Jaguars may quicken pace; Eagles defense is used to it

The Jacksonville offense does not boast LeSean McCoy or Nick Foles or Pro Bowlers on the offensive line, and those watching Sunday's Eagles-Jaguars game likely will not confuse it with Chip Kelly's group. But when the Eagles defense is on the field, Jacksonville's pace might look familiar.

Jaguars offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch studied Kelly and Auburn coach Gus Malzahn after the 2011 season when he was the offensive coordinator at the University of Miami and installed an up-tempo system. He brought the philosophy to the Jaguars, and told reporters there is a "bigger commitment to it" this season.

Kelly created his up-tempo offense when he was the offensive coordinator at New Hampshire in the early 2000s because he believed that a fast pace is hardest for defenses to handle. He thought it would keep defenses out of their comfort zone throughout the game.

One of the by-products has been the effect on the defense. By using a rapid pace in practice every day, it equipped his defenses at Oregon and in Philadelphia to handle a no-huddle offense in games.

"When people try to tempo us in college, it's like, this is what we've seen every single day in practice so it's not like you're going to sneak up on us and run a tempo play," Kelly said. "I think it's one of the unintended consequences, but it really helps that people do try to tempo us."

The Jaguars don't have the same full-game commitment to the pace as the Eagles, and coach Gus Bradley said they still huddle at times. But the Eagles' familiarity with the tempo will not change what the Jaguars do.

"Someone asked me, 'Would you not run tempo because their defense faces big tempo all the time?' " Bradley told reporters. "Well, we face high tempo and I don't think that's going to stop Chip Kelly. Coaches don't have that mind-set. It's more: This is who we are."

Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis said that a Jaguars no-huddle offense could affect Jacksonville's defense. He said the Eagles are conditioned to be a "no-huddle defense," which means they're on the field for more plays. If the Jaguars don't go at that pace as often, it could wear them out.

However, the Jaguars were not far behind the Eagles last season. They were on the field 58 fewer seconds per game than the Eagles, and nearly four fewer plays per game.

When the Eagles' defensive players hear that they might see an up-tempo offense, they treat it with excitement. It's not a difficult adjustment, cornerback Bradley Fletcher said.

"That's the advantage we have of going against fast-paced, up-tempo offense all day, every day," linebacker DeMeco Ryans said. "I feel we're ready for no-huddle, as opposed to teams that huddle every day, go kind of slower. For us, it's normal."

The Eagles could see more up-tempo offenses this season as it becomes more popular around the NFL. Kelly called it a "trickle-up" effect, because teams do it in high school and college. Players adapting to it in the NFL have a greater familiarity. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and center Jason Kelce both played in offenses with those principles in college, as well as a number of defensive players.

They're all familiar with it now, having practiced at a fast pace going onto two seasons. That means when the Jaguars use it on Sunday, it will seem normal.

"It doesn't fluster us," Ryans said. "Everybody's not scrambling when things are going fast. Everybody remains calm, and everybody understands how we communicate when it is no-huddle and fast."

Wide receiver Josh Huff (shoulder), offensive lineman Matt Tobin (ankle), and cornerback Jaylen Watkins (hamstring) missed practice for the Eagles. . . . Missing practice for the Jaguars were tight end Clay Harbor (calf), linebacker Geno Hayes (non-injury-related), running back Storm Johnson (ankle), defensive tackle Roy Miller (non-injury-related), and offensive tackle Austin Pasztor (hand). No. 1 wide receiver Cecil Shorts was limited with a hamstring injury.