Dennis Kelly Gets A Chance

Posted: August 23rd, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 34 Comments »

Todd Herremans will be going to a funeral this weekend and that means that rookie Dennis Kelly will be starting at RT against the Browns.  This is both good and bad.  I’m happy to see how he performs with the starting OL and while going against top competition.  That will tell us exactly where Kelly is in his development.

The downside is that rookie Nick Foles will not have ideal protection as he makes his first NFL start and also sees a starting defense for the first time.  There will already be a ton of pressure on Foles from fans, the media, and I’m sure himself.  Now he’ll have literal pressure, coming from his right side.

The good part of that is that we get to see how Foles handles less than ideal circumstances.  We’re all very excited by Foles right now.  Hit lit up PIT and NE.  The degree of difficulty on Friday’s game has gone up a significant notch.  If Foles is able to once again have a good showing, his legend will once again grow.

Back to Kelly for a second.  As I wrote in the DGR, you can definitely see Kelly’s raw talent.  He’s big and athletic.  Moves well.  Has good natural strength.  He must improve against inside moves.  If a defender starts to beat him there, Dennis must do what he can to slow the guy, even if that means holding.  You don’t want to give a free lane to the inside.  The rusher gets to the QB that much quicker.

Kelly also needs work on handling speed rushers off the edge.  Staying low, moving his feet, and engaging them with his hands is a tricky combination, especially since Kelly played LT at Purdue.  RT isn’t natural to him yet.  There are plays when he looks very good.  There are others when he looks lost.  For Foles sake, I hope Kelly steps up in a big way on Friday.

Reuben Frank wrote a nice story on Kelly and his progress.

* * * * *

Speaking of Foles, I wrote about him for PE.com.  I compared his first couple of PS games to Mike Kafka and Kevin Kolb.  I considered going back to McNabb, but that wasn’t fair.  Andy Reid was new that year and didn’t have his system in place.  McNabb played behind a makeshift OL.  His WRs were Torrance Small and Charles Johnson.  His RB was Duce Staley.  His TE was supposed to be Jamie Asher (remember that?).  Asher got hurt and that left a big hole at at TE.  Chad Lewis joined the team during the season.  Anyway…you can see that Donovan didn’t have the same chance that these other young QBs did.

* * * * *

Reuben Frank broke the news that Mike Patterson won’t be ready for the season opener.  This isn’t 100 percent official yet, but that’s only because Reid hasn’t spoken on the subject.  That will happen some time in the near future.

Patt will then start the season on the PUP list (or NFI…same rules per Sam).  That means Patt sits for 6 weeks.  He then returns to practice and the Eagles have a 3-week window in which to decide what to do.  At the end of the 3 weeks, if the team hasn’t already put him on the roster, they have to make him active or put him on IR.

Could this be the beginning of the end for Patt?  Possibly.  He does want to play, though.  His doctors just need to be comfortable that his skull can handle NFL collisions.  The brain is fine. This is all about the skull.

There is no question that Patt is still a good player.  He had a good season in 2011.  99.9 percent of his body is in excellent shape.  I hope the doctors give him the news that he wants to hear.

For now, what does this mean for the Eagles?  Antonio Dixon just got a job.  Probably, anyway.  The best 4 DTs that I’ve seen this summer are Landri, Jenkins, Thornton, and Cox.  Dixon would be #5.  I have not been impressed by him at all.  The Eagles still have hopes so Patt’s situation bought Dixon more time.

I’d love to see the Eagles look around the league and try to trade Dixon.  Get a more athletic DT in return.  My fantasy would be to ship him to the Texans, who need NT help, and get 4th round pick Jared Crick in return.  That will happen right after I get done helping Kelly Brook try on different bikinis (another fantasy scenario).

Maybe some 2-gap team will covet Dixon as a run stuffer and make an offer.  I just don’t think he’s a good fit in Washburn’s system.  The guy can play.  It isn’t a lack of talent.  All about fit.

* * * * *

What is Jaiquawn Jarret’s situation right now?  On the fence.  He bounced back nicely, but still hasn’t done enough to win a spot.  If Colt Anderson starts the season on PUP, JaiJar could have his spot on the roster.  I’m sure the Eagles would love to keep him if they could, hoping the light will eventually go on all the way.

Or…the Eagles can go in search of a Safety.  I haven’t looked thoroughly around the league to see who might be available and which young guys are emerging.

