Andy Reid Optimistic About 2012
by JasonB on Feb 1, 2012 1:43 PM EST
in Philadelphia Eagles News
Email
Print
One of the questions Andy Reid fielded yesterday was whether he thought he tried to implement too many changes last season given the total lack of an offseason. He more or less that wasn't an excuse and kind of danced around it, but he did say that he expects many of those changes made prior to this season to pay dividends next year.
I'm very optimistic going forward and I feel very good going into next year. I know there's a lot of hard work and I know there are things we have to correct; the positives are that we have some young players in here that got better and showed what kind of football they can play. [QB] Michael Vick gets his first offseason with us since he's been here as a starter, which is an awesome thing. [Offensive line coach] Howard Mudd's coming back here the offensive line coach and that was an unknown going into this. We weren't sure exactly how many years we would have him, so that's a plus; we'll be able to keep continuity up front. We have some good, young players up there that improved. And we're going to attack free agency and the draft aggressively like we have in the past. I know Joe made a couple of statements about the pool of players out there is tremendous. And so [general manager] Howie [Roseman] and I are going through and we're evaluating those guys and making sure that we get those guys down and we know them like the back of our hand, and then be selective there, be selective about who we bring on to this football team. And then, we have a ton of draft picks that Howie's accumulated over the last couple of years so we can go in aggressively with that. And so there's some opportunities. Does that mean I'm happy about the 8-8? No. I'm not happy about it, but I'm not going to sit here and cry about it either. I'm going to go forward and attack that issue and get better for next year."
So... do you share Andy's optimism? Is this just more "fool's gold?"
56 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Having expectations so high going into this year and getting crushed so bad truly sucked so I’m going in with none for next season. If we play well and win games that’ll be awesome and I’ll be thrilled, and if we suck I’ll stay down here in my hole of sad fandom.
Shady McCoy: Franchise records or GTFO
Go Dawgs!
#TeamKuechly
Follow @KeeepSwinging
Just reading your comment is very depressing.
"If I can get you to think twice, I'm in your head."
-Brian Dawkins
The SOPA and PIPA bills must be eradicated! Contact your local Representative and/or Senator. Spread the word! NO CENSORSHIP OF THE INTERNET!
Yeah at the moment I’m not confident in the team. Free agency and the draft will obviously sway my opinion, hopefully in a positive direction.
Shady McCoy: Franchise records or GTFO
Go Dawgs!
#TeamKuechly
Follow @KeeepSwinging
by KeepSwinging on Feb 1, 2012 3:29 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
And we’re going to attack free agency and the draft aggressively like we have in the past.
I’m a bit lost here. Since when the hell have we picked what we REALLY need in the drafts? We got lucky here and there but other than that we’ve drafted more busts than players that made an impact.
"If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail. You know what I mean? Fuck it." -- Kobe "Black Mamba" Bryant
not due to a lack of effort though.
We needed a DE – drafted Graham … Jury is still out on him due to injury.
We needed safeties, we drafted Nate Allen, Quintin Demps, Macho Harris, Coleman, and Jarrett. Hopefully, Jarrett gets better this year, and Allen is coming off injury. Coleman was decent, especially at the latter part of the season.
We needed OLinemen – Watkins turned out good (finally), Kelce was a great find, Todd is a beast, and Free Agency turned up Peters and Mathis.
We needed linebackers and we did draft THREE this year. Albiet, not the best choices.
With Akers on his way out, we needed a kicker, and we certainly succeeded on that in this past draft.
"Obviously, I lobbied for him to be here. But what a difference a year makes." -- Donovan McNabb
by thePurpleLion on Feb 1, 2012 2:10 PM EST up reply actions
We didnt need a DE where Graham was drafted..
We needed a safety, Early Thomas to be specific whom everyone thought the Eagles were going to take when they traded up.
What did we have outside of Trent Cole when we drafted Graham? Nobody
by Anders Jensen on Feb 1, 2012 6:25 PM EST up reply actions
And what did we have after?
Nobody. So much so that we had to go and resign Jason Babin.
by UnclaimedFright on Feb 1, 2012 6:37 PM EST up reply actions
People around here are way too hard on Babin. Some of you act like he got injured on purpose. Give the guy a break. Let him get back to full health and then let’s make judgments. He was effective and showed flashes pre-injury, came back from injury and looked like shit. Let’s wait till the season to actually trash the guy.
I think you misread him on that. I don’t think he was going after Babin, simply making the point that drafting Graham didn’t fix anything at all, to the point that they had to go out and get someone via F.A.
Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.
That is all.
It was still a need back then and his first argument was that we didnt need a DE.
by Anders Jensen on Feb 2, 2012 9:46 AM EST up reply actions
Like every other team in the league?
