Kelce Says Eagles' Problems Against Blitz Were Team Effort
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Kelce Says Eagles' Problems Against Blitz Were Team Effort
Paul Domowitch
Injured center Jason Kelce made an appearance in the Eagles locker room Thursday afternoon and came to the defense of his replacement, Dallas Reynolds, who has been criticized for his role in last Sunday’s five-sack debacle in the desert.
While he acknowledged that Reynolds made some mistakes, Kelce said Reynolds did a good job with the protection calls and that the Eagles’ problems with the Cardinals blitz were a team effort.
``I’ll tell you it wasn’t on Dallas,’’ Kelce said. ``He did a good job of declaring who the right guy was for the offensive line to go to. I think he did a good job of blocking his man. Were there a couple of mistakes? Sure. But I don’t think his mistakes were what led to the outcome of the game.
``I think, by and large, the blitz was not handled well by any facet of the offense last Sunday. Everybody handled that poorly. When you allow a team like that to get momentum blitzing and they keep doing it over and over again, it can become overbearing on an offense.’’
The Cardinals blitzed on more than 40 percent of the Eagles’ offensive plays last week. Quarterback Michael Vick completed just 5 of 21 passes for 109 yards when Arizona sent more at least five rushers. Two of his five sacks came against the blitz.
For the season, Vick has just a 56.3 passer rating against the blitz, completing just 40 percent of his passes.
Asked if he expects other teams to follow the Cardinals’ blitz-happy lead against the Eagles, Kelce said, ``Probably. I know if I were a defensive coordinator, that’s what I would do. The good thing is, it’s not stuff where physically they just dominated the game. I think it’s a fallacy if you think that.
``I think there was more just, by and large, everyone not being held accountable to what they were supposed to do in certain situations, whether it be the quarterback getting the ball out or a running back picking up a guy or the offensive line taking care of their man or receivers running the right routes against a blitz. All of those things need to go together in terms of picking up the blitz.’’
I am surprised that Kelce didn't say 'I need to do a better job of getting the offensive line in a position where they can make plays'— Ohmy- Kelce is really saying that we called way, way too many pass plays, but he did it in a politcally correct way. He will surly be a politian when his palying days are through.— CDR Little
- Kelce is right, it was everyone's fault. The o-line did a bad job picking up blitzers...when you have lineman looking around for someone to block while your QB is getting leveled, that's not good. The backs and TEs did a bad job of helping out and picking up blitzers. Vick did a bad job of holding onto the ball too long. The coaching staff did a bad job of calling too many deep drops which left them vulnerable to the blitz. They definitely need to run McCoy more, but also call some screens and draw plays and quick hitting 3 step drops to counter the blitzes. You can't just have Vick drop back 7 steps every time.— JimG
- Kelce, before the injury, was getting pushed into Vick on almost every pass play. I think he is a good run blocker but a liability in the passing game. Reynolds just might be a better pass blocker than Kelce! Don't tell Kelce that, as he believes he is a 10 year all Pro or at least talks like he is! Mathis and the Fireman have been horrible so far this year! So whats a coach to do? If your Andy Reid, pass more, of course!— cooperhawk
- It is some world when a free agent center like Kelce who I watched get sulldozed several times thinks he is Jeff Saturday and has any say to comment on anything. This season is taking on a farcical nature. I hope the Pouncey's have another brother— JIM IAQUINTO
- Shady McCoy is not a good pass blocker, he missed that block against Atlanta last year when Vick got hurt. He missed another one Sunday when Vick got leveled.— MidGreen
- Well Midgreen, he wouldn't be pass blocking if they gave him the ball!!!— philly thug
- Fantastic that this clown has somehow become a voice in the locker room. Of course he is the prototypical Eagle, drafted 3 rounds too high and undersized.— Scope33
- What? Kelce was a 6th round pick. Not sure when they draft the 9th round but I'm sure you would complain about whoever was taken in that round, too. Also Kelce was so good last year that he got national attention heading into this year. Btw, I would take Mudd's opinion over yours, but I'm glad you offered it! — logicandreason
- kelce is sooo overrated. and mathis is a complete let down so far with that big contract— psualum
- You do know that Kelce wasn't playing? — logicandreason
- The problems with the O line is that it sucked when the starters werent injured at all. Last year Reid spent most of the year moving the line and the pocket just so teams couldnt go one on one against the weak fightless b u m s. The fact that the team did nothing to address the offensive line even tho Vick was injured most of the season with the starters says alot. The guy that was a free agent this year tried to play hard ball with the Eagles but nobody even wanted his b u m ash. Jason Kelse is a b u m. The rookie 30 year old fireman is a b u m. The other guy they overpaid for is a b u m. All the hairy backup groupies from jack black rock bands suck. Reid drafted a bunch of Black sabbath rejects and all of them are weak and couldnt block a snail to a salt convention. Tell Reid to stop listening to howard mudd for personell and just teach the techiques.— Zeru
- The Eagles blocking sucks. Vick is a Dead Man Walking. It is only a matter of time. I thought for sure Sunday it was curtains. He's a tough Son of a Gun. By all means that hit should have knocked Vick out.— Dexter
- Kelce talks too much for a guy who gets blocked into Vicks face most of the time. For a 2nd year Jeff Saturday wannabe too much talk. Several Eagles like this.— oldBird
