The Philadelphia Eagles search for a new coach was a short-lived one. After 17 days of interviewing several candidates, including former rival New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin, and in-house candidate Duce Staley, the Eagles hired Doug Pederson. Pederson was a former backup quarterback for the Eagles, playing behind Donovan McNabb, and former coach under Andy Reid. Pederson was a coach for the Eagles from 2009-2012, serving as both an offensive quality control coordinator, and a Quarterbacks coach.
Pederson has been the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs for the past three seasons, after leaving the Eagles with Reid three years ago. Though there is some familiarity with Pederson and this team, there are not many traces of the same Eagles team as when he left. The Eagles have undergone massive changes the past three years, beginning with the firing of Andy Reid, and ending with the firing of Chip Kelly. In between those two firings the fans have seen multiple star players dealt away, a roster turnover, and consistent disappointing performances by their beloved birds.
Howie Roseman has made numerous moves this offseason, acquiring players and coaches to try and fill the holes that Kelly and his system left behind. Pederson is at the forefront of all these changes, and now must take a roster that is equal parts ‘left overs’ from the Chip Kelly era, and a slew of newcomers from around the league, and create a winning football team. Joining Pederson will be former Lions head coach Jim Schwartz. Schwartz, given his long and tenured career, will most likely be given complete autonomy on the defensive side of the ball. Given the fact the Eagles have signed three former Bills defenders, which is where Schwartz coached as a defensive coordinator in 2015, it is clear Schwartz has been given authority on the defense and all its inner workings.
This leaves Pederson to work on the offense with newly appointed offensive coordinator Frank Reich. Reich was lured away from the same position in San Diego, and has rounded out the overhaul of new faces in the coaching department. The only major coaching question regarding the offense is who will be calling the plays? Pederson was never the primary play-caller in Kansas City, and may just leave that to Reich. What is certain is that Pederson will have the ultimate say on all plays and desired strategies, which is the most authority he has ever had. One welcome sight that is surely in store for this season is the huddle.
After three years of warp speed offenses that seemingly did not amount to much, huddles will be reintroduced to this team. For too long the focus of this offense has been speed. Now, Pederson will slow the pace and try to beat defenses with superior play-calling. Another new edition to the offense will be allowing Sam Bradford to call an audible. For the majority of the Kelly era the offense simply moved too fast for Bradford to do really anything.
Bradford was forced to run the play that was relayed to him by the coaches, regardless of what he saw from the defense. Allowing Bradford, a former first overall pick, more freedom at the line of scrimmage is an obvious plus for Pederson. Doug Pederson will implement a more traditional offense than that of Chip Kelly’s. The new Eagles offense will be well-balanced, considering the Chiefs ranked 19th, 24th, and 27th in percentage of passing plays in the last three years. 2015 was the most balanced year for Pederson and the Chiefs offense, with 54% of offensive plays being a pass. Lastly, what to expect from Pederson in his first year is a traditional, well-balanced offense. This offense may stutter a few times during this season, as it adjusts to a brand new system, but will ultimately prove beneficial for players such as Sam Bradford, and one day, potentially Carson Wentz.
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