Andy Reid's Greatest Accomplishment
Andy Reid is the most senior head coach in the NFL—and to a significant portion of the Eagles fan base, this is cause for concern.
In a hyper-critical city that loves football above all else in its hierarchy of rooting interests, Reid still draws fire despite a solid resume.
He holds franchise records for regular and postseason wins and a 61 percent winning percentage for his 13-season, 208-game career, which has included seven division titles.
Still, every coach has his weak spots, and Reid's detractors routinely criticize his clock management, play-calling, and failure to reach the endzone.
Nonetheless, the Eagles have had a top-eleven offense nine of the past 13 years by point differential; they have also finished in the top eleven nine times in terms of yardage. Few other franchises have been in the top third in the league in those categories as consistently.
Reid does not deserve all the credit for these accomplishments, but neither does he deserve all the blame for the Eagles' failures. Those who do not respect the job Andy Reid has done should be reminded that prior to his hiring, the Eagles did not enjoy the league-wide stature they do today.
Under previous regimes, even the national media coverage betrayed a sense of hopelessness in relation to the Eagles. The franchise might have been a tough, hard-scrabble team that won a few games, but they were always destined to run into the hated-but-more-talented Dallas Cowboys or the Washington Redskins. Deep down, we fans knew it too.
The national media, which brings a different perspective to the table, often fawns over Andy Reid—which only annoys Eagles fans who dislike him all the more. Many of the analysts who praise Reid and the Eagles are former players and coaches; in short, they are professionals who know more than overly emotional fans might about the inner workings of the game.
Andy Reid has made the Eagles legitimate players on a league-wide stage for more than a decade. That fundamental shift is his greatest accomplishment: Reid has given fans hope.
What he has not delivered is a Super Bowl.
The fact that Reid's teams have approached immortality so many times has had a counter-intuitive effect. Now Eagles fans are no longer happy that their underachieving franchise has grown talented enough to be routinely competitive. Instead, they are embittered by the heartbreak of near-misses and sudden endings.
It is easier to give up on a 1-5 team in Week 6 than to lose in the Conference Championship; yet however painful, the latter scenario indicates a high-quality team that has a better chance to contend year-in and year-out.
But in the sports world, no matter how successful a coach is, he only has so many tomorrows before he simply must win a ring or face the consequences.
For some, the tomorrows have run out. For Jeffrey Lurie, Reid has one or, at most, two left. After all Reid has done, and with vivid memories of the second-class status from which he has delivered Gang Green, I strongly agree with Lurie…for now.
Phil McConkey
7:51 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
WELL said!!!!!!!!!
Reed Rothchild
2:12 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Good points, but another year or two MAX is all some of us fans can take. The main argument for the lack of change, in my opinion, is finding a suitable replacement. There aren't too many top quality head coaches (as good as or better than Andy), but somebody else deserves the opportunity if a Lombardi trophy doesn't make it's way to the City of Brotherly Love very soon. Go Birds!
Mike Diviney
9:35 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
A lot of guys who become good Head Coaches are unknown before they get the shot- like Andy himself. That being said, let's see what Andy does in his last chance or 2.
Larry O'Doyle
4:46 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Very strong. Anyone who questions the success of Andy's tenure or dismisses his historical achievements as head coach are simpleminded ingrates. However, my concern lies with the steady decline of success highlighted by an absence of postseason victories since the loss of the late Jim Johnson. Since Andy's arrival, and for as long as I can remember, the defense has always been our most reliable asset. Now, since the reigns have been turned over to the likes of Sean McDermott and Juan Castillo, the defense has developed more holes than my underpants. I still can't help but question Juan's ability to lead a dominant defense. Go BIRDS!
Mike Diviney
9:37 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Dominant is a tall order. They added a couple quality pieces this offseason- Ryans, draft picks, etc. They were a LOT better the second half of last year as opposed to the first 8 games. Let's hope that trend continues this season.
Fabiola Et
5:42 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Very well written articles with many really good points.
Looking forward to the next one!
Jono
9:33 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
I agree with your description of the fans as "overemotional." But I also agree with Brian's two main points. Andy's performance is trending in the wrong direction - last year's especially. And we fans have come to expect a lot more out of the defense than what we've seen in the past couple of years.
Mike Diviney
9:39 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Definitely a concern. Philly loves defense- always has since the Buddy days and probably before. Let's hope with a year to gel, last year's new pieces result in a dominant defense.
Joe
2:38 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Nice article. I give Reid one more season. I want him out if no results this year!
Porterincollingswood
2:48 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
If the defense is even competent, it's a 10-6 season. That's what is exciting to me.
And the defense can't be worse than it was in 2011, can it?
Boykin is supposedly looking great, likely nickel corner and kick returner.
