Most NFL coaches would be happy if their special teams accounted for a touchdown or two during the season. Then there is Chip Kelly, head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles who emphasizes the impact of special teams, and believes their commitment puts them in a position to score each week.
The Eagles matched the NFL record with seven total special team touchdowns in 2014. It would be unrealistic to think the team could repeat or even eclipse this mark in the upcoming season. Expectations should remain that the Eagles can alter the flow of any game with their specialty units.
Last season the Eagles made several key additions or maneuvered a trade to improve in every area of special teams minus punter. They improved their coverage units by signing Chris Maragos, Nolan Carroll, and Bryan Braman. They traded for Darren Sproles to help with the return game. A late preseason trade in hopes to improve their place kicker situation turned out to be an absolute steal as Cody Parkey was one of the best kickers in the entire league.
There are some changes going into the season. Key special team players in James Casey and Brandon Boykin are gone, and with Nolan Carroll slated to start opposite Byron Maxwell at cornerback, some additional changes should be expected.
The emphasis that Chip Kelly places on special teams play wasn’t something that was anticipated when he came to Philadelphia, but it’s become an exciting element in addition to the high tempo offense that he runs.
Typically the play of special teams is the deciding factor of a minimum of two games in a season. Those games could propel the Eagles to division winners or cost them a shot at the playoffs.
I feel the Eagles have improved with talent in their return game, the addition of Agholor and a fully healthy Huff could pair for a dynamic kick return tandem. I think the coverage units will be just fine with replacing those players from last season no longer on the team, and the Eagles special teams will once again be one the best in the entire league.
It will be very different to repeat the impact and big plays from last Years Special Teams forward to the 2015 Season.. Scoring 7 TD’s on Special Teams
is awesome and quite an achievement that you have to think the opposing Teams will spend more Time preparing for the Eagles ST..
Besides losing Boykin & Casey, both B Fletcher, C Williams also played on Coverage Teams last years as did Casey Matthews, Chris Polk so there will be lots of opportunities for DB’s Wolff, Rowe, J Watkins, Biggers, Couplin as well as LB’s Jones, Hicks & MSII and Return Guys like Agholor & Huff will be leaned on ..
**Meant to say “Very Difficult” to duplicate 2014 Production***
Well we have to cut turnovers in half 1st but repeating that will be impossible but fipp will have them ready at a very high level
If Eagles can Cut Turnovers in Half or even by a Third (from a League Leading 36 last Season to less than 20 Total) and Reduce their Penalties by 20%, then they are in serious business for a Playoff Run.. If they do not reduce their Turnovers/Penalties amounts, then they will remain on the outside looking in and finish with 8-9 Wins and will miss the Playoffs again..
The turnovers have been a big problem for the offense for several years now I agree. I understand you can never eliminate turnovers, but you can eliminate the dumb ones which the eagles are guilty of. From Foles to Sanchez my god all you seen was stupid turnovers over and over, and ones they could have easily avoided.
27 total turnovers from the QBs last year between ints and fumbles. Bradford should be a big upgrade from that assuming he can stay on his feet of course.
DeMarco Murray is not practicing again..he is with the trainers. I never thought Sam Bradford would have practiced more than Murray. Lots of rushes last year…hmmm….sports science baby!!!
Murray back on field catching passes…did not participate in running back drills.
497 touches.
Unheard of. Dallas ran him into the ground last year knowing he was a FA and they’d be letting him go.
Track record of 300 touch guys is bad. 400 touch guys is terrible….but he had three under 500!!
500 touches. Again, its unheard of, and after Bradford’s knees/confidence is the biggest question mark heading into the season.
Ehl he has been in texas/Oklahoma his whole life he might be having problems getting use to the air up north….It is pretty thick I know when I moved from southwest VA to MD I had all kinds of breathing problems due to air being so thick….so that could be his problem
he has been sick not hurt…..calm down yawl are overreacting……stating the mans every move
Hope you are right Z…hope you are right.
Pman both of our WR’s got cut by the eagles Davis and john harris…lol….we failed on that one
We sure did, Hell they didn’t even make it to the 1st Pre-Season Game.. I guess there was a good Reason that neither WR’s Davis or Harris were Drafted..
I do like how Kelly is making moves quickly during this Camp though, if he has Players that are just not good fits or he doesn’t like what he see’s, then he’s cutting the chord and getting other Players in who may be better fits..
I believe i am cuz they said in bgn he was having upper respitory problems
Very true I do like he doesnt waste time with non fits
Eagles Sign CB Marc Anthony (5-11′ – 196lbs) who bounced around some Camps last Year with the Ravens and ended up on the Titans Practice Squad
Went to the University of California and is a Physical Player per most reports
Geno Smith out 6-10 weeks after suffering a broken jaw in two places after being sucker punched by team mate ILB Ik Enemkpali…who has now been released from the team immediately following the incident.
