Jason Kelce fighting off another slow start

If you've thought that Jason Kelce hasn't performed well this season, you're not the only one.

"Poor" is how the Eagles center described his blocking through two games.

"I think I've got to step it up," Kelce said Thursday. "I've got to get back to the fundamentals and techniques that have brought me to this point in my career."

Kelce was called for penalties on back-to-back plays in the Eagles' victory over the Bears on Monday night. The second - a face mask - was declined, but the previous holding flag brought back a 19-yard pass from Carson Wentz to Brent Celek.

Penalties that negate long gains are magnified, but Kelce also had a few problems against nose tackles, particularly in the first half of both games. The Browns' Danny Shelton (6-foot-2, 339 pounds) and the Bears' Eddie Goldman (6-4, 320) are two of the more athletic big men in the NFL.

"I've definitely played against those big guys before," Kelce said. "Sometimes I have the advantage depending upon the play call. Sometimes they can get into me."

Kelce gave up 25-45 pounds to Shelton and Goldman. His struggled at times when they lined up directly over him, but even though he would get pushed back on occasion, he was still leveraging the nose tackles away from the play.

It may not look good on TV, and Kelce, for whatever the reason, has become a target of ire from some fans. Three years ago, he was arguably the best center in the NFL. The Eagles gave him a six-year contract extension that offseason. Kelce battled through a sports hernia injury in 2014, but he was still among the best at his position.

But this is the second year in a row in which Kelce, 28, has had a slow start.

"I struggled early on last year, too, but last year I felt it was a lot more the schematic things that were going on that led to the slow start for everybody up front," Kelce said. "This year, it's probably like three-four plays a game that led to that, but that's the nature of offense."

Eagles coach Doug Pederson said that he still had "100 percent" confidence in Kelce. Stefen Wisniewski is the backup and rookie Isaac Seumalo practiced a little at center during training camp. But there's much more to the position than just blocking, and a change three games into the season could affect Wentz.

"I can't even begin to tell you how much of a benefit it is to Carson to have a guy like Jason Kelce as a center," Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich said. "He's absolutely brilliant in pass protection, calls, and scheme and he just has this air of confidence about him that I think sets the tone for what we do in the protection world."

Kelce said recently that he's about as heavy as he's been in the NFL, but he's still one of the more athletic centers in the league. Chip Kelly's spread offense seemed to utilize that skill set more than Pederson's, but Kelce said there are still opportunities for him to block in open space.

"We still have the athletic plays in," Kelce said. "We actually run plays where we're running wide zones. We still have a lot of those same pulling plays. I don't think necessarily that they want me to be more of a power guy than I was before."

Kelce will face another 3-4 nose tackle when the Eagles host the Steelers, but Javon Hargrave (6-1, 309) is on the lighter side. Rumors of Kelce's demise have been exaggerated, but Sunday could be a good opportunity for him to return to form.

"You know when you play well and you know when you played bad," Kelce said. "And I haven't played up to the level that I'm capable of this year yet."

Graham ballin'

On the Bears' first play from scrimmage, running back Jeremy Langford took the handoff, cut back, and before he could get vertical he was blindsided by defensive end Brandon Graham for no gain.

Graham's hit and safety Malcolm Jenkins' sack a play later set the tone for the Eagles defense on Monday night. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said he has come to rely on Graham for his early-game explosiveness.

"I think his biggest thing is the tempo he plays with, his effort," Schwartz said. "He's a tough guy and he's one of our tempo-setters up front for our whole team."

Graham has gotten off to the best start of his seven-year career. He has two sacks and three quarterback hurries, but he has been just as disruptive against the run, whether setting the edge or pursuing from the backside.

"He's not a one-trick pony," Schwartz said.

Graham may be in his best position to succeed. A knee injury plagued his first two years, and then former Eagles defensive line Jim Washburn buried him on the depth chart even though he seemed ideally suited to his wide-nine scheme.

"I ended up having a pretty good last five games after Washburn got fired," Graham said.

Graham had four sacks and nine hurries over that span. But then he had to endure another switch when the Eagles changed to a 3-4 front and he moved to outside linebacker. Graham eventually adjusted and had enough success to warrant a new contract, but he's back at end and playing more than any other edge rusher on the team.

