I don’t think Andy Reid made the right call in deciding to throw the ball so much against the Browns last week, but I do think he made the right call in deciding to close practice to the media, especially in this week before this upcoming battle against the Baltimore Ravens.
“My No. 1 priority here is to win football games and put the best product on the field,” Reid said. “Just to minimize any of the competitive advantages that take place, I want to do this.”
He pointed the finger at social media where information is instant and constantly flowing.
“It’s changed over time, between Twitter and just the whole instant messaging, everything is right now,” Reid continued. “I just want to make sure I’m staying up with that. It’s not about you (reporters), it’s about how we are in the NFL right now.”
I say that despite the fact that I love to go to practice and find out what they’re going to do each week. Winning must be the team’s single goal.
We all know about how much and how fast information flows on Twitter. It’s transferred instantly and can’t be retrieved. There’s no way in the world Reid and the Eagles can keep track of everything each media person at practice puts up on Twitter and sends to the internet. Truth of the matter is that finding out that it was sent does the team no good because it’s already out there on the internet and available to anybody who has a computer or cell phone.
If I were an NFL coach I would have somebody assigned to each Twitter account of all the media covering the upcoming team. Information is a premium prior to a game because it would allow you to use your time better in knowing exactly what to work on in preparing for the other team on both sides of the ball.
I have no idea what game plan the Eagles defense will decide to use against the Ravens, but it will be one of the keys to the game. How could Reid and the Eagles trust everybody in the media to keep it to themselves despite the fact that we have no benefit to keep it to ourselves.
You can be sure that John Harbaugh and the Baltimore coaches would love to know what the Eagles are going to do to counter the no-huddle offense, if the Ravens use it. You can be sure that the Cincinnati Bengals wish they had known the Ravens were going to run the no-huddle offense for the entire game prior to their Monday night battle.
What will the Eagles offense decide to do in case DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin aren’t able to play? The answer to that question could play a big role in the game.
You know a quarterback change would be impossible to keep quiet around Philadelphia.
Every week strategy plays a big role in each game. Reid and his staff have enough to worry about. They don’t need to be concerned that one of the guys in the media thought letting everybody know that they were working exclusively on two-tight ends offense isn’t a big deal.
The Eagles job is to find a way to win. They supposed to make themselves available to the media during the week, but they don’t need to have their practice open to the media. I do understand.
Very very smart move. A move that should have happen years ago. To add to your story G, the security at the NovaCare Complex were looking around the outside perimeter of the building trying to find spies hiding in the bushes. This isnt a joke either. This really happen today. Some may say its paranoia on Coach Reid’s part but as mentioned too much can be obtained by outside organizations. Dont think that guys from the philly media cant be paid off by one of these teams to obtain information about what the birds will be running on game day. Keep in mind too that this change took place a week after playing the cleveland browns who the entire coaching staff and front office is made up of former eagles executives who still have strong ties to this city along with this media. Don’t doubt someone leaked information to the browns. And this isnt the first tim, its been happening here for years. I was very happy that coached closed the place up.
Theoretically it sounds like a good idea, but is it practical? The ravens could have, Jerome Mcdougle, Jamal Greene, Brandom Graham, and Daniel Teo-neshiem on the defensive line, Mark Simoneau, Nate Wayne, Casey Matthews, and Quinton Caver at linebacker, and Deon Sanders, Darelle Reeves, Brian Dawkins, and Ronnie Lott in the secondary, and my grandmother could predict that Reid would throw the ball 70% of the time.
“You can be sure that the Cincinnati Bengals wish they had known the Ravens were going to run the no-huddle offense for the entire game prior to their Monday night battle.”
Ummmm….everyone and his dog knew the Ravens would be running the no-huddle. Its been common knowledge for about 2 months now. All I’ve read (concerning the Ravens) was that they’d be giving Flacco and running the no huddle. The pre-game show did a whole interview and special on the Ravens’ no huddle. It wasn;t a secret.
Speaking of secrets….there’s only one reason Reid would close practice. Its because he has a secret. People might want to think its about some new secret defensive plan…..but for me, there’s only one secret Reid would want to keep…..and that’s who is taking snaps under centre….
Man Vinnie give it a rest, why are you an Eagles fan again?
@Vinnie
We can only hope.
To your point he may have taken snaps away from vick as insurance vs the turnover machine and if the team struggles he has to make a change on sunday.
The media made a big deal about Demeco Ryans giving up reps in the Nickel. He ended up playing practically the whole game but Ryans, Andy and Juan had to field questions about it and a number of stories were written about it during last week. This matter may seem fairly innocuous, but what would happen if there was something truly newsworthy? Guys that cover the team can get pretty competitive (see Jeff McClane and Les Bowen dustup in 2011) and there is a lot of pressure to be first with a big story. Fact is, most reporters go out of their way to say they aren’t fans. Some even write like they have an axe to grind with the team or even hope this team fails so they can write about that. while Andy and his team get paid to win games. Smart move by Andy. End of story. I hope he does this the the whole season.
we would have a frigging SB title if he did this years ago…. the pats have our rings…………….so vexing, they knew every play, i was like wtf, how do they seem to know our plays…. boston thief’s