Filling Holes

A busy offseason is already in full swing for an Eagles team that figures to have an active one. There’s the coordinator search, for one, but the team also has a slew of pending free agents to make decisions on in the coming months. Then, of course, there’s the allocation of resources that must be devoted to the defensive side of the ball in order to ensure its nucleus of homegrown talent remains intact, while in turn shifting the focus toward building through the draft on the offensive side.

Over the weekend, news broke of the Eagles retaining a key coordinator, while names of prospective candidates for offensive coordinator continued to surface. Here’s more on all of that.

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles special teams coordinator Michael Clay will return after interviewing for the same job in Tampa.

Michael Clay retained

Faced with an expiring contract, the Eagles last week granted special teams coordinator Michael Clay an opportunity to interview for the same role with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That Clay, part of Nick Sirianni’s initial staff in 2021, took an interview elsewhere garnered at least a bit of uncertainty that he would return for a sixth season with the Eagles, but according to a Sunday morning report from NFL Media, Clay and the Eagles agreed to terms on a new deal.

Clay, 34, first had a cup of coffee in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, who in 2013 signed him as a rookie free agent linebacker, before entering the coaching ranks. His introduction began the very next year, as a defensive quality control coach under head coach Chip Kelly, before elevating to the role of assistant special teams coach the following season. Clay then spent five seasons as an assistant on the San Francisco 49ers staff before returning to Philadelphia to begin his next chapter.

Known for his boundless energy – before any training camp practice, you’ll find Clay kicking around and hackysacking a soccer ball – and relatability with players, Clay is a prime example of why, at times, sticking by a coach and exercising patience can pay dividends. With the exception of a forgettable 2022 season, marred with penalties and gaffes, Clay’s units have largely remained consistent year over year.

Punter Braden Mann this season referred to Clay as “interesting,” pointing out that Clay long-snapped at Oregon, while also noting that he witnessed Clay convert a drop-kick field goal. But let’s circle back to his energy and connection with his group, as running back Will Shipley offered his theory.

“I think it’s because, in his head, he’s still a player,” he said this season on the WBCB’s “Pro Football Report,” an Inside The Bird presentation. “I joke around all the time – me, Ben VanSumeren and A.J. Dillon – we all think that Michael Clay could be on a 53-man roster to this day. He’s running around practice … I think, in his mind, he’s still got that player’s mindset.

“He asks us for our input all the time; what do we see? how are we feeling throughout the game? what changes can he make to help us out? So, it’s just that progressive mindset that, anything that pops up, he’s gonna be able to adjust and adapt to put us in the best position.”

While the Eagles’ special teams group collectively didn’t quite live up to “special,” there were countless examples of Clay’s handiwork, from the coverage units to Mann’s career season. For reference, Mann yielded a career-high in punting average (49.9), while equaling his career long (70) and punts inside the 20 (20). It was a season strong enough to warrant postseason accolades, but that’s neither here nor there.

Clay, like every special teams coach, also faces the challenges of adjusting to the yearly turnover that accompanies man bottom-of-the-roster players. The difference, however, is that Clay manages to get the most of his personnel and merits buy-in. His knack for development also shouldn’t be understated. For instance, Kelee Ringo, Sydney Brown, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Kylen Granson, Cam Latu and Shipley all made notable contributions. Some took a leap forward relative to the previous season.

One of the valuable tools Clay implements to garner excitement and recognition amongst peers, is highlight notable plays from every game and shining a spotlight on the individuals that make up his nit.

“Coach Clay does a tremendous job of giving gratitude where it’s deserved,” Shipley said. “He highlights it, we watch all the plays from the game. He really goes through everybody one by one and gives us a lot of respect for the amount of effort and toughness we’re putting in.”

To accentuate the buy in piece, two starters – defensive linemen Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter – provided critical blocks that greatly aided the Eagles in two wins, each earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for their efforts.

Sure, kicker Jake Elliott experienced an uneven season that resulted in a concerning 74.1 field goal percentage. And the kick return game failed to generate much in the way of explosive returns, finishing the season with a long of 41 yards. They’ll need to improve greatly both areas next season, but history suggests they will.

