended) is our franchise QB. I am not one of those people who think A. J. is the answer, and I am not a "Koy Boy" but something needs to be done. I don't think I can sit through the entire season watching Donovan go through a Pat Burrell slump. Eagle fans are not as forgiving as Phillies fans and they will boo Donovan and will want to see someone in there that can hit the receiver in stride on a slant pattern. There has> to be bigger issues going on with McNabb then we can see. If he is hurt, sit him down and get him healthy. If it is a problem in his head, get him a shrink to talk to. If it is mechanics, get someone to fine turn his foot work. There is no way he is the same guy who was an MVP candidate 2 years ago. I know that there are people out there saying "our receivers stink, and the line is not giving McNabb any time." My answer to that is, these are the same receivers that we have had for 3 years, and we went to 2 straight NFC Championship games with them. The O-Line has had its problems, but in their defense, when the opposing team knows that the Eagles are going to pass 80% of the time, then it is easy for the defense to game plan and they tee off on the offensive linemen. Also when they pass, McNabb takes a 3 step drop and stays in the pocket. How about calling a play that he can roll out, and is the screen pass in our playbook? McNabb is one of the better running QB's in the league (no, I am not a racist), why not a bootleg? Will the real Donovab McNabb please stand up or was Rush right?
The bottom line is our Eagles are in trouble, and something needs to be done, and quickly or this season is over. We have been too close the last 2 years to have to start over, but if this year continues the way it has started, then 8-8 will be the best record that we can hope for, and if 8-8 is the best we can do, I would rather go 5-11 and get the better draft pick. I know that some people may not agree, but what is the difference between 8-8 and 5-11 when you are not making the playoffs?
The time is yours.
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