• March 19, 2024

A Quick Look At Chip Kelly’s 2015 Eagles Offense

ChipKellyOTA7I take my hat off to Chip Kelly because of the fact that he has been willing to lay it all on the line in order to give the Eagles a shot at a Super Bowl title.  He’s making it very clear that having a good record or just going to the playoffs isn’t good enough.  A Super Bowl title is the goal and that’s the only thing that will satisfy.

If the Eagles had had that mentality in the early 2000’s, Philadelphia would probably already have celebrated a Super Bowl title or two, but I don’t know if the organization was as committed to winning it all then, as they are now.

I give Kelly credit for hearing the pulse of Eagles fans, but the key question is how do you go about achieving that goal at this point.  Of course, Kelly being an offensive coach feels like the Eagles will need to win it on the offensive side of the ball.

He didn’t feel he could win a Super Bowl title with Nick Foles, so he traded him away for a guy, Sam Bradford, whom he thinks has the potential to a be a Franchise Level quarterback who can carry a team to a title.

I’ve cited numerous quarterback experts, who played the quarterback position at this level, Ron Jaworski and Kurt Warner, and they say Bradford has to regain his confidence in the pocket in order to play the game the way he needs to play it.  He’ll need to repair the knee and his confidence at the same time, he’s learning this complicated offense.

Bradford has the ability to be a great passer.  His throwing motion is smooth and effortless.  The former first pick in the 2010 NFL Draft has the arm, the smarts and the athleticism to be great, but he’s going to need to regain his confidence in both his knee and his ability to make plays, all while learning Kelly’s system in front of a demanding fan base.

Mark Sanchez will be there ready and waiting for Bradford to stumble.  Kelly doesn’t have a ton of patience, so Bradford will have to play all year under the threat of being pulled, unless he finally lives up to his potential.

I don’t know what Bradford is made of, so I really don’t want to offer an opinion of whether he will have a great year or not.  Pat Shurmur, the Eagles offensive coordinator believes in him and I have a high regard for Shurmur, so I’ll give Bradford the benefit of the doubt.

If Bradford were able to play up to his potential and return to the guy we saw winning a Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma, happy days would be here for the Eagles and their fans.

I think the Eagles will be a good offensive football team this year, even if Bradford gets hurt, or just isn’t able to regain his confidence and mastery of the offense soon enough to lead this football team.  I have enough confidence in Mark Sanchez that he can step in and lead this team to the playoffs.

I think their running game is going to be very effective despite the question marks at the guard positions. Kelly knows how to get the opposing defensive lines running laterally and that helps create seams in the defense for the running backs to run through.  Their running games takes advantage of the athleticism of center Jason Kelce, who can outrun every nose guard in the league, so they run those outside stretch plays to let him do his thing.  I’ll be interested in seeing this new set of backs operating behind the Eagles offensive line.

Running back DeMarco Murray is the ultimate professional and he’s a smart, strong and physical runner, who should gain in the neighborhood of 1,300 yards this season.   They should be able to keep him fresh.

Ryan Mathews is a guy, who has gone virtually unnoticed this offseason, but his combination of size and speed is going to be a big plus during the season.  I expect some where in the 500 to 600 yards range for Mathews and twenty catches.

Don’t forget the contributions which will be made by Darren Sproles,  who is one of the best third down-backs in the NFL.  Spirals should be able to run for a few hundred yards and catch 30 to 40 passes.

In Kelly’s offense, the running game opens up the passing game and should allow the Birds young receiver crew to do the job. The running game will force defenses to play man-to-man against them with limited help from the safeties because they will be focused on run support.  The Eagles should be able to exploit these coverages and the combination of Chip Kelly and Pat Shurmur designing the route combinations will equal easy throws and catches.

I expect a big year out of Jordan Matthews in both catches and yardage.  His catch numbers should be in the 70’s and his yardage should be over a 1000.  Rookie Nelson Agholor shouldn’t be far behind with his catch total in the 60’s and his yardage near the 1000 yard mark.  Josh Huff and Riley Cooper should be able to contribute 30, 40 or 50 catches apiece.

There’s a chance that tight end  Zach Ertz could be the leading receiver on the football team in terms of the numbers of catches.  He was almost in the 60’s last year, so a slight improvement would put him in the 70’s.  If Ertz can force the coaches to put him on the field more often, he could 80 passes because the running game will force team to cover him with a linebacker and there aren’t many linebackers in the league, who can guard him.

In all likelihood, Brent Celek will again be the guy doing the run blocking at tight end position and he’ll find the time to catch 30 or 40 passes.

