Was able to attend a “Meet The Coaching Staff” Zoom this morning for select Season Ticket Members, hosted by Dave Spadaro and I jotted down some notes, for anyone interested.
Spadaro prefaced everything with the fact that NFL rules don’t allow staff to comment on “reported” trades, only official one. On March 17th, at 4pm (the official start of the new league year) there will be press conference with Nick Sirianni and Howie Roseman to talk about any official trades.
On the Zoom were HC Nick Sirianni, OC Shane Steichen, DC Jonathan Gannon, and STC Michael Clay.
Nick seemed way more relaxed and conversational than his introductory press conference and talked about, but still underscored things like his 5 Core Values and how they want to stress adapting things to player strengths, rather than be married to a system or scheme that might not be the right fit for a player’s skills. Here are the thoughts he shared:
In his first 6 weeks, he has spent that time digging into the roster to see what players they currently have in order to choose what type of offense or defense to run, plays that will work, etc. That means re-evaluating everyone (current roster, free agents, potential cuts from other teams) and their skills compared to the things they want to install. All the coaches have input on that.
His transition to head coach has been based on what he’s learned from others like Frank Reich, and wants to do things similar to him.
He’s established his 5 “Core Values”:
#1“Connecting” with the players and other coaches, as people, before any football things.
#2 “Competing” all the time, even in practice and the weight room, everyone needs to compete.
#3 “Accountability” to hold yourself accountable, hold your teammates accountable, the coaches hold the players accountable, etc.. Show/demonstrate what they are doing right (and praise it) and when it’s not right point it out and teach them the right way.
#4 “Football IQ” and be good teachers, make the system itself simple for players, focus on situational football.
#5 “Fundamentals” because all players in the NFL are good and talented, but consistent fundamentals is where you can gain an advantage.
His offensive vision is going to be dependent on the players and their skills, so right now they have a high-level idea of what they want to do, but the ways they will execute on it will depend on the strengths of the players. For example, they will stress protecting the QB, but what techniques or schemes they will use to do that will fit the strengths of the players. They want to create explosive plays, but whether they do it through routes, motion, speed, etc. will be dictated by the talent they have. The aim will be to try and “win” plays and produce “double-positive” stats (like a strip sack that produces a sack and turnover, or a tackle for a loss that takes a team out FG range.)
On OC Steichen: Shane is bright, and Nick considered his 4 years working with him as a “4 year interview” for this job. Nick said he always knew if he became a HC, Shane would be his OC (if Shane wasn’t already a HC). Shane is an expert in QB play. There will be no surprises, as they have been through ups and downs together. Thinks it is a huge advantage to have that comfort level with him, as a new HC. Shane looks for the slightest edge in all matchups, and will dig through years of tape to find it.
On DC Jonathan Gannon: Also had a “3 year interview” with him, and Nick has seen first-hand what he can do with his players, developing rookies and vets. Mentioned how he turned Kenny Moore into the highest paid nickel corner in the NFL. Players that play for him have nothing but praise for him. Even though Jonathan is the DC, he will still be heavily involved in developing players, as that’s his passion the same as Nick is still passionate about developing WRs (where he said he still wants to be heavily involved in Philly). Jonathan either always has a good answer about defensive questions, or will go learn it inside and out and that comes from developing in the Mike Zimmer and Matt Eberflus tree).
On STC Michael Clay: He was someone Nick didn’t know, but people in the Eagles building recommended he get an interview and he was just blown away. In interviews, you show you’re ready by preparing everyday living and breathing football, compared to some interviewees that seemed to just cram/prep the day before. Michael was natural and thoroughly prepared via his experience and it showed. Michael preaches situational smartness on special teams. When quizzed on some tape they showed him during the interview, he could dissect it in an instant. They wanted to end interview with him once they knew he was the guy, but Michael wanted to finish going through the rest of the tape they prepared to quiz him because he loves it, so they went through them all.
Next, OC Shane Steichen shared his thoughts:
Mentioned that working with Phillip Rivers vs Justin Herbert made for different coaching approaches. Due to Rivers’ experience, it was about helping and supporting him in the smaller things, but for Herbert it was constant repetition of the system to get him to learn it thoroughly and to adapt the system to what he’s good at. Wants to build the system around the QBand their skills first, and then the other players and their skills. If players change and have different skills, need to adapt. In a QB, the 3 core traits he wants are: #1 accuracy, #2 intelligence/processing, and #3 ability to create on the move, out of the pocket.
Then DC Jonathan Gannon was asked about his experience as a scout, prior to coaching:
As a scout he learned the business side of roster building and how to evaluate players more objectively, which gives him insight into another side, now as a coach. He also learned how to accept being wrong about evaluations and ways to learn from those mistakes. As for a defensive “scheme” he said he doesn’t have one other than: Take away intent. He wants to have a scheme that adapt and changes in order to take away the things the other team does best, create takeaways, prevent explosive plays, and produce pre and post snap pressure on the QB. How that will be done will be different week to week, depending on how they can exploit the other team’s weaknesses. He also like to keep himself and his players clam and clear-headed so they can think and process and do the right things.
STC Michael Clay then gave his take on the Special Teams unit:
His message to his special teams group is “be special”, understand how in the limited plays you get, you could have one or two of those plays that can change the game. Embrace being a 2-core player (playing on both ST and either Defense or Offense). Losing in the Superbowl (in San Fran) taught him to not take success for granted, saw first-hand how the Special Teams unit helped turn around a 2-14 team to a Superbowl team.
Then Nick took a few questions from Season Ticket Members:
How do you want to maximize production from the QB position? Nick said he values accuracy, decision making, and ability to create as top 3/critical. Then arm strength, toughness, leadership, competitiveness. Said their job as coaches is to get the QB to play at their best.
Will watching film on the Colts and Chargers give us an idea of what to expect for the Eagles offense this season? Nick said it may have elements of both, plus what worked well for the Eagles last year. But it all goes back to building it around the players they have and what they do best. And he believe the Eagles have the advantage right now that no opponents will know until that first game what this new staff will come up with.
What is your first priority for getting ready for this year? Nick reiterated that it’s thoroughly evaluating players and added building relationships with all of the players. He’s “living the dream of being part of a team”, even as a coach, and loves the comradery with the players and staff, as well as how the families of the players and staff can build relationships that will endure for years.
Have you been made aware of much the Eagles hate the Cowboys? Nick said he definitely got the memo and you can’t escape it when looking around the building. There’s big graphics on the walls of Troy Aikman getting sacked, Emmitt Smith getting stopped, Reggie White standing over Aikman, forcing a fumble on Zeke, etc. He loves that it’s like a college rivalry, not just with Dallas but also the Giants and Washington. He mentions even the AFC teams he’s been with didn’t like Dallas, so he already didn’t like them anyway.
Nick closed by saying that he, and the other coaches, have all been to The Linc as opponents and know what it’s like to be on that end of the fans, so they are all excited to now have those fans on their side and can’t wait to get out there and play in front of them.