On Thursday, Adam Schefter reported that the Eagles had parted ways with their offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach after a rough season that saw skill players regress.
With the Eagles signing Carson Wentz to a longterm deal and the franchise focused on returning to the Super Bowl, here are 8 potential replacements at offensive coordinator for the recently fired Mike Groh.
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1. Duce Staley — Eagles assistant head coach
Staley is currently the Eagles running backs coach and also the assistant head coach. Staley, the fifth-leading rusher in franchise history, knows the franchise, has been around some creative offensive play-callers and would have no problem holding quarterback Carson Wentz accountable.
When Pederson promoted Mike Groh to offensive coordinator, it was in part because Groh was more involved with the passing game daily.
With Staley being responsible for the emergence of Boston Scott and Miles Sanders, Staley could get the look.
The New York Giants will hire Joe Judge as their next head coach on Wednesday, so here’s a look at nine potential assistant coaches.
The New York Giants hired 38-year-old New England Patriots wide receivers/special teams coordinator Joe Judge on Tuesday.
While Judge has been described as a “no nonsense” type of guy and is a disciple of the Bill Belichick and Nick Saban coaching tree, he has zero head coaching experience at any level.
It was reported that Judge will be allowed to select his own coaching staff and picking the right guys will be critical in the early stages of his young coaching career
Let’s take a look at nine possible candidates, who could help Judge on Big Blue’s staff.
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Jason Garrett, Offensive Coordinator
Jason Garrett was originally linked to the Giants’ head coaching position after being let go in bizarre fashion by the Dallas Cowboys. Although Garrett was recently let go as a head coach, that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t give the Giants offense a boost as their play caller.
The Cowboys’ offense was certainly not the problem last year ranking No. 1 in total offense with 431 total yards per game. They also ranked sixth in the NFL scoring 27.1 points per week.
Garrett went 85-67 as head coach of the Cowboys with a 2-3 postseason record, but did not get the most out of a star-studded roster that failed to reach an NFC Championship game in nine seasons.
Prior to becoming lead man, Garrett’s had a high reputation as an offensive mind dating back to first year as coordinator in 2007, where the Cowboys earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC and had the second best offense in the league.
Garrett has experience developing young quarterbacks, as well including Tony Romo and Dak Prescott and if he is brought in by Judge, he could help Daniel Jones take the next step in year two.
Could Jay Gruden make sense for the New York Giants as a potential coordinator under the next head coach?
Former Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden is strangely not being mentioned for, or being linked to, any of the open head coaching positions in the NFL.
I'm hoping the #Giants give him a long look as offensive coordinator. I can't think of many other coaches I would want to coordinate and help develop Jones than Gruden. The work he's done with Cousins, Alex Smith, Dalton — all very impressive to me. https://t.co/aV624JZIzQ
Gruden has always been known as a top offensive mind in the NFL and as Dan mentioned above, has developed some quarterbacks in his day. Why he’s not being considered for a new top job is a bit of a mystery.
The Giants certainly aren’t interested in him for their head coaching spot, but as a coordinator, Gruden could add value.
In an offensive-minded game, Gruden should be at the top of the list for at least a coordinator position. His track record in Cincinnati alone, where his offense helped the Bengals to three straight postseason berths earlier in the decade should warrant him a shot somewhere in the NFL.
According to a report by Mike Silver at NFL Network, the Washington Redskins have reached an agreement with Ron Rivera and will hire him as their head coach. Ian Rapoport says it’s a five-year deal but the official announcement won’t come until tomorrow.
The Redskins were a powerhouse team in the NFL in the 80s with Joe Gibbs, but it’s been a long time since they’ve enjoyed any sustained success.
Jay Gruden, Mike Shanahan, Jim Zorn, Steve Spurrier, Norv Turner and others have tried, but nobody has been able to build a contender since Gibbs left after the 1992 season (later to return). Since then, they have only been to the playoffs five times and have never advanced past the divisional round. This latest run of futility has dropped the franchise’s all-time record to a perfectly mediocre 603-603-28.
Rivera gives Washington the best coach they’ve had in a while, though. If anyone is suited to turn around the culture of dysfunction and drama that’s come to define this franchise, it’s him.
However, winning won’t come easy no matter what the locker room dynamic is. This is a flawed roster, centered around an unproven quarterback and another recovering from a devastating leg injury. There are some intriguing pieces like wide receiver Terry McLaurin, but overall they’re lacking the talent that Rivera had with the Panthers.
One thing is for sure. If Rivera can somehow turn this bumbling group into a regular contender, he’ll have more Coach of the Year awards in his future.
With the postseason scenarios all determined, Touchdown Wire unveils its final NFL Power Rankings of the 2019 regular season.
As the 2019 NFL regular season came to an end Sunday, I thought back to the start of the season and realized that things turned out very differently than I expected.
I also write for Street & Smith’s magazines, and I pulled out a copy of their season preview and reviewed my predictions and the magazine’s collective predictions. Let’s just say I was off by a mile in some cases, and the magazine was right on some and very wrong on others.