Bottomline, the Eagles offense should have a big year in 2015 and be much more effective in the red zone than they were a year ago.

GCOBB

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paulman
paulman
July 28, 2015 9:59 am

If the Eagles are going to run the ball more often as everyone expects, How are the Receivers all going to have this more Receptions?.. Running more often should shorten games and kills more clock meaning fewer offensive plays

Also I am not sure that Chip Kelly’s Offense is all that complicated which is one of the beauty’s of almost every QB who has played in it having success..
So there should be little concern about whether Bradford can “grasp” the System..

Stats Wise I have the Following

RB’s
Murray 250-275 Carries for 1200 Yds – 40 Receptions – 300 Yds — 10 TD’s
Matthews 125-150 Carries for 550 Yds – 25 Receptions – 200 Yds — 8 TD’s
Sproles 50-75 Carries for 350 Yds — 35 Receptions for – 300 Yds — 4 TD’s

Receivers

WR J Matthews – 65 Receptions – 1000 YArds – 6 TD’s
WR N Aglohor – 45 Receptions – 700 Yards – 3 TD’s
WR J Huff – 40 Receptions – 500 Yards – 4 TD’s
WR R Cooper – 25 Receptions – 400 Yards – 2 TD’s
WR M Austin – 20 Receptions – 200 Yards – 2 TD’s

TE Z Ertx – 65 Receptions – 750 Yards – 6 TD’s
TE B Celek – 30 Receptions – 350 Yards – 3 TD’s

I believe both Bradford and Sanchez will Play QB for the 2015 Season

Oldphillyfan
Oldphillyfan
July 28, 2015 7:29 pm
Reply to  paulman

Paulman – I’m sort of surprised you are endeavoring to make silly predictions. Truth is, the team that stays the healthiest usually is the team left standing come January. Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of this Eagles team is their depth. Of course there are some injuries we may not be able to recover from (Peters, Jenkins, and maybe Maxwell). Interestingly, this opinion is shared by Gil Brant who surprisingly thinks the Eagles will be very very good – primarily because of their depth.

haveacigar
haveacigar
July 28, 2015 8:03 pm
Reply to  Oldphillyfan

you are surprised that fraudman is ‘making silly predictions” um do you read this site? he makes contradictory predictions in the same posts all the time???

deserteagle
deserteagle
July 28, 2015 11:48 am

It’s sexy ,to discuss the skill positions and there stats.The 600 pound elephant in the room is the cohesion and effective replacements ,on the O line.I truly find it remarkable that we haven’t read many comments about chips dismantling of the O line at guard and there able replacements .If this is the albatross hanging around the Eagles necks,then all the good intentions of chip might implode.The emphasis on the. Protection up the middle,will be vital.

paulman
paulman
July 28, 2015 12:34 pm
Reply to  deserteagle

No doubt that the Play of Center Kelce, Guards Barbre & Tobin or Moffitt will determine the Success of this Eagles Offense and to be honest with both RB’s Murray and Matthews more of the In-Between the Tackles type of Runners, I do not believe they will have success early on behind the Eagles Interior 3 OL which will mean that Kelly will likely have to have his QB (Bradford or Sanchez) pass a little more than he wants to…

Both RB’s Murray/Matthews Running Styles are better suited behind the Road Graders type of OL which is not what the Eagles have.. They are both 1 Cut and Go type of Backs..
Shady got a lot of abuse here and some deservedly so for juking and jiving and taking many runs out to the edges but we also have to remember how many times did Shady make a long run out of nothing due to his cutback, reversing the field, etc,etc .. These Big explosive Plays wont happen with Murray or Matthews Running for its not their Running Style

Does the Eagles OL have the Horses up Front to truly make this Kelly Power Running Game work, I don’t believe it does but we will have to wait and see how this newly constructed OL Play.. Moffitt could be, but has not played much recently so its hard to expect him to be much of a factor early on and Kelce and Barbre or more Finesse Blockers than Road Graders and Tobin is still trying to figure things out and Dennis Kelly is a huge ?
Pick-up Wheeler is nothing more than a Camp Body…
UDFA Players like Bunche & Coccia are just learning and won’t be factors until next Summer Camp

haveacigar
haveacigar
July 28, 2015 2:13 pm

Road graders? Not even close they make contact and get off to get to the next level

paulman
paulman
July 28, 2015 5:08 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