Crazy story…..maybe they would be interested in one of our backup QB’s??
The Jets have Ryan Fitzpatrick and Draft Pick Bryce Petty so they may bring in another Camp Arm but will be able to speed up Petty’s Reps in a hurry which may be a blessing for them looking back..
Its a real shame for Geno Smith whose career may now hang in the balance
The Geno Smith thing is the worse thing I ever hear come out of an NFL locker room. That should never happen with two adults. There is never a good reason for a guy to hit another guy when he’s not ready to defend himself.
These are not punk kids off the street. These guys spend half their time in the weight room. If they hit you something is going to break.
It’s so stupid…. The Jet’s should sue that kid, or have him arrested.
Yo thats nutz thesd qbs been fightin lately before it was cam……jesus broke his jaw…..mayweather u got your fight now…lol
Sales of Enemkpali jerseys suddenly through the roof as Jets fan celebrates.
Just saw where Boomer Eisison reported that Smith owed Enemkpali money from a bet. Now Enemkpali will need that money even more. Crazy story. Cam Newton is lucky he didn’t break his hand or something in his fight yesterday…crazy QB’s for sure.
Where is Sherel to SMH when you need it??
Culture is over rated! Too funny! It means something
Wtf does culture have to do with an idiot punching someone over money? It is completely overrated and has nothing whatsoever to do with that incident.
LOL. You would ask that. At least you are consistent. Character is completely irrelevant right? All you have to be able to do is run fast and hit hard. Nothing else matters.
Special teams are as equally important as the defense or the offense .Field position creating a short field on a return and on the defensive side a longer field with good cover team play,was definitely a huge part of camafloging the inadequate QB play last year and subsequent turnovers.If the Birds can replicate the top special teams play of last year ,and improve in there red zone efficiency ,I am excited about there season.Im assuming we are not succeptible to the big plays mad against our back en
Oops our back end ..you add an upright Sam I am ,and a more manageable down and distance from a north south running game ,it all starts to take this to a new level of excitement ..
Unlike PMan I like the opportunity to return to the playoffs and eclipse last years win total .Of course the holy father has to turn the Gimp into the rock of Gibraltar
Special teams are as equally important as the defense or the offense .Field position creating a short field on a return and on the defensive side a longer field with good cover team play,was definitely a huge part of camafloging the inadequate QB play last year and subsequent turnovers.If the Birds can replicate the top special teams play of last year ,and improve in there red zone efficiency ,I am excited about there season.Im assuming we are not succeptible to the big plays mad against our back end
Story is much Different with Geno Smith who apparently confronted the LB at his Locker and then pointed his finger in his face.. There was no sucker punch per witnesses, the LB one-punched him to the floor with a broken jaw..
The “knock” on Smith coming out of college was that he was an immature arrogant dick who thought himself above everyone else. Which is exactly what happened here.
Combine that with some nobody linebacker who has been arrested before for assault and there you go. Locker room explosion.
#culturedoesn’tmatter
#characterdoesn’tmatter
#allyouhavetodoisrunfastandhithard
Everyone, well almost everyone deserves a second chance.
Kiko Alonso arrested twice, once for public intoxication and for burglary.
John Moffitt arrested for drugs and assault.
Riley Cooper should have been arrested for public intoxication, disorderly conduct, assault, threatening bodily harm, but the victim chose not to press charges…no need to mention the racist rant #character and culture.
This Ik kid was given a second chance and he blew it, but the Eagles have guys with questionable character too #culture! We don’t know what those guys are doing in their private time.
Geno Smith blew the Guy off about paying him back the $600 and then went to challenge him with a finger in his face at his Locker Stall, Geno Smith deserved what he got and should have done a better job of defending himself.. Look at both Players Responses afterwards..
LB had a genuine apology to the Team,Geno Smith the Organization,Fans, and admitted he used poor judgement and thanked the Team for his Opportunity, meanwhile Geno Smith Posts a PIc with a smirk on his Face stating “Ill Be Back” with nothing else, No Apology to his Team or Fans or anyone… Geno Smith is not very well respected by his Teammates or this situation would have never escalated like it did ..
Geno Smith should have simply paid the man back his money…it was a genuine act of good faith and Geno screwed him over and tried to punk him. You do not treat a team mate nor a man like that. Obviously Geno thought this guy was sweet. Boomer Esiason said if you owe a man money and refuse to pay you can expect to get punched in the face. It could have all been avoided if Geno reimbursed the man for the air fair.
and thats your ‘team leader’ QB ladies and gentleman– remember when people on this very website thought we should have drafted him? too funny
Who thought that?
