State of Jeff’s Union

 

Yesterday, Jeff Laurie gave his state of the team address.  What was said:

• Process: Jeff re-affirmed the Eagles are both detail & process oriented.  This is good because process improvement is part of any good process.  And good analytical processes pay attention to detail.
• Howie’s re-sign: This decision was made based on Jeff’s assessment of Howie’s skills, and the results in the Eagles operation: organization, collaboration, information collection, evaluation, talent acquisition, process implementation, continuous improvement.  Jeff mentioned Howie’s ability to build or re-build the roster, and that Howie is well regarded in the league.
• Draft performance: Jeff indicated 60% of NFL 1^st round picks become solid starters, 30+% of 2^nd round picks become solid starters, and the “hit rate” proceeds down from there for each draft round.  He discussed the importance of both psychological and medical testing.  Of course, part of the process is to compare the Eagles “batting average” to an NFL “batting average.”  He emphasized understanding the teams’ strengths and weaknesses (for process improvement)!
• Fletcher Cox: Jeff emphasized his value to the team and that the 1-year 14M signing made sense for the Eagles (See diary entry dated 3/20/22 for this author’s view).  Jeff indicated Cox can be better this year after a season learning the new (Jon Gannon) system assimilated in ’21, a “transition season.” One key concept: Need to “sign players as a % of (available) resources,” a decision made by Howie and Nick. 
• Carson Wentz: Jeff emphasized he was a critical member of 2017 Super Bowl run, which would not have happened without Wentz’s “MVP level performance.”  2017 was “the best of Carson.” Injuries and “other factors” prevented sustaining that level.  Jeff said it is “very difficult to project a franchise QB,” (He asked if Josh Allen projected as a franchise QB after 1-2 seasons?), and wished Carson “had been able to maintain that level of growth.” (Retain?)
• Jaylon Hurts: “We have a young, playoff QB.  He is incredibly dedicated, & an excellent leader of men… We all have a vision of a perfect franchise QB… They are almost non-existent, and even then, there are no guarantees… Aaron Rodgers has just 1 Super Bowl win… We are committed to Jalen at age 23.” 
• Nick Sirianni: “Everything we saw in selecting Nick during our interview PROCESS manifested last year…
• Connect w/players (and coaches, others) on a human/personal level,
• Ability to select, build and manage a great coaching staff,
• Bring drive and energy,
• Treat everyone with respect
• Not ego driven, but confident
• Recognize strengths and weaknesses in the team, himself, and others, and adjust.
• Jeff Later indicated the importance of evaluating a head coach based upon that coaches selection and management of assistant coaches, and their abilities to develop players, especially the QB. 
• Eagle Offense: Laurie was asked about the state of the offense, and this was his response: “We want a dynamic passing attack and an excellent running attack focused on a superb (and deep) offensive line (Laurie directly alluded to the need for O-Line depth to succeed, mentioning “Big V” as an example).  He said a good offense can adapt, and should be “built around the trenches.”  He said Nick Sirianni is an aggressive offensive coach. 
• Is Jeff too involved?: Laurie said “like any good CEO” his job is to provide resources and support while asking the right questions.  He said more recently he’s “taking more of a back seat.”  He mentioned draft prep, adding there were only 3 instances where he became too involved (since he was “overly excited”):
• Drafting of Lane Johnson per Jeff Stoutland input
• Selection of Russel Wilson in the 2nd versus the 3rd round
• Acquisition of Jordan Mailata (and Howie’s draft manipulation to get him, again per Stoutland)
• He followed up with a brief discussion on the choosing between JJ Arcega Whiteside and Paris Hilton (suggesting Whiteside was finally chosen using recent injury history as the tie breaker).
• Involvement of son Julian: Jeff spoke about is son and how he has engaged with the team.  He said he’s an avid sports fan and loves the Eagles and the NFL, so after college he went into the NFL rotational program to learn about the business and the league.  Jeff has exposed him to the “strategy side” too (example was participating in the coach search process ending with the hiring of Nick Sirianni) by including him in meetings, etc., making Julian “better prepared than me if he chooses to run the team.”  At this time, Jeff indicated his son’s participation was “limited to exposure.” 
• State of the Team/Roster: Summary of Jeff’s response to this inquiry- Last year was a transition year.  Currently, we are balancing building for both the present and the future…  We have an excellent “teaching” coaching staff.  We continue to establish our culture with our players and build the roster.  We have a good strategy, with no timeline, just maximize the present AND the future.  There is ½ year till a meaningful game.  Till then we’ll use ALL the tools available (Re-sign our core, strategic acquisitions, the Draft) to improve the team, addressing every area of concern.  We have 3 number one draft picks and kudos to Howie Roseman for that. 
• Draft Misses: “That’s organizational, not Howie.  Some ‘misses’ were associated with scheme fit and medical analysis… In today’s NFL, no one person does this (for a team).  It’s about collating information.  Jeff has faith in the Eagle processes.  He is excited about the first 4 players selected in 2021 (WR Devanta Smith, Guard Landon Dickerson, DT Milton Williams and Cornerback Zech McPherson). 

