With unusual offseason ahead, Pederson must heed cautionary tale
There’s something to keep in mind as the Eagles continue to upgrade their playoff roster with free agents, trades and next month, draft picks.
If you believe some of the estimates, it will be September before business is close to what it was before the coronavirus arrived.
That means no real offseason and a lot of ugly, mistake-filled football in the first-ever season with seven playoff berths because we all know that practice – ‘grinding’ is what the players call it – makes perfect.
There’s also a frame of reference for Doug Pederson and the Eagles.
It was August of 2011, and the Eagles were signing marquee free agents with such frequency that head coach Andy Reid stopped attending the news conferences at Lehigh University.
It was destroying Reid’s routine at training camp, which was more valuable than ever because the play
ers had been locked out of all organized gatherings and were breaking in a new defensive coordinator in Juan Castillo, a new defensive line coach in Jim Washburn and bringing an offensive line coach – Howard Mudd – out of retirement.
Reid also didn’t know much about some of the guys team president Joe “All-In” Banner added to the roster.
By the time Reid and the so-called Dream Team got used to each other and their roles, it was too late. The Eagles started 1-4, won their last four games to finish 8-8 and just missed the playoffs.
The Giants won the NFC East with a ghastly 9-7 record and beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.
The Dream Team, as it was dubbed in 2011, featured three new starters on offense, all on the offensive line. The new parts were guard Evan Mathis and draft picks Jason Kelce and Danny Watkins, who played center and guard. The Eagles also added free agent quarterback Vince Young, running back Ronnie Brown and wide receiver Steve Smith.
Six starters on defense were new, the Eagles signing high-profile free agents Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins, among others, to fill the lineup. Dominique RodgersCromartie came aboard in a trade. It was Banner’s finest work.
What Little Joe didn’t understand was locker room culture.
There was no takecharge leader on offense, as Michael Vick led by example. And it was much worse on defense.
Cornerback Asante