What about OJ Atogwe (I refuse to learn his full name until he makes the team)?  I think he’s played pretty well this summer.  He missed Monday with a hamstring injury.  I’m not overly concerned.  Injuries have been an issue for him, but I think they were more serious.  Plenty of guys have hammy problems in the summer.  I don’t think Atogwe is a lock.  He should play a lot in the final 2 games, if good to go.  A solid showing will get him a spot.

What about Phillip Thomas?  The coaches seem reluctant to play him.  I wonder if he knows the full playbook or has had some other issue.  On the field, he’s looked very good.  I’ve seen other situations like this.  We normally find out down the road that the coaches had a specific reason for not playing the player.  Thomas could be an ideal practice squad candidate.  Coach him up.  Let him learn the scheme.  The guy can play.

* * * * *

Brian Solomon put up a great (and simple) post on Michael Vick and whether he wears enough padding.  Go judge for yourself.

* * * * *

Fake WIP Caller is up to his usual tricks.  It’s like Shakespeare came back to life, but focused on Philly sports.  We’re just lucky to live in his era.

* * * * *

I’ve already referenced Reuben Frank twice so far.  Some of you might ask why you should trust him.  What makes him so special?  This.

I knew he was smart.  PBR is the drink of champions and great minds.


34 Comments on “Dennis Kelly Gets A Chance”

  1. 1 FrenchEagles said at 11:54 AM on August 23rd, 2012:

    PBR is the key of greatness I see. Only thing: they don’t sell in France. You should open an export company specialized in PBR delivery over the world.

  2. 2 TommyLawlor said at 12:26 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    Genius. I could be rich and helping people at the same time.

  3. 3 A_T_G said at 3:26 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    I assumed they wrote PBR because “swill” would have wasted two extra characters. Gotta be economical in those tweets.

  4. 4 TommyLawlor said at 6:20 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    You are an enemy of the Iggles Blitz state. Some day men in leather coats will come get you so we can have “a talk”.

  5. 5 ian_no_2 said at 10:47 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    add water to Kronenbourg

  6. 6 FrenchEagles said at 4:53 AM on August 24th, 2012:

    You mean PBR would be a diluted version of one of the worst beers in France? I can’t believe that…

  7. 7 TheRogerPodacter said at 11:56 AM on August 23rd, 2012:

    wow. it really does look like vick is wearing hardly any pads at all. its like the bare minimum, my guess.
    i wonder how bad his injury would have been if he had the pads that brees has on in the picture there.

  8. 8 FrenchEagles said at 11:58 AM on August 23rd, 2012:

    Given its injury is not severe, we can imagine that the hit would have been absorbed by the protection…

  9. 9 Mac said at 1:41 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    The NFL is increasing sales in the female marketplace. Wise up, players need to look good, and Vick is simply leading them all to the promise land.

  10. 10 austinfan said at 12:27 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    Supposedly, Vick was wearing a Kevlar vest, however, while it stops bullets, does it absorb the energy from a large moving object sufficiently to protect the wearer – i.e. maybe he also needs a layer of shock absorption.

    Not surprising Foles is ahead of Kafka, Foles started 3 years in college, Kafka 1 year, Kafka’s big game in his second PS (with no OTAs) is similar to what Foles has done against scrubs (i.e., all of Foles big output has come in the 3 Q). Unfortunately for Kafka, he may not get a chance to show how much he’s grown before the season has started, he really needs to get back for the Jets game (if he can play, I’m sure they’d give him the first half to gauge his progress).

    Kelly is interesting, a project who seems to be making very fast progress, just getting used to his body (big guys often take longer to develop body control), I suspect Mudd sees a lot of Ryan Diem in him. Diem was a better athlete, but 6’7 338 lbs at the combine, Kelly at age 22 was 6-8 321 and still growing. Played as a true freshman and started 37 games at LT.

  11. 11 Scott Buchanan said at 12:36 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    In Foles we trust!!!

  12. 12 Arby1 said at 1:37 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    On Foles, – is it just me or does he have an awkward delivery?

  13. 13 TommyLawlor said at 2:52 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    What about it?

  14. 14 Arby1 said at 5:43 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    Not sure really. But sometimes it looks like he’s pushing the ball as opposed to passing it – maybe it’s just a wobbly spiral or maybe it’s the camera angle. Or maybe it’s a matter of how open his shoulder is? Not sure really, it just doesn’t look real smooth to me. But maybe I’ve just been spoiled by Mr. Vick.

  15. 15 Toby_yboT said at 3:29 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    I actually like his delivery, but I saw a lot of sloppy spirals and I don’t like the way he throws on the run.

