It Looks Like Kellen Moore Will Take The Saints Coaching Job
The Saints job is the only head coach opening that has yet to be filled in this cycle. While nothing is official, and nothing can be official until after the Super Bowl, it may already be filled. The Saints met with Kellen Moore on Monday, in Philly, and according to everything we have heard, he is the clubhouse favorite to land that job after the Super Bowl.
Don’t take my word for it though. Adam Schefter himself joined Kincade & Salciuans this morning and told us what he knows. This is what he said when Andrew asked him what the odds were Moore would be the Saints next Head Coach.
“Rising by the day, increasing all the time. 48 hours ago I would have said he’s right in it. They haven’t made a decision yet. Apparently, they haven’t finalized any deal. To my knowledge, they can’t. But it certainly sounds like it’s trending Kellen Moore’s way.”
By rule, they can not hire him yet. They can’t even talk to him again. Which was part of the issue with Jonathan Gannon a couple of years ago. The Cardinals had contact when they were not allowed to. But it certainly sounds like once the the Saints hire Moore, they are going to. Meaning the Eagles will be on totheir 4th Offensive Coordinator in as many years.
Who Could Replace Kellen Moore?
This was something many thought could happen when they hired Kellen Moore. He was never a long-term fit. He has been getting Head Coach hype for years now. So the Eagles are hopefully prepared for this.
Adam Schefter talked about how the Eagles might replace him, and he seems to think they are going to look within.
“I guarantee there are enough candidates on staff that they have to go through. That’s what most teams do when they lose coordinators. They look within.
The Lions lost their defensive coordinator and they promoted their new defensive coordinator from within. Even their offensive coordinator was on their staff two years ago. And a lot of times people like to look within, try to replace their guys.
That’s going to be an option. It’s hard to go out and get a top-flight Offensive Coordinator any time, no less after a Super Bowl game. So that’ll be a challenge. Every team has them and that’s going to be one of the Eagles after the Super Bowl if and when they lose Kellen Moore.”
Two years ago when they lost Shane Steichen, we knew Brina Johnson was the next guy up. There is not that guy this year, at least not one as obvious as Johnson was. RB Coach Jemal Singleton gets a lot of praise, as does QB Coach Doug Nussmier and Passing Game Coordinator Kevin Patullo. But Doug Nussmier has coached with Moore for a while and could follow him to New Orleans to be the Offensive Coordinator there.
One of those 3 in-house candidates could be the next OC. But Eagles might be wary to go to someone with no NFL Play Calling Experience again after how it went with Brian Johnson. If so, they will have to look outside.
There are also some familiar faces outside the organization who could make a return. Frank Reich was the Offensive Coordinator when the Eagles won Super Bowl 52, is currently out of work, and obviously has a close relationship with Nick Sirianni.
Likewise, Josh McCown has had buzz around his name, has played in Philly, and did a great job with Sam Darnold as the Vikings QB Coach this past year. Chargers Passign Gam,e Coordinator has also coached in Philly, and after a successful year with the Chargers, is an interesting name who has gotten some buzz around the league.
Every other team has a head start on the Eagles, and many teams have already filled out their staff. So the Eagles will have to be more creative if Moore does get hired, which looks to be what is going to happen. But they will have some interesting options, both in-house, and outside the organization.
Watch the Full Interview With Adam Schefter Below
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Revisiting Every Eagles Off-Season Move Before The Big Game
Avonte Maddox
Before the draft, meaning before the Eagles landed two rookie corners, the Eagles had a major depth issue at Corner. They were the worst secondary in the league last season. Darius Slay was still here, which helped, but everything else was a question mark. So at the time, it made sense to bring back Maddox, who despite multiple injuries, had been more than solid for them as the Slot Corner over the past several seasons.
But based on the first 4 games where he served as the primary Slot Corner, the injuries had clearly caught up to him. He could not move the way he used to, and teams picked on him constantly. Cooper DeJean replaced him. After playing over 200 snaps in the first 4 weeks, he played just 80 over the next 12 games, before playing a ton vs the Giants in a game where the starters didn’t play.
It was a fine move at the time, but it wound up not working. He is only useful as a depth player, but even then, you would be incredibly nervous if he had to go onto the field vs the Chiefs.
Re-Grade- D
Bryce Huff
The first and maybe only true disaster of the off-season. Bryce Huff was their big addition alongside Saquon Barkley. He was intended to replace Haason Reddick (who we will get to later. Turns out he has barely started. Much like Devon White, Huff never entered the good graces of Vic Fangio.
He lost snaps every week as he struggled to make an impact. He eventually got hurt and missed significant time. But he had already lost most of his snaps and has not gotten them back since returning. He was incredibly effective in limited snaps last year with the Jets. But he has given the Eagles barely any production. Not even as a pass rusher. He got 3 years and $51 million and has given the Eagles 5 tackles and 2.5 sacks for all that money.
The emergence of Nolan Smith has softened that blow. But Huffs’ struggle has left them with very little depth on the Edge. It has gotten to the point where a $17 million player only got on the field in a playoff game because the Eagles were up 30 points.
Re-Grade- F
