#ray didinger

Predictions come from all angles during the months leading up to the NFL Draft. But there are some voices that carry more weight than others.

NFL Hall of Fame writer Ray Didinger is one of them. On SportsRadio 94WIP this weekend, Didinger predicted the Eagles will take Georgia RB Sony Michel at the end of the first round on Thursday.

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In prep for the Super Bowl, we spoke to Hall of Fame sports writer Ray Didinger about what he admires most about football players:

"It takes a lot of courage to play this game. I've been around it now for 43, 44 years, working in newspapers and working at NFL Films for 13 years and now doing radio and television. ... One of the things I've taken away from it is a profound respect for the guys who play this game, because it is a violent game and the guys who play it have to accept that fact.

Today we talk football with sports writer Ray Didinger and former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski. Didinger tells us why he doesn't believe in "the idea of the dumb football player," and about his favorite play of all time. Then Jaworski shares his experience of leading his team to the Super Bowl. 

Well, that'll be the second year in a row that a Mc-something surname is scapegoated for the Eagles' failures. Plus, there's no way you can ever trust anything Andy Reid says again. I already stated my opinion of McDermott in the Eagles' postmortem, so there's no use in piling onto the poor guy. While he definitely left a lot to be desired as a coordinator, there's no doubt Sean is getting the unfortunate distinction of being the fall guy for this season. I'm also not sure this move is anything more than cosmetic. Now, if only Reid could do an honest introspection and realize there are also things about himself that need to change. Stop blaming everyone else and actually take responsibility, instead of just saying you will. Commit to a more balanced offensive attack that actually puts your players in better position to make plays, instead of just saying you will. I don't think I've seen one person in the national media call out Andy for his emerging two-faced nature.

More than McDermott needed to be fired, this team needs an infusion of legitimate playmakers on defense (who outside of Trent Cole and Asante Samuel actually scares an opposing offense?) -- and then pray they don't get injured. Yeah, the defense was maddening to watch and historically awful in the red zone, but only blaming the coordinator for those failures isn't fair at all (especially when half the starters are injured and you're forced to start three seventh-round picks, each with less than two years of experience). It's on the players, too, and the Eagles need to heavily focus on improving the talent level of the defense in the upcoming draft. Restocking the offensive line would also be a good idea. 

Early candidates rumored to become the Eagles' next defensive coordinator: Jim Mora, Jr. (Michael Vick's former head coach in Atlanta), Dick Jauron... that's really it for the moment. While I have no problem sticking with the 4-3, personally, I'm leaning more toward being in favor of making the switch to the 3-4 defense (we can get the personnel for it) and would kick the tires on a guy like Eric Mangini. Yeah, he's been fired as head coach of both the Jets and Browns and sports an unfavorable career record of 33-47, but he was at one time the defensive backs coach under Bill Belichick for all three of the Patriots' Super Bowl wins. Not only that, he's shown a keen mind for defense. What better coach to hire than someone who understands how to successfully flumox Tom Brady? I'm sure Mangini could succeed in the right situation, and the Eagles certainly provide that kind of environment. Besides, Andy loves to take in formerly fired -- and disgraced -- head coaches and nurse them back to respectability (see: Marty Mornhinweg). Just an idea. Here's another: Winston Moss, current assistant head coach and inside linebackers coach for the Packers. He deserves a coordinating (or head coaching) job and would be a phenomenal hire (shrewd, too). Mike Trgovac, the Packers' defensive line coach -- a position he held with the Eagles during the Ray Rhodes era -- was the defensive coordinator in Carolina for six seasons (his first year on the job was when the Panthers beat the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game). One more name to think about is Kevin Greene (a should-be Hall of Famer), the Packers' outside linebackers coach and Moss's partner in crime. As long as the new choice for the position is someone from outside the organization who can introduce some new philosophies to this tired operation, that's all I really want. No more of this nepotism bullshit.

For an article that basically sums up my thoughts on the McDermott firing, read Ray Didinger's piece for CSN Philly:

http://www.csnphilly.com/01/15/11/bDidingerb-Was-McDermott-the-Eagles-fall/landing_insider_didinger.html?blockID=392086&feedID=692

PS - I'd like to apologize to Ravens fans everywhere for the Eagles infecting your team with their own special form of the AIDS virus. Yesterday's unspeakable collapse reminded me far too much of meltdowns I've witnessed during the Andy Reid era.