Searching for an OC

The Eagles’ search for their next offensive coordinator continues, and there have been a handful of names thus far that have been connected to the team. While it’s unclear exactly what characteristics exactly the Eagles are valuing in the next play-caller, here are the names (and some background) that have surfaced to this point.

GETTY IMAGES: Former Giants HC Brian Daboll is someone the Eagles are interested in as OC.

Brian Daboll

Daboll, fresh off his head coaching tenure with the New York Giants, has previous connections to two central figures in the Eagles’ equation. Back in 2012, Daboll – then offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs – overlapped with Nick Sirianni, where the pair struck up a rapport. Daboll, of course, also has history with Jalen Hurts, as he served as his offensive coordinator at Alabama in 2017. Some may point to Hurts’ benching in the National Championship as a potential deterrent, though that more than likely was a Nick Saban decision. Daboll’s name would qualify as a “big fish,” but the 50-year-old coach has shown a propensity to lose his cool, a stark contrast to the even-keeled Hurts. Still, Daboll has a history of working with, and developing quarterbacks, and crafting a scheme that caters to the strengths of his personnel.

Bobby Slowik

A new name added to the heap late Sunday evening, Slowik, who last season served as the Miami Dolphins senior passing game coordinator, is a Princeton, N.J. native with a flair for a dynamic passing attack. The 38-year-old was a hot commodity coming off his two-year stint as offensive coordinator of the Houston Texans (2023-24), where he oversaw the development of quarterback C.J. Stroud. Perhaps the most appealing highlight on his resume is that he comes from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, spending six years with the San Francisco 49ers (2017-22)

Mike Kafka

Kafka, drafted by the Eagles in 2010, may not be the most intriguing name on this list, but the 38-year-old not long ago was in demand due to his work with Patrick Mahomes and the prolific Chiefs offense. He was hired to be the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants in 2022 as part of Daboll’s staff, even elevating into the role of interim head coach last season after Daboll’s firing. The lack of success in New York probably slowed his trajectory a bit, but Kafka is known to be a sharp offensive mind and his quarterback background could be a selling point when it comes to the prospects of aiding Hurts’ development.

Zac Robinson

Among the more intriguing names listed, in my view, Robinson, 39, comes from the esteemed Sean McVay coaching tree. For reference, Robinson spent his first three seasons coaching quarterbacks and wide receivers as part of the Rams’ staff before being appointed the team’s pass game coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2022-23). Robinson, drafted by the Patriots in the seventh-round in 2010, most recently served as offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons the past two seasons. An innovative coach known for implementing motion and misdirection, as well as building around the strengths of his quarterbacks, Robinson is a young coach who profiles as someone who could garner head coaching looks should he establish success at his next stop.

Charlie Weis Jr.

Though it’s hard to envision the Eagles opting for a play-caller without an ounce of NFL experience, Weis Jr. is an interesting name. The 32-year-old, currently slated to be LSU’s offensive coordinator, is viewed as a fast-rising coach from the college ranks. Before LSU, Weis Jr. served as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Ole Miss for four seasons under head coach Lane Kiffin, his offense’s high-flying and dynamic. If he doesn’t land the Eagles’ job, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before Weis Jr. joins the pro ranks.

Jim Bob Cooter

Cooter spent his past three seasons undertaking the role as the Colts’ offensive coordinator under head coach Shane Steichen, so there’s some familiarity there. And like Daboll, Cooter also overlapped with Sirianni while a member of the Chiefs’ staff in 2012, a relationship that led to Cooter joining Sirianni’s initial staff in 2021 as a consultant. Notably, Cooter also served as Matthew Stafford’s quarterbacks coach with the Lions for two seasons (2014-15). If the Eagles are looking for a relatively seamless transition — or someone well-versed in a Steichen system — Cooter would make sense.

Josh Grizzard

Grizzard, 35, first caught my attention back in 2020 at the East-West Shrine Bowl, as I was sure to make note for future reference. At that time, he served as wide receivers coach of the Miami Dolphins, and his energy and ability to teach are what I remember. Grizzard would eventually move on to Tampa Bay, holding the position of pass game coordinator and, most recently, offensive coordinator. Interesting name.

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com