Can Philadelphia Eagles Lead Chip Kelly Down Mike Holmgren’s Trail?
By Bret Stuter
Sep 14, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn (left) celebrates with general manager Thomas Dimitroff (right) following their 26-24 win over the Philadelphia Eagles at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Thomas Dimitroff
The Atlanta Falcons general manager was stripped of pro and college scouting in January 2015, along with NFL draft responsibilities and the head coach from directly reporting to him in a major realignment of the front office. In addition to keeping his title, Dimitroff retained management responsibility for salary cap, player affairs, equipment, sports medicine and performance, and video activities. In short, Dimitroff was given a role similar to that of Howie Roseman.
Howie Rosemam
It a story similar to Dimitroff, Howie Roseman was the contract guy who was promoted over time to general manager responsibilities and then demoted to executive vice president of football operations. And as Dimitroff, Roseman has retained management responsibility for salary cap, player affairs, equipment, sports medicine and performance, and video activities.
He was removed from football’s personnel decisions.
Can Philadelphia Eagles Lead Chip Kelly Down Mike Holmgren’s Trail?
I think it’s a serious issue that will become even more serious as time goes on. Chip Kelly is a confident and decisive man, perfect qualities for a head coach who must make instant and permanent decisions without consulting anyone.
But in personnel, it’s more involved. There are too many factors, too many variables – from salary cap to aging of team to life of contract to sign-ability to scheme fit to player talent to personalities. The complexity of building a true champion team is tougher now with social media to analytics. Everyone has instant access to a myriad of reports and data. It takes several persons to responsibly go through the information.
Next: Eagles Redskins Game Time And Channel Information
Can Chip Kelly succeed as a general manager? I’d like to yes, but his first year grades come in rather poorly. Can the Eagles get away with returning Chip Kelly to exclusively being a head coach? That will bruise Kelly’s pride, and while the team could retain Kelly for the length of his contract, the results of demotion place one of Kelly’s feet out the door.
This is a tough place to be Eagles fans. If the team truly is to win a superbowl in my lifetime, they need to act quickly. If the team does make it to the playoffs this year, some may point to the team as a success. I don’t. This team is breaking down faster that it can repair itself. In the off-season, the team will be left with a huge shopping list.