Eagles Wake-Up Call: Thoughts On Ryan Day

Note: Because of our travel schedule back from the Senior Bowl, we’re posting Wake-Up Call early with the news of the Ryan Day hiring.

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Chip Kelly called on an old friend Thursday to become the Eagles’ new quarterbacks coach: 35-year-old Ryan Day.

Day spent the past two seasons as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Boston College. He was BC’s wide receivers coach from 2007 to 2011. In 2012, Day spent a season at Temple as the offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach. He was at Temple previously in 2006 as the WRs coach.

But Day’s connection with Kelly goes back to New Hampshire. Day was a three-year starter there at quarterback while Kelly was the offensive coordinator. He then served as the program’s tight ends coach in 2002. Both Day and Kelly attended the same high school – Manchester Central in New Hampshire.

In terms of results, there’s not a lot to point to on Day’s resume that would suggest he’s a great teacher of quarterback play. Boston College attempted passes on just 27.7 percent of its offensive plays last year. BC averaged 129.3 passing yards per game, 124th out of 128 teams. The number was 154.8 in 2013 (114th out of 125 teams).

Overall, the offense ranked 86th, averaging 26.2 points per game. The previous year, it ranked 70th (27.7 PPG).

But there are some who suggest looking past those numbers:

Tough loss for #BC. Ryan Day is considered by his peers as one of the rising stars in coaching. Now goes to work w/ his old buddy Chip Kelly

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 23, 2015

So perhaps Day will end up being a great hire.

But it’s also fair to question whether Kelly opted for someone he’s familiar with over someone more qualified. Bill Musgrave just left three days ago. Did Kelly really perform an exhaustive search to find the coach most qualified to help Eagles quarterbacks fulfill their potential? Or did he simply go with someone with whom he has a previous relationship?

It’s the same debate we had last spring when the Eagles somehow ended up with two Oregon players out of an entire class of draftable prospects.

Kelly did well with his first QBs coach in Bill Lazor. Musgrave, meanwhile, didn’t seem to have much of an impact in 2014. Kelly directs the offense, and Pat Shurmur does a lot of the work with the quarterbacks. So perhaps Kelly thinks Day can grow into this role.

Whenever we get to talk to him next, we’ll ask Kelly about the hire and see what he says.

WHAT YOU MISSED

Another Marcus Mariota rumor: “If he misses on him, (Kelly) can just bolt back to college.”

“I see what impact he has on people.” A different perspective on Marcus Smith II.

Who needs who more? Kelly or Mariota?

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Tommy Lawlor offers his take on a “big person” prospect:

LB/DE Lynden Trail is an interesting player. He’s huge at 6-6, 262. He was once a star recruit for the Florida Gators, but then moved on to Norfolk State, where he was a dominant player. You see him on one drill or rep and he looks really good. Then you see another and he looks stiff and gangly. Trail was a terrific pass rusher for NSU. He played LB and DE. 3-4 teams should be very interested in him, but so far Trail hasn’t been all that impressive when playing in space.

Les Bowen of the Daily News on Ohio State WR Devin Smith:

If the Eagles were to draft Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith, known for his capabilities as a vertical threat, they might evoke some comparisons to DeSean Jackson. But Smith said yesterday he’s more interested in emulating Jackson’s successor as the Birds’ top receiver.

“I watched Jeremy Maclin a lot, especially when he was at Missouri,” Smith said after yesterday’s North team Senior Bowl practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. “He’s a very smooth, smooth runner – just sassy when he runs. It looks so natural when he runs. It kind of reminds me of myself a little bit.”

COMING UP

Plenty of leftovers from Mobile to get to.