There have been subtle changes in Reid's version of the West Coast offense over the years. The running game, once bolstered by Duce Staley and Brian Westbrook, has diminished in importance, even with the development of a sturdy alternative like LeSean McCoy. The reliance on screen passes and quick routes by the tight ends as a means of extending drives has lost some of its shelf space on the weekly laminated play chart.
But, really, Reid is still playing the game as he always has, using takeaways by the defense to set up easy scores, and game-planning for big plays to take care of the rest.
With the surprising transformation of Michael Vick from out-of-shape backup to out-of-sight MVP candidate, and with burners DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin on the receiving end of things, Reid found the lightning he needed to make the philosophy work.
And, man, it worked. The Eagles set a team record by scoring 439 points in the regular season. That meant only two things were really needed to make the team a Super Bowl contender: protection for the quarterback, and a defense capable of spending a lot of time on the field after those quick-hitting series came to an end.
Unfortunately, the Eagles were 0 for 2 on that.
It might be that Reid is entirely correct in his faith in the system. The system works with the right players. Where the Eagles fail is in either getting those players or in properly coaching the players they do get. It has to be one or the other.
Reid has earned a reputation as a great preparer of teams, a guy who is the best coach in the league from Tuesday through Saturday, but one who might get happy feet during quick decision time on Sunday. There is some evidence to support that, but let's not endure another seminar on clock management and run/pass ratio this time.
