Eagles new offensive line coach Howard Mudd was in charge of protecting a “human statue of a quarterback”, Peyton Manning for more than a decade in Indianapolis.
Now that he’s come out of a one-year retirement his job will be to protect Michael Vick, maybe the best athlete to ever play the quarterback position in the NFL.years, but Mudd doesn’t plan on changing anything in his coaching despite change in quarterbacks.
“I think our responsibility is that there is a throwing spot back there and if he makes a decision to take off and run somewhere, that’s his decision to make”, Mudd said regarding Vick. “Let’s get the first spot protected and let him be comfortable at that spot, keep the pressure off him at that spot.”
The long-time NFL coach with the impeccable reputation isn’t going to concern himself with having his offensive linemen attempt to understand or anticipate where Vick is going to run if decides to abandon the pocket and run for a first down. “If he can use his athleticism to make plays for some other reason, or if everyone is covered and he makes plays, we’re going to protect one spot. If you start worrying about where he’s going to go, you’re going to grab a hold of somebody’s shirt and you’ll have a holding penalty. Let him do what he does and we’ll do what we do.”
The former Indy offensive line coach who was retired for a year and living in Arizona, will bring his knowledge of running an offense without a huddle to the Eagles brain trust. The Colts give Manning the freedom of calling the play at the line of scrimmage, which meant Mudd’s offensive 
linemen would have to know a series of codes and checks. I expect Reid and Marty Mornhinweg to try to incorporate some of that method into the Birds offense.
The Birds new offensive line coach could be a great help to Vick by sharing with him some of the secrets Manning had when it comes to reading secondaries. You can tell by the pictures and studying them during games, Mudd worked hand in hand with Manning. I would love to see the Birds go to more no huddle offense, which would put defenses in a touch situation with tired defensive linemen trying to catch the speedy Vick.
Mudd will stress consistency. He’s going to train these guys techniques that he will ask them to perform repeatedly so that it becomes muscle memory. “We kind of do the same thing over and over and over”, Mudd said while sounding like former Juan Castillo. “Maybe there are other ways to do it that are a little better. We know that the way we do it works for us, so we keep repeating that same pattern because it’s successful. I don’t try to change a whole lot. Keep it simple. Do a few things and do them extraordinarily well. That’s kind of going to be our motto.”
I expect Mudd to encourage Reid and Mornhinweg to run some stretch plays with LeSean McCoy. The Colts mastered that stretch play and brutalized the Eagles a number of times during the years with it. It’s a great play when combined with a play action passes of it.
The quarterback doesn’t give the ball to the running back until he’s deep in the backfield and that makes it very difficult to read. Manning has run the stretch run and stretch run play action pass to perfection. I expect Vick to be running those plays before the year is over.
The former Indianapolis Cots offensive line coach has known the Eagles head coach for a long time, as well as the team’s offensive coordinator. “[Head coach] Andy [Reid]. I have known Andy for 22 years” Mudd told reporters. “He was a young assistant coach for Bob Stull at University of Missouri. He came over [when I was with the Chiefs] and wanted to know about what I did and why I did it and stuff like that. We spent a lot of time that one year there. I went over and spoke at their spring clinic and got to know him. Then he ends up leaving and Marty Mornhinweg was then the offensive line coach. He asked me if I would spend time. [Reid] was in Green Bay and we maintained contact.”
At times I believe all NFL coaches worked with every other NFL coach at some point in their careers.
This guy will get the job done…….. With Vick’s mobility and him working with the new fellas coming in this season……. He’ll be the man…… A guy that Vick will love for years to come……. I believe Peyton is the least sacked Qb in the league and the number of snaps Peyton has total in his career is amazing……. With us being a pass happy team he’ll turn water into Mike’s Hard Lemonade…. LOL…….. I like this guy….. I seen a segment with him and Washburn riding motorcycles and having a good time……. Thats what this team needs…. Solid guys with real proven proof on getting this team to move foward…….
