Last weekend, Eagles legend Brian Dawkins returned to Philadelphia as a part of the scouting department.
Dawkins is arguably the best safety in Eagles history, and the legend played the majority of his Eagles career under head coach Andy Reid and had new head coach Doug Pederson as a teammate in 1999. After Pederson spent several years learning under the mentorship of Reid, Dawkins gave the first-year head coach a vote of confidence.
"Not every athlete can play in Philadelphia," Dawkins said. "They can't handle it. They can't handle the toughness. They can't handle the tough love. So I think Doug going through it and the fact that he's more of an even-keel type of guy, that he can handle some of the bumps that he's probably going to face, especially early on the offensive side of the ball."
While Dawkins admitted that Pederson's decision-making on game days will likely be a challenge, his prior experience, both with Reid letting him take some control in Kansas City and the coaches he's brought in around him will help for a smoother transition.
"I think the decision making on game day, those are the things that are going to be a challenge for him," Dawkins said. "But at the same time, I think because he's been through it a little bit in Kansas City, given the reins to call some plays, I think that he'll be successful. I think the one thing that you also see is the quality of coaches that he's brought in. Guys who have been in the league, who have done it before. So he's not doing everything by himself for the first time."
Because Dawkins got a first-hand look at what Andy Reid did as the Eagles head coach for a decade with Dawkins, the Eagles legend knows that what Pederson learned with Reid as a coach will be brought to the Eagles. Dawkins called it the direction the team needs to go.
"What he is, to me, he's a builder," Dawkins said. "He's going to have this place going in the direction it needs to go. For these guys to believe in one another and come back together and perform. I love them being in pads, I love the physical part, which is going to be huge for them."
Even if there are doubts about the first-year head coach being the right choice, Dawkins has certainly backed the move because of Doug Pederson the man before Doug Pederson the coach. Perhaps the fact that Pederson is very morally grounded, as his mentor Andy Reid was, could be what helps get the Eagles going back in the right direction after all.
Kevin Durso is an editor for Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