Mike Diviney
6:47 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Judging by the vast improvement the defense made from the first half to the second half of last season, it would make sense to think they'll be better this year than last. Like you said, that translates to double digit wins.
Jack Walden
2:51 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
My problem with Andy Reid is his choice of Quaterbacks. it seems he's looking for another Brett Favre. He puts all his efforts into quarterbacks that are talented but not durable. I don't think anyone believes that Michael Vick is going to be available for 16 games next season. Without a durable quarterback there is no way the eagles will get to the promise land.
Porterincollingswood
2:54 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
The saving grace is that he seems able to occasionally trade then for 2nd round picks. Which is really amazing.
Mike Diviney
6:51 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
I share your concerns. They can win games with Vick, but the coaching staff has their work cut-out for them to prevent his relapses and to get him to preserve himself. I like Kafka, but they need to bring in a better veteran backup than Trent Edwards.
Porterincollingswood
8:04 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Note to Andy: teams are going to send the CB on a blitz. Please, after 2 seasons, account for it.
phillyphanatic
3:51 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Actually for this article to be accurate, the answer to Andy Reid's greatest accomplishment should be : Having a job. In this day and age, and in a sports frenzied town such as Philly with a very large, passionate fan base ( I am a Giants fan but recognize the love Philly has for he Eagles), no one lasts 13 years without winning a championship. Hell, in most towns, (NY) you win one, get about 2 grace years and then will get canned if you don't win again. I like Reid, but it is amazing he is still coaching this long with ZERO championships.
Mike Diviney
4:05 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
You're a Giants fan, but your handle is Phillyphanatic... hmmmm
Mike Diviney
6:56 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Jeff Fisher lasted 16 years without a championship before being fired. More to the point, Bill Cowher lasted 14 years before winning a championship. That it worked out for Cowher and the Steelers is the argument for Reid being given another year.
Mike Diviney
6:59 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Getting 2nd round picks for AJ Feeley and Kevin Kolb were strokes of genius.
Mike Diviney
10:02 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
I agree with Porter. The loss to Minnesota at the Linc in 2010, with Joe Webb at QB, was largely the result of the CB running free at Vick every play. That loss caused the Eagles to have to play GB, the eventual Superbowl champs in Rd. 1 of the playoffs- bad matchup, obviously.
Porterincollingswood
8:11 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
And I'd say that's Reid's #1 weakness. Structural problems - like not having WR's for half decade - get fixed slowly. But some problems with scheme never get fixed. 3rd and short, and defending the CB blitz.
mathforeveryone
1:53 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
They should have kept Banner, he was the only one that had the guts to put the heat on Andy, that's why he is gone. Andy likes to be comfortable and play nice in the sand box.
Mike Diviney
4:10 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
If a coach or person, for that matter, wanting to be comfortable in his job is a flaw, then it's one shared by most people on Earth. I don't think Banner put pressure on Reid, I think he just meddled and their boss made the right call in my opinion.
Mike Diviney
4:08 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
To Porter- Andy's not perfect, but saying they didn't have receivers for half a decade is to ignore that they won a lot of games, and playoff games in that time. They used their RB- Westbrook- essentially as a WR. He caught 90 passes some years because the goal was to get the ball in the hands of their best player. They certainly have WR's now.
Porterincollingswood
6:49 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Agreed, I always use that same point when refuting the "McNabb never had any receivers" excuse. The TE's were also solid (Chad Lewis).
But IF we had upgraded the WR corps I think we'd have won 1 and maybe 2 SB's. The defense was strong, the QB solid and in an ideal system, with one of the great dual purpose backs of the modern era.
Baumer
5:30 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
In the words of the great Dutch Daulton, "right awn, Mike." With the frustration of never having seen a championship football team in this town I've definitely gotten a bit tired of Big Red. However, I can't deny his accomplishments. Lurie feels the same way and since he basically fired Banner there are no more excuses for Andy. He has all the control now and if can't get it done within two years then it's time to move on.
Mike Diviney
1:33 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Great Dutch quote. Only thing I'd mention is that we're all carrying the frustration of a lack of a Championship all the way back to the Buddy years- even before that for older fans. Big Red is only accountable for 2000 on. A long time to be sure, but he can't be held responsible for all the decades of our frustration.
mathforeveryone
9:34 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Mike, please give me 13 excuses why he hasn't won a championship. Here is this years, Mike Vick was hurt.
Mike Diviney
9:44 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Hopefully he won't need one- then we'll all be happy. If they don't, the Vick excuse does NOT fly. Based on history, he always misses a few games and the organization has to prepare for that or they've failed. That's another advantage of Banner being gone; one less excuse and no one to push the blame on.