I can see McCoy being an Edgerrin James under Howard Mudd…… Guys being more physical up front and running down field to create more blocks down field….. The Eagles have missed the physicality up front that they once had with Hank Fraley, Jermaine Mayberry, Jon Runyan, and Tra Thomas to name a few…….. Jeff Saturday has been solid through the years under this guy…… I think he’ll do wonders with Mcglyn…..
Love the optimism (anyone surprised?), and I agree with the love for both new line coaches. But with Mudd, I think we can’t get too excited expecting the same OL/QB situation as indy with Peyton. Manning is notorius for getting the ball out quick/reading blitzes due to his ridiculous preparation. He’s also a pocket passer. AND he called his own plays/made adjustments at the line.
Does any of that sound like Vick? Nope. Vick brings a whole boat load of unique skills to the table, and Mudd seems like a great guy for the job, but this isn’t going to be Indy’s OL/QB situation at the least.
I think Mudd’s best attributes as a Coach is that he get’s his O/Line to play
in “unison and as 1 unit” as opposed to 5 guys doing their own assignments.
Being familiar with the Colts over the years,(I lived out in Indianapolis) he has made many Mid to Late Round players into succesful O/Lineman in the NFl..
Here’s a couple of players that he’s coached with the Colts over the last 10 years or so who had had Pro-Bowls or just plain good careers..
Center – Jeff Saturday (undrafted and Multiple Pro-Bowls)
LT – Tarrick Glenn (Pro-Bowls)
OT – Ryan Diem (4th Round pick)
OT – Charles Johnson (6th Round pick)
OG- R Lilja (left Colts in Free-Agency and now plays for Chiefs)
how much imput will this guy have on celek and the other tight ends as far as there blocking and when to leave a block it seems the colts always relied on there TE and where productive
I thought Juan was suppose to be this great oline coach? lol. All this talk really tells me that Juan sucked. The biggest assest Mudd may bring is a fresh outlook and philosophy. I definetly would go into FA and get the best RT available and not even mess around with a rookie in the draft. I need a sure thing right away. You wont break the bank with a RT. Then my 2 first round picks go to defense and 2nd round pick is best RG. My break the bank prize goes to Asomugha.
On another note. Anyone notice how ever since 2 years ago when Tiger Woods was linked to PED with the guy in Canada that Woods has been very ordinary ever since that has happened. I truley believe there is a link there. Kind of reminds me when 2 years ago Raul Ibanez had 21 homers in the 1st half of the season then a reporter brought up PEDs with him and he all of the sudden became a 200 hitter ever since. Interesting.
To daggolden,
You could add JC Romero, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rolllins to the same rumors and questions.. Once Romero was busted and suspended, all 4 players have been injured with nagging minor muscle pulls,etc,etc and their performances
have declined little by little since
Dag, interesting approach. But how do you know that the best RT available in Free Agency is better than one in the draft? If the RT FA crop is crappy, the best of crap doesn’t cut it. And if you ‘need a sure thing right now’, then good luck buddy. Name the last time a sure thing at any OL position became available in free agency, and didn’t break the bank. I can’t. And we don’t really need an RT. A traditional RT blocks the non blindside. Vick’s left handed so our RT has to be like an LT. And good LTs don’t make it to free agency, and if they do, they are just as pricey as Namdi would/will be. AND that’s assuming the CBA….
@daggolden
PED’s for Golf.?..not sure about that…
Shiller theres plenty of RT that arent pricey. First off the best pass rushers in the NFL dont line up on the RT so right there thats a bonus. RT are not big ticket players. Upgrading RT should be easy. Justice is soft and isnt very good. Vick being lefty doesnt get a good playing RT, LT money. He may get a little more but not break the bank money. You dont need a Ogden or Peters on the right side, you really dont. Just a solid good playing RT with a mean streak. Asomugha is gonna get 5 years 75 millionn range.
Yes West Philly. Tiger had been linked to PED. It was brushed under the rug. PED lets them guys hit farther and recover faster.
