Yes, Andy Reid has renewed energy. But it just doesn’t come from a change of scenery.
Reid, who ran the show in Philly for 14 years with extensive involvement in personnel, is focusing more on coaching and less on collecting players.
“I was a little more involved with the personnel [with the Eagles],” Reid told reporters on Thursday, via quotes distributed by the team. “It’s good to have [G.M.] John [Dorsey] here doing that. I have ultimate trust in him. Not that I didn’t in Philadelphia, that’s not what I’m saying, but I also trust that he has it under control and is rolling.”
Reid was careful to point out that this isn’t a slap at the men assigned the task of helping him set the table in Philly.
“I had a lot of trust in Howie [Roseman], so I don’t mean that, and Tom Heckert before that,” Reid said. “I trusted him. Those guys, I trusted. I was just asked to do a little bit more there. For that part of my career, it was great. I’m glad to be doing this. I’m enjoying this.”
Implicit in Reid’s remarks is the possibility that the personnel duties were keeping him from fully enjoying his job, since he wasn’t doing the thing he enjoys the most -- coaching. For now, he is.
It helps, of course, that Reid and Dorsey inherited a roster with six Pro Bowlers and other players who are far better than their 2-14 record in 2012 would indicate. Quarterback struggles had a major impact on the team’s fate, and now that Alex Smith has teamed up with Reid, a noted signal-caller Svengali, the Chiefs can improve, quickly.
So, yes, it helps that Reid trusts Dorsey. It also helps that they aren’t running a team like the Jets.