• March 28, 2024

I Have Confidence In Chip Kelly, The Offensive Coordinator, But…..

ChipKelly1A lot of Eagles fans are very concerned about Birds head coach Chip Kelly shipping All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy to Buffalo, but I’m not because Kelly is a great designer of ways to attack a defense, especially in the running game.  I do have concerns about Kelly, but it’s not in his offensive coordinator’s role.

I’m concerned about him as the team’s General Manager.  He’s only been in the NFL for two years and I think he’s got a lot on his plate to have final decision making status with the team in only his third year.

In the role of offensive coordinator, Kelly is confident that he can design a potent rushing attack behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.  I agree with him.  The guy is a genius when it comes to designing a running game.  He sees things that other offensive coaches don’t see.  The guy knows how to put pressure on a defense, especially in the running game.

Many of the offensive coaches around the league are copying his attack.  Seattle has copied his running attack and you see Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson executing Kelly’s run plays to one Super Bowl title and nearly two, if Pete Carroll had given Lynch the ball on that last play.

Look how many times a year ago that Darren Sproles had big plays, when he was in the game in place of McCoy.  The quick pitches, handoffs, quick screens and regular screens are all in a way running plays because Kelly gets the ball to his backs behind their offensive line.  Not only Sproles, but Chris Polk was productive when he was in the game.

I’m not taking anything away from Shady because he’s a great back, definitely one of the best in the league with great vision and the unique ability to make drastic changes of direction in an instant.

Still, Kelly doesn’t believe he needs to have a Pro Bowl running back on the roster in order to have one of the best running attacks in the NFL.  Kelly does believe he needs a quality offensive line in order to produce that yardage and he has just that in All-Pro’s Jason Peters, Evan Mathis and Jason Kelce.

I agree with him.  The guy does a great job of designing a running offense.  He spreads a defense out and puts a lot of pressure on every gap in the front seven of the defense.

The recently released veteran offensive lineman Todd Herremans said Kelly values his quarterback and his offensive line more than he does the running back.  I think Kelly will have success this year as long as they get a solid, one-cut running back, who has decent size, speed, and toughness.

The former Oregon Ducks head coach wants his backs to run the ball where the play is designed to go, 90 to 95% of the time.  He doesn’t want his backs to dance in the backfield like Shady McCoy does.  If he draws a play up to be run up the middle, he wants the back to trust that the hole will be there and to start up the middle with the ball, after the handoff.

Most of the time the hole is there in Kelly’s run attack.  Most of the time in Kelly’s attack, he gives the running back an option of two or three holes to choose from where the opening will be.  Many times his running plays put the defensive guy in the predicament where he can’t be right.

In Kelly’s offense, the running back is running partly on his instincts and partly on the play design.  He only has to read one or two blocks and Kelly is able to tell him where the hole is probably going to be.

McCoy likes to run almost solely on instinct and he may take a running play outside, that was designed to go inside.  On the other hand, Shady my have a sweep play to the right that he takes all the way back to his left.  His ability to improvise is what separates him from other good backs.  Kelly doesn’t like his backs to take those kind of chances with the football because reversing field means taking the risk of losing five or ten yards.

Once you lose those yards, you limit Kelly’s play calling and you make it a must passing situations on second or third down.  This is the mindset of Kelly the offensive coordinator.

Kelly believes in and wants a one-cut running back, who will take the handoff, decide where the hole is, then hit the hole, and get north and south immediately.  Meaning if the line blocks well enough for a four yard gain.  Chip wants his back to get those four-yards, so it’s second down and six.  Now he has the defense where he wants them, guessing. He can throw or run.

If the line blocks well enough for a five-yard gain.  Get the five-yards and nothing less.  He doesn’t want his backs to be looking to turn the five-yard run into fifty-yard run because they run the risk of having a negative play.

