Eagles Notes: No special-teams shake-up needed, coach says

The Eagles need to fix their special teams, which allowed two touchdowns against Denver and have struggled for the last two weeks.

Special-teams coordinator Dave Fipp said that the performances were "not up to our standards" and that it starts with coaching. But he does not think that personnel changes are necessary.

"I believe in the players that we have, I believe that guys are continuing to improve," Fipp said. "We'll continue to get better. There's a few bumps in the road. Obviously, none of us are pleased with it, and we'll continue to go out and put a better performance out there."

The Eagles gave up touchdowns on a kick return and a blocked punt against the Broncos.

Fipp expressed confidence in kicker Alex Henery, who has missed three field-goal attempts in the last three weeks.

"I have a lot of patience with him," Fipp said. "I think he has a great track record. I really believe in him. I think he's a great kicker. I trust him. We're going to correct the problems we have and we're all going to get better."

This was similar to the endorsement coach Chip Kelly offered earlier this week. Henery said he doesn't pay attention to what is said but added that it's good to know the staff supports him. What matters is that he maintains confidence in his mechanics, he said.

Henery said there have been no problems with the snaps or the holds. He took responsibility for the misses.

"They've all been so close, just one little thing that has gone wrong on all of them," Henery said.

Kelly had an opportunity to work on Tom Coughlin's staff with the New York Giants in 2006 but decided to remain offensive coordinator at New Hampshire.

That decision paid off for him: Eight years later, Kelly is an NFL head coach facing off against Coughlin.

The job was as quality control coach, a role that does not include on-field coaching or play-calling.

"When you get to a point where I was, doesn't matter what level you're at, you're designing offense, you're calling plays, coaching in an individual position," Kelly said. "Even though it's a huge step up going from New Hampshire to the Giants, that was it."

Kelly called Coughlin a "Hall of Fame coach" and said Coughlin would have been a great person to learn from, but he added that "it wasn't the right job at the right time."

"I wasn't surprised," Coughlin said in a conference call. "He explained himself very well."

The Giants have three local players on their team: offensive lineman Justin Pugh (Council Rock South), linebacker Mark Herzlich (Conestoga), and quarterback Ryan Nassib (Malvern Prep).

Coughlin called Pugh "a smart young player." He said Herzlich has "done an outstanding job as a special-teamer" and is a "physical kid" at middle linebacker, and he praised Herzlich (who overcame bone cancer in college) for his stamina. Coughlin said Nassib is "a good young prospect" trying to learn "and is fortunate enough to be in a meeting room with Eli Manning."

Safety Patrick Chung and cornerback Brandon Boykin were limited in practice with shoulder injuries. Boykin, who has a bruise, is expected to be a full participant on Thursday.