@ Paulman Yes Ike Reece brought that up last year on WIP about Utley. He said it was a classic sign with the hip injuries and the body breakdowns. All of the sudden Utleys bat is slow he cant hit HRs. He doesnt have alot of miles on his body, hes only been playing full time for 5 years. He plays so hard is the bullshit the media thats on his jock cries. What does he do at 2nd base that no one else doesnt do?lol. All he does is run out all ground balls. Utleys hooneymoon should be OVER.
I don’t live in the Philly area so I don’t get the local radio channels but I am glad to hear that someone else with credibility (since I have very little) has also brought this up.. I get labeled a hater every time I mention it about Utley, who I think is overrated and on the decline, but to the large majority of the white fan base of the Phils, he’s treated as a god.. which I just never figured why..He’s a good player, don’t get me wrong, but he’s not the player he was 2-3 years ago and is rapidly declining in my opinion as his body begins to break down..
i don’t get it???? i thought Juan was the best/one of the best O. Line coaches in the business? Now Mudd is light years ahead of Juan? that makes no sense to me!
J Castillo is recognized as an overall “Good” O/L Coach but not one of the best or tops in the NFL..
Both Mudd and Washburn are probably rated in the Top #3 at their Positions… Castillo is a good Coach but not at Mudd”s level..
@ Paulman. what is the reasoning of Ruiz batting 8th. Why cant he bat 5th? Piazza didnt bat 8th. Ruiz has been the best hitter and the best clutch hitter the past 2 years. Why is there never a discussion about moving him up in the order.I dont wanna hear wearing him out, he wont be effective. How do we know that?
how do they do this??? somehow… someway…. i feel hope. It kills me. Every flipping year the eagles somehow make me say things like…. hmm… maybe they know what they are doing. ugh…. HOW????
I have such mixed emotions… for sure…. Our Dline and Oline are in MUCH MUCH MUCH better haands then last year. Mudd actually sounds like he has a clue. I dont think he willl let andy call all the shots. He will get in his ear. MAYBE… JUST MAYBE.. we will see that little draw play.
On d- no doubt we will be better coached. Seriously people…. it cannot be worse than Mc D. It just cant. IT CANT!!!
ugh… there it is again. HOPE!
Hey Rev…thought you were in the Hope business anyway?
I am with too…every year they can get me hyped up with moves that have us believing they are going to be really improved…..and then….like clockwork…..every year we forget that…..that it all comes down to coaching and playcalling during the game….and we are left with the same average results.
I really like these (2) line coaches….but in the end…they are not calling the plays and are not managing the clock…..but for today….I will pretend that these guys will foster a change in thinking at NovaCare and we will finally get to the promised land
i’m the biggest homer out there! i’m the biggest optimist, i always support AR but the question i have is all this enthusiasm over line coaches….our DC was a highly thought of line coach now a DC? and we bring in a line coach better than him? why wouldn’t we bring in mudd and a real DC? a couple years ago we were psyched to get a DB coach like Jauron, and last time i checked we’ve given up more TD passes than anyone in histroy– why all the excitment over position coaches?
paulie, this is the second time, maybe more that I am unaware of, where you have made an irresponsible charge of steroid use, with no evidence, not even anecdotal, and the common sense view is that the players you have besmirched are not steroid users. You better back off, you are irresponsible, your opinions are worthless, harmful, and you should no longer post as you have zero, zero credibility, you are a clown paulie, check out and do us all a favor, please
@Paulman = looks like you know as much about baseball talent as you do football
Jake, collar that pit. It’s the law! lol
drum, paulie has to be stopped, can’t allow him to just spew without anyone calling him out, it is one thing to drivel about trades, predictions, but it is another topic altogether when he makes a challenge about ones character, his ethics, whether someone cheats, breaks the law, the rules of the game, you must be accountable for that which you post, dig?
Jake, worthy cause but give it up man. The guy takes nothing seriously except for the rush he gets when clicking on the ‘post comment’ button. He’s made up bs injury updates and such too, just for shits and giggles.