Impressions From Chip Kelly’s Press Conference

As Chip walked down the halls of the Nova Care complex to the auditorium, everyone was waiting for the first words of the new Philadelphia Eagles head coach.

After dealing with Andy Reid for 14 years, a fresh face would be a refreshing sight for those who had grown weary of Andy’s dry news conferences. What would Kelly’s personality be like? How was he going to react to the media? And how is he going to turn the ship around and bring wining back to the forefront in the city of Brotherly Love? These are some of the questions that everyone in that room had.

Chip took the podium with an introduction from Jeffery Lurie and began fielding questions immediately. He stressed leadership and innovation, and a strong relationship with the men responsible for bringing him to Philly (Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman).

Kelly began by talking about why he left Oregon, and how it was a hard decision for him. He was “torn”, but he wanted to do it the right way by informing the team and staff himself.  We heard about how much he cares for his players and he wouldn’t have felt right if he didn’t take to the task and deliver to his team the news of his departure for the NFL. One writer asked him about about possible NCAA sanctions being levied against Oregon as for the reason of his departure. His reply was that “no way” in any form is that the reason. He was able glide over questions as many NFL coaches do on a daily basis. At least he has that ability.

Of course he made a few jokes. A Wing Bowl joke, a line about Vince Papale, and he even threw in a Spanish conquistador reference while referring to his willingness to do whatever it takes. He mentioned how Cortes burned the ships that brought his men to the shores of the Aztec Empire and there would be no turning back.

It seems that this is the new way for the Eagles. There will be no retreat. Fight or die. Again we heard the “All-in” reference (a popular one against the Eagles nowadays). Howie must be quite the poker player. Well I’ll have to wait until I see it. Excuse the cliché, but it’s very true. Actions speak louder than words. Anyone who followed the Eagles last year knows that they did a lot of talking, but did not show up on the field. I seem to remember our corners and safeties constantly being beat by the opponents wideouts. But Chip has come to the rescue.

One piece of information that he did divulge was his willingness to create a scheme around the players. Chip constantly talks about how the players are the most important thing to a football team. The coaches are there to shape the strengths of the players and minimize their weaknesses. They are there to put their players in a better position to win…sound familiar? Andy Reid was notorious for saying this but he was never able to quite put his players in a position to win the big one. I believe that the most important thing a coach can do is to find the strengths and weaknesses of his players and play towards their strengths will hiding their weaknesses. Andy was never able to fully do this which lead him to his downfall…only to picked up by the Chiefs nine hours later, but I digress.

Chip won many people over after Thursday’s press conference. He said all the rights things including the Eagles slogan “We’re all-in” and he seemed very comfortable up at the mic. He told us that he thinks the Eagles are one of the most important sports franchises in the world and he believes he can take us to the promise land. I hope so, I really hope so. He talked about Michael Vick and Nick Foles and said he would evaluate in time.

Kelly is choosing his staff now, as well as looking to switch from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 front. This news really caught my attention. I wasn’t exactly gaga over the Chip Kelly hire, but the possible implementation of a 3-4 defense has excited me. Also what has inspired me into liking Chip more was Luire and what he had to say on why he brought Chip along to the NFL. He mentioned how it is his innovation and his great football mind and his ability to be a leader and a builder of a winning football team. Hopefully Lurie knows what he’s talking about and it all comes to fruition.

After the press conference I feel a little more confident about the entire situation. But we will all have to wait and see. Many people are judged by their ability to adapt.  If Chip does succeed we can look to exactly that; his ability to adapt to the present situation which can lead to a Super Bowl. If we don’t end up with a championship, we can look at his inability to adapt. Adapting and reacting to a situation is the most important thing a person can do in life. Life is entirely about adapting and reacting.