If the line blocks badly and the running back can’t get back to the line of scrimmage and is forced to lose a yard, then he wants the back to lose that yard and no more.  Kelly doesn’t want his running back to dance in the backfield and lose five or ten yards because it puts tremendous pressure on the offense and on the offensive coordinator in particular.

This is the way Kelly thinks with regards to his running game.

Again, I believe in him as a offensive coordinator and especially as a running game designer, but I don’t have the same confidence in his skills as a General Manager.  He’s got to prove to me that he can be a General Manager in the NFL after only two years pf experience.

GCOBB

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Notes From The Phillies’ 6-3 Loss To New York

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The “Shady” Ways Of Chip Kelly

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lewdoggie20
lewdoggie20
March 6, 2015 7:34 am

i think that is a fair assessment. if the eagles get a couple holes filled on the defensive side of the ball in FA i see them as a player for an oline player in the first round…not really buying the mariota stuff because if the guy is that good nobody is going to pass on him.

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 6, 2015 7:50 am
Reply to  lewdoggie20

They’ll pass because he fits best in a system like Chips

Mariota is an unknown in a conventional, under center, drop back situation. They’ve never seen him in that style of offense

So teams would be taking a chance

But I honestly think Mariota is good enough to play in any style of offense..

dtime
dtime
March 6, 2015 8:01 am

Great article. The above is exactly what went on last year with the Eagles run offensive. The Eagles don’t need a running quarterback to run the read option just a running back that hits the hole. It’s the difference between someone that really knows the game and some of the fantasy football type articles that you see on this site and others.

paulman
paulman
March 6, 2015 12:54 pm

Do Keep Note that Former Oregon Duck RB Kajon Barner is on the Eagles Roster after spending 2 Years with the Panthers and he is not an NFL RB by any stretch, He Runs Scared, scoots to the Sidelines at the first opportunity and is an average Receiver, a Poor Blocker and has Fumblitis
I watched Barner very closely the 2 Summers he spent in Carolina and boy, was I disappointed in him… Maybe him being back with Chip will make him relax and let his great athletic abilities take over.. But from what I saw in the Summers of 2013 and 2014, Kajon Barner was not tough or smart enough to Play in the NFL …
Eagles should look at Drafting a RB in the this Draft in the 3rd/4th Round for there are plenty of good ones

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 6, 2015 1:20 pm

LB David Harris re-signs with Jets: 3 years, $21.5M, including $15 million fully guaranteed

paulman
paulman
March 6, 2015 1:24 pm

RB’s who would be great fits in Eagles Offense
and who can do the Following

1) 1-Cut and Get North in between the Tackles
2) Catch the Ball out of the Backfield
3) Stay in and Pass-Block, Pick-up Blitzers, etc,etc
4) Be Physically/Mentally Strong

RB’s who fit this Description in my Opinion and the probable Rounds that they will go..

Rd #2 Ameer Abdullah – Nebraska 5-9- 205lbs (Versatile, reminds me of a L Tomlinson & D Sproles type)
Rd #2 Jay Ajayi – Boise State 6-0 221lbs (Runs,Catches, Blocks, Big)
Rd #2 Duke Johnson – Miami 5-9 207lbs (Tough, Runs Hard, Versatile)

Rd #3 Jeremy Langford – Mich State 6-0 208lbs (Solid, Fast & Tough)
Rd #3 David Johnson – Northern Iowa 6-1 224lbs(A load who can move, a Sleeper Back in this Draft, Built and Runs a little like Bryce Brown but not afraid to run in between the Tackles and probably Catches the Ball better than any RB in this Draft Class)
Rd #3 TJ Yeldon – Alabama 6-1 226lbs (A Big Back from Alabama,
who has some hops and knows OL Coach Souderland’s Blocking Schemes well)

Rd #4 Mike Davis – South Carolina 5-9 217lbs (A Tough Little solid Back who can do a little of everything, very strong, good receiver and blocker)
Rd #4 Cameron Artis-Payne – Auburn 5-10 212lbs (One of my favorite Backs in this Draft, has Quick Feet, Strong and Good Receiver and Blocker
(Reminds me of a young Ahmad Bradshaw Type)

