Birds' Kelly Says He's Ready
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Birds' Kelly Says He's Ready
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Eagles right guard Danny Watkins did not practice Friday and is listed as doubtful for Sunday's encounter with the Atlanta Falcons. Rookie Dennis Kelly is expected to make his first NFL start in Watkins' spot.
"It's exciting," Kelly said. "At the same time, you want Danny to be healthy and to be all right. To be given the opportunity, I'm excited for it and ready if I have to (play)."
Eagles coach Andy Reid said Watkins aggravated a chronic ankle problem in the Oct. 14 loss to the Lions, and though he practiced Monday and Wednesday, Reid said it was obvious Wednesday that Watkins was struggling. Reid said he didn't think the setback would be long-term.
Kelly was a fifth-round pick in April, from Purdue. He has been active for two games this season, playing on special teams.
"We have trust in him," Reid said of Kelly, who is listed at 6-8, 321. Reid said he decided not to shuffle players around to start a veteran instead of the rookie.
"Smart kid, tough kid," Reid said. Kelly was a tackle at Purdue but played a lot at guard in preseason and has worked out regularly there since training camp. "Great size and strength. Give him an opportunity."
Kelly said his sister Katie had planned to drive to this game from her home in Chicago anyway -- her first visit -- so this certainly would be a good week for him to start. His brother Tim is a grad assistant at Penn State but won't be able to get to the Linc Sunday, he said.
Kelly went pretty far down a draft that was considered poor for offensive linemen. He said the Purdue zone blocking system didn't really showcase the kind of one-on-one talents the NFL wants to see. He didn't get invited to the Scouting Combine, but worked out for several teams and gained 15 pounds after hearing teams say they thought he was too angular.
Really tall guards used to be rare in the NFL, not quite as much today. One of the trailblazers there was Todd Herremans, 6-6, 321, now the Eagles' right tackle, who played his first six seasons at guard. Left tackle King Dunlap, 6-9, 330, has filled in from time to time at guard, as well.
Herremans said he told Kelly to "use the strengths that he has inside, which right now would be his long arms and his aggression. Dennis is a smart football player, though. There's not too much I have to tell him. He's been doing a lot of work with Howard (Mudd, the offensive line coach) on inside stuff. I think he's ready to go."
i thought 8-8 was generous,,, no way let’s say 6-10!
This team is a complete mess and it all starts with Reid, Vick, Moronwig and April.
— 14 years of- Why do I feel the old "injury" excuse coming on for another botched year? Isn't it the coaches job to be ready for injuries? These Eagles are no fun to watch. Even when they win its painful.— Larry Byrd
- Well Watkins hasn't been playing so great so maybe this won't be a huge drop-off - we'll see.
Either way, this will be one make-shift offensive line. I sure wouldn't want to be Mike Vick or Shady McCoy playing behind these guys!— Mr. Magee - Watkins was a flop....I hope Kelly plays well and stays in there...— mainstreet
- Yeah, Kelly has to be better than Watkins..what a stiff..that's what you get when you draft a Canadian.
- Wow, the Birds now have the height to have a decent basketball team.— vietnamvet
- I find it hard to believe there will be a drop off since Watkins (Fire Hose Boy) couldn't block my sister. Hopefully, Kelly will come in angry and aggressive. Go Birds.— Dr. D.
- im sure Vick will hit a few of his linemen in the head with his bad passes. uugh! FML!— With all this talent who needs a real defensive coordinator 2011
- Bring back Joe Panos.— watsonmr
- M. Vick will have trouble to see down field behind the tall trees again. They will go after Vick, and there is No way out for him to escape this time !!
START N. Foles of the Season be Folded !!
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— phillafuN - Watkins has been awful this year, perhaps the worst lineman on the team... the interior of our line has been abysmal since Kelce went down, which was clear by watching the Lion's defensive tackles man-handling Vick all game. I would like to believe that this will finally force Reid/Marty to call a game plan focused on running the rock with Shady... but, they have proven that despite all the odds and matchups, they could still put Vick in position to continue to the turn the ball over by passing the ball 60-70% of the time.— u2radiojames
- Any guy 6'8" 321 who can't drive block or stand up an oncoming rusher for 3seconds is a failure in life.— Dexter
- Won't matter who plays on that dreadful line. Morning$hit and the Walrus will have Vick chuck it 50 times, at least 3 times to the OTHER TEAM SMH!— gregneff62
- Baldinger bragged about Watkins since the day they drafted him. What was he looking at?— Geno D
