Chip Kelly's 'football mind' critical in transition to NFL
Jeffrey Lurie emphasized that the Eagles hired "a brilliant football mind." When I asked around about Chip Kelly, discussion didn't center around the offensive system he ran at Oregon. It was about his mind.
Chip Kelly's 'football mind' critical in transition to NFL
Zach Berman
From the outset of the coaching search, the Eagles targeted Chip Kelly. After 16 days that included an aggressive pursuit of the Oregon coach followed by Kelly deciding to stay with the Ducks, Kelly had a change of heart and accepted an offer to come to the Eagles. Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman got their man.
There will be much time during the next few days for dissection and analysis, but a few points to cover now:
1) The Eagles hired a mind, not a system
Lurie emphasized that the Eagles hired "a brilliant football mind." When I asked around about Kelly, discussion didn't center around the offensive system he ran at Oregon. It was about his mind, and how he can adapt. Kelly's teams are meant to play fast, maximize the amount of plays in a game, and identify and exploit mismatches.
Kelly might not be able to run the Oregon offense in the NFL. But the Eagles didn't hire him for the Oregon offense. They wanted Kelly's mind, which is universally praised. And they figure he'll be able to adapt.
2) Pay attention to Kelly's staff -- especially his defensive coordinator
Kelly's background was actually on defense, but he's made his name on offense. In fact, his defensive coordinator at Oregon said that in four years, Kelly's never changed a call. Kelly will need to hire a strong defensive coordinator who knows the NFL. The Eagles defense needs help, and a fresh, authoritative voice will be important for Kelly's success.
3) How Kelly works with Howie Roseman will be critical
Before the Eagles recruited Kelly, Kelly said he had twice met Roseman on scouting trips. So there was a relationship prior to the meetings. Now, Kelly and Roseman must work together to rebuild a flawed roster that went 4-12 last season. As The Inquirer's Jeff McLane reported, Kelly did not require full control. The Eagles did not want to give full control. Kelly will report to Lurie. So will Roseman. They will work together to make roster decisions. But this is a roster that needs a lot of help, and both Kelly and Roseman have much to prove.
The deceision on cutting Vick is more complicated, as Vick could run Kelly's offense better than Foles could. The Eagles could trade down and draft a QB in the first round now, but I think they really need a stud Offensive Tackle!— MUADDIB- Kelly already knows Foles pretty well and has a pretty good idea how well he will or will not fit. If he focuses on "QB competition", Foles should rent, not buy in Philly.— yobill626
- We have a coach. Fly Eagles fly.— adipaolo
I like your take on this Zach. I think we will get a good indication of Chip's football "mind" as he picks his staff, and of the philosophy and power structure as they rebuild the roster and handle the draft. I will be looking for proof of his abililties to adjust, adapt and innovate as they are the key. On the edge of my seat until then.- Any team needs a head coach and GM to work well together. Why the concern? Roseman has a team of 16 footbal guys working for him. They are the ones doing the talent evaluation. If Kelly wanted to get a feel for how well Roseman and his team did, he could ask for his evaluation of players on his team and see what happened with those that were drafted. Roseman has a track record. It's a fabricated issue.
What facts does anyone in the Philadelphia press have that there was a change of mind by Kelly or anything had changed. The Eagles were the best opportunity in the NFL. They interviewed Kelly, told him he did a great job, and we'll get back to you later. Of course Kelly will wait and not pursue other NFL opportunities if he has any shot at the Eagles' job. The Eagles finished the process and talking to candidates. Most probably asked about interest in coordinator and position openings. Kelly has the skills that you need to succeed and some of those can't be learned. You can't learn to be intelligent, creative.— MikeP - I would hope that Kelly, Roseman, and Lurie mesh quickly and well. Many players should be concerned about how they fit with Kelly and the new Eagles. Kelly will adapt to the NFL with the help of his coordinators.— billtfla
- I would hope that Kelly, Roseman, and Lurie mesh quickly and well. Many players should be concerned about how they fit with Kelly and the new Eagles. Kelly will adapt to the NFL with the help of his coordinators.— billtfla
- Howie had to have had power stripped, no way would Kelly come with that little dweeb telling him who to draft, play, etc...— BirdinParadise
wasn't spurrier a genius at UF before different dumb NFL owner "thought outside the box" and hired him in washington? how did danny wuerffel look running a gimmick offense in the NFL? and at least spurrier's teams played defense— hannibal barca- It's house-cleaning timeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)— Squizzy Magee
- dont be surprised if Vick stays...... I know all the armchair QBs on here want him gone but Chip needs a mobile QB in his current system or any version of it he implements for the birds. Nick Foles is not a fit for Kelly's offense.— kidrocco
- Kelly knows Foles from coaching against him when Foles was at Arizona, and it's possible he really likes him. Here's a story from the Tucson Citizen in 2011 in which Kelly gushes over Foles:
“I’ll tell you what; I’m glad Nick Foles is graduating,” Oregon coach Chip Kelly said after his team’s 56-31 victory Saturday night.
“I catch myself watching him in awe sometimes. ... Nick is a hell of a football player. That kid’s a warrior. He’s as good as anyone in the country.”— peteike - Nice to have enthusiasm and energy after so many years of a taciturn iconoclastic sort. Please, please now give us back our Kelly green uniforms that are our heritage. Enough with the black....that's Raiders and Steelers- not Eagles. We soar in Kelly green, silver, and white!— tomficara
- I'm on board with this hire. Let's wait and see how it plays out before passing judgement.— lowflyer
- The guys who sign on the "Will wish Reid was back " rolls can plan to hold there meetings in a phone booth.— NewMick314
- Look for a big Phillies trade. These teams like to 1 up each other.
— henry hill - lol. it will be a pitcher. — bloodymess
- This time next year we will be wishing Reid was back! This time in 3 years they will be looking for a replacement!!!!— psd
- Come on MRDoosh get in here and paste that drivel. We all want to hear ur insightful crying ya big tw@t— bhamss1
- Lurie is smart and knows to be successful you have to hire smart people.— PsychoPathetic1
- This is a great pick-up! I had my doubts about Lurie but he is the man right now!— neozon
- Howie and Chip will work fine together. Two candy arse NFL neophytes. No commanding presence in the Eagles FO or coaching staff. I hope they cut all the vets as nobody going to respond to these dopes now. You though Reid lost a tram of vets....ain't gonna be pretty folks— glove69
- expect howie to draft geno smith. an undersized kid with a high motor. kinda like jaicqwan jarrett, brandon graham, danny watkins and neshiem te'o and nate allen — hannibal barca
- it's "your," genius — hannibal barca
- Please explain how Geno Smith is undersized?? 6'-3" and 215 lbs. for a QB is far from undersized. — GreenScabs
- First roster move, dump Vick!— Pineapple Betafish