Rd #5 Malcolm Brown – Texas 5-11 224lbs – (A load, is very Tough in the Short-Yardage, Red-Zone and In-between the Tackles)

Rd #/6 Malcolm Agnew – Southern Illinois 5-9 205lbs (A Quick Hitter who is Versatile, Plays Special Teams as a Returner, Good Hands for Pass Receiving..)

mhenski
mhenski
March 6, 2015 1:30 pm
Reply to  paulman

reminds me of a L Tomlinson & D Sproles type – WHAT THE FUCK????????? THATS LIKE SAYING REMINDS ME OF A TOM BRADY & MATT SCHAUB TYPE

paulman
paulman
March 6, 2015 1:41 pm
Reply to  mhenski

Are you equating Sproles with B Schaub?

I use the Comparison because even though Abdullah is a little short, he has the Strength, Toughness and desire that LT had and the Hops and flat out Speed hat Sproles has, So yes, I will say again , Ameer Abdullah reminds me both of L Tomlinson & D Sproles..

mhenski
mhenski
March 6, 2015 1:46 pm
Reply to  paulman

dude u said reminds me of L tom and D sproles type as if they are the same type or anything close to the same type . lt was a feature rb that played 3 downs. sproles is and always was a special teams guy and a 3rd down back… wtf? compare and contrast away man but that makes zero sense to anyone but you

paulman
paulman
March 6, 2015 2:37 pm
Reply to  mhenski

Are you having your Polish Moment for the Week..
Abdullah has Traits of both LT & Sproles and there is nothing wrong with that.. Abdullah returns Punts like Sproles does, Can be a 3rd Down Scat Back out of the Backfield like Sproles, but more importantly has the strength and heart to actually get 15 Carries a Game and run the Ball like LT did

Tom Brady and Matt Schaub…. Really… What has Matt Schaub ever done…. That would be like comparing LT and your man Ray Helu… Too Funny…

gmcliff
gmcliff
March 7, 2015 8:13 pm
Reply to  paulman

No he doesn’t Paul. He is not even close to as dynamic than Tavon Austin was in College, who hasn’t found his stride yet in the NFL…No rookie is going to replace Shady.

You guys really exaggerate the talents of these rookies – But no one is more exaggerated than Marcus Mariota.

mhenski
mhenski
March 6, 2015 1:32 pm

NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks sees Auburn RB Cameron Artis-Payne as a potential bargain option to replace Lesean McCoy in Philadelphia.
“He’s used to up-tempo and playing out of the shotgun, so his eyes would be fine in terms of finding the holes, vision-wise,” Brooks said. The analyst actually thinks Miami RB Duke Johnson would “be the best fit” to fill the vacancy, because he’s a “carbon copy” of McCoy himself. Melvin Gordon and Tevin Coleman are also good options, he said. “[Gordon] played in a zone system at Wisconsin that is similar to what the Eagles do, in terms of how he reads lanes and cuts,” Brooks wrote. “He didn’t spend a lot of time in the shotgun, so that would be something new for him, but it wouldn’t be much of an adjustment.” As for Coleman, Brooks said he is a “home-run hitter, very explosive, and with his size and speed and ability to catch the ball, he would be a really good fit.”
Source: NFL.com
Mar 5 – 11:00 PM

zilents44
zilents44
March 6, 2015 1:38 pm
Reply to  mhenski

So every running back in draft fits the eagles…..lol

DMAN
DMAN
March 6, 2015 1:33 pm

Great article G. Hopefully the Eagles will still have that 3rd pick after giving up the farm to get Mariota and land a solid RB. Duke Johsnon from Miami is a stud. He would be a perfect fit in Kelly’s O.

