Andy Reid's Winning Philosophy Has Eagles on the Edge of Greatness

The argument started to feel as redundant as the chicken vs. the egg here in Philadelphia.

Who was more responsible for the Eagles constant success in the last decade: Quarterback Donovan McNabb or head coach Andy Reid?

That question was dissected, discussed and argued from every angle to the point where beating a dead horse seemed like a fresh idea. Finally following the 2009 season, the Eagles traded McNabb and the question stood a chance to gain some clarity.

Ten weeks into the 2010 season and the question has not only gained clarity, it has been answered in resounding fashion: Andy Reid is the glue that holds the Eagles together in the rough patches.

He is the mastermind behind their continued success, the maestro of player personnel. It amazes me when I tune into one of the local AM sports stations here in Philadelphia and continue to hear fans call for Reid’s head.

What has happened here?

Have some of the Eagles fans grown too accustomed to winning and take it for granted? Or are they just not aware of everything Reid has done?

Take a look at the players that Reid has lost over the past several seasons: Six-time Pro Bowl QB Donovan McNabb; Pro Bowl halfback Brian Westbrook; bookend tackles Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan; the leader of the defense and eight-time Pro Bowler Brian Dawkins; former first-round pick and All-Pro Shawn Andrews and his brother Stacey, who was brought in to secure the right guard position; center Jamal Jackson has had two season-ending injuries in a row; All-Pro fullback Leonard Weaver completely tore up his knee early this season; Sheldon Brown, one of the most underrated cornerbacks in the league, was traded prior to the 2010 season, and former first-round pick Lito Sheppard fizzled out at the position after multiple Pro Bowl seasons; the young leader of this defense, Stewart Bradley, was lost for the entire 2009 season; and starting strong-side linebacker Chris Gocong was traded after that season.

The sheer number of leaders and top-level players that have retired, been traded, moved on in free agency or were injured recently would be enough to sink any team. 

It is unprecedented that a coach could overcome that magnitude of player personnel changes while keeping his team relevant by exploiting the draft and free agency. In perspective if you take the starting QB, HB, RT, LT, RG, CB and FS off any other team over a two-year span, the vast majority of teams would completely crumble. Even elite-level coaches could falter under those unfavorable circumstances.

The more amazing fact is that not only has Reid kept the Eagles relevant, Reid, with his youngest squad ever, has his team playing better than ever. 

In 2004 the Eagles offense was explosive under McNabb, Westbrook and Terrell Owens, but even that group does not compare to the level of play of the current Eagles offense. Reid may have finally found the ingredients to his masterpiece concoction after a decade-plus of trying different combinations.

It also must be said that while Reid is and always has been the main catalyst to the Eagles' perpetual success, McNabb, in his prime, was also a main cog in that machine. 

It certainly is unfair to not acknowledge that McNabb now is only days away from his 34^th birthday and it's obvious that his best seasons are behind him, like they are for most 34-year-old quarterbacks. The fact remains that the NFL is a business first and foremost. Player personnel is a revolving door of constant change. McNabb was a big piece of the puzzle for a decade but Reid has captained the ship and weathered storms consistently.

The 2010 season is only the tip of the iceberg of showing doubters the true genius behind the red mustache and glasses that stalk the sideline in all black on Sundays.

After the 59-28 thumping of the Redskins in Washington, a national audience was treated to viewing what the perfect QB at his full potential can do in an Andy Reid offense with the right players around him. It was extraordinary, amazing...it goes beyond the hyperbole and simply must be seen to be understood. How thoroughly the Eagles dominated a division rival that has historically given Reid many problems was a statement that this young Eagles team has arrived right on time.

To Eagles fans the promises that Andy Reid has made us over the years feel like they finally may come to fruition. For Eagles Nation this is a dream come true. To the rest of the NFL it’s a very real nightmare.