Within a matter of weeks, Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman
will be interviewing a number of qualified candidates for the Eagles’ head
coaching job. Among the high-profile names already rumored to be in line for
the position are Super Bowl XXXVII champion Jon Gruden, and the innovative Chip
Kelly at the University of Oregon. More are sure to follow.
But coaching searches are not necessarily all about catching
the biggest fish in the ocean – more like finding a pair of pants that fit just
right. If the comfort of Nick Foles is what’s at stake here, Atlanta Falcons
offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter could be just the man to nurture this particular
quarterback.
On Wednesday’s edition of Daily News Live (video below), Ray Didinger
revealed some little-known history – at least in Philly – between the coach and
quarterback. In 2006, Koetter was the head coach of the Arizona State Sun
Devils, Foles his recruit. The long-time college coach was fired at the
conclusion of the season however, setting off the series of events that
eventually led to Foles landing with cross-desert rival Arizona.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Fast forward to 2012, where Koetter is widely viewed as NFL-head
coach material, and Foles is a developmental quarterback with upside. It’s almost
as if the two were meant to be all along.
Recruiting a quarterback for perennial also-ran Arizona
State, and coaching him in the NFL are two very different things obviously. It
doesn’t mean Koetter is automatically enamored with the idea of being chained
to Foles at his next stop, nor does it require the Eagles hire this coach and
only this coach to continue on the path with this quarterback.
Of course, Philadelphia could do worse than Koetter, and he
should undoubtedly be in the mix.
Quick background: played QB at Division I-AA Idaho State
from ‘77-’80 before working his way up through the college ranks for 20 years –
a back-story that includes three run-ins with Andy Reid – eventually earning
head coaching gigs at Boise St. and ASU. After his firing, jumped to the
Jacksonville Jaguars as offensive coordinator, then just this year took the
Atlanta job.
News
The 12-2 Falcons are ranked seventh overall in total
offense, seventh in points scored. They also feature the league’s fifth-ranked
passing attack, led by Matt Ryan. The Exton, Pa. native happens to be in the
midst of the best season in his five-year professional career, completing 68.5%
of his passes, averaging over 300 yards per game, and tossing 27 touchdowns to
14 picks.
Beyond the numbers, two areas stand out. First, while Ryan
has a better pedigree as a third-overall draft pick, he and Foles do share
similar skill sets as classical pocket passers. Second, Koetter managed to overhaul
Atlanta’s offense in one offseason, turning their somewhat conservative
approach into the modernized, downfield attack that has become increasingly
common in the NFL.
Again, it would be surprising if he was not among the
coaches who receive a phone call on the first of January. By no means is this
to suggest it’s Koetter or bust, but the links to Foles are clearly defined –
not to mention Reid, whose word believe it or not may have some influence in this
matter.
The Jon Grudens and Chip Kellys of the world are out there,
but so too are dozens of relatively anonymous coaches, some of whom have
qualities or connections that might make them a better fit. Needless to say, next
month is going to be extremely interesting.
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}