We got lucky here and there but other than that we’ve drafted more busts than players that made an impact.
It does often seem that the Eagles draft for what they consider BPA over needs, but that is also a draft strategy that tends to work out as focusing on needs can blind you to a player that is ultimately more useful. Teams like NE, NO, GB, etc often focus on BPA over need. At least early on in the draft when the value is high.
Clear eyes, full bologna sandwiches!
yeah
but that’s almost every team almost every year
Nope.
by bigmeanie08 on Feb 1, 2012 4:18 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
We got lucky here and there but other than that we’ve drafted more busts than players that made an impact.
This is what I hate about negadelphia fans. When you do something well, its because you got lucky. When you fail, its because you suck.
Its all about the []_[]
#FirePaulHolmgren
by philiafan14364 on Feb 1, 2012 6:30 PM EST up reply actions
I agree to an extent.
I dont have the Superbowl dreams of this year. I will not be let down that hard again. Andy, you cut me bad this year. It wont be forgotten.
"Obviously, I lobbied for him to be here. But what a difference a year makes." -- Donovan McNabb
I am intrigued in the fact that he says we are going to attack free agency agreesively this year again.
I dont know all the players available, but the strong candidates this year seem to be WRs. Hopefully that means goodbye to Chad Hall, Riley Cooper, and Steve Smith. Unfortunately, if DeSean is not going to back down on his amount he thinks he is worth, he will not get re-signed.
Hopefully, they target a veteran LB as well … like Tulloch.
"Obviously, I lobbied for him to be here. But what a difference a year makes." -- Donovan McNabb
Hello Reggie Wayne...
Man that would be sweet. Especially with our win now mentality.
I will hold off on my optimism until I see how we do in free agency and the draft. We need to be better there than we have in recent years.
I also want to see how Vick progresses with a full off season as starter. That’s a key point by Reid. Vick needs to stay healthy and play better next year if the Eagles want to go anywhere.
Go Eagles!
I’m kind of expecting a 12-4 season next year. The only thing which would wreck it would be another year of the Vince Young experience, so hopefully we’ll have a competent backup. Of course, I’m pretty optimistic that Vick is going to play much more like a pocket passer this year (as he did the final 4 games) and that should limit his injury liklihood, along with a full year of a Mudd OL to protect him.
"Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body."
― Seneca
Vick
Was injured in the pocket against Arizona.
Just sayin’.
by UnclaimedFright on Feb 1, 2012 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Cumulative hits
If I heard it once, I heard it a million times last year. Any QB can get hurt in the pocket, but if you agreed with the idea that Vick scrambling was contributing to his cumulative hits total and thereby increasing his chance of getting hurt, then it makes sense that his early season hits might have made the Zona one worse.
"Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body."
― Seneca
Plus, he was holding the ball too long. He needs more 3 step drops, make a quicker decision and throw.
The longer he holds it, the worse the scenarios can play out.
"Obviously, I lobbied for him to be here. But what a difference a year makes." -- Donovan McNabb
by thePurpleLion on Feb 1, 2012 3:27 PM EST up reply actions
nah. don't see that. the falcons injury (in pocket) was a freak thing. he got
slung into one of his linemen and made head to head contact — concussion.
1st game vs. gints — he got smashed up in the pocket, and his hand was bruised in the pocket.
some of the other hits that banged him up or caused turnovers were in the pocket. thepurplelion’s comment about more 3 step drops is a good one. also, more deep drops, a la drew brees, to create better passing lanes and get him further from the rush.
short game has a lot to do with the receivers and the route calling and philosophy. desean isn’t running any quick slants. sorry.
however, there were some games when he was catching quick hitches to the point where it was almost a gimme for 5 yds based upon CBs playing so far off of him.
even though the OL improved tremendously and was a strength by the end of the year, it was VERY shaky in the middle early on, and vick paid for it with huge deadbird shots from free rushers right up the middle vs. STL and ATL. he also got blown up a good bit vs. buf.
that stuff should be less next year as kelce and watkins would have had a whole offseason plus a season of seasoning.
also, toward the end of the year, they weren’t afraid to run straight ahead to pick up short yardage. as opposed to doing stupid plays at the goal line where you pull the center one way and the guard in the opposite direction and leave a 350 lb DT unblocked to crush your QB and cause a fumble.
another thing that bodes well for vick’s health is because the line got better, they had to do less max protect. (teams were beating our max protect and still getting hits. and if you are in max protect, you aren’t running 3 step drops, so it can become a vicious cycle if you don’t block it).
once the line got better, they released celek more. and he stopped dropping the ball. and he started beasting. and there was less need to over-rely on play action and long slow developing routes.
now they need to run shady on more westbrook type routes.
