Chip's way the right 1 in Philly
By ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football WriterNovember 23, 2013
2013-11-22T00:53:00ZBy ROB MAADDIThe_Associated_Press
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<!-- Story Body with separating p tags -->PHILADELPHIA — Chip Kelly's unique way of doing things has been the right formula for the Philadelphia Eagles.
When Kelly arrived in Philadelphia from Oregon, he didn't have to sell the team on his system. Players quickly bought into Kelly's unconventional approach, embracing his sports science ideas, up-tempo offense and Tuesday practices.
It's working.
The Eagles (6-5) are leading the NFC East going into a bye and have positioned themselves for a worst-to-first one-year turnaround in a mediocre division.
"When he first walked through the door, just off of what he established at Oregon, a lot of guys respected him and were very excited," star wide receiver DeSean Jackson said. "It was interesting. For a group of men who had gone through a tough year last year, we were able to come in and almost erase everything.
"We had a new coach and a new guy calling shots. We had to kind of start from scratch. We had to learn a new system and new rules, and everything that he wanted to do. So far, everybody has accepted their role. We've done what we need to do as professionals — to handle our jobs and do what he's asking us to do. Right now, you're seeing guys that will go out there and play for a guy who is asking us to do what he wants to do."
Kelly couldn't be more different than former coach Andy Reid, who did everything except win a Super Bowl in 14 seasons in Philadelphia. They have opposite personalities and contrasting styles.
Reid believed in tough, grueling training camps in which players tackled to the ground for several days. Kelly ran fast-paced practices that built cardiovascular conditioning, but didn't have live tackling sessions.
Reid regularly gave the team off Mondays and Tuesdays during the season, held light Friday sessions and walkthroughs on Saturday. Kelly runs a regular practice on Tuesdays, slows things down with a walkthrough Fridays and has a full special teams practice on Saturdays.
Reid didn't emphasize nutrition. The team had "Taco Tuesdays" and "Fast-food Fridays" when he was here. Kelly had signs listing the four major food groups posted in the team cafeteria and stresses the value of a proper diet. He even has staff make personalized protein shakes and place them on tables for players after practice.
Kelly also wants his players to get eight to 10 hours of sleep every night and stretch before going to bed. For many players, it's been a total lifestyle change. It's helped them stay healthy and feel fresh 11 weeks into the season.
Of course, whatever Reid is doing in Kansas City is also working. The Chiefs are 9-1 after going 2-14 last year.
"It's a well-thought-out research plan," Kelly said. "It's not just: 'Hey, let's try this.' So it's a two-way street in terms of they have to buy into it and they have done an unbelievable job buying into it because we're not with them 24/7, nor should we be with them 24/7. We've got a bunch of guys that want to be great at what they do. They understand not only what they do here during the day, but what they're not doing here during the day has a great effect on you being able to respond on Sundays. And they've bought into that, and I think that's a credit to those guys."
Then there's Kelly's offensive philosophy. The hurry-up, don't-stop-for-a-breather approach was the talk of the NFL after an impressive debut at Washington in Week 1. The Eagles were on a record-setting pace through six weeks before injuries to quarterbacks Michael Vick and Nick Foles slowed them down. But Foles has been outstanding since returning from a concussion and the offense is back on track.
LeSean McCoy, the NFL's leading rusher, already has surpassed 1,000 yards. Jackson, a two-time Pro Bowl pick, is having a career year with 58 catches for 985 yards and seven TDs. Even Riley Cooper has developed into a threat with 592 yards receiving and seven TDs. Foles has 16 touchdown passes, zero interceptions and an NFL-best 128.0 passer rating.
"I just really credit the offensive scheme," Jackson said. "Chip is doing a great job with not only myself, but with a lot of guys on the team. He's putting us in positions to go out there and be successful. The biggest thing is that he's creative in the play calling. He knows how to get mismatches and how to move guys around."
Foles is quite fond of his coach, even though Kelly still won't make him the No. 1 quarterback despite his NFL record-tying seven TDs in Week 9 and 4-1 record as the starter.
"I like Chip a lot," Foles said. "He's a great head coach and he's a great person. That's what I really respect about Chip, not only is he a great coach, but he brings a lot to the table in life when he talks to us. Every time that he speaks to us, there's something great or a great message. You leave his meetings when he talks to you thinking about what he just said, and when you have a head coach that does that, it's pretty special and you go out there and play for him."
By ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football WriterNovember 23, 2013
2013-11-22T00:53:00ZBy ROB MAADDIThe_Associated_Press
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<!-- Story Body with separating p tags -->PHILADELPHIA — Chip Kelly's unique way of doing things has been the right formula for the Philadelphia Eagles.
When Kelly arrived in Philadelphia from Oregon, he didn't have to sell the team on his system. Players quickly bought into Kelly's unconventional approach, embracing his sports science ideas, up-tempo offense and Tuesday practices.
It's working.
The Eagles (6-5) are leading the NFC East going into a bye and have positioned themselves for a worst-to-first one-year turnaround in a mediocre division.
"When he first walked through the door, just off of what he established at Oregon, a lot of guys respected him and were very excited," star wide receiver DeSean Jackson said. "It was interesting. For a group of men who had gone through a tough year last year, we were able to come in and almost erase everything.
"We had a new coach and a new guy calling shots. We had to kind of start from scratch. We had to learn a new system and new rules, and everything that he wanted to do. So far, everybody has accepted their role. We've done what we need to do as professionals — to handle our jobs and do what he's asking us to do. Right now, you're seeing guys that will go out there and play for a guy who is asking us to do what he wants to do."
Kelly couldn't be more different than former coach Andy Reid, who did everything except win a Super Bowl in 14 seasons in Philadelphia. They have opposite personalities and contrasting styles.
Reid believed in tough, grueling training camps in which players tackled to the ground for several days. Kelly ran fast-paced practices that built cardiovascular conditioning, but didn't have live tackling sessions.
Reid regularly gave the team off Mondays and Tuesdays during the season, held light Friday sessions and walkthroughs on Saturday. Kelly runs a regular practice on Tuesdays, slows things down with a walkthrough Fridays and has a full special teams practice on Saturdays.
Reid didn't emphasize nutrition. The team had "Taco Tuesdays" and "Fast-food Fridays" when he was here. Kelly had signs listing the four major food groups posted in the team cafeteria and stresses the value of a proper diet. He even has staff make personalized protein shakes and place them on tables for players after practice.
Kelly also wants his players to get eight to 10 hours of sleep every night and stretch before going to bed. For many players, it's been a total lifestyle change. It's helped them stay healthy and feel fresh 11 weeks into the season.
Of course, whatever Reid is doing in Kansas City is also working. The Chiefs are 9-1 after going 2-14 last year.
"It's a well-thought-out research plan," Kelly said. "It's not just: 'Hey, let's try this.' So it's a two-way street in terms of they have to buy into it and they have done an unbelievable job buying into it because we're not with them 24/7, nor should we be with them 24/7. We've got a bunch of guys that want to be great at what they do. They understand not only what they do here during the day, but what they're not doing here during the day has a great effect on you being able to respond on Sundays. And they've bought into that, and I think that's a credit to those guys."
Then there's Kelly's offensive philosophy. The hurry-up, don't-stop-for-a-breather approach was the talk of the NFL after an impressive debut at Washington in Week 1. The Eagles were on a record-setting pace through six weeks before injuries to quarterbacks Michael Vick and Nick Foles slowed them down. But Foles has been outstanding since returning from a concussion and the offense is back on track.
LeSean McCoy, the NFL's leading rusher, already has surpassed 1,000 yards. Jackson, a two-time Pro Bowl pick, is having a career year with 58 catches for 985 yards and seven TDs. Even Riley Cooper has developed into a threat with 592 yards receiving and seven TDs. Foles has 16 touchdown passes, zero interceptions and an NFL-best 128.0 passer rating.
"I just really credit the offensive scheme," Jackson said. "Chip is doing a great job with not only myself, but with a lot of guys on the team. He's putting us in positions to go out there and be successful. The biggest thing is that he's creative in the play calling. He knows how to get mismatches and how to move guys around."
Foles is quite fond of his coach, even though Kelly still won't make him the No. 1 quarterback despite his NFL record-tying seven TDs in Week 9 and 4-1 record as the starter.
"I like Chip a lot," Foles said. "He's a great head coach and he's a great person. That's what I really respect about Chip, not only is he a great coach, but he brings a lot to the table in life when he talks to us. Every time that he speaks to us, there's something great or a great message. You leave his meetings when he talks to you thinking about what he just said, and when you have a head coach that does that, it's pretty special and you go out there and play for him."
Don't be surprised if the Eagles tank. There isn't a team that has been luckier this season. The defense is still awful but constantly gets out of bad spots, and Foles' stats are way over his capability. He's been good but should have had numerous throws picked off along the way. Philly has been extremely fortunate.
How many weeks need to go by before his stats are his stats and not over his capabilities?
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports...e_out_Eagles__Chip_Kelly__Don_t_be_silly.html
Figure out Eagles' Chip Kelly? Don't be silly
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<!--googleon: snippet--><!--googleoff: all-->image: http://media.philly.com/images/030315-600-chip-kelly.jpg
<!--googleon: all--><!--googleoff: snippet-->Don't bother trying to figure out what Chip Kelly is going to do on draft night. (Charles Fox/Staff Photographer) <!--googleon: snippet--><!--googleoff: all-->
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<!--googleon: all--><!--googleoff: snippet-->Sam Donnellon, Daily News Sports Columnist
<!--googleon: snippet--><!--googleoff: all--><!--googleon: all--><!--googleoff: snippet--> Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2015, 3:01 AM<!--googleon: snippet--><!--googleoff: all-->
<!--googleon: all-->
<a href="http://www.philly.com/dailynews" target="_blank">image: http://media.philly.com/designimages/partnerIcon-DailyNews-2014.jpg
WE ARE NEARING the end of "The Silly Season."
I, for one, am going to miss it.
Those aren't my words, by the way - "The Silly Season." They are Chip Kelly's, uttered during the NFL owners' meetings, and I couldn't agree with him more.
The final play of the Super Bowl to NFL draft day once was a time of peace. That is long gone, especially in places where baseball is not played or played badly, where the professional basketball team offers only entry-level jobs, where the Stanley Cup has become a historical footnote.
<!--googleoff: all-->
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</form>
<!--googleon: all-->OK, here.
Speculation, denial, more speculation, more denial. Mock drafts on the hour every hour, rumors, innuendos, rock and roller cola wars . . .
Chip Kelly sure as hell didn't start the fire.
But he's been as amusing through this season as he has been bemused.
Whether he was explaining he was the team's new general manager because that's the way Jeffrey Lurie wanted it, or declaring that "I'm the only chip here," after swapping out his starting running back and quarterback for another quarterback and, eventually, another running back, or even proclaiming back on March 11 that he was putting an end to talk about the Eagles trading up to acquire Marcus Mariota, Kelly has been as much of a jester as any single entity out there, and I'm including Jon Gruden.
Because the end of the talk was just the start. And like Kelly's offense when it's working, it hasn't stopped to take a breath. In fact each move, trade or allowed departure this season has become a cottage industry unto itself. Shrewd move. Clueless move. Strategic. Random.
A coach building his culture.
The machinations of an egomaniacal mad scientist.
So it will make perfect sense if we all wake up Friday morning and Mariota is our quarterback, Sam Bradford is Cleveland's quarterback, Mychal Kendricks and Fletcher Cox are Titans, and the Eagles are still in need of secondary help and depth on their offensive line.
Call it a May Day Christmas. I'm practically counting on it.
And if there's nothing in our stockings? Nothing under the tree but a big old bulky offensive lineman or a freakishly athletic defensive back? What if all "The Silly Season" begets is the doubt-riddled tandem of Bradford, Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow at quarterback, DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews in the backfield?
