Everyone is wondering why the Eagles have struggled the last couple of weeks to do anything offensively in the fourth quarter. They ask whether it’s Chip Kelly’s play calling or the players failing to execute the plays. Fans have been wondering if the offense has gotten fatigued with the up-tempo pace of plays.
They wonder whether Eagles quarterback Nick Foles has run out of gas in the fourth quarter the last couple of games. Has it been the offensive line that’s started making mistakes?
I don’t think those are any of the reasons the Birds offense has bogged down in the fourth quarter. I believe they’re having problems moving the ball in the last couple of fourth quarters because they get out of rhythm when they slow down the pace. Rhythm is a big part of sports. You train your body to perform at a certain rhythm over and over. We’ve seen mistakes by Foles, the offensive line or the receivers when they try to slow down the pace.
They’ve lost their focus when they slow things down. They don’t work in practice on slowing things down. This is the reason for it. In basketball have you ever seen a team that loves to push the basketball be forced to slow it down? Many times they lose their rhythm and start missing shots they would other wise make.
Many times in college basketball, you see a less-talented team slow down things versus a uptempo and more-talented team and win with the strategy.
The Eagles have been training at an uptempo pace all year long. During their mental repetitions they see themselves performing always at a hurry-up speed. They need to practice at a slowed down pace.
When they have the lead in the fourth quarter, they intentionally slow things down and find themselves standing around waiting for time to tick off of the clock. Kelly needs to have these guys put in plenty of time practicing on the fourth quarter slow-paced offense.
It sounds simple and looks simple, but as we have seen the last couple of games, it isn’t simple.
I do think that this has something to do with it including the fact that slowing down doesn’t put the pressure on the opposing defense as an uptempo offense does.
But it also seems like the playbook gets much more conservative and much more predictable, so they are not getting the matchups that they want like they do in the other quarters of the game.
fyi
Eagles S Earl Wolff (knee) won’t be back until Week 15 in a best-case scenario.
Wolff has been out since sustaining his knee injury in Week 10. Pat Chung and Nate Allen have held up surprisingly well at the safety spots over the last two weeks, meaning there’s no guarantee Wolff will get his job back upon his return.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer & Daily News
Dec 4 – 9:57 AM
I agree. They need to work on huddling at these times, and then rushing to the line and running the play when there are 1-5 seconds left. Right now, they are getting to the line way to early and just standing there running the clock down to under 10 seconds. I’m impressed that they aren’t getting blown for more false-starts during these times, but this plan isn’t helping us convert 3rd downs or chewing up clock time. I think if they huddle and let the clock run down and THEN rush up to the line and run the play they will have more success. Of course, they have to practice this as well.
Also, get Bryce Brown out of the backfield, the guy is a waste of a roster spot in my opinion. I used to worry he was going to fumble it every touch (I still do), now I’m happy if he picks up any positive yardage at all. Put Chris Polk back in there, Brown stinks.
Perhaps it’s a new era ,perhaps the clock isn’t your friend and your only opponent ,perhaps as you state G it’s themselves ….not sure basketball analogy applies as they sometimes play a half court offense.also they are subjected to zones and man to man defenses ,which allows for a slower paced game ,taking the air out of the ball.its an intriguing analogy and I think it applies in baseball you’ll see fielders sitting back less engaged with a pitcher who slows down the pace ….Chip Kelley being a science sports geek ,will do self analysis ,and one thing constructively he’s shown ,that he accepts criticism ,admits mistakes and smartly makes adjustments.perhaps keeping your foot on the opponents throat throughout ,will better suit the birds.
V
It’s not just the last couple games, it started in the first game of the season. The Redskins nearly came back in week one because the offense stalled and went three-and-out on nearly every second half drive.
I don’t have to mention that it was a different quarterback in the first game, but the same problem.
The defense was terrible in the beginning of the season…the offense wasn’t on the field has much because the defense was getting gashed…the real fact is that the QB just hasn’t been has sharp in the fourth quarter and the running game and Shady has been slowed down with 8-9 men in the box and Foles not being able to run the read option very effectively..there were times he tried to run it but just didn’t have enough speed to get the first down.
The defense being bad has nothing to do with the offense scoring 33 points in the first three quarters then going – punt – fumble – punt – punt – in the fourth quarter of the first Redskins game. Vick’s ability to run the read/option didn’t help.
Nick Foles has a 129.5 fourth quarter QB rating, with 4 TD and 0 interceptions. He has only thrown 23 fourth quarter passes. That’s less than half as many passes as he throws in other quarters… That is an clear indication that the play calling changes greatly in the forth quarter…
Last I checked, Kelly calls plays.
You do understand that an offense changes and has different objectives and goals when they have a huge lead? Do you even know football 101?
When the offense gets too far away from what got them the lead, and start giving the other team to many opportunities, huge leads evaporate. As we have seen.
when the punt, punt, punt…are three and outs like they have been in the fourth quarters recently without any first downs at all….there is no question that the execution of the offense has been lacking. Kelly has been brilliant calling plays with game plans that have caught opposing teams completely off-guard with formations and the fast pace. Foles has executed the offense very well with excellent blocking from the offensive line and Shady’s excellent running…the leading running back in the league has effectively taken pressure off of the QB.
Kelly called plays that worked for three quarters…they will work for four quarters if the execution is there! Its a good thing that our defense has improved immensely so that we can hold on for dear life for the wins!
Just like in week 1.
When they Eagles ended the game punt, punt, fumble punt scoring 0 points to allow Washington to come back.
The not finishing in the 4th has been a problem all year long……except for week 3 and 4 of course.
Can’t really look at weeks 3 or 4 because the Eagles were trailing at halftime in both those games with the offense putting up a paltry 13 pts in those 2 halves combined. There was no lead to hang on to.
No threat outside. Its just a simple.. follow mccoy situation at the end of these games. Foles did a good job with the RO but there is really no reason to take your eyes off mccoy. Someone asked it the other day…. is there a law against 2 back sets? I swear… this is where all the crazy looks would rock. Just run it up the gut with brown but… why not give them odd looks?
Chip has done a great job with this team but this 4th quarter his mismanagement is a real problem. Everyone issaying keep your foot on the pedal, people are saying huddle up, try something different. Its eerily similar to Andy Ried continuing to throw 50 times a game knowing it doesn’t work then in his press conferences saying I must do a better job. I hope it doesn’t take a loss for Chip to change.
Brian Westbrook said its hard for O-lineman to stand in 3 point stance for 30 seconds then run a play. Its not natural They lose their edge. . The defense gets to look at your formation and adjust accordingly. Just huddle up, break the huddle with 10 secs and run the damn play. Doesn’t seem to damn hard.