In regards to Vick
He gets hurt when he plays hesitantly. In the last 4 games it’s not that he was playing as a pocket passer, it’s that he was doing it well. He can run all day long as long as he avoids hits. But if he stands in the pocket, either because he doesn’t want to run to prove his doesn’t have to or because he can’t make a decision about where to go with the ball, then he’s going to get destroyed, just like any other QB who does the same thing. What we saw from Vick in the final 4 games was better, and more along the lines of what we need to see from him for an entire season. But he still needs to get better at blitz pickup and making confident decisions. Both of those are things that can be improved, and especially during an offseason, so we can have reason to believe improvement will come.
by footballisgod on Feb 1, 2012 3:10 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly this
Vick needs to be allowed to play comfortably. I feel like either Marty, Andy, Vick himself or somebody else puts pressure on him to play a certain way, such as being a “pocket passer.” He then doesn’t take advantage of his unique skill set, becomes hesitant, and gets in turnover and injury trouble. The same sort of thing happened with McNabb, too. After Rush Limbaugh was critical of him, there seemed to be a marked attempt to turn him into a stand and deliver Manning type, less willing to make plays with his feet. Coupled with age, that made him less effective, because he no longer relied on his unique talents and instead tried to play like someone he was not.
by ChillBillinChina on Feb 1, 2012 3:25 PM EST up reply actions
this.
"Obviously, I lobbied for him to be here. But what a difference a year makes." -- Donovan McNabb
by thePurpleLion on Feb 1, 2012 2:28 PM EST up reply actions
by mid season out Oline was doing very well actually. Vick had time.
"Obviously, I lobbied for him to be here. But what a difference a year makes." -- Donovan McNabb
by thePurpleLion on Feb 1, 2012 3:28 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
right when Watkins wasnt up to speed, and Kelce was still catching on, Todd was in a new position, Mathis was in a new system.
I really think that we have NOW (NOW, being the key word) one of the best Olines this team has seen in years! At the end of last season, and with the work during the offseason, they will get better. they are young and talented.
"Obviously, I lobbied for him to be here. But what a difference a year makes." -- Donovan McNabb
by thePurpleLion on Feb 1, 2012 3:35 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe
but the point is they got better, and by season’s end were one of the strongest units on the team. They struggle in run blocking more than pass blocking. And, to your original point, Mudd is experienced building a line not only for a QB like Manning, but Manning himself. This line would probably suit him perfectly.
by ChillBillinChina on Feb 1, 2012 3:35 PM EST up reply actions
I'm dying to see what happens with the DJAX situation.
I believe the day teams can start franchise tagging their players is FEB 20TH and the deadline is MAR 5TH. Then at 4pm (EST) on March 13th free agency and the league year begins.
In a perfect world DJAX will stay on the franchise tag or with a new deal. Then we would sign LB Stephen Tulloch in free agency then draft LB Luke Kuechly with the 15th pick to play our SAM.
In a perfect world DJAX will stay on the franchise tag or with a new deal. Then we would sign LB Stephen Tulloch in free agency then draft LB Luke Kuechly with the 15th pick to play our SAM.
not just in a perfect world, but is very possible. I am in full agreement. We need another WR or two since Steve Smith should be cut. I hope Cooper gets cut, I really dont like him.
"Obviously, I lobbied for him to be here. But what a difference a year makes." -- Donovan McNabb
by thePurpleLion on Feb 1, 2012 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
That is far from a perfect world
I wouldn’t want an MLB at SAM, to start off … haven’t we learned yet that all cornerback and linebacker positions are not interchangeable? Nuance, my dude.
A perfect world is more like Dwayne Bowe, Curtis Lofton and some other random FA at a position we didn’t think we needed, like safety, and then we draft a SAM, a No. 2 RB, a RS, a slot corner prospect, depth, etc.
I would be happy with Kuechly and having DeSean back. I would be happier with an FA linebacker (D’Qwell perhaps) and then having all those picks on draft day.
Worst-case is DeSean walks and we don’t add any WRs, and LeSean or Vick gets hurt for 8-12 weeks early in the season.
Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring it Home for Jerome.
Wow, it’s crazy how close all of those dates are.
"If I can get you to think twice, I'm in your head."
-Brian Dawkins
The SOPA and PIPA bills must be eradicated! Contact your local Representative and/or Senator. Spread the word! NO CENSORSHIP OF THE INTERNET!
Last year really tested our patience
I really missed the post-Super Bowl rush of FA, draft, etc.
Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring it Home for Jerome.
i like your world. that's a damn good world right there.
i’m still pissed that we signed steve smith instead of tulloch.
