I'm Fine With Doug

Doug Pederson is apparently the next coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. He lacks the resume of Tom Coughlin, or the trendy-support of Adam Gase, but he's our guy. You know what though? I'm fine with that.

You're going to hear a lot of people say why they don't like this hire. Some won't say it, but for them it's about his time as a player (basically a career back-up), and the lack of "luster" on him as the hire. Pederson did not have a lot of suitors for a head coaching job, though that should not matter. He was an Andy Reid "disciple," though I'm not sure why that's bad. His offense in Kansas City did not put up monster numbers, though I'm not sure that's a good metric for hiring a head coach. He didn't call plays in Kansas City- though again, i'm not sure why that matters for a head coach.

I do get it. The Eagles fanbase considers this an elite job. In many ways it is, but that doesn't mean it's for everybody. Eagles fans come to expect that an elite coach would want their job, and they'd get the trendy pick as head coach, like they did three seasons ago with Chip Kelly. Pederson doesn't fit that bill. He seems like a boring pick, running a rather conservative offense in Kansas City. He's the "vanilla" pick here, the one that doesn't really excite you.

All of this is fine though. If five years from now he's winning his second or third division title and taking the team deep into the playoffs (also known as contending), we'll all have a different take on Pederson. I'm approaching his hire as a positive, and waiting to see what he does. I'm starting out at least as a supporter.

I do have a few questions though:

1. What arrangement has been worked out with regarding personnel decisions? Chip ran Howie Roseman out, then fell on his own face this season, but nobody is exactly clamoring for Howie to make the decisions again. It will be interesting to see how the power dynamic works here.
2. Is he free to make decisions regarding his coaching staff? If not, why bother taking the job? There are reports that Jeffrey Lurie's pushing candidates to keep assistants on the current staff pushed away candidates like Tom Coughlin. I'd like to know the extent to which Pederson runs the staff.
3. How does he feel about the QB situation? He's been offensive coordinator in Kansas City with Alex Smith as his QB, not someone widely viewed as great. Does he feel Sam Bradford is "his guy." If not, who in the draft or free agency does he like? 
4. Is the team a few tweaks or years away from contention? Should we hope for a 10-6 team in 2016, or a high pick? Is the offense or defense further away? What is the top need to be addressed, and is it better addressed in the draft or free agency this year?
5. After Fletcher Cox, who else would he lock up, if anyone? What generally positively viewed players should be moved?

I'm pro-Doug tonight. How these questions get answered will show how I am in the long-term.