Andy Reid admits he ‘goofed’ on linebackers

Andy Reid met with reporters yesterday at the owners meetings and chatted with reckless abandon — at least as close as that comes for the usually tight-lipped coach.

The Eagles boss admitted that he “goofed” last season after deciding his young linebacking corps was good enough to run the complex Wide Nine scheme.

“We had young guys. I knew that going in,” Reid told reporters in Florida. “That’s my responsibility. I goofed on that one. I thought that the young guys on defense could get where they ended up getting by the end of the season sooner, particularly the middle of the defense, linebackers and safeties. I expected the offense to carry us through.”

Last week, the Eagles traded for Pro Bowl middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans, an instant Band-Aid. Reid has already compared Ryans’ intangibles to those of famed Eagle Brian Dawkins. So naturally the coach expects to compete for a Super Bowl championship in 2012.

“Yes. That’s what makes it exciting,” Reid said. “I think we have a good group coming back. As long as we build on what we did [at the end of] last year, which I think is important in this case.”