4 and 5 Birds

Would the real Philadelphia Eagles please stand up…Well, in case you have been living under a rock for the past 2 months the Eagles are 4-5. This record has many Eagles fans scratching their heads, because this team was a “Super Bowl Contender” and Chip Kelly is an “amazing coach.” This team to be frank simply does not have it. They aren’t contenders nor do they show any glimmer of potential. The good news for those die-hard fans that don’t think with the minds, but their heart the Eagles are still in it. The Eagles can still make the playoffs because of their terrible division, which they currently rank 3^rd in. But, in reality if Dallas never were affected by injuries they would likely have the comfortable lead in the division.

Now, I will admit Sam Bradford’s play had improved since the first game, as well as the run game. However, the team still lacks skills in major areas like their pass game as well as well consistency with their defensive backs. When looking for reasons why the Eagles have struggled, I think one aspect is clear and that is Chip Kelly. The difference between Kelly and Reid is that Reid was football man. Reid understood the game, and trusted his colleagues. I am not saying that Kelly is not qualified to coach, he understands the game. However, he wants overall control, he wants to make changes that should not occur. As soon as Kelly wanted to be in charge of Player Development, things have gone downhill. This is where the problem lies. The fact that Kelly went 10-6 with players that weren’t “his” proves that he is not as good at evaluating talent as thought. The fact that Chip Kelly cannot win with his “guys” proves that this.

The Eagles may be good eventually, and Chip Kelly may turn out to be a wonderful coach in the NFL. However, it looks like this may not be his time. The Eagles have struggled mightily this season, and have proved time and time again that they do not have what it takes to compete. It looks as though we are looking at another disappointing Eagles team and other disappointing Philadelphia team.  

-Brett

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Are you drinking too much Chip Kelly Kool-Aid?

Philadelphia Eagles fans are too proud of head coach, Chip Kelly. They believe that he will make their dream of winning a Super Bowl come true. There is too much hype surrounding Chip Kelly. Eagles fans are not sipping, but chugging the new Chip Kelly flavored Kool-Aid. The Kelly mania has some believing that the Kool-Aid may be spiked. In that case, fans are getting drunk on their own craze. Somewhere in Philadelphia there are kegs of the Chip Kelly Kool-Aid.

It was a special day when the Eagles hired Chip Kelly to be their new head coach on January 16, 2013. Since that day fans have been fixated on Kelly because they knew he would bring new and exciting football to the Eagles. Kelly took over a dreadful squad that went 4-12 in 2012. With basically the same roster he turned the team into a 10-6 NFC East Division Champions. Chip Kelly accomplished this because he is able to adapt. Former Oregon players that are now Eagles can attest to that as the playbook is different than what they knew at Oregon. The Eagles head coach will add a new wrinkle to his offense whenever he believes it will fit and work. He meshed together players that he did not draft with his high octane offense to make one of the best offenses in NFL history and the best in Eagles history. Players were able to have career years because Chip adjusted his scheme to fit the players that were given to him. As Kelly acquires players that are picked by him, we can expect the offense to look entirely different each year.

The greatest NFL minds are searching for a blue print to stop Chip. Defenses have spent the entire offseason scheming to stop Chip’s offense. There is not a soul that can anticipate what play he will concoct next. Chip Kelly is innovating today’s NFL. The only thing that NFL experts and analysts can figure out is that the Eagles are trying to score more points than the other team.

Chip Kelly uses a fast paced no-huddle offense to give the defense less time to think and score quickly. The speed of the no-huddle offense is Chip’s greatest strength and biggest weakness. There is roughly five seconds from the end of one play to the ball being snapped of the next. This creates momentum, which the offense needs to be successful. Without momentum the no-huddle is pointless. The offense is unable to gain momentum without utilizes high completion percentages throws. High percentage throws help keep possession of the ball as the offense moves rapidly downfield. When the ball is under control, the clock is not. If the offense rushes downfield for a touchdown, the defense will be on the field for a large portion of the game. The opposing team has control ball and the clock at that point. Philadelphia’s defense ends up getting winded. They are more vulnerable to a late touchdown in the fourth quarter. That would be a crushing defeat for this young team. If the Eagles are beating up a team, they need to keep on crushing them. Chip should never let his foot off the pedal. The pressure should always be on the opposing team. It is when the pressure is let go that an opponent has a chance to get back in the game.

Last offseason Chip Kelly was the best man for the Eagles’ head coaching job, and he still is. Kelly is a guy that Philadelphia should get behind and support. But, do not put him above the team. He is not the answer to all of Philadelphia’s prayers. Since Chip Kelly has complete control of the Eagles, he is the face of the team. Not any of his players. The sports world is raving about him. Fans come to games to see Chip. If Kelly does win a Super Bowl, he will be the most popular and recognizable figure in Philadelphia.

-Glen

Foles Real

After the Dallas victory on December 22, the Eagles are now thrown into basically a one game playoff for the NFC East title. This upcoming game is the Eagles season in a nutshell, if they win, they are going to be the hot team coming into the playoffs, lose Chip Kelly had a great first season coaching the Eagles. This game will be the game to prove and finally decide the question on everyone's mind, who is better the Eagles or Cowboys. One reason, and probably the main reason that the Eagles are at this point in the season is due to Nick Foles, or as he has come to be known as St. Nick in Philadelphia.

Foles was thrown into a Quarterback controversy at the end of  last season after starting in six games, and proving himself worthy for consideration as the starter. Though doing well Foles would once again lose this starting job during the Preseason to Eagles veteran Michael Vick. With Chip Kelly coming in as the new coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. It was expected that the team would need a fast, smart,and a veteran to run the high pace Ducks style offense. Though losing the starting job, this would make Nick Foles strong all-around, and become a better player. As he grew so would his chances, and he would once again be thrown into the starting position, and finally would put all controversy talks aside.

Nick Foles can now place himself at the top with other great Quarterbacks in the NFL, based alone on his statistics this season. He has twenty-five passing touchdowns this season, and came very close to breaking the record of most touchdowns without an interception. Foles has proven himself as a great Quarterback based off this season, a basic guaranteed Pro Bowler, as well as placing his name into MVP talks. Foles has ran this Chip Kelly fast-paced offense with such confidence, creating himself a very successful season for not just himself but the Eagles. He had the ability to place all talks of the terrible 2012-2013 season the Eagles had, in the back of everyone's mind. Foles now is making the people of Philadelphia believe that the Eagles are a playoff team, and a possible Super Bowl contender.

Nick Foles has had an unbelievable season, as well as the Eagles as a whole. He has proven himself as a great Quarterback and has solidified himself as the Eagles starter in the future. Chip Kelly has helped Foles strive to great lengths this season, and reach unbelievable abilities, that he himself never thought he could reach. The last test for the regular season for Nick Foles will be Dallas, he will have to prove himself once more, and prove the Eagles are the playoff team people believe they are. Nick Foles will need to prove that he is Foles real as the Eagles QB.

-Brett