Staley might be best option should Pederson turn positive
Last week a wave of COVID-19 infections certain to impact the NFL in the coming months slammed into the coaching staff of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Two unnamed coaches who showed no symptoms of the coronavirus tested positive and two more were quarantined as they awaited word of their tests, according to reports. The guys were working indoors under strict regulations, not outside where groups of Houston Texans
and Dallas Cowboys players came up positive in previous weeks.
It’s not too early to imagine what these teams will do if the positives occur around Sept. 10, when the regular season is slated to begin.
For Eagles fans, what happens if head coach Doug Pederson tests positive on the eve of the opener with the Washington
Redskins?
Based on what the NBA plans to do in July, you wouldn’t necessarily be looking at a 14-day quarantine as it is when your average citizen tests positive for the coronavirus.
The 16 NBA players (out of 302 tested) who came up positive on their coronavirus re
sults last Tuesday were to be in isolation until they logged two consecutive negative coronavirus tests at least 24 hours apart.
The NFL hasn’t laid out its entire COVID-19 safety policy yet, although players are to be given temperature checks daily and to be tested up to three times a week.
But if Pederson were to suddenly test hot just before a game obviously there wouldn’t be enough time to produce two good tests at least a day apart. And there’s no way he’d be allowed on the sideline.
It’s also going to be impossible for him to lead the team or call plays through a Zoom meeting. Imagine even giving the Birds a teleconference pep talk; i.e. “Coach? Coach, you’re breaking up.”
To get through those times the Eagles are going to need a workable contingency plan. Make no mistake, management already is bouncing around ideas to sub for the head coach, the various assistants, the trainer, the equipment manager and anyone else essential on game days.
Pederson previously alluded to the possibility of keeping a quarterback quarantined from the other passers in case that room suffers an outbreak of COVID-19.
In a worst-case scenario with Pederson ruled out of action the Eagles likely would choose from among three emergency candidates: special teams coach Dave Fipp, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz or assistant head coach Duce Staley.
• Fipp is knowledgeable, communicative, creative and respected. It’s a wonder he hasn’t gotten a shot to be a head coach.
Fipp’s weekly video breakdowns of special teams matchups narrated by Merrill Reese are legend to the point players who show up early to get preferred seating.
Even in a one-game deal, you can’t go wrong with Fipp.
• If you believe the conspiracy theories, Schwartz has been angling for Pederson’s job since the day the Eagles hired him; that is, before they even hired Pederson.
Four seasons and one Super Bowl title later, Schwartz has proven to be the good soldier, a stabilizing influence who has found a way to get his defense playing well late in the season despite chronic injuries.
Schwartz was 29-51 (.363) and 0-1 in the playoffs as head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2009-13. It would be difficult to overlook 81 games worth of experience.
• No one knows more about adjusting on the fly better than Staley, who spent seven seasons playing running back for the Eagles, and three with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Staley joined the Eagles as an intern, has been a full-time member of the coaching staff since 2011 and actually interviewed for the head coaching job that went to Pederson.
Making Staley the interim head coach would free the coordinators to focus exclusively on what they do.
Staley also would bring a fire always welcome in the locker room — even at the recommended distance of six feet from his players.
So the pick for interim Pederson replacement here would go to Staley, insulting as that might seem to Schwartz.
The playcalling without Pederson would be a collaboration between senior offensive assistant Rich Scangerallo and passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Press Taylor. Scangerallo called plays last year with the Denver Broncos, although not to the liking of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco.
Offensive line coach/ run game coordinator Jeff Stoutland could add his input into the game planning as well.
Pederson hasn’t missed a game in his tour with the Eagles, constructing a 38-26 (.594) record in the regular season and 4-2 in the playoffs. If he has to sit one out, it’s not a good thing for the Eagles, particularly quarterback Carson Wentz.
When it comes to managing quarterbacks, no one — not even Andy Reid — has done it better for the Eagles than Pederson.
The reality is it is impossible to avoid positive tests for COVID-19 league-wide. During a Zoom session last week, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith told sports agents, “The business of football is a perfect storm for transmission of this virus.”
That was after NFLPA medical director Thom Mayer had said, “This is a contact disease in a contact sport.”
At the same time, there’s no reason to blame a loss on a positive test of a coach or player because all 32 teams have had plenty of time to develop contingency plans.