mhenski
mhenski
March 6, 2015 1:40 pm

Starting to feel like eagles will trade foles, #20 & a 3rd round pick to the jets for #6 pick once the free agency smoke clears. then on draft day #6 pick, cox, kendricks and 2016 1st round pick to the bucs for #1 pick

haveacigar
haveacigar
March 6, 2015 1:54 pm
Reply to  mhenski

God damn Henski…. Fucked us right in the shitter!

mhenski
mhenski
March 6, 2015 2:00 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

odrick replaces cox, worilds& kiko replace cole and kendricks. ball and maxwell or culliver replace no talent and talentless. writing will be on the wall or not by late next week

paulman
paulman
March 6, 2015 2:39 pm
Reply to  mhenski

I first mentioned Jared Odrick in January and have Exclusive Rights on where he goes, etc,etc… You have RB Ray Helu & CB Alan Ball ..

mhenski
mhenski
March 6, 2015 2:40 pm
Reply to  paulman

BAHAHAAAAAAA

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 6, 2015 2:51 pm

Bovada made the Mariota bet available again, at 2/1 odds for “yes.”

Hahaha hilarious

They’re saying its a sure thing

vinnietheevictor
vinnietheevictor
March 6, 2015 3:57 pm
Reply to  Jon Hart

They’re saying they’ll keep moving the line until they get equal action on both sides,

They clearly made a mistake with their opening line of +400 and took too much action on the “get MM” side (a smart play at +400 IMO) and so are doing their best to get action the other way at this point.

Now its only +200. They’ll move it to even $$ or even make the acuisition favoured in order to get people to bet “no”

mhenski
mhenski
March 6, 2015 4:01 pm

jeesh no is a great bet. id do it if i was ok laying chalk.

i bet demarco murray NO return to dallas at even money today. seems like easy $ to me

haveacigar
haveacigar
March 6, 2015 4:09 pm
Reply to  mhenski

I should bet the no…stick to my guns

mhenski
mhenski
March 6, 2015 4:25 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

Layin 300 to win 100 is never good money management.

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 6, 2015 2:57 pm

Im hearing that Maxwell’s reps will be meeting with the Eagles brass tonight

zilents44
zilents44
March 6, 2015 3:00 pm
Reply to  Jon Hart

Nice reporting jh without your great awesome fuckng source we would never find this out

mhenski
mhenski
March 6, 2015 4:30 pm

non sports rant

Why the fuck do realtors get so much $$$ on the sale of a house / purchase of a house. Someone need to make this process cheaper. Need a home buying / home agent app that computer programs charge a reasonable fee damn.

zilents44
zilents44
March 6, 2015 4:55 pm
Reply to  mhenski

Big commision

paulman
paulman
March 6, 2015 5:25 pm
Reply to  zilents44

Just keep Re-Financing for 30 Years on a the Same Property is another Scam…

mhenski
mhenski
March 6, 2015 5:40 pm
Reply to  paulman

Right. Although it’s very smart money management to refi if ur rate is 4.5+% now. I got locked in on my new house at 3.75. Just gotta be responsible and not up ur payoff date.

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 6, 2015 4:34 pm

Spotted on plane on way to SEA, Marshawn Lynch has decided to return to NFL, he and Seattle have reached agreement on new deal

mhenski
mhenski
March 6, 2015 4:38 pm
Reply to  Jon Hart

Jonpaulhartman with eyes and ears everywhere even got video cams in aiports breaking local and national sports news. Keep doing your thing it’s game changing.

mhenski
mhenski
March 6, 2015 4:41 pm
Reply to  mhenski

Oops spoke to soon damn it! Adam Schaffer reported this before you. Don’t worry Jon eventually you will get one

mhenski
mhenski
March 6, 2015 4:42 pm
Reply to  mhenski

Jons tombstone – breaking sports news worldwide 5 -90 minutes after someone else broke the story.

paulman
paulman
March 6, 2015 5:24 pm
Reply to  Jon Hart

Marshawn Lynch never Left Football… He took a Couple Week’s off after a long Season and losing the way they did in the Super Bowl… No News Here..