Jon hart
all of the ones who think/thought chip needed a runner– the usual suspects for sure!
Yeah….but Geno Smith is not a runner…not at WVU or now in the pro’s He has always been pocket QB. I remember continuously saying it during his draft as well as Teddy Bridgewater’s and with Jameis Winston…all pocket QB’s.
I know he’s not EHL…thats the beauty of it! They saw ‘one’ thing about him and assumed….wink, wink!!!!
larrwd
April 27, 2013 – 3:15 am
Profile photo of larrwd
Cant believe the eagles passed on Geno smith for a TE. that only ran a 4.7 40… disheartening .. Ill guess we’ll wait and see how he does.
Thats one that took me about 2 minutes to find- there were many more in the manuel and smith camp… they’ve disappeared at this time.
Smh…that TE would be Zach Ertz
During practice Jordan Mathews trucked Walter Thurmon to get open…not good for a safety to get handled. Mathews is big..builds up to good speed…with that 81 and size he reminds me of the original eagle 81.
Back to Eagles Issues.. I am more concerned about Thurmond Playing at Safety then I am which CB will handle the Slot Duties.. In fact, I think it would make more sense starting today to put Walter Thurmond back at Slot Cb and let Watkins,Wolf and Rowe all compete at Safety opposite of Jenkins..
What the Eagles are doing with Thurmond Playing at Safety may actually produce 2 Weak Position out of 5 in the Secondary for Obvious Passing Situations (2 CB, 2 Safety & 1 Slot CB)
By putting Thurmond back to his Natural Position of the Slot Cb then the Eagles are at least strong at 4 of the 5 Positions (2 CB, 1 Slot CB and 1 Safety spot) and then just deal with the growing Pains of a young Safety learning on the Job, maybe Wolff can seize the Position or the Eagles can even pick-up a Veteran Safety once the Waiver Wires start going here in a couple of weeks…
Rowe at safety is an awful idea. U don’t take a cb in the 2nd round and try to convert him in the NFL to safety year 1. That’s a recipe for ruining the mans career.
Eric Rowe played his 2nd & 3rd Season’s at Safety at Utah and only played his final Season at CB, so Safety is a Position that he’s very familiar with..
Chip Kelly has stated time and time again that he will have his Best 4 DB’s or 5 DB’s when including the Nickel Packages out on the Field… With both Boykin and Shepard now gone, I would have to think that Eric Rowe is in the Top 5 when looking at the Eagle DB’s
Man looking at twitter updates on bgn is nice…..they are hyping the shit out of bradford in practice right now…..rightfully so his arm talent is elite…..just hope it translates to live action because he could light it up in chips system…..its like he knows the system already….they never talk about him struggling with the plays…..the kid is hella smart
Is anybody going to any of the pre season games this year
Man pman u were on top of this eric tomlinsob TE guy he seems to be having a good camp catching a lot of deep seems
I hope they find a way to get him on the 53 Man Roster for he will get scooped up in a heart-beat if only makes the Practice Squad.. He’s what 6-5/6-6, Strong, Athletic with Good Hands & Feet… He reminds me a little bit of young, poor mans Antonio Gates and who I think could blossom in a year or two in the NFL.
I think Celek has 1 maybe 2 Good Seasons left in his body as he’s played in a lot of games and taken a lot of hits over the years
#3 TE Trey Burton is so versatile and valuable on Special Teams that it’s heard to keep him off.. Maybe the Eagles can carry 4 TE’s and sandbag this Tomlinson for the 2015 Season as not to lose him for the Future
If he shows well in preseason the big viking will make the team….I will call him radnor
On the topic of special teams which has been very good especially last season I don’t think Cody Parkey gets a lot of mention. He was easily the 3rd best kicker in the entire NFL last season. He can hit from damn near anywhere on the field with his leg strength good accuracy etc. Credit for the coaching staff for making the trade for this phenomena pro-bowll talent we basically got him for nothing.
On the topic of special teams which has been very good especially last season I don’t think Cody Parkey gets a lot of mention. He was easily the 3rd best kicker in the entire NFL last season. He can hit from damn near anywhere on the field with his leg strength good accuracy etc. Credit for the coaching staff for making the trade for this phenomenal pro-bowl talent we basically got him for nothing.
Reports from Camp is that Kicker Parkey’s leg has gotten even stronger and is really booming them thus far.. He’s been a godsend, for sure and needs to keep his focus and emotions in check and let his talent take over…
Ik Enemkpapli has been picked up by the Bills. He is a Rex Ryan draft pick and apparently Rex likes his on the field ability. I was wrong, I thought he was finished.
Word is that the Bills Front Office Offered LB IK a $600 Bonus to take QB EJ Manuel out to Dinner…