Nick Sirianni frequently discusses how crucial it is for each player on the roster to be aware of their job. For him, that is crucial.
Sirianni makes it a point to meet with each member of the 53-man roster and practice squad before to each season in order to discuss expectations, individual roles, use, and strengths and weaknesses.
He then instructs them on how to excel in that capacity, regardless of whether they are a backup, starter, or little used special team member.
It’s clever. It will require more than 22 players for a team to be successful. Everyone on the roster will need to participate, and if Sirianni’s message is received, the final member of the practice squad will be as ready as Brandon Graham, A.J. Brown, or Jalen Hurts. Not quite as skilled, but equally prepared.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a number of backups arrive and keep things going. Steen, Tyler. Johnson, Fred. Rodgers, Isaiah. Calcaterra, Grant. Without them, the Eagles wouldn’t have a three-game winning streak and be 5-2.
The irony of it all is that Sirianni performs best when he heeds his own counsel to recognize your place and remain within it.
Giving Shane Steichen play calling responsibilities a few months into the 2021 season was one of the most significant things Sirianni accomplished during his four years as head coach. That sent a 2-5 club into a 7-2 run, the playoffs, and, a year later, the Super Bowl. After realizing that he wasn’t a very good play caller, Sirianni changed his role.
Prior to this season, he made yet another important choice about his role. We were all aware of how critical it was for the Eagles to move past their historic collapse from the previous season. The defense was handled by Howie Roseman, who replaced over half of the team’s defensive starters with young players who were quick, vivacious, and skilled.
And Sirianni did it on offense, which gave Kellen Moore, the new offensive coordinator, the opportunity to introduce his own plan, train it, and manage it as he saw fit. complete independence (in principle).
Sirianni has the intelligence to see what we all did. Jalen Hurts, who was one of the MVP favorites halfway through the season, appeared disoriented and irritated as the offense collapsed at the close of the previous campaign.
Thus, Sirianni changed his position from head coach of the offense to head coach of the CEO.
Sirianni has some very real strengths, whether you like him or not. He has excellent communication skills. He is an excellent motivator. His teams usually play hard because of him. He is incredibly energetic, puts his emotions on his sleeve, and is forthright and honest with his players. Guys buy in because of all those things.
The Eagles have the third-best NFL record since 2021, behind only the Chiefs and Bills outside of the AFC, and there’s a reason for that.
Sirianni has encountered difficulties when he has ventured outside his path. when he disregards the guidance he gives his players.
Just before halftime in the Browns game, he stepped on Moore’s toes and called a play on a third-and-one, which resulted in a sack and, eventually, a blocked field goal return for a touchdown. The Eagles might have lost a game.
Or when he “made a call on defense,” as he put it, that didn’t work out, and he promised to do that “from time to time.
Sirianni had a 39-19 record in his three and a half seasons with the Eagles going into Sunday’s game against the Jaguars at the Linc, which is the thirteenth-highest mark among 227 coaches with at least four years of coaching experience. superior to 27 out of the 35 head coaches who have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Eagles have a 5-2 record following a slow start .