Sports

Philadelphia Eagles Report Card: End of the Andy Reid Era?

I thought it was Father’s Day again on Sunday with that ugly Bengals tie. That may have been the worst game of the entire Andy Reid era. It definitely was Donovan McNabb’s worst day ever. I think we can officially kiss this season goodbye after that game. Will we also be saying goodbye to Reid and McNabb?

Here we sit, just past the halfway point of the NFL season and things don’t look too rosy for the Eagles. As a matter of fact, since the 2004 Super Bowl season the Eagles are only one game over 500. And if it weren’t for a Jeff Garcia -led miracle run in 2006, the Eagles would have missed the playoffs for the last three years. My main problem with the 2008 Eagles team is that I think they’re going to make it the 3rd out of the last 4-years without making the playoffs. Even if they were somehow able to sneak into the playoffs as the 6th seed, do any of you honestly believe that they can win anything? I certainly don’t. They have proven that they can USUALLY beat the bad teams, but come up short against the better teams in the league. And what makes it even worse is that this team’s only injury is to Shaun Andrews . Their inability to gain a single yard has cost them several games this year. Also, there is the fact that the defense can’t stop the run when facing a good RB.

The NFL has changed in recent years. The days of “The Greatest Show on Turf” are over. The West Coast offense isn’t the future, it’s the past. Last year’s Giants won the Super Bowl with a conservative offense and a stout defense. This year, the best teams in the NFL; the Titans, Giants, Panthers, Ravens, Falcons, Redskins, and Steelers are all winning by running the football and playing good defense. I think the NFL has passed Andy Reid by. It just might be time to blow this roster up and rebuild, WITHOUT Andy Reid.

I have been a detractor of Andy Reid’s for years now. I have been complaining about his game-day coaching for years. I was a lone voice in the wilderness when they went on their Super Bowl run, but then we all witnessed the infamous 2-minute drill that took seven minutes… wet-heave and all. Andy is simply incapable of making adjustments during a game. Don’t even get me started on his time management or replay challenge skills (or lack thereof). Reid is stubborn and arrogant and that just doesn’t work in this town when you’re not winning. Reid isn’t facing the Steve Spurriers, Jim Fassels and Dave Campos of the league regularly anymore. Plus, he won in the early years with a dominating defense that Ray Rhodes drafted. He is clearly not among the top coaches in the NFL anymore. And his press conferences should be prescribed medication for insomniacs.

The thing is, Andy Reid the Head Coach doesn’t deserve all of the blame for the mess this team has become. No, Andy Reid the General Manager has failed to give his coach the necessary talent to win in today’s NFL. I have always asserted that Andy is less than average at the draft, but others always said I was wrong or overreacting or stupid or other things that aren’t fit to print. I finally got tired of arguing with people (dopes, mostly) who didn’t think that Andy Reid was a terrible GM and decided to try to prove my point. Below I have analyzed every single draft pick of the Andy Reid era. (Yes, I know I need to get a life). I believe that this clearly shows that Andy Reid the GM is screwing Andy Reid the Head Coach. Now this is just my humble opinion, but that’s all any of us have, right? Look at Mel Kiper . So, why not play along and take a stroll down Memory Lane. Unfortunately, you might think it’s more like a Nightmare on Elm Street . Do you think Freddy Kruger is available to run the Eagles’ 2009 draft? Oh well, I await the many insult-filled emails that are sure to follow.

Andy Reid’s Draft Choices

1999:

(Round, Player, Position, Pick #, Grade)

1 Donovan McNabb (QB) 2 A - I think he’s more of a B since he literally chokes in the big games, but he wins so I’ll give him an A.

2 Barry Gardner (LB) 35 D – Only reason this isn’t an F is because he played a bit.

3 Doug Brzenski (G) 64 B – Decent starter for a few years.

4a John Welborn (T) 97 B – Another decent starter for a few years.

4b Damon Moore (S) 128 F – Early day Mike Vick, remember?

4c Na Brown (WR) 130 F – Do you even need to ask why?

6a Cecil Martin (FB) 172 C – Decent starter for a bit.

6b Troy Smith (WR) 201 F – Who?

7a Jed Weaver (TE) 208 F – Might as well have drafted Jed Clampett.

