Five Questions Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni Needs To Answer at NFL Combine

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni must answer many difficult questions when he joins general manager Howie Roseman at the Scouting Combine next week.

It's been an exhausting month for the Philadelphia Eagles, even if they haven't played a game in two. 

Anonymous reports of locker room infighting and an immature coach have seemingly sprung up in every corner of the NovaCare complex ahead of the 2024 Scouting Combine. 

That leaves Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni with little alternative. When he sits down with Roseman to speak to the media, he needs to be able to answer some difficult questions to quell some of the concerns people outside the building are having.

We go through five of the biggest, here:

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1. Is Jalen Hurts' Leadership In Question?

A.J. Brown's impassioned plea in defense of the organization and quarterback on Friday should do a lot to weather some of the storm that's recently been brought from some of these anonymous sources. 

Having the head coach (and even the general manager) speak on it will also be important. 

As early as mid-February, reports stated that the organization was looking for franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts to take more of a vocal leadership role on the team now that aging veterans were expected to leave. It'll be interesting to hear how Sirianni thinks of his quarterback and if he truly believes changes need to be made in how Hurts handles himself. 

2. Are You Working On Your Sideline Maturity? 

One of the most damning reports out there in recent weeks was the belief that Sirianni's sideline antics got worse after Chief of Security Dom DiSandro was suspended for the remainder of the regular season late in the year. DiSandro was seen as a babysitter to Sirianni for some - a horrific look if true for a coach that has a record of 34-17. 

It'll be interesting to see Sirianni's remarks regarding his overall maturity and how he plans to handle everything this season. The sideline antics that many enjoyed when the team was winning aren't as fun when the opposite begins to happen. 

3. What Actually Is The Role of A Head Coach Who Doesn't Call Plays?

Sirianni hasn't called plays since his rookie season as head coach. While the team has been very successful during that time, questions have increased about what Sirianni's job will be now that he has a new offensive and defensive coordinator who run their separate schemes. 

There are plenty of head coaches who do not call plays for their team in the NFL - Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh, etc. 

But with their late-season collapse, the fact that Sirianni is at the mercy of other play-callers in 2024 is going to be very interesting to see how that dynamic develops over time. 

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4. Are Aging Veterans Leaving A Problem For Locker Room?

Long-time leaders like Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox, and Brandon Graham could be leaving the organization this season. 

That means there could be a massive leadership gap that the franchise needs to fill with their quarterback and other members of the roster. Seeing if Sirianni is concerned about having those leaders gone could go a long way toward teasing what free agency could look like for the Eagles. 

That leadership gap could be filled with other players, but it'll be interesting to hear what Sirianni would have to say on the subject. 

5. How Do You Balance Anonymous Sources and Everyday Job?

It's been an ugly start to the offseason for Philadelphia. Yes, the team was able to upgrade at several major coaching needs, but that has been shunted to the wayside by angry fans and media members still looking for answers as to why the team dropped six of their final seven games down the stretch in 2023. 

Suppose Sirianni and Roseman are able to display a level of calm in the middle of all the non-football questions expected to be asked. In that case, it should bring calm back to the city as the organization prepares for free agency and the draft. 

It won't be easy, but this needs to be the one press conference that Sirianni needs to ace to bring some normalcy back to everyone.