Rob Fink-
Wow.
It’s clear that the search committee of owner Jeffrey Lurie, General Manager Howie Roseman, and team president Don Smolenski had Chip Kelly at the top of Eagles’ head coach wish list. Everybody knew that, as he fit the mold perfectly for what Lurie publically asked for in a coach. When Kelly said he was staying at Oregon, I found it a little odd that there was no press conference making it official. Technically, he never spoke about it, but nearly everybody thought that it was the end of that. I get the sense that a coach was going to be named in the coming days regardless, and it was down to Kelly and Gus Bradley. If Kelly didn’t accept, the “Gus Bus” would have came to town.
So the Eagles will be run by the man who used to run the high-octane Oregon offense, one that specializes in moving quickly. What does that mean for the Eagles? Here are some questions Kelly will be faced with.
Where does Nick Foles fit into the new coaches plans? What will the quarterback situation look like with Kelly at the helm?
I wish I could give a guess, but let’s be honest here, the only people that have an idea about this are Kelly and the search committee. I am a huge Nick Foles fan; I think he has what it takes to be a great quarterback regarding size, poise, and attitude, as he is one of those players that you can’t tell was up 20 points or down 20 points. Chip Kelly is regarded as an innovative, smart football mind, and that evaluation will be up to him. Some other names are Geno Smith in the draft, and yes, I’m going to say it, Tim Tebow. Not as a starter, but I would absolutely love to see Tim Tebow, a winner, getting 10 snaps a game with Foles at the helm. A guy can dream in that regard, right? Mike Vick seems ideal, 5 years ago. Too injury prone, too turnover prone, too much of a problem.
Who will run the defense?
Choosing a defensive coordinator is Kelly’s most important job, and it will define his tenure in Philadelphia. The Eagles’ defense last season, although “talented,” was really bad, and most of the problem was the coaching staff as Todd Bowles certainly wasn’t inspiring them in that horrid losing streak. Get some fresh energy, and I think guys will respond positively to that. They’d need to restructure Nnamdi, but there’s still some hope there as well.
4th Overall Pick?
Texas A&M Left Tackle Luke Joekel. I’m not really one too qualified to make a read on his ability to play the position, but from what I have read about him, he is somebody who will automatically start for a decade. The O-Line is the most important position in football, so unless you have a gaping need elsewhere and are already set at that position, which the Eagles aren’t, you take him. If he is gone, Kelly has a critical decision to make.
It will be interesting to see Kelly fill his roster. I’m pretty sure the 2013 Eagles will be a new look team, and I’ve never been more genuinely excited to be an Eagles fan. Andy Reid has been the Eagles coach as long as I can remember, but change is good, and I’m just going to sit back and watch it all unfold.
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What do you see in Foles that makes you such a fan? All of the characteristics you mentioned are nice and all, but without production doesn’t that just make him a really hot girl with a penis? On the surface he’s got everything you want, but when its time to get your moneys worth, there’s a major problem. I would have no issue giving him the job to start next season and evaluating from there. However, there is one QB in this draft who I think is a perfect fit, but I can’t give out all my info this early.
Regarding the draft, I don’t see The Joek Strap falling to 4. If he does, I agree, it’s a no brainer. But, Andy Reid always liked to build from the interior out, I would be surprised if he passed on him. The draft strategy all depends on what Chip Kelly wants on defense. A switch to a 3-4 has been rumored, if that’s the case, Star Lotulelei or Jarvis Jones may be the guy.
It’s not all talent when you see teams such as the Seahawks or the 49rs or the Redskins wide receivers getting wide open. It’s mostly play design. And I was never a fan of Reid’s or Morhinweg’s prowess in that regard. Their plays were designed to be run from predictable formations with passing routes that never fooled anyone and seemed to take too long to develop with a porously offensive , offensive line. Teams what they were running better than they did. The Patriot’s run some versions of Kelly’s schemes and Tom Brady is not the most athletic of quarter backs either. I think Kelly will design plays to fit the personnel on hand for the present and gradually evolve as the drafts, trades, and free agent signings get him up to speed to fully implement his high tempo style. No reasonable fan expects the Eagles to go to the Super Bowl next year. That’s ridiculous. I’m willing to give Kelly at least five (5) years, in light of the carnage wrought by Reid on this team, as long as there is gradual improvement from year to year. After all, we’ve already wasted FOURTEEN YEARS with Reid’s empty promises.