RegalEagle
RegalEagle
March 6, 2015 5:29 pm

G. I would agree more if you said formerly great offensive line. This Line is Getting OLD and more injury Prone FAST.

We Need to Address this Imediately if Chip is Trading away a bunch of Picks. If he is Not then we have the next 2 years to replace at Least 1 T and 1 G.

paulman
paulman
March 6, 2015 5:43 pm
Reply to  RegalEagle

After Addressing the Defense in Free_Agency
Chip Kelly Needs to address the OL, WR & RB in the Draft
I see 2 OL Drafted – 1 early and 1 mid to late
It’s the Strength of this Draft Class

mhenski
mhenski
March 6, 2015 5:50 pm
Reply to  paulman

Agreed. If d is built via fa and we sell the farm for yota all I want from the draft is 1 ol and a replacement for cooper I’m 2016/2017 season.

RegalEagle
RegalEagle
March 6, 2015 5:33 pm

Upgrade the O-Line and Tucker and/or Polk will have a chance to be Stars (Gain 1000 yds in a season) and Sproles will sprinkle in the Wow. (He is getting old but seems to be defying father time)

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 6, 2015 5:56 pm

A possible Eagles target, Packers CB Davon House likely to test free agency

mhenski
mhenski
March 6, 2015 6:01 pm
Reply to  Jon Hart

Jon what the hell r you talking about? He is “likely to test free agency” , say what? He is a free agent period, it’s not likely, possible or not possible, he is a free agent period.

Just like Revis is a patriot and not a free agent.

DCar
DCar
March 7, 2015 3:30 pm
Reply to  Jon Hart

Only been saying the Birds target him since end of the season! He IS a FA, you f^#@tard! LIKELY?!?!?!

gmcliff
gmcliff
March 7, 2015 8:05 pm
Reply to  DCar

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Biglion821
Biglion821
March 7, 2015 4:20 pm

Fellas, GB was trying to get House signed before other teams could sign him, just like Maclin with the Eagles, the latest report which Jon Hart is alluding to is saying House wants to test first instead of just resigning with GB.

Biglion821
Biglion821
March 7, 2015 4:21 pm

Test the market, sorry.

zilents44
zilents44
March 7, 2015 4:38 pm
Reply to  Biglion821

Yea i was gonna say that big he was jst stating the exact words from the repoet

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 7, 2015 5:15 pm

CB Kareem Jackson Resigns with Texans

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 7, 2015 5:37 pm

Kareem Jackson got a 20mil $ deal

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 7, 2015 5:38 pm

Source says Eagles are front runners for Byron Maxwell. We’ll see how this Kareem Jackson deal impacts negotiations for Eagles and Maxwell

Stevo
Stevo
March 7, 2015 6:11 pm
Reply to  Jon Hart

@sheil k

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 7, 2015 5:42 pm

Heres the numbers for Jackson, deal came in at 4 years and $34 m. A bit more than some predicted. 8.5mil per year

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 7, 2015 5:57 pm

Sixers News

Sixers Claim Glenn Robinson IIl off waivers

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 7, 2015 5:59 pm

Back to Kareems deal…

Basing this strictly off this deal, Maxwell is going to be very expensive

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 7, 2015 6:13 pm

I’m hearing our name involved with Brian Orakapo

paulman
paulman
March 7, 2015 6:21 pm

Texans in deep talks with WR J Maclin..
Houston will Cut WR Andre Johnson and use those Savings
On Signing Jeremy Maclin…

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 7, 2015 6:34 pm
Reply to  paulman

The Eagles top priority im hearing is 1.McCourty 2.Maxwell.. Maclin seems like the odd man out unless he takes less money to stay which I doubt he will

