In the wake of a myriad of moves some might deem questionable by former Oregon and present day Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly, I’ve been left to ponder: How smart is too smart?
From a literal standpoint, the answer to the aforementioned question is obviously non-existent. Intelligence by no means is a liability. But at times, and in isolated situations, people in positions of power sometimes overrate their own aptitude and complicate somewhat simple situations.
Obviously, it’s too early to judge what Chip is doing in Philadelphia. His decisions to this point, while seemingly unconventional to many, are incomplete and will remain so into and beyond next season. But while some admire the unconventional means by which the relatively new NFL mind is going about his business, the “old guard” of the league are using him as a punchline to a conventional NFL joke.
“You don’t trade All-Pro running backs in their prime,” “You don’t trade capable starting quarterbacks, for quarterbacks who’ve spent the better part of the last 2 seasons rehabbing torn-up knees,” and, “You don’t let your leading receiver walk away, a year removed from cutting your leading receiver and watching him sign with an inter-division rival.” But Chip did, and due to such has put himself in the crosshairs of people looking-on and ultimately rooting for a failure of biblical proportion.
You see, the establishment doesn’t like change. Players like to do things the way they’ve always done them, coaches and management like to run things the way they’ve always run things, and the media who cover them all, love to criticize those who stray from the previously paved course. But Chip has, does, and probably always will believe in himself and his system, and would likely rather go down fighting his fight, opposed to the fight others want him to partake in. And that’s what smart, confident people do … sometimes to a fault.
Here in Portland, and even outside the area, many have in recent years questioned the level of involvement of Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen. Sure, he played a key role in the creation of Microsoft and in the process amassed one of the world’s great fortunes. But while his track record in the world of technology is grade-A, his expertise regarding the game of basketball has and can be questioned.
And this is where my initial question comes into play.
While a man of Paul Allen’s ilk believes wholeheartedly that he can be the difference, many would argue that the difference he can make is letting the people around him do what it was they were hired to do. After all, the true strength of a man is knowing his weakness. And while a smart man understands that, one who’s “too smart” doesn’t. He plays into his weakness by ignoring the voices of those more capable in a particular field. Mr. Allen has been accused of such, and Chip Kelly is approaching such in the minds of many who cover the game.
I like Chip Kelly and ultimately think he’ll succeed in the NFL. But he’s certainly going against the grain, and without question sticking to a plan he has and does believe in. Does that confidence and outside-the-box thinking make him smart, or does it ultimately make him foolish, incapable of knowing when to stick with conventional wisdom, and too smart … for his and his team’s good?
I don’t have the answer.
Do you? And if so, how smart does that make you?
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