Fans and analysts alike were waiting for accountability from the Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff after the team’s second straight loss that has clouded the outcome of a once great season.
Within the walls of the organization, it’s the head coach that is taking the onus.
“We didn’t coach well enough. We didn’t put the guys in good enough positions to make plays. When you score 10 points, there’s a lot of blame to go around and it starts with me. We didn’t put the guys in good enough spots to help them make plays and we have to do a better job of that.” Head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters Monday following the Eagles’ 20-10 loss to New Orleans.
Eagles falling apart?
Part of the team’s recent struggles has been a rash of injuries that has plagued the entire roster ranging from Lane Johnson to Josh Sweat to franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts. While injury updates were not made during the presser Monday afternoon, it appears the Eagles are closer to seeing, at the minimum, their starting quarterback returning to action next week against the Giants.
“Jalen has done all the rehab. He’s always in there working…Obviously, we’re just waiting to see how they feel, continue throughout the week, to see what their status will be for this week.” Sirianni said comparing both the Hurts injury to the one suffered by Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.
Injuries aren’t the only cause for concern in the Eagles’ locker room though. With Jalen Hurts sidelines the last two weeks with a shoulder injury, Gardner Minshew has failed to lead the Eagles to a division title, or a top seed in the NFC playoffs.
Now going for their third straight try at both the division and conference, the Eagles understand it’s more than just the quarterback at fault. Even if his late pick-six ended the Eagles’ hope for a comeback on Sunday.
“[Offensive Coordinator] Shane [Steichen] and I watched it together this morning, as we watched it as a staff, we just kind of said to each other, ‘Hey, this is too recognizable of a formation to come back to. If we do come back to that recognizable formation like that, we need to do something else potentially off of it.’ That’s what we said to ourselves.”
Sirianni later added. “We said, ‘Hey, this is on us.’ Just like what I said to you guys, that’s where accountability starts. Accountability doesn’t start with us as coaches saying to the players, ‘This is what you have to do better.’ It’s part of it, but accountability is everybody looking in the mirror and saying, I screwed this up.”
Still in control…
All eyes will now be on if the Giants sit their starters in their Week 18 matchup against Philadelphia. New York has already clinched a playoff spot and is locked into the sixth seed in the playoffs. With little to play for, there is a chance the Eagles could get the G-Men’s third-stringers on Sunday.
But that’s not a focus the coaching staff is looking into.
“I can’t anticipate the Giants. Again, I can only control what I can control. That’s always been my message to the team – control what you can control, and spend your mental energy on the things that are worth your mental energy.” said Sirianni.
Philadelphia is in desperate need of a win. As crazy as it is to think about how we got here after a 13-1 start, the Eagles coaches are taking the blame, and leading the charge into next Sunday’s must-win affair.
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