But we’ll see.. they’ve been talking to maclin since the end of the season

As the days pass its looking more and more like he’s signing with a different team and it may be the texans…

paulman
paulman
March 7, 2015 10:22 pm
Reply to  Jon Hart

Reports are that Maclin wants $11 Million Per Season
And the Eagles last Offered $9 Million Per Season
So it’s very unlikely that Maclin remains in Philly

Kareem Jackson signing for $8.5 Million per Season
Is a joke.. He’s had 1 Good Season (2014) in his 4 Years
With the Texans..
I am sure B Maxwell Yearly Figure jumped into double-digits
Based on what Kareem Jackson
I sure hope Eagles don’t sign any Free-Agent Player
For $10-$12 Million + per Year

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 7, 2015 10:32 pm
Reply to  paulman

I mentioned yesterday that Mac wanted anywhere between 10-12 per year

Cobb just set the market, 10 mil per year

paulman
paulman
March 7, 2015 10:53 pm
Reply to  Jon Hart

And I’ve mentioned for months now that Eagles
Would not go over $10 for Maclin or any WR
For that matter… WR & RB’s are a Dime a Dozen in Chips Value Chart
As far as Offense Skills Positions go..

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 7, 2015 6:57 pm

The Eagles were in on Kareem Jackson, they made him an offer similar to what Texans offered but Kareem liked what Obrien was building so he stayed put

This tells me they will indeed look to sign Maxwell, but they’ll also try to sign someone with lesser talent to Maxwell

mhenski
mhenski
March 7, 2015 6:59 pm
Reply to  Jon Hart

Basically a copy and paste from this but 30 minutes later

Devin McCourty – DB – Patriots
Yahoo’s Charles Robinson reports the Eagles have made free agent FS Devin McCourty their top priority.
The Eagles are expected to be aggressive in their pursuit of McCourty after allowing the second-most passing yards in the league last season. McCourty is seeking $8 million-plus annually as the best safety in this year’s class. The Eagles have also been heavily linked to free agent CB Byron Maxwell.
Related: Eagles
Source: Charles Robinson on Twitter Mar 7 – 6:00 PM

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 7, 2015 7:29 pm
Reply to  mhenski

You sound like a complete dope

I dont copy or paste anything , I leave that for you to do

Dummy

Don’t get your little panties in a bunch because I’m posting things your not reading on your cheap ass laptop

gmcliff
gmcliff
March 7, 2015 8:03 pm
Reply to  Jon Hart

No way the Eagles offered Kareem Jackson , who has sucked since he was drafted 8.5 million annually……The Texans COMPLETELY over paid him.

Why would they offer him that kind of money before they offer Maxwell, House, or McCourty at all??

mhenski
mhenski
March 7, 2015 8:15 pm
Reply to  gmcliff

No shit you don’t copy and paste faggot. You read the post tweak it a tiny bit then right according to my source or I’m hearing like a delusional psychopath

U don’t have sources and u don’t hear shit u read it like everyone else and try to claim it as ur own. Ur a weirdo and nobody likes u

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 7, 2015 8:17 pm
Reply to  gmcliff

The Bama connection cliffy

Ed Marynowitz prints all over it

gmcliff
gmcliff
March 7, 2015 11:35 pm
Reply to  Jon Hart

I acknowledge what you’re saying, but what I’m asking for is proof…

Proof that they actually offered him anything. He isn’t close to being worth 8.5 million a year…

Proof, otherwise I can’t believe that any GM other than the Texans is that dumb – It doesn’t even sound reasonable…

zilents44
zilents44
March 7, 2015 7:17 pm

I cant believe jackson got 8.5 million madwell will want 10 or 11now

Jon Hart
Jon Hart
March 7, 2015 8:19 pm

Chargers close to deal to keep Brandon Flowers

paulman
paulman
March 7, 2015 10:00 pm

RB Mark Ingram Re-Signs with the Saints
On a 4 Year $18 Million Deal
(Which is probably disappointing news for Demarco Murray and his Agent)