You still have to sustain blocks long enough to create running lanes at the point of attack before releasing to the 2nd Level.. It’s not all smoke and mirrors and holes by deception like it was in College

haveacigar
haveacigar
July 28, 2015 5:38 pm
Reply to  paulman

Paul they won’t have to hold blocks nearly as long this year. You continue to show no knowledge … Your MO is make it up…. Road graders? Totally fictional. Even Peters who can mAul guys can move and get out on the second level.

paulman
paulman
July 28, 2015 6:37 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

So you think they are running most of the same Running Schemes as Kelly’s first 2 Seasons with McCoy running half of those plays on designed Stretch, off tackle plays? These Plays do not suit Murray/Matthews 1 step and go running styles.. Eagles will employ more of a Zone Scheme but with some Power behind it.. Similar to what U of Alabama runs which is OL HC strength and what NFL Teams like the Pats,Seahwaks, & Broncos emply…
Lots of changes this Season in the running game I believe ..

haveacigar
haveacigar
July 28, 2015 7:57 pm
Reply to  paulman

paul, he didnt run stretch plays!!!!!! he ran his plays and mccoy bounced them–i’ve told you this before- he runs wide very, very few times…
yes many changes in the run game..MANY!! the plays will be run as designed!

paulman
paulman
July 29, 2015 7:12 am
Reply to  haveacigar

Watch the Tapes HAC, there were many “Stretch Plays” called for both McCoy since Kelly’s arrival and even Sproles last Season

haveacigar
haveacigar
July 29, 2015 7:41 am
Reply to  paulman

i watched all on all-22– no paul there style will not change– they don’t use road grader blocking techniques… you just don’t understand.

paulman
paulman
July 29, 2015 3:01 pm
Reply to  paulman

Roadgrader Blocking & Stretch Runs have little to almost nothing to do with each other HAC… Are you say the Eagles under Chip Kelly have run Zero Stretch Runs Plays with McCoy/Sproles ?
Kelly Runs a “Zone-Blocking Scheme” which included many Stretch Runs for McCoy/Sproles due to their outside Speed to hit the Edge, these Runs will disappear from the Playbook with Murray/Matthews…
Watch this Pre-Season with Kajon Barner Runs the Ball and see what plays they will be.. They will be a version/variation of the Stretch Run

haveacigar
haveacigar
July 29, 2015 4:35 pm
Reply to  paulman

paul you said they need road grader blockers…
they don’t run stretch plays, they run a sweep which isn’t all that much different from student body right. a stretch play is from under center … the eagles don’t do that traditional stretch play that is what i’m saying because its true

haveacigar
haveacigar
July 29, 2015 4:38 pm
Reply to  paulman

I am calling you oout when you say they need road grader blockers and their play selection will be marketably different. Shady ran a bounce not a stretch- even tiny sproules was one cut as will murray and matthews…

paulman
paulman
July 29, 2015 8:45 pm
Reply to  paulman

The Stretch Play comes from under Center?
Who started the Stretch Play HAC?
Wasn’t it the Colts with RB Edgerrin James whose QB was Peyton Manning who takes most snaps from the shotgun formation.

Bottom line to this argument is that the Eagles must be able to run effectively between the Tackles or their Offense will be in major trouble..
Barbre, Kelce & Tobin are no “road graders” at all as they are more finesse blockers and RB’s Murray & Matthews are going to struggle behind this interior OL to start this Season which will put more pressure on whoever is playing QB

haveacigar
haveacigar
July 30, 2015 5:29 am
Reply to  paulman

the original stretch play was manning/ james and run under center- of course it can be run out of the gun but the eagles just don’t run it- it is not really in their arsenal- maybe you are confusing terminology or just flat out don’t understand the game-but the point of this discussion is that you somehow think they need road grader OL- thats where this started. its just not true- when they run wide and they will still do so its basically a sweep, not a stretch play

paulman
paulman
July 29, 2015 12:09 am

***NFL News****
KC Chiefs Pro-Bowl DT Dontari Poe undergoes Back Surgery and is unlikely to play anytime soon per HC Andy Reid who stated he hopes to have him sometime in 2015 but that it will be a slow process and that he concerned about the long term health of Poe…

mhenski
mhenski
July 29, 2015 1:12 pm
Reply to  paulman

******NFL NEWS************

Chiefs placed TE Demetrius Harris (foot) on active/PUP.
Harris may be a candidate for reserve/PUP following two foot surgeries over the last eight months. When healthy, the converted basketball player will compete for the No. 2 tight end role behind Travis Kelce in Kansas City.

mhenski
mhenski
July 29, 2015 1:13 pm

good job daddy.

mhenski
mhenski
July 29, 2015 1:14 pm

rather than play daddy why dont you write something original rather than just basically copy and paste every popular rotoworld article?