Avant: Players would welcome Duce
Struck by the dizzying array of interviewees, former Eagles receiver and coaching intern Jason Avant is impressed with the scope of the search for a new head coach.
At the same time, Avant thinks owner Jeffrey Lurie already has interviewed the best man for the job, assistant head coach Duce Staley.
Avant realizes Staley isn’t the easiest sell, an assistant for the team that finished 4-11-1 and missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.
Head coach Doug Pederson was summarily dismissed, accused nationally of tanking. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz decided not to return, and the Eagles did not renew the contracts of various and sundry assistants.
It’s much easier to go outside the organization and start fresh with a head coach that has pedigree, which is where
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniel drops in. Privately, he’s said to be the choice of general manager Howie Roseman. McDaniel has head coaching experience, albeit two losing seasons with the Denver Broncos.
“Josh McDaniel, I had some experience with him,” Avant said on Pro Football Report with Merrill Reese. “I thought I was being drafted by the Patriots because of how much they came to work me out and the multiple interviews. And when I was a free agent, they called, Brian Daboll. I know those guys pretty good. They’re great football minds. I understand how they try to manipulate the defense and we know Josh can call the game. Now, managing all aspects of the coaching job, it’s not just offense, you have to be able to handle personalities, you have to be able to get on guys butts, you’ve got to be able to do a bunch of different things to motivate.
“So, I’m sure that Josh McDaniel can. And usually once a guy goes out and has some head coaching experience you learn what to do better next time. So, I don’t think it will be a bad hire. But I think that Duce should be the hire for this team.”
Daboll, then the Patriots tight ends coach, is the offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills, who oppose the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game Sunday. He’s the only candidate to decline an interview request from the Eagles.
Daboll has some knowledge of the management situation in Philly: Bills head coach Sean McDermott was defensive coordinator here before being axed by Andy Reid in 2011.
When Avant looks at Staley, he sees the same competitiveness, accountability and savvy that made Reid and McDermott winners. For a head coach, Staley would be every bit as competitive as during a 10-year NFL career as a running back.
“If Duce is the head coach the one thing you don’t have to worry about is guys buying in,” Avant said. “They’re going to play hard, they’re going to do that for Duce because Duce has the most command of any position group on that team. And it’s always been that way. The running backs play the hardest for him. He demands the most and he holds people accountable. I can honestly say that that’s not always the case in the NFL.
“He’s been a player, and he knows how you have to say something to these guys, and they can be intimidating because a guy can get you fired. But he doesn’t care. He’s going to demand that respect. And I think that he’s a perfect candidate to be a head coach. I think he’s going to be a head coach at some point and he’s a perfect candidate to be a head coach for this team. I think that you only
will help the team out if he’s the head coach.”
One facet of the Eagles’ search is to determine the plan candidates have for the quarterback position. Carson Wentz is coming off his worst season, having led the league in giveaways despite playing in just a dozen games. He’s due a ton of money, and the Eagles privately are holding out hope he’s fixable. Jalen Hurts already looks like a solid decision maker and competitor.
It’s possible that Wentz simply wants out of Philly and would accommodate the team if he’s traded to a team of his preference.
The Indianapolis Colts suddenly have payroll room with Philip Rivers retiring. Head coach Frank Reich helped coach Wentz to a near-MVP season in 2017. Wentz would
face no competition for the starting job if traded there.
If Staley becomes the head coach, you can count on a competition at quarterback.
“Whatever coach comes in here has to have the ability to have a free and open competition without interference,” Avant said. “It’s not about money as much as it is about winning football games. You have to live with the fact that if, this young quarterback comes out and outplays Carson than we made a bad decision. And, what’s so bad about saying that? There’s been a lot of bad decisions that have been made. Just own it and let’s go forward with the better player rather than sticking to something that isn’t working.”
Just as importantly, hire the head coach who gives you the best chance to win.