According to Eagles insider Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Desai had actually been removed from calling third-down plays on defense during the team’s Week 10 bye. However, when the overall defensive effort did not improve even after the initial change, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni reportedly removed Desai from playcalling altogether.
“Sirianni wanted more collaboration and communication between Desai and his staff — including senior assistant Matt Patricia — and conveyed to his coordinator a need to be more open to other viewpoints, sources said,” McLane wrote.
“But after three games, the first two of which the Eagles won and the third a blowout loss to the 49ers, Sirianni handed third down over to Patricia and two assistants. Desai still called all the plays at the Cowboys, but the result was much as it had been during “the gauntlet” stretch of the schedule: a poor performance on third down, and ultimately a second straight defeat…”
Things haven’t exactly improved by leaps and bounds since Sean Desai lost playcalling duties. They lost to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football two weeks ago before nearly giving up the game to the hapless New York Giants in Christmas Day.
What do you think the main issue is in Philadelphia on the defensive side?