"You're almost like a bonus guy always running to the ball," Graham said. "It's why I'm able to get away with stuff sometimes because we don't have to contain."

It's early, but he's on track to finally deliver the sack numbers - 6 1/2 was his previous high - the Eagles envisioned when they selected him in the first round of the 2010 draft.

"He's always been a good rusher," Schwartz said. "He's compact, he's strong, he plays with great effort."

Wentz reading

Of Carson Wentz's eight carries this season, not one has come on a designed run. Those plays are in the Eagles' playbook, but extenuating circumstances have kept coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Frank Reich from calling them on game days.

"I think there has been a little bit of thought into not putting him in that position too much, too early," Reich said Thursday. "I would envision, as the season goes on, that that is brought more and more into it."

Wentz ran often at North Dakota State. He averaged 8.7 carries per game during his two years as starting quarterback, although not every one was a called run. But many were either zone read plays that gave him the option to keep the ball or straight power rushes.

The Eagles practiced a number of these plays with Wentz during training camp. But he fractured his ribs in the preseason opener and when he has scrambled in both games this season, he's done a poor job of protecting himself.

"He needs to prove that he's gotten the message," Reich said, "so that we can give him that responsibility and he can protect himself."

But a few keepers could open up lanes for the Eagles' top two running backs. Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles are averaging just 3.4 yards a carry through two games.

Five questions: Nelson Agholor

1. Who is the best teammate you ever had?

Little league linebacker, one of my best friends, Alec Maughan. Tough dude.

2. What's the first position you ever played in football?

Quarterback.

3. Who's your football hero?

LaDainian Tomlinson.

4. What is your best football memory?

Playing in the Turkey Bowl when I was in little league. I had a fever. We played a bunch of games. I might have scored 12 touchdowns.

5. What is your least favorite piece of equipment that you have to wear?

The helmet even thought it's the one that keeps you the most safe.

Inside the game

Jim Schwartz had talked about rushing Vinny Curry from inside, and he had lined up the defensive end there some in the first game, but the Bears game was the first extensive look at the Eagles defensive coordinator's "Turbo" package.

"We like him inside," Schwartz said of Curry. "We like him outside. It's just trying to find our best matchups on a weekly basis. . . . There'll be times where you'll see three defensive tackles out there."

For the most part, the "Turbo" package had ends Brandon Graham and Connor Barwin on the outside with Curry and Fletcher Cox inside.

Matt Tobin never practiced the play that resulted in a Trey Burton touchdown catch against the Bears. The offensive lineman has been filling in on the Eagles' three-tight end sets, but mostly on run plays.

But after Nigel Bradham's interception gave the Eagles possession at the Bears 2, Eagles coach Doug Pederson called for a screen pass to Burton that had Tobin and Brent Celek as lead blockers.

"I knew the play, though," Tobin said. "Lane [Johnson] was cut [blocking]. I just played it as if I was the right tackle."

The play was executed perfectly and Burton waltzed into the end zone.

Inside the locker room

Jordan Matthews is the next most likely candidate to benefit from the Eagles' habit of locking up homegrown talent before they enter the final season of their four-year rookie contracts.

A strong third year could help the receiver at the negotiating table this offseason.

"I don't think about it," Matthews said recently about a possible extension. "I play only because I love this game. My parents were able to give me pretty much whatever I needed growing up, so I don't worry about that part of it."

Last offseason, the Eagles extended the deals of tackle Lane Johnson and tight end Zach Ertz before their fourth seasons.

By the numbers

5

Number of games it took for Nelson Agholor to have eight catches (for 105 yards) - the same number he has through two games this season (for 99 yards) - last year as a rookie.

Number of teams since 1991 that were 100 percent successful on four or more fourth-down attempts in their first two games (2016 Eagles, 2009 Lions, 2005 Rams, 2002 Jaguars, 2001 Eagles, 1997 Eagles, 1993 Browns and 1995 Chiefs, who were 5 of 5).

5th

Carson Wentz's place in terms of passer rating (94.1) among rookie quarterbacks who started in their first two games since 1999. Marcus Mariota (132.4), Robert Griffin III (111.6), Andy Dalton (105.7) and E.J. Manuel (95.9) were ahead of him.

jeff mclanejmclane@phillynews.com

@Jeff_McLane