For the sake of humility, let’s start with my Super Bowl pick. I had the Rams defeating the Chargers. In reality, neither team made the playoffs. The overall magazine staff picked the Saints to defeat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. That prediction remains in play.
Perhaps my worst pick was selecting Baltimore to finish last in the AFC North. Here’s where the Ravens and the other 31 teams stand in Touchdown Wire’s final regular season Power Rankings.
32. Cincinnati Bengals
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
(2-14. Last week: 32)
The Bengals were predictably bad with a new coach, Zac Taylor, and a roster that doesn’t have much talent. There were no miracles in Cincinnati as the Bengals just kept losing. Does Taylor even get a second season? Probably so. Owner Mike Brown stuck with coach Marvin Lewis through some rough times. Taylor likely will get a bit more time to try to turn things around. The only good news out of this season is that the Bengals will get the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft. At the moment, virtually everyone is projecting that to be LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, the Heisman Trophy winner. Scouts and draftniks say he’s NFL ready. That means he’ll help the Bengals right from the start. But this team needs much more than a change at quarterback to turn things around.
31. Washington Redskins
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
(3-13. Last week: 31)
There are big changes coming in Washington after a hugely disappointing season. Coach Jay Gruden was fired during the season. Team president Bruce Allen reportedly will be stripped of his football operations duties, although he may remain with the team, with his main role being to help the Redskins get a new stadium. That would be a good move. Despite being the son of legendary coach George Allen, Bruce Allen is not a football guy. In his 10 years in Washington, the Redskins won zero playoff games. They need a football guy at the top, and they need a new coach. Owner Dan Snyder is likely to make a splash hire for the coaching job because he needs to revive a frustrated fan base. The only bright spot to this season was rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins. He still has a long way to go, but he showed promise at times.
30. Detroit Lions
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
(3-12-1. Last week: 30)
Coach Matt Patricia has had two dismal seasons. But his job is safe. The team already has announced that Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn will return next season. Ownership likely gave Patricia a pass because he was without injured quarterback Matthew Stafford for much of the season. Stafford should be back and healthy next year. But Quinn and Patricia need to bring in more talent on both sides of the ball in the offseason. Owner Martha Ford isn’t going to remain patient forever. Patricia needs to win in 2020 or else he’ll be gone.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
(6-10. Last week: 29)
One of the more disappointing teams in the league, the Jaguars were supposed to bounce back from a rough 2018 season and get back to the form they showed in the 2017 season, when they made it to the AFC Championship Game. Much of the hype came because they signed free-agent quarterback Nick Foles. But Foles got hurt in the season opener, and the Jaguars turned to sixth-round rookie Gardner Minshew, who played surprisingly well. Now, the dilemma for next year is whether to start Foles or Minshew. The competition between those two in the preseason probably will be one of the most interesting storylines in the league in the summer. It remains to be seen if coach Doug Marrone will be back after two disappointing seasons. The Jaguars already fired executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin and may decide to have a thorough housecleaning.
28. New York Giants
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
(4-12. Last week: 27)
The Giants have been patient with coaches for most of their history. But that changed when Ben McAdoo was fired after two seasons. Pat Shurmur could follow the same track after two disappointing seasons. But his saving grace could be that he’s got the nucleus of a good young offense in place. Second-year running back Saquon Barkley is one of the best all-around players in the league, and rookie quarterback Daniel Jones showed promise. But it’s up to the front office to improve the offensive line and defense. If Shurmur survives, he likely will make some changes to his coaching staff.
27. Miami Dolphins
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
(5-11. Last week: 28)
Although Miami stunned New England with a victory Sunday, this was not a great year for the Dolphins. Early in the season, there was speculation that the Dolphins were losing on purpose to get the No. 1 overall draft pick. There was even talk of an 0-16 season, which seemed quite possible after an 0-7 start. For whatever reason, Miami stayed with veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick for most of the season instead of going with second-year pro Josh Rosen, who was a first-round pick by Arizona last year. The Dolphins gave Rosen only a brief look, so it’s obvious he’s not their future. Miami still will have the No. 5 overall draft pick. Will the Dolphins’ quarterback of the future be available at that spot?
26. Carolina Panthers
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
(5-11. Last week: 26)
There will be major changes in Carolina this offseason after a disappointing season that ended with an embarrassing loss to New Orleans on Sunday. There will be a coaching change. Ron Rivera was fired during the season and replaced by interim coach Perry Fewell. It’s safe to say Fewell won’t get the permanent job. Owner David Tepper seems poised to hire a big name as he continues to distance the current team from its past. The more intriguing storyline is at quarterback. Cam Newton missed all but two games with a foot injury and was also coming off major shoulder surgery. He may no longer be the long-term answer. Plus, Newton’s contract makes him vulnerable. He’s scheduled to make $21 million next season, but the Panthers could clear $19 million in cap space by trading or cutting Newton.
