PHILADELPHIA _ As Doug Pederson's search for the next man to live in his play-calling shadow turns into its second week, a subplot carries even more weight than his choice as offensive coordinator.
Who's going to coach the receivers? Who's going to coach the defensive line? Who's going to coach the defensive backs?
The Eagles, at this moment, need practice-field teachers more than meeting-room schemers. If Pederson wants to save his job in 2020 he needs coaches who can hammer home technique and demand discipline. Of good is the most brilliant game plan without players who can execute it? If the receivers run bad routes, the corners can't cover, and the defensive ends never sack the quarterback, X's and O's mean zero.
Where will they find these teachers? Colleges, most likely. A lot of those interviews, and a lot of those decisions, will be made at the NFL's annual job fair, Senior Bowl practice week, which kicked off Sunday.
Ray Rhodes found special teams whiz John Harbaugh and running backs guru Ted Williams in the college ranks. Chip Kelly found offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland at Alabama. Those three coaches are, arguably, the three best hands-on assistants of Jeffrey Lurie's 26 years of ownership.
What about legendary defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, you say? Or former offensive coordinator Jon Gruden? Johnson spent 17 years at colleges; Gruden, four. Even Pederson cut his teeth teaching the basics as a high school coach for four years.
