Who is responsible for Philadelphia Eagles’ early success?
By Ryan Quigley
Who is really responsible for the Philadelphia Eagles’ incredible start to the 2016 season?
It’s pretty safe to say that not many people, if any, were expecting the Philadelphia Eagles to start the season off with a 3-0 record. Granted, two of the three games they won were against bottom-dwellers, but the pure domination the Eagles have displayed thus far is impressive nonetheless.
Rookie quarterback Carson Wentz has completely re-energized not only the team, but the franchise as well. His maturity and work ethic are rubbing off on the majority of his teammates and it shows on game days. But is Wentz the one really responsible for the Eagles’ early success?
Next: Eagles Week 3 rookie review: Wentz, Smallwood dazzle
Not by a long shot.
As good as Wentz has been this season, it’s hard not to be impressed with Head Coach Doug Pederson as well. Pederson’s preparation and smart play-calling are really what has made the team perform the way it has.
What Pederson is doing off the field, however, is just as impressive as what he’s doing on it and may actually be the real reason for the Eagles’ incredible start to the 2016 season.
Wideout Jordan Matthews had some high praise for Pederson following the Eagles’ Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns.
"“He’s played the game. And not only has he played the game, but he’s been in our shoes. And when I say ‘our shoes,’ he’s played in the city of Philadelphia. Playing in the city of Philadelphia is not like any other support state,” Matthews said. “When I see him, it’s not even as much as I see a coach. It’s like ‘Yo Pops, I got you.’ That’s a blood brother right there. No different from those guys in the locker room. Sometimes Coach Pederson doesn’t even have to say much. We already feel that family vibe from him so we just really want to go out there and win for him.”"
Leading up to the Eagles’ Monday night game against the Chicago Bears, safety Malcolm Jenkins told the media that he, along with several other teammates, were going to protest during the game’s national anthem—an action that many believe is detrimental to the unity of a locker room.
More from Inside the Iggles
- Eagles captains earn high praise on roster blending veteran leadership, youth
- How former Eagles star Cre’Von LeBlanc helped Renegades upstage Cowboys
- Eagles 2023 schedule: Every WR duo Darius Slay, James Bradberry will battle
- Imagining better names for Jason Kelce’s Good Guy Award
- Bold predictions for the Philadelphia Eagles offense in 2023
In response to Jenkins’ plan, Pederson said he would join in on the protest if it was a team-wide message, further exhibiting Matthews’ claim of Pederson being no different than the rest of the guys in the locker room.
Pederson is the definition of a players’ coach, which the Eagles haven’t had in recent years. Pederson has not lost a game of any kind since taking over as head honcho and it’s his ability to get the players to buy in that’s making the team so successful.
For the first time in what feels like a long time, the Eagles locker room is completely unified and Pederson is the ring leader of it all.