In life, it’s at all times simpler to backslide than it’s to scale the mountain.
Individuals who attempt to drop some pounds or get more healthy typically discover it’s simpler to return to outdated habits than it’s to ascertain new ones. Grinding away at your job day after day requires extra power and energy than mailing it in. Generally, you get up within the morning and also you don’t actually really feel like being probably the most engaged mum or dad on the earth, taking your son or daughter to yet one more music lesson/sports activities apply/dance recital.
Some 180s are simpler to perform than others. For a group just like the Eagles, it appeared far simpler for them to spiral into the depths of regardless of the heck it’s we’re in now than it was for them to construct themselves up right into a Tremendous Bowl contender, which is worrisome because the group enters this vital low season.
After an article by Marcus Hayes through which two Eagles gamers informed him the teaching employees performed favorites final season, it’s arduous to imagine this was primarily the identical group that just about beat the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the Tremendous Bowl lower than a 12 months earlier than.
If you happen to have been an offensive lineman — Jordan Mailata, Cam Jurgens, or Landon Dickerson — you bought handled in a different way than when you have been Jason Kelce or Lane Johnson. And heaven forbid you have been a younger defensive lineman, like Jordan Davis or Jalen Carter, who might do no proper within the final two months, versus Fletcher Cox or Brandon Graham, the previous of whom disappeared within the latter a part of the season and the latter of whom didn’t present up within the former a part of the season.
On the time, this appeared like normal bellyaching from the proletariat — gamers unwilling to acknowledge the unstated entitlement of $255 million quarterbacks and future Corridor of Fame gamers. Now, although, as experiences floor about deeper locker-room malignancy, these complaints, if not the foundation of the collapse, would possibly at the very least have contributed to it.
So, let’s simply recap what this group has reportedly gone by means of over the past 12 months.
They misplaced a crushing Tremendous Bowl to Kansas Metropolis.
Each coordinators departed for different jobs, with Jonathan Gannon burning the group late within the course of, denying them a chance to maintain Vic Fangio round.
Arguments on the sideline persevered even because the Eagles ran up a 10-1 file, reportedly probably the most depressing 10-1 group in NFL historical past.
Sean Desai was stripped of his defensive coordinator duties for the inept Matt Patricia, creating havoc on the defensive aspect of the ball.
Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown reportedly ignored coaches’ performs and improvised on the finish of the Seattle recreation.
Brown refused to talk with the media, then when he did, apologized to teammates for having to reply questions for him, but additionally telling teammates they should “belief their coaches.”
Craig Carton stated, with out proof or attribution, that one thing occurred contained in the locker room that was “irreparable,” (a report I don’t imagine for a second however has predictably triggered a ruckus nonetheless).
Derrick Gunn reported the absence of Large Dom had the destructive ramification of taking away Nick Sirianni’s voice of cause on the sidelines, leading to Sirianni yelling at gamers and coaches on the sidelines in a means he hadn’t with Large Dom there.
Gunn additionally reported Hurts was distracted over the summer time as his contract negotiations intensified and extra was required of his time when it comes to obligations off the sector. I’ve been saying this for months, by the way in which, albeit with no insider data in any respect. Generally, issues are simply widespread sense.
The group misplaced six of its final seven video games and has since seen Sirianni compelled to just accept a brand new offensive and defensive coordinator, in addition to a number of different positional coaches to his employees.
These aren’t simply headwinds, of us. These are sandstorms.
There’s no cause to not imagine this newest report from Hayes, given how the group totally cratered. I’m tempted to imagine absolutely anything that comes out concerning the ‘23 Eagles following their 1-6 collapse. And with Sirianni now driving a make-it-or-break-it 2024 season, with two new coordinators in tow and a locker room to patch again collectively, it’s an exceedingly tall order for a head coach who reportedly couldn’t management his feelings effectively sufficient on the sector because the group faltered round him.
When you have extra expertise than the opposite group, chances are high you’re going to win much more video games than you lose, and if the Eagles draft effectively and make smart investments in free company, this group ought to have probably the greatest rosters within the league heading into coaching camp later this summer time. However one has to surprise if the toxicity that existed contained in the Eagles locker room, a toxicity that appeared to emanate nearly in a single day, grown and festering underneath the crushing weight of expectations to get again to the Tremendous Bowl and end the job, could be eradicated in only one low season.
And, whether or not it may be eradicated when the top coach who allowed it to develop remains to be calling the pictures.
Had Jeffrey Lurie introduced in a brand new voice to guide the group, it could be simpler to imagine the group might rebound from its 2023 travails. It’s more durable to see the way it occurs whenever you’re making an attempt to separate the distinction — maintaining Sirianni on in a caretaker function whereas bringing in skilled veteran coordinators who shall be tasked with being the brains behind the operation.
Previous is just not at all times prologue, however with every passing week, one other layer of this 2023 Eagles season is peeled away, and none of it has been good. Can this group discover a method to incorporate two new coordinators, mesh them along with no matter it’s Sirianni goes to do, revitalize a franchise quarterback that took a transparent step again final season and rebuild what grew to become the worst protection within the NFL and make a return journey to the Tremendous Bowl?
If they will, it is going to go down as one of many best 180s in NFL historical past, on the heels of one of many worst 180s we’ve ever seen in skilled sports activities.
