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If Eagles head coach Doug Pederson is considering retaining or promoting quarterbacks coach and Press Taylor passing play coordinator as part of his strategy to revive his struggling offense, he might want to think about how that would be perceived by his staff and his locker room.
If owner Jeffrey Lurie wants significant changes in the offense and the offensive staff, Pederson may have to choose between sacking Taylor and losing his job.
Taylor, who has been with the organization since 2013, has been promoted twice under Pederson. He went from assistant quarterback coach to quarterback coach in 2018. He was awarded the title of passing game coordinator last season.
Taylor has been a constant in the development of quarterback Carson Wentz over the past five seasons. While Taylor and Wentz have a bond on and off the pitch, Wentz and the offense have regressed with each of Taylor’s promotions over the past three seasons.
Taylor has also frustrated other offensive players with his handling of Wentz, a person familiar with the dynamics of offensive coaching staff told NJ Advance Media on Sunday. The person was granted anonymity to speak freely.
There are coaches and players within the organization who believe Taylor let his personal relationship with Wentz keep him from criticizing the quarterback, the person said.
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According to the person, there are offensive players on the roster who feel that Taylor isn’t coaching Wentz hard enough, and some have even called his approach with the QB “soft.”
Taylor de Wentz’s treatment is not uncommon within the organization. Pederson refused to bench Wentz in the first 11 games of the season, even though Wentz led the league in turnovers, interceptions and sacks at the time. When Pederson finally put Wentz on the bench, he took his feelings into consideration, choosing to name the starting quarterback each week, despite rookie Jalen Hurts flashes of brilliance in his first opportunities to extend playing time.
Even with the public pampering of Pederson de Wentz, the relationship between the two is “fractured beyond repair,” according to ESPN. Because of this tension, Wentz is taking the time to weigh its future with the franchise and consider commercial demand, according to the Associated Press.
When given the opportunity, Pederson regularly praised and promoted Taylor. Taylor might actually be Pederson’s only chance to reconcile with Wentz.
According to ESPN, Pederson’s initial meeting with Lurie in the offseason did not go well, as Pederson’s initial pitch to improve the attack lacked urgency. Jeff McLane of The Inquirer reported Sunday that Pederson is considering promoting Taylor, once again, to the offensive coordinator position.
A former member of the Eagles coaching staff told NJ Advance Media that Taylor has the makings of a successful offensive coordinator. While Wentz’s regression has been revealing and the passing game’s lack of imagination has been alarming, the former Eagles position coach, who spoke to NJAM on condition of anonymity, said the struggles could not rely solely on Taylor.
“I think (Taylor’s) spirit for the game is great,” the coach told NJAM on Sunday. “It’s hard to judge the guy on his cooking (of the offense) when he hasn’t bought the groceries.”
In addition to giving Taylor the title of passing match coordinator last season, Pederson hired former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello as senior offensive assistant and former offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg as senior offensive consultant. After an embarrassing season of attacking, the team have reportedly let both coaches’ contracts expire.
A person familiar with the dynamics of the Eagles’ locker room told NJ Advance Media that the consensus among attacking players was that Wentz had too many voices in his ear – and outside of Pederson – most of them weren’t. qualified to have influence. on the offense or the quarterback. Taylor was one of that group, the person said.
“I don’t think there is a lot of respect for (Taylor),” the person said. “Or, for most offensive coaches for that matter.”
With Lurie looking for major improvements on offense, maintaining the status quo and promoting from within could result in Pederson being sacked. And even if Pederson is allowed to keep Taylor, it could hurt Pederson’s relationship with his players.
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