Nick Sirianni: 5 things to know about the Eagles’ new head coach



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The Philadelphia Eagles have a new head coach and his name is Nick Sirianni.

There’s a good chance you’ve never really heard of him before this week. And even if you had, you probably didn’t know all of this a lot on him.

So, let’s rectify that with a look at those who know Sirianni best. I reached out to Chris Blystone of Stampede Blue and he was courteous enough to answer my questions about the former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator.

1) Do you think the Eagles are making a good decision in hiring Sirianni?

That’s a tough question to answer with any coordinator who has to move up to a head coach position, but overall I believe Sirianni has the makeup of a good head coach. The Colts’ offensive coaching staff are very collaborative, character-driven, and an emphasis on analysis in their game. I expect to see Sirianni wear that to the Eagles and implement a similar style as a head coach.

Sirianni is a high level option as a head coach. He is a leader, a respected person and a creative mind. He has spent a lot of time working closely with Frank Reich in an attacking staff who have been as adaptive as you could hope for, while continuing to put in a strong attacking performance.

2) What role did Sirianni really play in the Colts attack when Frank Reich called plays? What are the things that stood out schematically during his time at Indy?

While he may not have made any calls on game day, Sirianni was certainly heavily involved in planning the game. In many ways he was the Frank Reich in Pederson of the Reich. He played the sounding board role for Reich and the guy who was closest to Reich in his time in Indy.

Additionally, Reich, Sirianni and former quarterback coach Marcus Brady, who is now the Colts’ offensive coordinator, would attend weekly protection meetings and were deeply involved in planning pass protections for the week. That included the quarterbacks, running backs, and offensive line that all came together, and that process is likely one Sirianni will continue, and that’s a big part of why the Colts have been so good at passing protection. over the past 3 seasons.

The notable areas of excellence in the Colts’ attack during the time Sirianni was there, have been in terms of wins with good course combinations and good plans rather than relying on competent players. The Colts haven’t had a large reception hall since Reich was the head coach, and they must have won by playing so much with their individual players.

Tight ends and running backs played a big part in the Colts’ passing offense, and likely will be with any offense Sirianni runs.

3) There’s a lot of talk about how the Eagles hire Sirianni in part to help fix Carson Wentz. Based on the Colts quarterback performances, how much confidence do you have in Siranni to get the most out of Wentz?

As I mentioned before, Sirianni will likely be a major asset in the protection of passes. Having a cohesive vision to keep Wentz upright and unhindered while trying to lead the offense is the first step in unleashing his MVP-level potential from previous years. If that player is still in there, this part of Sirianni’s methods will probably help.

I think Eagles fans should expect some difficulty, but I also think Sirianni has proven to be a competent coach who has had to adjust to a ridiculously chaotic quarterback position in his time as an offensive coordinator. He went from Andrew Luck in his prime, to a surprising move to a backup as a Jacoby Brissett starter, to an aging Philip rivers. These players all have vastly different abilities and strengths, but the Colts have managed to pull off a good production.

If the 2017 Carson Wentz is still around, I think Sirianni will persuade it.

4) Are there any rising Colts assistant coaches that you might see him trying to bring to Philadelphia? I know Jonathan Gannon was rumored.

The Colts coaching staff has been the source of much rumor and speculation this offseason as they appear to be coveted in the league. I think Gannon might make the most likely pairing if he were to bring coaches with him.

Frank Reich allowed the defense under Matt Eberflus to operate without a ton of his input and interference. I would expect Sirianni to want to bring in a similarly talented defensive coach with a consistent philosophy on the players. Jonathan Gannon brings a unique experience to training because he has spent time as a scout as well as his defensive experience. He has proven to be a capable developer of young talent at cornerback and safety, where the Colts essentially plugged in their rookies immediately and asked them to play a major role on defense.

5) What, if anything, can you tell us about Sirianni off the pitch? How well does he bring leadership to the table?

Like Frank Reich, Sirianni is a man of faith and character. He’s well-liked and respected in the organization, and although he brings a bit more fire to the training ground than Reich, he’s cut from roughly the same fabric.

He was part of a Colts organization that hosted very emotional player meetings to discuss how the team felt in the wake of the George Floyd murder and the protests that followed. These staff have focused on more than just football, and while there will always be business decisions made in this game, they have done their best to create a family environment. I think you’ll see these things worn at the Eagles, and while they definitely have a bit of Sirianni’s flair, it would surprise me if it looks drastically different from what the Colts have had at Frank Reich over the past 3 seasons.



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