Optimism and Patience

Chip Kelly has created an atmosphere in Philadelphia that has created a great deal of optimism among the fans and players. Between the new offensive system, the revival of Michael Vick, and the individualized smoothies for the players, it’s not surprising that everyone in the organization has an unprecedented amount of optimism for a very promising, if not, interesting Eagles team. However, it would behoove Eagles fans to temper their expectations for this team as a whole and that INCLUDES the offense. The idea that the Eagles will be a great offensive team with defensive liabilities is a great way of tempering expectations for the upcoming 2013-2014 season. However, to even believe that the Eagles will be a great offensive team would be beyond optimistic.

With four pre-season games in the books and a sample of what Chip Kelly will run during the season, I know it may seem like I’m being a hater on the new fast-paced era of Eagles football, but it’s more about being a realist in terms of expectations for a team that has so many moving pieces and a new system for them to fit into. The simple thought of an offense that can execute 75+ snaps a game is both intriguing and loaded with potential, especially when that offense features the greatest dual-threat quarterback (this side of RGIII and Randall Cunningham) and a depth chart that has Desean Jackson and Lesean McCoy as its focal points. The possibilities are just as endless as they are captivating. Still, when teams attempt to install face-paced offenses that blow opposing defenses away in mere minutes, its usually not the offense that suffers. More often then not, it is the defense of that team that loses steam after having to re-enter the field after three-to-four minutes of rest. Not to mention what could happen if the offense begins to stall after going three-and-out in under one minute of actual game-play. The defense could easily be on the field for five-to-six minutes at a time trying to stymie an offense that they will undoubtedly find themselves pitted against. The whole point of this premise being that, if the Eagles are going to run a face-paced offense like Chip Kelly envisions, then it MUST succeed or the defense will pay in points.

Part of this problem may be solved in Chip Kelly’s playbook already due to the fact that he has a record of running the ball more than Andy Reid has in his entire career (or at least it seemed that way). Part of the Eagles’ weaknesses under Andy Reid would be their inability to sustain a running game toward the end of games while having a lead. After Reid’s defense lost key contributors, such as Brian Dawkins and the late-great mastermind Jim Johnson, that pass happy offense began to get exposed regularly because of its weakening defense. Now that the Eagles have a coach that is determined to run the ball as efficiently and effectively as possible, one-to-two minute drives that end in punts should be a thing of the past. At the end of the day, everything rides on offensive and defensive balance on the field. So as a mega-fan myself, I urge fans and coaches, alike, to temper expectations for this team in all 3 facets of the game. Optimism is very important for a fan base, but patience is the main ingredient for a team on the rise.