7b Pernell Davis (DT) 251 F – Don’t think he ever played.

Overall Grade: B (Franchise QB.)

2000:

(Round, Player, Position, Pick #, Grade)

1 Corey Simon (DT) 6 A – Too bad he asked for more money. Bye-bye.

2a Todd Pinkston (WR) 36 C – He was good at stretching the field until he was proven to be a complete WIMP.

2b Bobbie Williams (G) 61 F – And they traded a bunch of picks to get this fat stiff.

4 Gari Scott (WR) 99 F – What Na Brown wasn’t bad enough?

6a Thomas Hamner (RB) 171 F – I even remember this stiff.

6b John Frank F – Best available Mormon.

6c John Romero F – Hung on the practice squad a few years. No relation to Phillies reliever JC Romero.

Overall Grade: D (One legit player and he was #6 overall.)

2001:

(Round, Player, Position, Pick #, Grade)

1 Freddie Mitchell (WR) 25 F – Worst draft pick of Reid’s career. Reggie Wayne, Chris Chambers, and Chad Johnson were available at this spot in the draft. I’m going to be sick.

2 Quinton Caver (LB) 55 F – 2nd worst draft pick of Reid era.

3 Derrick Burgess (DE) 63 D – Only because they let him go before he did anything.

4 C. Buckhalter (RB) 121 C – Might be higher but he’s always hurt.

5a Tony Stewart (TE) 147 F – Wasted pick. We Are…..Penn State!

5b AJ Feeley (QB) 155 C – Only because he got us a 2nd rounder from Miami.

Overall Grade: F (If you don’t think so then you’re dumber than Howard Eskin .)

2002:

(Round, Player, Position, Pick #, Grade)

1 Lito Sheppard (CB) 26 A – Pro Bowler but he gets hurt too often.

2a Michael Lewis (SS) 58 C – Started out great but can’t cover anybody.

2b Sheldon Brown (CB) 59 A – No Pro Bowls but he plays great.

3 Brian Westbrook (RB) 91 A – Best thing Andy EVER did. Now give him the ball.

4 Scott Peters (C) 124 F – Andy was still giddy after the last pick.

5 Freddie Milons (WR)162 F – Never draft another WR named Freddie, PLEASE!!!

6 Tyreo Harrison (LB) 198 F – Notre Dame loser.

7 Raheem Brock (DE) 238 F – Banner cut him when he asked for an extra $50,000. Gotta save that money under the cap right Joe?

Overall Grade: A (The late misses don’t matter.)

2003:

(Round, Player, Position, Pick #, Grade)

1 Jerome McDougle (DE) 15 F – We traded up for this piece of garbage?

2 LJ Smith (TE) 61 D – Talk about talent and potential all you want. This stiff drops more passes than he catches. Jason Witten was still on the board at this pick. Think about that.

3 Billy McMullin (WR) 95 F – At least he got us Hank Baskett in a trade.

4 Jamaal Green (DE) 131 F – Carrying that extra “a” in his first name must have slowed him down.

6 Jeremy Bridges (T) 185 F – Should have drafted Todd “What you Talkin Bout Willis” Bridges instead of this guy.

7 Norman LeJeun (S) 244 F – I only remember him because of the name.

Overall Grade: F (Were you paying attention? )

2004:

(Round, Player, Position, Pick #, Grade)

1 Shawn Andrews (G) 16 A – Absolute Stud. Too bad he’s CRAZY.

3 Matt Ware (CB) 89 D – And this is generous.

4a JR Reed (S) 129 C – Injury cost this guy, but he’s a decent backup.

4b Trey Darilek (T) 131 F – To quote Zoolander “Darilickmyballs”.

5 Thomas Tapeh (FB) 162 C – I guess he was at least a starter.

6a Andy Hall (QB) 185 F – Might as well have drafted me here.

6b Dexter Wynn (CB) 192 D – Played a bit.

7a Adrien Clarke (G) 192 F – Did he ever even dress for a game?

7b Bruce Perry (RB) 242 F – Got a couple carries in meaningless week 17 game.

7c Dominic Furio (C) 243 F – Admit it none of you ever heard of him before.

Overall Grade: D (Only Andrews keeps this from being a solid F.)

