Over the last few months, a growing discourse has started over the effectiveness of Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni.
Some claim that Sirianni is merely a coach catching the wave of a very talented roster while bringing very little to the table. Others argue that the brilliance of the Eagles’ head coach is how he handles relationships within the building. After Tuesday’s joint practice with the Browns, the former may be correct.
Nick Sirianni rallies the Eagles in joint practice vs Browns
After being reportedly outplayed by Cleveland on Monday, the Eagles’ head coach decided that the energy level needed to be improved, and attention to detail needed to be refocused.
“I thought there was some good back and forth,” Sirianni said before Tuesday’s work. “Obviously, with our offense, they did a good job. Credit to the Browns. They did a really good job yesterday. Wasn’t up to our offensive standard, but some of it is that they did some good things, too.”
Nick Sirianni’s message was felt loud and clear by the roster and they responded with one of the most intense practices in recent memory. It serves as a reminder that not every great head coach is a strategist like Andy Reid or Bill Walsh. Some, like Mike Tomlin, use their gifts as a leader to galvanize the troops and set a strong foundation that allows the players to succeed in their way.
The Eagles’ response to Sirianni’s call for an increase in intensity was also a sign that his message is being supported throughout the locker room. The hardest thing for coaches is when they lose a locker room’s support but that has not been the case for Sirianni since he took the job in 2021.
Nick Sirianni has proven he can coach through adversity
Even when things started rough for the coach, like going 2-5 to start the year in 2021, Sirianni had the understanding to give up playcalling to Shane Steichen so he can be better prepared to handle the in-game adjustments head coaches need to be part of. It was a move that surprised many at the time but showed the lack of a major ego that plagues some head coaches around the league. It ended up being the right move as Sirianni’s club made it to the Super Bowl in just his second season with the team.
Entering 2023, Sirianni’s team is a unit that many have picked to represent the NFC again in next season’s Super Bowl. Now, the Eagles are just as much the hunted as the hunter across the NFL and their head coach must be willing to adapt to the change in circumstances to have his team prepared for the new year.
So far, it seems Sirianni has been up to the challenge. Tuesday’s results were as prime an example as any.
There may be some that feel any average coach could do the job Nick Sirianni has done to this point in Philadelphia. The players and the results may say otherwise.
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Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire
