New Year. New Team. New Identity.

Year-end reviews occur in every business. Since the Philadelphia Eagles hired Chip Kelly as their head coach the team has changed drastically. Chip Kelly has now finished his second season as the Eagles head coach, and he did not improve on his first. Kelly is not known for developing players. He is known for his innovative coaching philosophies. Chip can only successfully implement his unique coaching philosophies if the players believe in them. It may be difficult for the Eagles head coach to find players because they do not only have to fit into his style of football, but buy into his philosophies as well.
 

Even though Chip Kelly has had complete control over personnel decisions, he is still molding the team into his own. When new coaches takeover a team, they acquire players that fit their style of football and players that don’t. Kelly has not yet finished molding players into his own or letting players go that do not have a role on the team. How will Chip Kelly change the personnel during the offseason?

Trent Cole

Unfortunately for Trent Cole, his time in Philadelphia may be done. For 10 seasons Cole has been hunting Philadelphia’s opposing quarterbacks. Under Kelly, the two-time pro bowler has transitioned into a versatile outside linebacker. Number 58 on the Eagles was always a top pass rusher in the league, but he had the work ethic to also learn how to effectively drop back in coverage consistently. In 2014, Cole was a key contributor of one of the best front sevens in the league.

Even though Trent Cole has become a versatile OLB, you can’t teach old dogs new tricks. He wants to retire an Eagle. Cole will be 33 years old next season and nearing the end of his career. If everything works out smoothly, Marcus Smith will take over Trent Cole’s starting role. Trent Cole’s contract takes too big of a salary cap hit for him to be a backup. Chip Kelly would like more versatility on defense at the OLB position. With Marcus Smith, there would be more versatility. Versatility allows the pass rush would to be less predictable.

Riley Cooper

Compared to last season, Riley Cooper’s production plummeted tremendously. He went from 18 yards per reception, to just 10 yards. Even though Riley had the ball thrown to him more times, he accumulated less yards. With a big bodied receiver like Cooper, you would hope that he would be able to do more with the ball after the catch. By the end of the season, he was being phased out of the field by a rookie receiver, Josh Huff. A player that only had seven receptions, and one of those receptions led to a fumble that cost the Eagles the game.

Cooper is not playing up to the value that he is being paid. Number 14 on the Eagles makes more money on average than each Washington Redskins receiver, and that includes DeSean Jackson. Riley is the one player that was affected most from the releasing of Jackson. After Jackson left, there was more of a focus by opposing defenses to cover Cooper. It was a mistake for the Eagles handed Cooper such a large contract. For whatever reason Chip wanted to keep him on the team last offseason, it does not seem to be the case now.

Mark Sanchez

An ideal 2014 season would have Nick Foles continuing his high level of quarterback play that he finished at in 2013. The offense would be prolific and the Eagles would have success. However, after 9 weeks Foles turned the ball over 13 times and had a season ending injury. Marks Sanchez came in and played even worse. Sanchez turned the ball over 12 times in 8 games. Sanchez’s weak arm limits the Eagles offensive production. The former Jets quarterback came to the Eagles to revitalize his career. He would have been better off never stepping onto the field. Sanchez will not be a starting quarterback with the Eagles or any other team in the league. When comparing 2013 Foles with 2014 Foles, it is apparent that Chip designed drastically different styles of plays. Going into the 2015 season, Nick Foles will have the biggest chip on his shoulder out of anybody in the league.

Cary Williams & Bradley Fletcher

Both of the Eagles outside cornerbacks are dreadful. The cornerback position is the weakest position for the Eagles. It seems as if Cary Williams cannot cover a wide receiver without being penalized or trash talking. One of Kelly’s favorite mantras to say is "play with emotion, not let emotion play with you." So how come Williams does not play with that mindset? On the other side of the field, Bradley Fletcher’s coverage is just as bad. The only difference is that there is less intensity. Step one of the Eagles offseason is making sure Williams and Fletcher are let go. The main reason they were acquired was because of their size. Size is necessary when going against tall receivers. Kelly prefers lengthy corners because the size is also crucial in press coverage, which he prefers to use. If drastic changes are not made to secondary, there will be riots in Philadelphia that are not race related.

Chip Kelly deserves all of the blame for all of the past atrocious season. It is obvious that Chip needs to change his coaching philosophies. His approach to game day leaves a lot to be desired. Kelly has implemented a new culture in the Eagles organizations. During the offseason, it will be interesting to watch what changes are mad to both the personnel and with his coaching philosophies. Chip Kelly has to learn that it does not matter if his system worked in Oregon; he is not in Oregon anymore.

- Pants

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Zach Ertz will be Pro Bowler in 2014

Since last season Zach Ertz has improved every aspect of his game. The sky is the limit for him. He has had the most buzz out of anybody during training camp. In his second year his role and production will grow. He has a unique combination of skill and size to go along with his athleticism and versatility. Zach Ertz has an awesome name. It starts with a Z and ends with a Z. His name allows us to have fun word play such as: Ertz up your skirtz or Zach so good your tight end Ertz. His great name matches his great play. He was a former All-American for Stanford before being drafted early in the second round by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013. During his first year, Ertz was able to make an impact to the team. He played 16 games in his rookie season and finished with 36 catches for 469 yards and 4 touchdowns. In his second year he will be even better making him a pro-bowler.

Versatility is a trait that Chip Kelly treasures. Not only can Zach Ertz play tight end, but he can also go out wide or in the slot as a receiver. Being able to be moved around the field like a chess piece exemplifies how extraordinarily athletic he is. He is able to create mismatches in the passing game. In today’s NFL the most effective mismatch that favors the offense is an athletic tight end being covered by a linebacker. The tight ends accounted for a little less than a third of the Eagles 32 passing touchdowns in 2013 season. Next year expect Zach Ertz to lead the team in receiving touchdowns. Kelly wants to use their size to battle for the ball in the air and in traffic. As a rookie Ertz showed that he does not only have size. He had an impressive average of 13 yards per catch and 8 receptions of 20 or more yards. These numbers show that he can also run good routes and knows how to get open. Kelly was infatuated with him before scouting him for the 2013 draft. It was during the Oregon and Stanford games that Kelly realized how phenomenal Ertz could be. It is hard not to fall in love with Zach Ertz like Chip Kelly has. Zach better perform or else Eagles fans will know how love Ertz.

Kelly requires his tight ends to block at the line and downfield. At the start of season, Ertz was not a functional blocker. Throughout last season and the offseason he has had time to improve. Now a year with the Eagles strength program, he will be better suited to take on blockers and endure the rigors of the NFL season. Last year, number 86 for the Eagles would come off the field when the Eagles needed to run the ball. Now that Zach Ertz’s blocking is improved he will be able to stay on the field. Last year Brent Celek blocked for double the amount of snaps than Ertz.

Ertz’s improved blocking allows Chip Kelly to not have to worry about the personnel that is on the field. The Eagles can run a two tight end formation more effectively now with both Brent Celek and Zach Ertz. A two tight end formation should become the staple of the Eagles offense instead of some variation of a three wide receiver formation. It was something that Kelly used more towards the latter half of the season. This is a direct result of Zach Ertz progressing throughout last season. A 2-TE formation is effective with the no-huddle because the defense is not able to guess if the play will be a run or a pass based on the formation.

Zach Ertz and Brent Celek both have two unique styles of playing the tight end position. It would be redundant for the Eagles to have more than one tight end of the same skill-set on the roster. Celek is a grinder. He fights for every yard and through tackles. Celek is a superior blocker. He is pivotal to the Eagles rushing attack. Ertz may never be as skilled of a blocker as Celek. Because Brent Celek is in the prime of his career there is no need to push or rush Ertz’s development. However, as Zach Ertz emerges Celek’s playing time will decrease. Celek has about three more solid years left. His playing of play is extremely rigorous and wearing on the body. By the end of the season Zach Ertz will take over as the premier tight end of the Eagles.

Ertz is another offensive weapon of the Eagles whose numbers will not match his ability because the Eagles have an abundant of weapons. He creates mismatches. He is a vertical weapon. He is a red zone target. He has the ability to become the best tight end in Eagles history. And rank up there with modern tight ends such as Jason Witten and Julius Thomas. It would be a stretch to compare his future production to Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski.

A player that will not have the ball in his hands as much because of the emergence of Zach Ertz is Riley Cooper. We talk about his situation here. If every player performs up to their ability, Cooper should have lower statistics than he did last year. Nick Foles will get the ball thrown to him when they need to utilize his size. Times for that would be in the end zone or on third down.

Quick comparison of Zach Ertz to his fellow Rookies:

Player	Team	Round	Catches	Yards	AVG	TDs
Tyler Eifert	Bengals	1	39	445	11.4	2
Zach Ertz	Eagles	2	36	469	13	4
Gavin Escobar	Cowboys	2	9	134	14.9	2
Vance McDonald	49ers	2	8	119	14.9	0
Jordan Reed	Redskins	3	45	499	11.1	3
Travis Kelce	Chiefs	3	0	0	0	0
Dion Sims	Lions	4	6	32	5.3	1
Levine Toilolo	Falcons	4	11	55	5	2
Luke Wilson	Seahawks	5	0	0	0	0
Nick Kasa	Raiders	6	1	9	9	1
Mychal Rivera	Raiders	6	38	407	10.7	4
Ryan Griffin	Texans	6	19	244	12.8	1

Zach Ertz is right at the top of a very competitive tight end draft class. If Ertz ever wonders how he is progressing all he has to do is look over to his division rival, the Redskins. Jordan Reed has seen most of his playing time because of the decline of Fred Davis.

notice Cooper watching in the background

Has Riley Cooper Reached His Ceiling?

A player having a high ceiling is a term usually saved for prospects before the draft that could eventually develop into a great player. Typically they are tremendous athletes, but have not yet grasped the necessary technical skills. Riley Cooper is entering his fifth season and he still has room to grow. At 6 foot 4 and 230 pounds Riley was a big body receiver that the Eagles wanted to take a chance on. They are still hoping it pays off. Cooper was drafted out of University of Florida where he was a two sport athlete, football and baseball. This gave him less time to improve his football talents. While he used to play for the Gators, he also looks like he should be wrestling them. He also looks more like a cowboy, rather than someone who plays against them.

The 2013 season was a breakout year for Riley Cooper. Last year he put up 47 catches, 835 yards, and 8 touchdowns. Cooper works his tail off day in and day out and earned every bit of success. Since being drafted as a late fifth round pick, each season he has consistently improved. This coming season the Eagles expect the same. The past season he was nothing special and it not all glory. He had his poor plays and dropped passes. The most crushing drop came against the Saints in the playoffs that every Eagle fan wishes they can forget about. Riley Cooper made some great catches but he was not going against top corners that knew how to fight for the ball. Number 14 for the Eagles has to be more consistent. If his mistakes disappear then the Eagles can rely on him on third down. An underrated part of his game is his first step after making the catch. It is very subtle. He knows exactly where the defender is without looking at him. Something that he has worked tirelessly on is the back shoulder fade in the end zone. We did see it work last year, but it needs to be perfected. The most improved part of his game is how he attacks the ball in the air and came down with it. Cooper is ready to take another big step-forward this coming season.

It is Chip Kelly’s second year in Philadelphia. Riley Cooper fits what Chip wants to do. Kelly’s offense demands a strong receiver who can catch the ball in traffic, which Riley can provide. Chip and cooper have a great relationship, which is evident after the contract of 5 years and $22.5 million. Riley knows he is just one player out of the entire offense. He is able to be a serviceable second wide receiver on the depth chart because he fits the offense. Riley does not have to be a star player because the offense spreads the ball around to everybody. The Eagles gave Cooper that contract because they expect him to impact the game when called upon.

Going into training camp last year, Cooper did was not listed as the second receiver until Jeremy Maclin went down with a season ending injury. This year, Cooper knows his specific role and he is able to build on last year’s success. Riley could not have flourished without Nick Foles under center. With Mike Vick as QB in the first five games, Cooper was practically not even there with having only caught eight passes. After the fifth game of the season, Cooper got a lot more passes his way because Foles stepped in. Foles and Cooper is a great tandem because of their timing and chemistry. It was developed from the past two years of being on the second team together during practice drills.

It will also be Cooper’s first season without Desean Jackson opposite of him. DeSean demanded the defense’s respect. I am sure any defensive back, even Richard Sherman, would rather cover Cooper over Jackson. However, many people do not realize Cooper had 17.8 yards per catch compared to Jackson’s 16.2 yards. Cooper is more of a deep threat than people realize. Now with Jackson gone, Cooper will get more attention. Will his numbers go down or up without Jackson? Riley’s role will likely grow without the former number 10. He will now be counted on as a go to target on crucial downs. Nick Foles will be looking for him much more in the end zone as well. Once again consistency is key for Cooper. Young players are supposed to make mistakes, not a fifth year player. Cooper better be a willing teacher because the Eagles brought in talented young WRs who will to Cooper for guidance.  The former fifth-round pick needs to play up to his size and shield the defender from the ball.

The 2013 season was not a fluke year for Riley Cooper. All of his effort and skill-set warranted those numbers and success. It is completely reasonable for the Eagles fan base to believe that Cooper is a one and done. However, do not say that he did not repeat last year’s success if Kelly gives the ball to a different player because that player was the hotter hand. My biggest gripe with him is his stupidity off the field. The Eagles better have put no country music concerts as a clause in his contract. The Eagles most talented, crowded, and competitive position is at wide receiver. Riley Cooper better improve from last year or he will see his playing time diminish.

-Glen