2005:

(Round, Player, Position, Pick #, Grade)

1 Mike Patterson (DT) 31 A – Fine pick this late in the 1st round.

2a Reggie Brown (WR) 35 C – Nothing more than a #2 or #3 WR.

2b Matt McCoy (LB) 63 F – This guy should have been a rodeo Cowboy since he was riding on so many RB’s backs. What a waste.

3 Ryan Moats (RB) 77 F – Possibly the dumbest Eagle ever. NEVER knew the playbook. “Hello, McFly”.

4a Sean Considine (S) 102 F – We’d be better off if he DIDN’T ever start.

4b Todd Herremans (T) 126 C – Classic OT build, playing out of place at G.

5a Trent Cole (DE) 146 A – Was Andy looking at somebody else’s draft board?

5b Scott Young (G) 172 F – Best available Mormon again? Career bench-warmer.

6 Calvin Armstrong (T) 211 F – Never even made the team.

7a Keyonta Marshall (DT) 247 F – Took a shot at a small college kid.

7b David Bergeron (LB) 252 F – Isn’t he the host of America’s Funniest Videos?

Overall Grade : B (Due to getting 3 or 4 starters.)

2006:

(Round, Player, Position, Pick #, Grade)

1 B. Bunkley (DT) 14 B – One wasted season and one good season. Not looking like a great player in 2008, either.

2 Winston Justice (T) 39 F – One start, 6 sacks allowed. The end.

3 Chris Gocong (LB) 71 C – He looks serviceable overall, but terrible in coverage.

4a Max Jean-Gilles (G) 99 D – Is HE the reason we can’t run anymore?

4b Jason Avant (WR) 109 D – A #6 WR? That’s the best we could do here?

5a Jeremy Bloom (WR) 147 F – Little girls would have bought his jersey and he would have at least CAUGHT the punts against the Packers in 2007 opener Andy!!!!!

5b Omar Gaither (LB) 168 B – Nice pick.

6 LaJuan Ramsey (DT) 204 C – Decent pick, but is nothing more than a backup.

Overall Grade: C (Chance to improve to a B if a couple guys blossom.)

2007:

(Round, Player, Position, Pick #, Grade)

1 Trade F – You DON’T trade with the Cowboys. EVER!!!

2a Kevin Kolb (QB) 36 F – If Banner is right he’ll NEVER play for the Eagles.

2b Victor Abiamiri (DE) 57 D – Didn’t play as a rookie then got hurt.

3a Stewart Bradley (LB) 87 B – He looks like the real deal, but can he cover?.

3b Tony Hunt (RB) 90 F – He was cut after less than a year and a half. What does THAT tell you?

5a CJ Gaddis (S) 159 F – Cut.

5b Brent Celek (TE) 162 B – Looks like a good pick. Nice value.

6 Rashad Barksdale (CB) 201 F – Cut.

Nate Ilaoa (RB) 236 F – Cut.

Overall Grade: C– (Assuming Bradley, Abiamiri and Celek continue to contribute.)

2008: (Too early to tell, but let’s try anyway)

(Round, Player, Position, Pick #, Grade)

1 Trade F – The 2009 pick from Carolina now looks like #30 pick.

2a Trevor Laws (DT) 47 D – Seriously, is he even playing?

2b DeSean Jackson (WR) 49 A – Oh my God, Andy FINALLY drafts a great WR.

3 Bryan Smith (DE) 80 F – Has he even dressed for a game yet this year?

4a Mike McGlynn (G) 109 F – Another guy who never plays.

4b Quintin Demps (S) 117 B – Good Kick Returner and good potential as Safety.

4c Jack Ikegwuonu (CB) 131 F – Drafted him after he blew out his ACL at the combine.

4d Traded for L. Booker F – What happened to all that hype?

6a Mike Gibson (OT) 184 F – IR. Will probably never play.

6b Joe Mays (LB) 200 C – Special teams guy. Showed promise in pre-season.

6c Andy Studebaker (DE) 203 F – Practice squad fodder.

7 King Dnulap (OT) 230 D – IR. Showed promise in college. Give him benefit of doubt until he proves to be he next Winston Justice.

Overall Grade: C (Jackson saves this one from a D or worse.)

Agree? Disagree? What say ye? Email me at angrybob@thisweekinphilly.com

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