25. Los Angeles Chargers
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
(5-11. Last week: 25)
Another of the league’s most disappointing teams, the Chargers are likely to have some major changes in the offseason. Head coach Anthony Lynn might be pressured into making changes to his coaching staff. But the bigger change could come at quarterback. Philip Rivers’ contract is up and he doesn’t appear to have much left. The Chargers still have plenty of talent, so don’t expect them to blow up the roster. Drafting a quarterback would set the franchise back. The Chargers might be better off bringing in a free agent such as Teddy Bridgewater. Someone like Bridgewater could fix this team in a hurry.
With a Week 16 matchup between the New York Giants and Washington Redskins on tap, we go behind enemy lines for a chat with Redskins Wire.
The New York Giants (3-11) and Washington Redskins (3-11) will square off on Sunday afternoon in Week 16.
The Giants opened the week as 2.5-point road underdogs, and the spread hasn’t changed at all as of Sunday morning.
With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Redskins Wire managing editor Zachary Neel.
Al Bello/Getty Images
Giants Wire: A lot has changed since the last time the Giants and Redskins met, including the status of rookie QB Dwayne Haskins. Now the starter, what have you seen from Haskins over the past 12 weeks and where should the Giants expect him to be in his development at this point?
Zachary Neel: Haskins is “lightyears” ahead of where he was when facing the Giants in Week 4, but that isn’t to say he’s some masterful playmaker. Rather it points to how atrocious he was early in the season.
However, Haskins has come a long way, and he has shown an increased comfortability in the pocket and understanding of when to get the ball out of his hands. He still struggles with accuracy downfield, but that is something that comes with time.
If the Giants want to rattle him, as with any young quarterback, you blitz him and force him to make quick decisions.
The New York Giants and Washington Redskins square off on Sunday in Week 16, so here are six things fans should know.
The New York Giants (3-11) travel down to the Nation’s capital to face the Washington Redskins, who are also 3-11 this season.
Here’s a quick look at six things fans should know ahead of the NFC East matchup:
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The series
The Giants-Redskins rivalry began in 1932 when the Skins were known as the Boston Braves and is the oldest in the NFC East division. The Giants have a regular season lead in the series of 101-68-4.
The teams have met twice in the postseason. In 1943, the Redskins shut the Giants out, 28-0, at the Polo Grounds then lost the NFL Championship to the Chicago Bears the next week, 41-21.
In January of 1987, Big Blue returned the favor, blanking Washington, 17-0, in the NFC Championship Game at Giants Stadium. The Giants went on to defeat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI two weeks later.
The Giants defeated the Redskins, 24-7, in their first meeting this season in Week 4 at MetLife Stadium.
The Redskins may have a tough time finding someone to accept their offer to be the next head coach in Washington.
Just four games stand between the Washington Redskins and the start of their search for a new head coach, but a new report from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer paints a harsh light on what the Redskins might encounter when they eventually get out on the road and start hosting interviews.
According to Breer, some of the potential head coaching candidates are not certain that they can function in Washington DC under the current management, as the uncertainty and turmoil surrounding the top job have been anything but sound over the years.
“My understanding is they’ve gotten some pushback on the current structure of the organization from some of those candidates,” Breer said on 106.7 The Fan. “My sense is that they’ve already gotten the feeling that the head coach search is going to be affected by the way that the building has operated for the last 10 years.”
Over the last 10 years, with Bruce Allen as the team president, the Redskins have gone without a playoff victory and with multiple coaches being shown the door. While Jay Gruden was fired earlier this season after starting 0-5, interim head coach Bill Callahan has stabilized the team and led them to a 3-4 record with a 2-game win-streak in his short time at the helm. However, it is highly unlikely that he will have his interim tag removed when all is said and done.
Washington is reportedly reaching out to potential candidates and putting out some feelers, and the receptions have been tepid, at best. It could be a long offseason for the Redskins, and they may be left alone at the dance floor when it comes to picking their next man.
James Urban among candidates who could replace Mike Groh as Eagles OC
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The Philadelphia Eagles have had a difficult season thus far but still, control their own destiny in the weak NFC East.
The format is simple for Philadelphia, win the next four straight — all divisional opponents — and host a Wild Card one month from now. Even with a playoff run, the Eagles will most certainly make changes to personnel and the coaching staff.
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On Monday, ESPN NFL reporter Chris Mortensen was a guest on SportsCenter and had this to say about the Eagles.
“Barring a run in the playoffs, I would say there’s going to be some significant changes on the Philadelphia staff.”
Mortensen was simply making a hypothesis, as there’s been no indication from inside the organization that any changes are coming.
Philadelphia is now 5-7 after a loss to 3-9 Miami Dolphins, a game in which the Eagles stopped running the ball after taking a 28-14 lead. With the Eagles signing Carson Wentz to a longterm deal and the franchise focused on returning to the Super Bowl, here are 7 potential replacements at offensive coordinator if the team moves on from Mike Groh.
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1. Duce Staley — Eagles assistant head coach
Staley is currently the Eagles running backs coach and also the assistant head coach. Staley, the fifth-leading rusher in franchise history, knows the franchise, has been around some creative offensive play-callers and would have no problem holding quarterback Carson Wentz accountable.
Pederson previously promoted Mike Groh to offensive coordinator, in part because Groh was more involved with the passing game daily.
