There are a couple of obvious answers. Saturday's announcement that Johnnie Lynn would not return as the team's cornerbacks coach created an opening in the coaching staff, so all eyes are directed at Andy Reid and his next move there. I am as intrigued as you with regard to the coaching staff.
Clearly, there is a plan here and there are moves to be made. What they are, I don't know.
The speculation is rampant, and I hear it all. Steve Spagnuolo? Not a whisper here. Well, plenty of whispers from those who aren't in the know, but we whisper about everything. I have no idea who replaces Lynn or any other changes that might be coming for the defense.
I do know that this defense is pretty good, judging by what I watched throughout the first weekend of the postseason. Detroit and New Orleans struggled defensively. The Falcons were pretty awful through and through. The Giants played very, very well and took advantage of an Atlanta offense that couldn't get out of its own way.
Sour grapes, I know ...
Anyway, we're in a slow period here. No getting around it. The personnel department continues it preparation for free agency and the draft. The coaching staff reviews the 2011 season and then turns its attention to 2012.
The "plan," as we know, comes together in the next couple of weeks. Not now. Right now, it's agony for me and for you.
We wait.
In the meantime, a couple of tidbits ...
- My reaction to the Lynn move is that I wish him the best of luck. Good man in the short time I got to know Johnnie Lynn. I have heard every theory on what this means for the coaching staff and what could happen down the line, but I'm not sure at all what is going to happen next. I don't think anything is "done," either, as far as next steps. It is all very fluid, but I don't expect any moves to be made until next week.
- In every playoff game this weekend, the best quarterback won the game. That's easy to say, isn't it? The quarterback who didn't turn the ball over, who made good decisions and who took advantage of what defenses gave him won the game. That's all. This is the continuing message to Michael Vick, because I know he wants to play quarterback at the maximum level, and to do so Vick has to be smart, not try to make a big play out of every snap and get the football into the hands of his playmakers.
- Major credit goes to tight end Brent Celek, who played much of the season with a torn labrum and a sportshernia. He's going to be fine, but his success this year even with the injuries speaks to his remarkable toughness.
- I've been thinking about the backup quarterback position a lot, wondering if the Eagles will add a "franchise quarterback of the future" at some point in the offseason. Maybe the Eagles think it is Mike Kafka, I don't know. Maybe they think they will draft one early in April. Perhaps. How would people react if Andy Reid drafts a quarterback in the first two rounds in April?
- Jason Pierre-Paul is a beast, yes. And the Eagles are going to be reminded of that until Brandon Graham steps up and proves himself as a high-level defensive end in the NFL. There is a lot of pressure on Graham to step up and have a great offseason. He can't just talk the talk about doing it. He has to come back to the NovaCare Complex in April, when the offseason conditioning program begins, in the best shape of his life. And then some.
- I think Tim Tebow is a great player to watch and a wonderful story. He doesn't turn the football over. He is improving as a quarterback. More than anything, the guy is a winner and the Broncos believe in him. That's why they are still alive.
- By the way, I wonder if Brian Dawkins will play another down in the NFL. He is out with a neck injury and has had a bunch of those lately. Be safe, BDawk.
