Chip Kelly has proven himself to be much more capable than previously believed.
In two seasons as the head coach of the Eagles, Kelly has a combined regular season record of 20-12 with a playoff berth in his first season. His quarterbacks have not been top of the line by any means, but he somehow managed to set up Nick Foles within the perfect conditions to shatter the previous NFL touchdown-interception ratio. Kelly has also managed to buck the trend of the NFL being a “passing league” and had Lesean McCoy run wild over defenses in his no-huddle offensive approach operating mostly out of the shotgun formation. Most importantly, “Chip Kelly was able to accomplish all these things without blowing up the roster so it was about time Chip Kelly put his mark on the roster (not just the playbook and statistics)” said Philadelphia fans everywhere.
Well, Kelly definitely put his mark on this roster.
The question now becomes simple. With new projected contributors on offense and in key spots of the defense, is it fair to expect a playoff berth from Kelly’s new team? Teams that are newly formed, as a rule, tend to have a period of time in which they are not performing up to expectations because of the new chemistry that must be formed. Offensive lines need countless reps and snaps to get their blocking assignments down. Running backs have to learn how the holes will open up on their offensive lines. Linebackers need to learn entire defensive schemes and how to call the plays in some cases.
The Eagles are projected to have a new starting quarterback, running back, wide receiver, right guard, inside linebacker, outside linebacker, strong safety, and two new starting cornerbacks. That is a lot of turnover and unfamiliarity taking reps this year and any coach on any competitive level could see and predict growing pains, but the talent on this team, if healthy, is undeniable. Is it fair to expect huge things from a newly assembled team?
Jovan Alford
Founder, Editor, & Writer | Totalsportslive.com
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When the football season starts each year, fans hope their team makes the playoffs in hopes of making it to the Super Bowl.
This year, the Eagles have an interesting dynamic, especially on offense. They do not have quarterback Nick Foles, running back LeSean McCoy and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin on the team anymore. To replace them, Eagles head coach Chip Kelly went out and traded for quarterback Sam Bradford, and signed running backs DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews in free agency.
To replace Maclin’s production, the Eagles in the first round selected wide receiver Nelson Agholor. But does that mean we should expect the playoffs?
Yes, we should expect playoffs because this team went 10-6 last season despite Foles going down and Mark Sanchez starting for the rest of the season. Kelly is in his third year which is pivotal for a head coach and he is calling all the shots.
For the Eagles to make the playoffs, they need to do what they did in year one under Kelly; become a running football team and play up-tempo. The defense is in prime position to be better as they upgraded the secondary with the huge free agent signing of cornerback Byron Maxwell.
Since its only June, I’ll say for the Eagles to make the playoffs, they need to win the division. Wildcard will be tough to win this season with competition in the NFC North and NFC West.
Jalil Phillips
Writer | Totalsportslive.com
(Cue Jim Mora voice) Playoffs?!
With a team this new in Chip Kelly’s system, it isn’t far-fetched to predict a playoff berth. Getting all the players that you believe fit a specific style of play is the second step to building a solid team (the first being to have a vision of what kind of players you are looking for). Kelly seems to have done that almost with bloody precision. However, to EXPECT a playoff berth from this team would be a huge mistake.
Based on offensive system alone, Kelly has the ability to produce a top 10 offense but at the end of the day, players are the reasons you win the tough games. The chemistry on the team right now may seem great during OTA’s, but wait until contact is fully allowed and the Ravens come into town for a real practice session. That is when the true test will begin. No way a team with this many new starters and new contributors breaks out the gate fast enough to beat the Dallas Cowboys, even without DeMarco Murray. At best, the Eagles are a giant question mark of a team with a high ceiling for success. Lets hope everything falls into place and those fast-paced practice sessions give the players enough reps together to get their chemistry down. Playoffs may be a topic that needs to be re-visited next season for this team. Chemistry is going to be the topic for this season.
Curt Jenkins
Writer | Totalsportslive.com
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Can the Eagles gain a playoff berth after missing last season? Yes? Will they? That’s only for them to answer. After one of the most crazed offseasons in history, the team has a lot of new faces and all eyes will be on this whole organization starting with the MNF matchup vs. the Atlanta Falcons. The defense, led by Fletcher Cox and Byron Maxwell, will have to be the focal point. Sam Bradford and DeMarco Murray will lead the team on offense as well as first-round pick Nelson Agholor. Some analysts actually have Agholor sinking the ROTY award. To sum it up, it all looks good on paper, but we all know far to well that sometimes a roster sheet and actual execution just don’t add up. I’m going to say the Eagles will make the playoffs but I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t.
With just a few momths left until the Eagles kick off their 2015 NFL season, Kelly and the Birds will surely look to build a team capable suring any doubts and making a January run.
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