Ed Reed ability to see big picture helping change Miami football culture

During an interview on the NFL Network this week, Miami football head coach Manny Diaz spoke about the impact chief of staff Ed Reed has had for the Hurricanes. Reed was hired in 2020 to help Diaz and the Miami football program change the direction of the culture for the Hurricanes. Reed’s ability extends beyond the field.

Reed is considered one of the greatest leaders in the history of the Miami football program. In just over a year on the Hurricanes staff, Reed has helped provide Diaz the perspective of seeing the big picture of how each player fits on the Hurricanes roster. Reed had one season on the Buffalo Bills staff in 2016 prior to returning to Miami.

Reed was the assistant defensive backs coach with Buffalo under head coach Rex Ryan. Ryan was the defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens when Reed was an all-pro safety there. Reed has a special ability as a leader to analyze a locker room. Reed eventually wants to be a head coach or defensive coordinator.

Earlier this month, Reed tweeted that he does not want to be a position coach. During his one season on the Bills staff, Reed mentioned during an interview he felt like he was not listened to. Diaz recognized the greatness and potential that Reed has working with young players and listens to his expertise.

"“Ed has such a knack for seeing the game from that 30,000-foot perspective, which you need to do as a head football coach…To be able to pay attention, whether it’s 53 in a locker room or over 100 like we have here in college, and to be in tune with each one of those guys is really what Ed did great as a player.And you could see him being great at that as a head coach as well…We unusually throw the word GOAT around a lot, but this guy, really, it fits…He may be the greatest ever to play the position.His experience, not just from the ball aspect, but what you find out about Ed, his understanding of team dynamics, his understanding of the locker room, of little non-verbals, just the little way that a certain player goes about doing things is off the charts.”Courtesy Miami Herald"

Diaz added the responsibility of defensive coordinator during the 2021 offseason. Diaz will be one of the few head coaches who is also handling the coordinator duties on one side of the ball. Part of those responsibilities will be making the defensive play calls. Reed will provide Diaz with another perspective in defensive play calling.

Reed has all the intangibles on and off the field to be a successful DC and HC someday. There has been some suggestion that Reed become the Miami DC after an opening on the staff was created with the departure of LB coach Travis Williams this week. The Miami defense regressed during the 2020 season.

Diaz’s intention to take over the defense again is to return the Hurricanes back to the attacking, turnover forcing style they had when he was the DC from 2016-18. Reed played the same style as a Hurricanes player from 1997-2001. Diaz and Reed would seem to have a similar perspective on how to play defensively.

If Diaz chooses to relinquish being the DC and HC simultaneously in the future, Reed will likely be a candidate to replace him. Miami is expected to replace Williams with another LB coach. A year from now, Diaz will re-examine the staff as he has done during his three offseasons as head coach. A change might be made then.