FanPost

Do We Trust in Andy Reid's Leadership? (A Historical Eagle Coaches Comparison)

I saw a similar survey on the Patriots fan blog and the overwhelming response was, "In Bill We Trust!" About 93% to about 6% of Bill haters. That's amazing to me, considering the Patriots clear drop-off after the scandal expose'. Certainly Bill Belichick is the man in New England even though his Super Bowl championships could have an asterik beside them. So thinking about that almost blind loyalty, I wanted to know if Andy Reid, the winningest coach in Eagle history, has the same credibility as Bill Belichick in New England.

Personally, I have Andy ranked #3 with Greasey Neale #1. Greasey led the 1948 AND 1949 teams to championship game SHUT-OUTS, BACK-TO-BACK!! That will never be accomplished again. Then, in 1960 Buck Shaw (#2) did something no one else was able to do. He beat the name on the Super Bowl trophy, Vince Lombardi. The only team to do so was our Eagles! We can technically argue that our 3 championships are things that no other team ever did and that we OWN the Super Bowl trophy! (OK, my die hard homerism is clear! lol) But it is clear that the Eagles are the historical baddasses and not the silly Oakland Raiders.

My only beef with Andy is that he has not quite captured that old Eagle crusher! Buddy Ryan (#5) and even Ray Rhodes (#6) tried to do it. Buddy's teams were clearly feared. Ray's teams out toughed some teams before his lack of team talent and coaching adjustment got the best of him. Vermeil is #4 and Dick even agrees that Andy has done it longer than he (winning). But Dick's teams were tougher than Andy's. Dick's teams brought the Eagles back to feared and respected and he may be the All-Time darling of Eagles coaches. Dick was the first Eagle coach to take down the Dallas Cowboys. Buddy Ryan is the All-Time SWAGGER guy, NEVER losing to the Cowboys. But you can't argue Greasey for that role too (Back to back championship shut outs scream through the ages!). Andy's teams are courageous but they just don't string together enough consistent dominance. We want more consistent dominance from Andy and that includes at least 2 Super Bowl victories! We want big offense and smothering defense!

Let's look at the numbers before we declare our level of belief in Andy's leadership.

Playoff Appearances - Wins - Losses (In order of most appearances.)

1) Andy Reid 18 - 10 - 8

2) Dick Vermeil 7 - 3 - 4

3) Greasey Neale 4 - 3 - 1 (Best playoff winning percentage with more than 3 appearances. Most dominant Eagles.)

4) Ray Rhodes 3 - 1 - 2

5) Buddy Ryan 3 - 0 - 3

6) Rich Kotite 2 - 1 - 1

7) Buck Shaw 1 - 1 - 0

So there is no debate there. Andy is the man in playoff appearances. But he had to bring me a championship to knock Greasey and Buck out.

Winning Percentage (Coaches with a full year)

1) Andy Reid .617

2) Greasey Neale .594

3) Rich Kotite .563 (Numbers should be combined with Buddy's.)

4) Jim Trimble .556

5) Buddy Ryan .551

6) Buck Shaw .543

7) Dick Vermeil .535

8) All others under .500

The argument can be stated easily that Andy is the All-time winner. But winning the championship is like the soldiers that returned from the war with the victory in hand. No one cares about the last toughest opponent to succumb to the ultimate champion. Neither does anyone care how many tribes that last opponent to die pillaged successfully. The truth is, only Greasey and Buck returned home with the Golden Fleece! Andy and Dick fell at the last battle valiantly. Andy has done it longer than Dick and is the all-time winner.

Most Victories

1) Andy Reid 108

2) Grease Neale 63

3) Dick Vermeil 54

4) Buddy Ryan 43

5) Rich Kotite 36

You could argue that Buddy Ryan deserves to have Rich Kotite's numbers added to his, as Rich clearly inherited Buddy's defense and Randall Cunningham. But Andy is almost doubling everyone else.

My message to Andy is that in this fan's mind he has earned such credibility, that I would suffer through 2 losing seasons before I would begin calling for a replacement. Andy knows how to keep an organization a winning one. He is the best winner as an Eagle coach. But he is NOT a champion and neither is Donovan McNabb. I want him (And Donovan) around to see if he can capture what it means to dominate Philly style. Philadelphia championships happen when our teams dominate. We don't have those little "eek by" championships. We kick asss all the way to the trophy when we win. And we tell you we are going to do it (J-Roll, Moses Malone, Several Flyers LOL!, Concrete Charlie Bednarik) either by mouth or flat out dominant play!

Andy has my trust and support. But he has to produce a SCREAMING NASTY EAGLE BEAST!!!! GO EAGLES!!!! LOMBARDI AND BROAD!!! (Sounds good together because we own the name on the trophy!)