  16. 16 T_S_O_P said at 1:47 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    Compared to the line he had in college, Dennis Kelly is like the 2nd coming of Anthony Munoz.

  17. 17 TommyLawlor said at 2:52 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    Ha. Now that’s a line I hadn’t thought of. Well done sir.

  18. 18 D3FB said at 1:53 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    Jabal Sheard and Juqua Parker are the top two LDEs for the Browns. This should be a good test for the kid.

  19. 19 D3FB said at 2:00 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    Tommy your thoughts on the article where Mmmbop says that there is no way that Boykin will take his job if its “fair and square”? Personally it kind of comes off as a guy who knows he may not win the job and is ready to pout publicly if he gets cut or demoted.

  20. 20 D3FB said at 2:37 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    heres the link
    http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/eagles-talk/Hanson-Boykin-will-not-beat-me-fair-and-?blockID=761379&feedID=692

  21. 21 TommyLawlor said at 2:55 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    Hanson is a proud vet. He’s also a DB. Dangerous combination. You want those guys to be cocky, even a bit delusional. His ego is talking. Not a big deal to me.

  22. 22 Thunder_lips said at 3:36 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    Is anyone else worried about the safety of our starting wide receivers? Because Nick Foles has a cannon attached to his right shoulder.

  23. 23 the guy said at 7:13 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    “The degree of difficulty on Friday’s game has gone up a significant notch.”

    Are we really that sure that Cleveland’s starters are any better than Steelers or Patriots backups?

  24. 24 A_T_G said at 8:07 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    Well, since the majority of the Cleveland starters are Eagles’ castoffs, and past performance suggests that the Steelers and Patriots starters are better than the Eagles starters…

  25. 25 teltschikfakeout88 said at 11:28 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    If you ask Morton, Cleveland’s drafts the last few years rocked……

  26. 26 Septhinox said at 9:55 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    The Eagles play against the Falcons, Giants, Bills and 49ers cost them a playoff spot. Not the Jets losing to the Giants.

  27. 27 teltschikfakeout88 said at 11:27 PM on August 23rd, 2012:

    while this comment is technically correct….the nature of the original comment was a jest and I don’t think was meant to exclude reasons such as you have stated to explain our team missing the playoffs last year.

  28. 28 TommyLawlor said at 12:43 AM on August 24th, 2012:

    You are wise, t-88.

  29. 29 Cliff said at 12:57 AM on August 24th, 2012:

    I guess the Patt situation could be a blessing in disguise. We have so much talent at DT that this at least buys us some time. I think the guy plays his butt off so I’m hoping for the best.

  30. 30 rage114 said at 10:09 AM on August 24th, 2012:

    Just finished listening to your Podcast. Thanks and good stuff. Enjoyed the last 5 or so. Makes my commute so much more entertaining.

    Two comments/questions for you:

    1) You and Jimmy talked a bit about Thornton and Hunt. And in your last DGR, you mentioned that Cole and Jenkins are still in “preseason mode”. Do you think that maybe Hunt and Thornton are playing out of their minds right now becuase they are in full regular season mode and everyone else is not? When the games matter, could we see a drop in production?

    2) Your comments on Tapp got me thinking….do you think he is sees that Hunt has passed him and he is pressing some? Could it be that he feels he has to make a play everytime he is on the field…which has led to playing uncharacteristically out of control which led to the two bone head penalties?

  31. 31 TommyLawlor said at 12:34 PM on August 24th, 2012:

    Outstanding points. Answer to both is “very possible”. Hunt is legit. He showed last year that he can play. Thornton needs to show us that he can actually get the job done against starting OL. He’s more of a mystery. I think we’ve seen enough to know he has good potential, but still must show us that he can play in real games.

    Tapp is fighting for his football life. He knows that. And I agree that it could have led to the one penalty. On the other he saw a Pat pushing an Eagle and wanted to separate them. Just went too far.

  32. 32 babapsu said at 2:18 PM on August 24th, 2012:

    austin howard now the starting LT for the jets.

  33. 33 Todd B. said at 3:02 PM on August 24th, 2012:

    I think it is RT for Mr. Wayne “Turnstyle” Hunter.

  34. 34 Average__Joseph said at 3:59 PM on August 24th, 2012:

    One thing that I have noticed with Foles is that he seems to have very, very good ball handling skills. His play fakes and how he hides the ball seem very advanced for a rookie.
    Also, Tommy, do you know of any team that might be “stacked” at safety where we may be able to make a trade or pick up one of their castoffs on cutdown day?