By Michael Donovan
Nobody knows how Doug Pederson will do as Eagles coach in 2016.
After all, he has never been a head coach and his spell as the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator was spotty, especially considering the way the Chiefs spit the bit at the end of the AFC playoff game against the Patriots.
So, let’s see how Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks thinks he’ll do:
Pederson seems like such an unknown quantity, but the reality is that the Eagles are only a year removed from back-to-back 10-win seasons, so a total rebuild after last year’s slippage to 7–9 is hardly in store. Owner Jeffrey Lurie opted for harkening back to his club’s largely successful Andy Reid era with this hire, and maybe some of Reid’s solid and steady demeanor is exactly what the Eagles need right now. And if Pederson has the “emotional intelligence’’ that Lurie found lacking in Chip Kelly, all the better.
I’m a firm believer that Philly tapping ex-Lions head coach Jim Schwartz to coordinate the defense was one of the best moves in the NFL this hiring season, and he’ll have the Eagles playing an aggressive and disruptive brand of ball. Pederson might need some on the job training, but if he gets his quarterback situation figured out reasonably well, a playoff berth in the less-than-scintillating NFC East is always within reach.