Evan Richman
2:56 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
the problem with reid is that this team has been built to WIN the championship and has failed time and time again to do so. The 4 NFC championship losses were a joke with only 1 of the losses (st.louis) coming against the favorite. The eages should have beaten tampa,carolina and arizona. His lack of in game changes and his lack of time management skills is laughable. He for years has failed to address weak positions on the team and has tried to cover it up with undrafted rookies and 7th round picks. He is being judged poorly because the bar has been set very high. After all this time only going to 1 super bowl is downright a disgrace
Mike Diviney
3:05 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Agreed, but again, was the lack of addressing certain positions because of him or organizational philosophy, ie, Joe Banner and LB's. That's the question we'll now get an answer to. That's why it's good Banner is gone. If they still fail, we know whether a coaching change is needed because there's no one else to blame.
Evan Richman
3:00 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
people are wanting to fire charlie manuel but lets remeber HE HAS WON A CHAMPIONSHIP.....reid has only been to the super bowl ONCE....and please dont try and tell me the NFC championship is the big game BECAUSE IT ISN'T....people remember who played in the super bowl no one remembers who lost the conference championship.
Evan Richman
3:03 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
also just to clarify....reid is one of the top coaches in football when compared to all 32 teams however he MUST take that next step to be considered among the greats. I am NOT calling for another coach however I think reid needs to stand next to bill belichek for a couple games and brush up on a few things
Porterincollingswood
6:26 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
I think of the coaches like Coughlin and Belichek and newcomers like Harbaugh and Tomlin.
Tom Coughlin finds your hidden weakness and exploits it to death - get pressure in Brady's face and it all falls apart for the Pats. He's like the coach in "Miracle", he's gonna have the gameplan that gives his team a shot to beat anyone.
Bill sees the one thing you like to do best and he takes it away. He makes you improvise and work your 2nd and 3rd best players for production. He's efficient, he doesn't waste time or resources. He can do more with less - that defense was appallingly bad this season and they went to the Super Bowl.
Tomlin and Harbaugh don't over-complicate it. They go with their strengths and minimize risk. They trust their system and players. If the Steelers can run better, they run. If they suddenly find they have a deep passing attack, they pass. There's no bias. Harbaugh knew he had a great defense and shaky QB, so he essentially chose to play field position.
I just don't see that in Reid. I haven't seen it reflected in gameday plans, halftime adjustments, or the product on the field.
Mike Diviney
1:38 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Agree that he does have to win a ring to be considered great. I thought Belichick was easily the best coach in football. Now, he hasn't won a Superbowl in 8 years and he's lost 2 in that time, both to an inferior opponent. What was the impact of Spygate?
Mike Diviney
3:09 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Charlie Manuel should not be fired. However, you kind of dismiss 1 Super Bowl appearance as not good enough. It's not, but before Reid got here, they hadn't gotten there in 20 years and were often doormats. They had 2 playoff wins in the 15 years before Reid got here.
Bo
11:03 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Yes I do and I know Mike remembers when there were seasons with no expectation to make the playoffs, and this reality would be fact by many an Eagles fan by mid-season. I understand expectations have changed, but what can't be understood by a younger segment of the Eagles fan base than I am is how really bad it was between the Super Bowl game played in '81 to the Rich Kottie coached team who won a playoff game in New Orleans in '92. Buddy's teams never won a playoff game, but we all loved him then and still today, because of how truly bad the Eagles were before he arrived in '86. Our expectations are skewed now, I don't think mine are as much as many younger fans, but I am guilty to a degree. I think a point of this angst towards Andy is the unusual length of time which he's been the head coach, and that he's lead us so close to owning our first Lombardi trophy and done so with greater regularity. This franchise hasn't won a championship in over 50 years, but are still the most important team in our city, and talked about the most. The Phils have won 2 in that same time period and are still second to the Eagles, but maybe closing the gap a little. I am as passionate about this team as many, and if I let my frustrations eat me up. If I allowed my perspective to be clouded, I then would have cheated myself out of truly enjoying the many great moments we've all experienced as Eagles fans under Reid's leadership. These were better moments than any we had with Buddy.
Mike Diviney
11:28 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Bo, I agree with most of what you had to say. We went from a fan base which celebrated making the playoffs to a fan base that became so used to it, we just became accustomed to it. Reid's team has not yet won a Superbowl, but most have been in the upper echelon, year in and year out. It's not enough, but it's a lot.
Porterincollingswood
6:18 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
I'd just point out that, since Reid came in, 17 NFL franchises have made it to the Super Bowl. Something like 21-22 have made it to a Conference Title Game. Over the timeframe we're talking about, Reid's playoff run isn't that special. And we have a few teams, one in our own division, that won 2.