WE would have had more tackling up front in early games. we wouldn’t have had tipped INT vs. nyg in first game. hell, smith may have been sucking for the giants and maybe they don’t discover cruz.
that one FA signing and non-signing really screwed us last year.
i don’t know how much tulloch has in the tank but i think he’d be better than anyone we have on the roster. and if kuechly is the real deal, we can work him onto the field. but without the pressure to be annointed the day one starter as the QB of the defense. (that’s only reserved for if it really makes sense, like if you were drafted in the fourth round).
spoiler alert
no mention of guys on the team being resigned…
I’m concerned that we will allow talented guys to vacate in our search for the “missing ingredient”.
I am concerned for Mathis, Landri, etc.
Continuity is more than keeping coaches. It’s keeping guys around together. Our offensive line is gelling…
but I won’t be surprised if all our FA’s are given an open door again. I feel good that Mudd can find gems in the late round draft and second tier free agents for our OL. But WR and LB will be areas of concern…
“agressive” is not the same as “effective” nor “productive”…
I’d like to see us with less splash and more oomph this free agency.
I expect 2012 to be the 13-3 or 12-4 season we looked for this year.
I truly do.
Well Andy, that makes one of us
This looks to me like the definition of insanity.
ALways optimistic
next year is ours
"There is no struggle too vast, no odds too overwhelming, for even should we fail, should we fall, we will know that we have lived.--"Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness
Evil is relative…You can’t hang a sign on it. You can’t touch it or taste it or cut it with a sword. Evil depends on where you are standing, pointing your indicting finger. -Glen Cook The Black Company
by Udalango on Feb 1, 2012 2:52 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
I'm always optimistic
Then I get my nuggets stomped. I’m an Eagles fan.
The coaches are to blame, the players are to blame. Sorry to say, but Andy has lost this team. 53 super talented individuals with no heart.
by oldasquick on Feb 1, 2012 2:53 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Too early to say. With no draft and no FA, we really can’t make any assumptions. Having said that, as of right now, I’m like at a 3 on a scale of 1-10. Bowles may have made it a 4, but that’s about it.
"If I can get you to think twice, I'm in your head."
-Brian Dawkins
The SOPA and PIPA bills must be eradicated! Contact your local Representative and/or Senator. Spread the word! NO CENSORSHIP OF THE INTERNET!
things are falling in to place
Im very optimistic about this season. the pressures on and andy saying all the right things. They just gotta make it happen now. With no major need other than LBs, this should be our most solid well rounded team in a while.
The potential is there, but right now this team is like a missile with a faulty guidance system. It will be devastating, the question is who will be on the receiving end, us or them?
AR should have to wear a Flava Flav necklace until he learns how to manage a clock.
I am the proud target of temper tantrums.
I actually am optimistic.
Maybe not SB optimistic, but optimistic nonetheless. The “Dream Team” bullshit is gone. That target won’t be on the team this year. But for me to truly be optimistic I need to see how the offseason goes. Check back with me in July and see where I stand on the optimism front.
Clear eyes, full bologna sandwiches!
I’ll believe it when I see it. Fool me once and all that.
by michellemtsu on Feb 1, 2012 3:30 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Nobody really addressed the essence of Jason's question
Which I think is: Did they make moves before 2011 that didn’t pay off then, but can be reasonably expected to pay off in 2012.
In that sense, I think the optimism is warranted.
Besides the fact the young players and 2011 free agents will have an offseason together, running the same schemes under the same coordinators (which I think could be major), and besides the fact that Vick will probably spend all offseason thinking about how to take care of the ball & reduce turnovers, there’s this:
1) The five OL starters should be back and working together.
2) We are going to address LB, and not be shuffling guys’ positions (hopefully) in the early going
3) We will have a true slot corner, even if it’s a less-talented overall player, it’s one suited for the role.
4) They won’t be playing to live up to their dream-team hype. I think Vick particularly is susceptible to “pressing to try to make something happen.” It would make sense that the the offseason chill-on-the-turnovers tutorial might also get him to press less, but that’s an assumption.
Anything else any of you can think of, specific moves that were made last season (like drafting Jaiquawn Jarrett, for instance) that won’t pay off until this year? Seeing DRC start on the outside?
My reasons for pessimism is that we’re unlikely to go through the season without any season-ending injuries to major players again (Dixon was the only one, right?) and the schedule looks much tougher.
Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring it Home for Jerome.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Former high-school star Brian Banks does serious time on trumped-up charge, now hopes for an NFL shot
- Former ‘idiot kicker’ Mike Vanderjagt in trouble after accosting junior-high heckler
- Adrian Peterson blows teammates away in footraces; appears to be on the mend
- UPDATE: Charlie Sheen didn’t buy Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl ring
- Alex Smith gets blown up by Jon Beason over Cam Newton comments