Eagles Lessons: The media generally remains critical of Laurie for being over involved.  While a good NFL owner can enjoy attentiveness and ask the right questions, as Jeff indicated “any good CEO would do,” below is an attempt to unpack what Jeff said:

• Process: Jeff is a firm believer in detailed (and integrated) processes.  This is an excellent, proven methodology.  But is Jeff ignoring his impact on many of these processes?  When Jeff “asks the right questions” he needs to recognize if HE has become part of that process, and if so needs to carefully consider process impact, even if unintentional (on how others will carry out their role in the process, etc.).  Consider the following Jeff said yesterday:
• “I have to be the one to say how did we evaluate the players”
• “That was what I supported” (on re-signing of Fletcher Cox)
• “I have to evaluate Head Coaches” (Is that Howie’s job?  Then Jeff question Howie’s work?)
• “I go through it” (process of player evaluation- Jeff did say he doesn’t “actually do the work”)
• “I have to make the hard decision there, right?” (Process of player evaluation)
• Jeff has indicated the Eagles decisions are collaborative processes.  He is the owner.  He can do what he chooses.  If he is part of various processes, hopefully his role is documented as a part of the detailed process flow.  That way, when evaluating process improvement(s) as part of any good process, Jeff can see himself in the process and understand his influence or impact (positive or not).
• Howie: Howie has made mistakes.  So does everyone.  Any assessment needs to consider exhaustive assessment of good and bad.  Overall, this author believes he has been a very good GM.
• Draft history: Please use examples of recent drafts (good and bad) to hit on this year’s premium picks!
• Fletcher: How much of the COX re-sign was forced to avoid a huge dead cap hit?  Does this provide a critical example to challenge the Eagle strategic approach of cap management currently being deployed (spreading dollars into the future), rather than using a more standard, “year-to-year” approach?  How does this scenario (including Jeff’s involvement, if any) influence Process Improvement?
• Wentz: Some suggested after the Super Bowl trading Carson & keeping Nick (short term at lower $) was the way to go.  While in hindsight, that was likely a great choice, forecasting Carson’s decline was difficult (One red flag was his ridiculous success rate on 3^rd down in 2017, where regression to the mean was inevitable).   How did the Eagles learn from this, and how will they now apply lessons moving forward with Hurts?  (Note- I was a big advocate of moving forward with Carson at that time, but at what point should Carson have been viewed as a depreciating asset? Late 2018?  Sometime in 2019?).
• Hurts: I agree he is “Mr. Right Now,” deserving the opportunity to show he is the franchise QB.  Laurie’s comments “we are balancing building for both the present and the future,” and “We’re committed to Jalen at age 23… Who knows what the future holds” are indicative of the Eagles assessment approach.  
• Nick: He needs to stop saying silly things to the media.  Sure, praise (recently re-signed defensive end) Derrick Barnett… but be realistic.  Sirianni was so effusive about Barnett he made comments that could clearly be argued (example- Barnett has a high football IQ).    
• State of Offense: I believe the only premium pick that should be spent on offense in this draft should be spent to add a wide receiver.  But do Jeff’s comments “We will always be a team that emphasizes the trenches” suggest the Eagles may look at OL early?  I think they’ll trust later picks or even rookie free agents, given O-Line coach Jeff Stoutland’s success with them (Kelce, Malaita, Herbig…).
• Julian: I think it is terrific the ownership baton will likely be passed from Jeff to Julian, and that there is no rush.  This bears watching, but I applaud this process, and am happy for the Laurie’s and the Eagles.  Still, Jeff’s comment, “I want to expose him to all aspects of the business side, but also the operational side… the nuts and bolts… and also the strategy side.”  Jeff’s comment made about Julian “better prepared than me if he chooses to run the team…” gives pause since Julian is watching his dad, and as mentioned in the “Process” comment above, Jeff and Julian need to “do it right” and fairly recognize any process where they are engaged.  Jeff needs to be careful he (and now Julian) are not inadvertently subverting processes Jeff feels are so well baked and rigorous.
• State of the Roster: Draft assets will be moved to ‘23 as the QB proves himself.  Having three #1’s come due simultaneously for 5^th year considerations in 2026 is not (cap) ideal, so moving at least one of them has secondary benefit.  Some roster spots (safety, cornerback, wide receiver) clearly require immediate (2022) attention.  Others (Linebacker, D-Line, running back, tight end) could use attention now in preparation for the mid-term (2023 and beyond).  And, of course, any position can always be improved.