Posts Tagged ‘Gus Bradley’

Could Gus Bradley Be the Next Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles?

Tuesday, January 15th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

Is this the face of the Philadelphia Eagles’ future?
(Image via GCobb.com)

The Philadelphia Eagles head coaching search has continued with plenty of twists and turns, including a revelation that the team interviewed broadcaster Brian Billick last week.

On Monday, the team interviewed Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden and former Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt.

Just how much wider would the net be cast on this coaching search?  With Monday’s interviews, the known total of candidates to whom the team had met reached a total of 11.

Then came news that perhaps the Eagles were closing in on their man.  Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will be in Philadelphia via private jet send by the Birds for his second interview with Jeffrey Lurie and co. on Tuesday.  Fox 29′s Howard Eskin reports that Bradley is in town to finalize a deal.  We’ll have to see about that, but as Bradley is the only candidate to meet with the team a second time, it certainly is a sign of strong interest, after first meeting with him on Saturday in Atlanta.

Could the search be almost over with the Eagles securing one of the strongest candidates of the bunch?

The 46-year old Bradley now has nothing but time as the Seahawks lost to the Falcons on Sunday.  Under Bradley, Seattle’s defense finished fourth in overall defense, sixth in passing defense, and 10th against the run in the 2012 season.  And if his work doesn’t speak for itself,  the endorsements of the Seahawks coordinator are universally strong.  He is clearly a great defensive mind, a great communicator with great energy who has immense presence.  It’s said that he commands a room.

DE Darryl Tapp played with Bradley for a season in Seattle and told CSNPhilly that he brings “energy and accountability” to a team.  He continued that Bradley will call out players regardless of paygrade.

On a roster full of talent that quit time and time again on the defensive side of the ball, that certainly seems like needed motivation for the Eagles.

Could this be our man?

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Philadelphia Eagles Look to Lovie Smith as Head Coach Search Continues

Wednesday, January 9th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

 

Lovie Smith, the next head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles?
(Image via Lehigh Valley Live)

 

It’s only been a little over a week since the Philadelphia Eagles parted ways with Andy Reid, but somehow it feels much longer.  Perhaps the fact that Reid was signed, sealed and delivered to Kansas City within the same week he found himself out on the street in Philly provided a somewhat unrealistic measure of comparison.  After all, of seven head coaching vacancies in the NFL, only two have been filled.

 

The Birds’ coaching search took a surprising turn on Tuesday when it was announced that they will interview former Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith on Thursday.

 

Has this been part of the plan overall, or are the Eagles in panic mode?

 

Smith was fired from the Chicago Bears after finishing 10-6 this sesaon and failing to make the playoffs.  Like Reid, Smith is viewed as a good coach in the NFL with a good overall winning percentage (.563), but failed to deliver the ultimate prize to his city after taking them to the Super Bowl.

 

Unlike Reid, Smith is known as a defensive guy.  The Eagles have seen a steady decline in the production of their D since the death of Jim Johnson in 2009.  Though it’s widely speculated that Lurie seeks more of an offensive mind, it’s hard to imagine that a proven defensive mind wouldn’t be of some level of interest to Philadelphia.

 

Another name that has appeared on the Eagles list, Jay Gruden in Cincinnati, doesn’t seem to be a feasible option, as he has reportedly stated that he plans to stay with the Bengals but is interviewing simply so that teams will stop calling him.  Um, eww.

 

If Philadelphia is serious about their interest in people like Atlanta’s Mike Nolan and Seattle’s Gus Bradley, in addition to Denver OC Mike McCoy, they may have to wait a while for their man as these teams progress through the playoffs.  And if their top choice makes it to the Super Bowl, then the Eagles could be head coach-less until February.  An unsettling thought but one that could easily become the team’s reality.

 

Colts coach Bruce Arians is also in the mix, but at 60, his possible tenure with the Birds would be limited, which doesn’t seem to appeal to the Eagles.

 

So again we sit and we wait.  Will other top prospects for Philadelphia be snapped up by other teams or decide to stay put where they are?  Probably.  As reminded by CSNPhilly’s Reuben Frank on Sports Rise, Andy Reid was the Eagles’ fifth choice when they last embarked on a head coaching search.

 

So there’s always that.

 

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

 

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Chip Kelly to Stay at Oregon: Who’s the Next Target for the Philadelphia Eagles?

Monday, January 7th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

It was an eventful weekend in the NFL’s coaching carousel that ultimately left the Philadelphia Eagles exactly where they started – still in need of a head coach.

On Friday, Oregon head coach Chip Kelly was said to be close to a deal with the Cleveland Browns, but everything changed when he met with the Eagles brain trust for a lengthy nine-hour meeting on Saturday.

(Image via SportsGrid.com)

Was Jeffrey Lurie about to steal the #1 choice of his once close friend and former business partner Joe Banner and the Browns?  It seemed like it could happen.  But Kelly never hid his lack of enthusiasm for joining the NFL, and ultimately the trio of Lurie, Howie Roseman and Don Smolenski knew that any decision would have to  outweigh Kelly’s love of coaching at Oregon.

For the second year in a row, that did not happen.  On Sunday, Kelly decided that he would stay in the college ranks.

So what now?  The Birds were all-in on Kelly.  Who do they turn to now?

The Eagles had requested an interview with Syracuse coach Doug Marrone, but that won’t be happening as he was signed on to coach the Buffalo Bills.

After the lengthy meeting with Kelly on Saturday, the Birds held a three-hour interview with Mike McCoy, the Broncos’ offensive coordinator on Sunday.  Philadelphia will also speak with Bruce Arians, offensive coordinator of the Colts as well as Gus Bradley, the Seahawks defensive coordinator this week.  The Eagles have also requested permission to speak with Jay Gruden, the offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals.

While rumors about interest in Kelly by the Eagles swirled for months preceding Andy Reid’s firing, I was surprised that the team truly had so much interest in a candidate with  no experience in the NFL.  Mike McCoy and his demonstrated ability to effectively adjust his offense to the abilities (or lack thereof) of a given quarterback would be quite an asset to a team like the Eagles with more questions than answers surrounding the QB position.  Will he now move to the top of Philadelphia’s list?

As we move into the second week of the search process, one thing is for sure – there is never a dull moment.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

 

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