The Philadelphia Eagles finally have the bulk of their coaching staff intact and on Thursday, Jimmy Kempski reported that the team is expected to hire former Colts wide receiver Aaron Moorehead to replace Carson Walch as the wide receiver’s coach.
On Wednesday, former Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello and former Mississippi State passing game coordinator Andrew Breiner were named to the staff.
Former Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel is the team’s new defensive backs coach.
Moorehead retired in 2007 and jumped right to the college ranks as a position coach. With the Eagles needing to get more production and playmaking from their wideouts, here are four takeaways from Moorehead getting the job.
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1. Moorehead has a reclamation project in Arcega-Whiteside
The Eagles thought they had a red-zone monster when they selected the former Stanford wideout in the second round. After a solid preseason, JJ Arcega-Whiteside would struggle to provide any production as a rookie.
According to Reuben Frank of NBC Sports, Of the 166 rookie wide receivers who’ve started at least five games over the last 20 years, Arcega-Whiteside was only the eighth to catch 10 or fewer passes.
2. Moorehead experience in college should translate to the Eagles
The bulk of the criticism that Carson Walch received, centered around the wide receivers on the team not improving and making critical errors that would cost the team and Carson Wentz. Moorehead has experience working with young receivers and that development shows in the guys he’s had make a successful transition to the NFL. Moorehead won a Super Bowl with Peyton Manning and should be a factor immediately.
3. The Eagles may have finally found a permanent WR’s coach
If Moorehead can last on the staff until next April, he would have accomplished something no other wide receivers coach has in years with this organization. Moorehead will be the team’s sixth WR coach in as many years, with none last close to two years.
Mike Groh – 408 days
Greg Lewis – 355 days
Carson Walch – 318 days
Gunter Brewer – 316 days
4. Eagles are all in on Wentz
Moorehead may coach the wide receivers, but the bulk of the Eagles transactions surrounding coaches on the offensive side of the ball have centered around making things better for Carson Wentz.
Eagles wideouts struggled to get open, track the ball and separate from opposing defenders, so Doug Pederson found Wentz a former pro to help wit the tutelage for his skill guys. On Wednesday, Pederson promoted the popular and innovate Press Taylor, while bringing on quarterback gurus Rich Scangarello and Andrew Breiner.