And as for enjoyment, I don't find Andy's teams to be as exciting or as interesting as Buddy's. The connection isn't there because I'm older and the sport has become more of a business. I get that. But we also had more access to the team (remember that practice field next to the Vet where you could stand right next to the team as they did their offseason workouts?) and players back then. And Buddy made a point to make us a part of it, as opposed to this one who sees us as a bother.
So, as far as 'enjoyment despite winning' stacks up, I don't think Andy delivers on that particularly well at all.
Aside from the TO year the team has been predictable. It has, over Andy's tenure, rarely won games it shouldn't have won (exceptions - Bears playoff game with Jim Miller getting killed although that team was weak, Merry Christmas Philadelphia game, Giants telephone game, Dallas last week beatdown at Linc.). Maybe a few more, but not many.
Porterincollingswood
6:28 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
That's not to kill Andy, he's good. But I just don't see him winning a SB.
Evan Richman
10:03 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
the expectations have been raised for a good reason . Reid deserves credit for building them into contenders but he MUST get them over that hump...one super bowl APPERANCE...not WIN but APPERANCE....in 13 years is a joke. cmn people some lucky team has a good season and makes it once. He is an above average coach and if your ok with that then it is what it is but the "gold standard" last i checked was to win the super bowl and last I checked you have to make the super bowl to have a chance to win the super bowl. Not sure if andy understands this concept or not
Mike Diviney
1:34 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
I'm pretty sure he does understand that. You make some good points. The counter is that they have not been the lucky lightning in a bottle team, they've been a consistent contender. Good enough? No, of course not. All I've said is he deserves 1 or 2 more years to do it.
Mike Diviney
1:32 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
You said the Eagles haven't won games we're not supposed to win. Maybe we should field a weaker team. That way there are fewer games we should win and we'll have an opportunity almost every week to win games we aren't supposed to??
Evan Richman
1:34 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
where did i say the eagles haven't won games they were not supposed to win?
Mike Diviney
1:42 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
You didn't. That was to Porterincollingswood right before you.
Porterincollingswood
2:48 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
The fact that we lose plenty of games we were supposed to win, inclusive of two NFC championships, is what makes that a problem.
Mike Diviney
2:54 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Agreed, but the fact that they were "supposed to win them", I guess means that they're a good team. If they lost too many of them, they wouldn't be "supposed to win" too many in the future. On the NFC Championship Games, couldn't agree with you more. Reid deserves responsibility, but the lion's share goes to McNabb in my opinion.
Porterincollingswood
3:01 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
When the team was 4-12 it wasn't winning any games it wasn't supposed to win either. This team hasn't produced upsets, even in the down years.
Steelers beat the Pats. Pats beat the Rams. Giants beat the Pats. They beat teams that are superior to them "on paper". The Eagles don't.
Porterincollingswood
3:03 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
In football upsets happen all the time, that what make it great - the "on any given Sunday" principle. That hasn't really applied here - aside from getting beaten by weaker teams.
Mike Diviney
3:08 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
If they're always favored to win, it's because they've won a lot. That's really the point. If they had a habit of always losing to weaker teams, they wouldn't be favored in future games. I agree with you that the losses to TB and Carolina at home were a joke. They also were like 9 years ago. The loss to Arizona was in 2008, but again, while Reid justifiably takes a hit, McNabb was outplayed by Warner and that's why t
Porterincollingswood
3:17 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
I give them a pass on the Cardinals loss, that team was pretty good and gave the Steelers all they could handle.
Mike Diviney
6:49 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Yeah, but they had the ball last- any good QB is going to lead their team to a score there. McNabb threw 4 straight incompletions, costing them a chance to win.
Porterincollingswood
7:41 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
I agree, and they could have won. But I look at that game against a good offense, on the road, with a SB / MVP QB and it was gonna be tough.
Were it not for a "McNabb Deep Bomb" (2 yard pass to Westbrook that he takes 80 yards on YAC) we may not have beaten the Vikes that year.
Mike T
11:29 am on Sunday, July 8, 2012
I'm not a huge Reid fan (for the reasons mentioned in the article, escipically the game clock screw ups), but I it do respect what he's done - particulary with QBs. Let's see what happens with the Luire divorce!
Mac
8:56 am on Monday, July 9, 2012
Andy Reid's greatest accomplishment is still in front of him regardless of the fact it has been written in stone for over ten years. However, to the Eagle's fans, his greatest accomplishment is as elusive as his ability to win the big ones when the opportunity presents itself. Andy, it's time for the greatest call of your career. It is called retirement. VERY VERY SOON. And on a more positive note, thanks for the memories. You have made me a believer that a Philly team can actually play in the big leagues.