Andy Reid's Seat is So Hot Hos Ass is ON FIRE!

The Philadelphia Eagles tied the hapless Cincinnati Bengals 13-13 today, ending any delusions I had about this team making a Super Bowl run – or even reaching the playoffs.

But what can you expect from a team that has been underachieving for at least two seasons now?

And Reid has made coaching decisions that have led directly to losses to the Giants and Bears, and indirectly to a loss to the Redskins this season. Reid – also the Executive Vice President of Football Operations in Philly – has exhibited a pattern of stubborn behavior the last couple season that has harmed the Eagles franchise more than helped.

Reid gets fixated on players to the point of ineffectiveness. During the beginning of Reid’s head coaching career he leaned heavily on McNabb and the all-pro caliber QB carried the team to 4 consecutive NFC championship games and a Super Bowl.

Recently Reid has been fixated on Brian Westbrook, to the detriment of the team. Westbrook had two excellent seasons in ‘06 and ’07, but he has struggled through injuries and ineffectiveness this season.

Reid gets into stubborn ruts, where he keeps pounding away at a play or tactic that is clearly not working. It’s admirable to be dedicated, but an NFL head coach has to be able to adapt in order to survive. Reid’s motto: “If at first I don’t succeed, try, try again until I guide my team to last in the division two years in a row and get canned”

Reid has also made some interesting personnel decisions in the last two or three seasons. In 2007 he thought it was appropriate to start the season without a punt returner. Two costly specials teams’ fumbles lead directly to a Green Bay victory in week one. Had the Eagles won they would have made the playoffs.

Reid began this season without a true fullback, which has to be a contributing factor to our inability to gain yards on the ground. Dan Kleco – yes, the D-lineman – is currently playing fullback for the Eagles. He helped them this week with a costly false start in OT.

Andy Reid has also drafter two college Defensive Ends for the purpose of moving them to Linebacker: Chris Gocong and Andy Studebaker. Gocong has played okay as a SAM Linebacker, but you have to wonder if the Eagles would be better off having a true ‘backer at the position. Stewart Bradley played SAM at Nebraska, he’d be a natural fit. And the Eagles are high on rookie Joe Mays, who is a natural – if undersized – middle linebacker. And that would allow Gocong, and NCAA Sack Record-holding player to move back to End and rush the passer. I’m not the only person who thinks that makes sense.

Andy Reid was a great coach for this team, but he needs to learn to adapt. For a long time he was at the top of the NFC, but every team has become wise to his tricks. They’ve built their teams and schemes to stop what the Eagles were doing. Reid is standing still while the rest of the league is moving forward. Some of the blame has to go to the players for not executing well, but this team has the talent to win. Ultimately the blame has to fall on the coaching staff at some point.

Andy, I love you, I respect you, I thank you for what you’ve done for this franchise, but it’s time to shape up or ship out, before the rest of the league leaves us in the dust. Play to your strengths, play to the team’s strengths and don’t be afraid to throw the gameplan out the window if it isn’t working.