Will you be sad? Outraged? Will you feel misled even if the coach told you back in March not to be misled?
Will you be so resigned that you start watching the Phillies again?
Or will you assume there is yet another page to be turned, another chapter, as so often there is during Kelly's tenure. Remember when Tom Gamble was fired and lots of people thought Howie Roseman had won a power struggle and Kelly would soon bolt for college?
How'd that work out?
Remember when we kept waiting for that smoking gun to appear after DeSean Jackson was released? Remember how Chip couched the LeSean McCoy trade as salary maneuvering, a two-for-one deal that allowed him to fill holes at linebacker (Kiko Alonso) and cornerback (Byron Maxwell)?
Now, just a few months later, I keep reading and hearing, to maddening repetition, analysts debate the relative strengths and values of McCoy and Murray, as if Kelly dealt one for the other, as if the money is the same, as if Kelly had any idea he would have a shot to land the ex-Cowboy when he sent Shady packing.
Or did he . . . ?
Ah yes, the mad scientist theory. He traded for Bradford knowing that's how he could get Murray.
Even at the height of "The Silly Season," this is a theory only Inspector Clouseau could embrace.
But here's one that could hold water: Tennessee picks Mariota with the No. 2 pick because it is the best way to get the most for him. Without the time constraints of draft night, with as many as eight interested teams - maybe even more - rethinking what they would be willing to part with to obtain Mariota.
In other words, an extension of "The Silly Season." More speculation, potential trades. More debates about the Chipper's team-building strategy. A few days maybe. Maybe even a few more weeks.
We got nothing else to do. At least until the NBA lottery rolls around on May 19. Or the NHL draft in June. Or the baseball trade deadline gets close.
Or training camp begins . . .
Ah, hell, when is that again?
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/sports...elly__Don_t_be_silly.html#KrMzO3i5VmxauqFr.99
Figure out Eagles' Chip Kelly? Don't be silly
<style>#post2 .pw-icon.ra1-pw-icon-reddit ** background: url('') 0px 0px no-repeat !important; width: 60px !important; height: 20px !important; margin-right:8px;}#post2 .pw-icon.ra1-pw-icon-email ** background: url('') 0px 0px no-repeat !important; width: 71px !important; height: 28px !important;}</style>0
<!--googleon: snippet--><!--googleoff: all-->image: http://media.philly.com/images/030315-600-chip-kelly.jpg
<!--googleon: all--><!--googleoff: snippet-->Don't bother trying to figure out what Chip Kelly is going to do on draft night. (Charles Fox/Staff Photographer) <!--googleon: snippet--><!--googleoff: all-->
<dl class="headlineonly"><dt class="rlinks_colorbar1">
<!-- debug 228942391 (actual) -->
<!--googleon: all--><!--googleoff: snippet-->Sam Donnellon, Daily News Sports Columnist
<!--googleon: snippet--><!--googleoff: all--><!--googleon: all--><!--googleoff: snippet--> Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2015, 3:01 AM<!--googleon: snippet--><!--googleoff: all-->
<!--googleon: all-->
<a href="http://www.philly.com/dailynews" target="_blank">image: http://media.philly.com/designimages/partnerIcon-DailyNews-2014.jpg
WE ARE NEARING the end of "The Silly Season."
I, for one, am going to miss it.
Those aren't my words, by the way - "The Silly Season." They are Chip Kelly's, uttered during the NFL owners' meetings, and I couldn't agree with him more.
The final play of the Super Bowl to NFL draft day once was a time of peace. That is long gone, especially in places where baseball is not played or played badly, where the professional basketball team offers only entry-level jobs, where the Stanley Cup has become a historical footnote.
<!--googleoff: all-->
</dt></dl><form action="http://polls.clickability.com/polls"><input name="pid" value="301460711" type="hidden"><input name="cid" value="8500281" type="hidden"><input name="mr" value="1" type="hidden"><input name="301460711" value="Y" type="hidden"><input name="rurl" value="http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/nfl_draft/20150428_Figure_out_Eagles__Chip_Kelly__Don_t_be_silly.html" type="hidden">
</form>
<!--googleon: all-->OK, here.
