The search for a new wide receiver coach could be nearing an end for the Philadelphia Eagles. According to ESPN’s Adam Caplan, the team are expected to sign former Rams and Bears WR coach, Mike Groh.
#Eagles are expected to hire Mike Groh (last season #Rams passing game coordinator/WRs coach) for WRs coaching job, sources said.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) January 21, 2017
The Eagles have now seemingly turned to Mike Groh. The 45-year old has spent one year in Los Angeles with the Rams, acting as Fisher’s passing coordinator and WR’s coach. Kenny Britt (who we evaluated as a target earlier today), enjoyed his first 1,000 yard season under the tutelage of Groh despite the Rams struggling to find any consistency offensively.
Pior to the move to LA, Groh spent eight years coaching the Chicago Bears wide receivers.
It was widely speculated that the Eagles would make a push for Alshon Jeffery during the offseason, who is now a pending free agent. Groh worked extremely well with Jeffery and proved to be instrumental in his development. If the Eagles were to try and actively pursue the receiver who had two 1,000 yard seasons under Groh, then they would need all the leverage they could get.
Groh also helped along the likes of Brandon Marshall and the Eagles have had to refine their search to an experienced mentor who has shown an ability to nurture star talent. Groh ticks the boxes and could not only aid in helping push the development of players such as Agholor and Matthews, but potentially a deal sweetener if the Eagles were to address the position in the offseason, with Alshon Jeffery and Kenny Britt both having huge success under his guidance and both testing the waters of free agency.
Groh will inherit an inconsistent roster if he is named the team’s WR coach, headlined by Jordan Matthews who received for 804 yards this year, while the rest of the corps combined for just over 1,000. Nelson Agholor, Dorial Green-Beckham, Bryce Treggs, and Paul Turner make up the other names who caught passes for the Eagles this year, while the likes of Rasheed Bailey, Marcus Johnson and David Watford are among those who signed futures contracts after the season ended.
It will be a tall order to transform a unit plagued with issues into a well oiled machine, but Groh may be among the most suited candidates to do so.