Speculation, denial, more speculation, more denial. Mock drafts on the hour every hour, rumors, innuendos, rock and roller cola wars . . .
Chip Kelly sure as hell didn't start the fire.
But he's been as amusing through this season as he has been bemused.
Whether he was explaining he was the team's new general manager because that's the way Jeffrey Lurie wanted it, or declaring that "I'm the only chip here," after swapping out his starting running back and quarterback for another quarterback and, eventually, another running back, or even proclaiming back on March 11 that he was putting an end to talk about the Eagles trading up to acquire Marcus Mariota, Kelly has been as much of a jester as any single entity out there, and I'm including Jon Gruden.
Because the end of the talk was just the start. And like Kelly's offense when it's working, it hasn't stopped to take a breath. In fact each move, trade or allowed departure this season has become a cottage industry unto itself. Shrewd move. Clueless move. Strategic. Random.
A coach building his culture.
The machinations of an egomaniacal mad scientist.
So it will make perfect sense if we all wake up Friday morning and Mariota is our quarterback, Sam Bradford is Cleveland's quarterback, Mychal Kendricks and Fletcher Cox are Titans, and the Eagles are still in need of secondary help and depth on their offensive line.
Call it a May Day Christmas. I'm practically counting on it.
And if there's nothing in our stockings? Nothing under the tree but a big old bulky offensive lineman or a freakishly athletic defensive back? What if all "The Silly Season" begets is the doubt-riddled tandem of Bradford, Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow at quarterback, DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews in the backfield?
Will you be sad? Outraged? Will you feel misled even if the coach told you back in March not to be misled?
Will you be so resigned that you start watching the Phillies again?
Or will you assume there is yet another page to be turned, another chapter, as so often there is during Kelly's tenure. Remember when Tom Gamble was fired and lots of people thought Howie Roseman had won a power struggle and Kelly would soon bolt for college?
How'd that work out?
Remember when we kept waiting for that smoking gun to appear after DeSean Jackson was released? Remember how Chip couched the LeSean McCoy trade as salary maneuvering, a two-for-one deal that allowed him to fill holes at linebacker (Kiko Alonso) and cornerback (Byron Maxwell)?
Now, just a few months later, I keep reading and hearing, to maddening repetition, analysts debate the relative strengths and values of McCoy and Murray, as if Kelly dealt one for the other, as if the money is the same, as if Kelly had any idea he would have a shot to land the ex-Cowboy when he sent Shady packing.
Or did he . . . ?
Ah yes, the mad scientist theory. He traded for Bradford knowing that's how he could get Murray.
Even at the height of "The Silly Season," this is a theory only Inspector Clouseau could embrace.
But here's one that could hold water: Tennessee picks Mariota with the No. 2 pick because it is the best way to get the most for him. Without the time constraints of draft night, with as many as eight interested teams - maybe even more - rethinking what they would be willing to part with to obtain Mariota.
In other words, an extension of "The Silly Season." More speculation, potential trades. More debates about the Chipper's team-building strategy. A few days maybe. Maybe even a few more weeks.
We got nothing else to do. At least until the NBA lottery rolls around on May 19. Or the NHL draft in June. Or the baseball trade deadline gets close.
Or training camp begins . . .
Ah, hell, when is that again?
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/sports...elly__Don_t_be_silly.html#KrMzO3i5VmxauqFr.99
I'm sorry Mr. Dinosaur but every 4-5 years, Eli puts it together and wins. He is due. And lets face it, you arent going anywhere with Mr. handicap Bradford who will be in a wheelchair by time camp ends.
I know, I know, you will trade 5 first round picks for the Somoan. He might as well. He wont be there 5 years from now. Nothing to lose.
I know, I know, you will trade 5 first round picks for the Somoan. He might as well. He wont be there 5 years from now. Nothing to lose.
