Tweaking

Posted: October 16th, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 61 Comments »

Chip Kelly says the Eagles aren’t a “scheme operation”. He’s talking about not making drastic changes just because the team is struggling. Kelly didn’t turn the Eagles into an I-formation team after the slow start by the run game. Bill Davis didn’t switch to the 4-3 after a slow start by the defense. They kept working to improve the execution of the schemes and made some adjustments.

One simple thing Kelly did on Sunday night was use Foles more under the center. According to David Molk, this was done as a counter move to take away the effectiveness of the Giants “nut stunts”. That’s a great tweak. Simple, but effective. You don’t always have to make drastic changes to get different results.

Chip Wagon has a great post up on some things Kelly did in the run game.

Couple of things from that post. First, they show Molk’s athletic ability. He is able to get out wide and down the field on run plays. They also talk about his inability to finish blocks. Dead on the money. There are times when Jason Kelce gets out wide or in space and misses because it is so difficult to block on the move, but he gets the job done most of the time. That percentage goes way down with Molk. The key is that not many Centers would be able to even get out there like him. He offers value in that sense.

You also see pics of Jeremy Maclin blocking. We all wondered how Mac would do in this offense. He isn’t a great blocker, but he’s been better than I expected. This run game takes 9 guys blocking well for it to be really good. Obviously the QB and RB get a free pass.

* * * * *

Here are a couple of other posts on the game.

Football Concepts breaks down some stuff the Eagles did. I’ve never been to the site before, but they did a good job in this post.

A Giants writer offered her thoughts on why their OL struggled so much. It is always interesting to see how the other side is looking at things. Not the greatest work, but honestly…Eagles fans are spoiled by all the brilliant All-22 posts regularly done by Sheil Kapadia, Fran Duffy, and the Chip; Wagon guys.

* * * * *

That’s encouraging. The 3rd down defense was awful last year.

* * * * *

Turning Point is an NFL show on the NBC Sports Network. They had Kelly and Foles mic’d up and did a segment on the Eagles. It comes about 40 minutes into the show.

Nothing groundbreaking, but it is always fun to hear guys mic’d up. The funniest thing was seeing Chip Kelly jump on Jason Peters back as they were leaving the field. Kelly balances out being a brilliant guy with still having a playful, goofy side to his personality. And he’s not trying to hide it either.

_

61 Comments on “Tweaking”

  1. 1 Ark87 said at 8:50 AM on October 16th, 2014:

    Get away from the website for 1 day and I miss and article! About the last article Tommy, you should do a time capsule to dig up the next time we have a shut out 😀

    It’s funny how consistent our scheme is. Preparation is limited to only defending a few concepts, then 2 times I’ve seen us make 1 tiny adjustment that catches teams completely off guard (the last one being late last year having the TE come across to block the backside of a run).

  2. 2 Anders said at 9:24 AM on October 16th, 2014:

    http://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=zr4d5

    The Giants have been shutout 4 times over the last 2½ seasons. That is mind boggling. Not even teams like the Titans, Jags or Raiders have any over that time frame

  3. 3 Ark87 said at 9:32 AM on October 16th, 2014:

    Yikes, think it’s a freak statistical anomaly or an inherent propensity to just not show up for games?

  4. 4 Anders said at 9:35 AM on October 16th, 2014:

    freak statistical anomaly combined with Eli Manning consider total inept teams like the Jags or Raiders hasnt been on the bad end up any of those in 2½ years

  5. 5 Ben said at 9:44 AM on October 16th, 2014:

    Freak, plus, the G-men tend to either show up tough or go completely flat. It’s those little hot streaks that have them 2 Superbowls this decade, not dominating seasons….

  6. 6 GermanEagle said at 4:26 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    As long as they shut out the cowgirls on Sunday. #it’sallovertown

  7. 7 tizztwizz said at 9:30 AM on October 16th, 2014:

    Am I the only one who thought that said “Twerking?” I could just imagine a .gif of large, unattractive, bearded linemen trying to twerk. *shudders

  8. 8 TommyLawlor said at 11:12 AM on October 16th, 2014:

    Jason Peters is one sexy twerker,

  9. 9 tizztwizz said at 1:06 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    I want proof.

  10. 10 Nicodemus_09 said at 11:10 AM on October 17th, 2014:

    I have no idea if that’s true. But I’m thinking the Richter Scale could like likely verify that….lol

  11. 11 D3FB said at 3:27 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Kelce and Mathis aren’t even hurt. They are just in training for the International Beards and Twerks Championship. They are the prohibitive favorites.

  12. 12 Ark87 said at 3:38 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    I thought Mathis was training for Photobomb and Troll Expo 2014.

  13. 13 sonofdman said at 11:25 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    I was just going to say the same thing. I thought there might have been more pictures on Twitter of Bennie Logan and Beau Allen.

  14. 14 ceedubya9 said at 10:54 AM on October 16th, 2014:

    Kind of OT, but somewhere there was an All-22 image of the reverse that failed to happen. Man, there was so much space if there had been a clean toss. Huff would have been deep in the redzone or gotten his first regular season touchdown if that toss goes clean. There was a ton of wide open space with probably only one person to beat.

  15. 15 P_P_K said at 11:02 AM on October 16th, 2014:

    I hope we see that play again.

  16. 16 BC1968 said at 11:32 AM on October 16th, 2014:

    Don’t block, don’t play.Talking about DeSean Jackson of course. The pictures from thechipwagon show all he receivers making some nice blocks on one play or another, Along with Maclin, Josh Huff, Riley Cooper Jordan Matthews throw some nice blocks from looking at those pictures. Riley may be holding(oops, covers mouth like Chris Farley)

  17. 17 botto said at 3:50 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    agree, can we all just decide we released djax because he can’t and won’t block and be done with it.
    can’t have a good running game without Wr blocking.

  18. 18 BC1968 said at 7:54 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    I was reiterating the Chip Cooley column from yesterday and pointing out the bigger WR’s we have doing nice blocking from thechipwagon page.

  19. 19 eagleyankfan said at 11:36 AM on October 16th, 2014:

    nice post by lynch — but what was that number prior to the Giants game?

  20. 20 Sam Lynch said at 4:23 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Good question. 21.2%, good for 15th in the NFL. Not as drastic as including the last game, for sure, but still an improvement.

    http://web.archive.org/web/20141008161812/http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/drivestatsdef

  21. 21 eagleyankfan said at 4:35 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    I’ll take an improvement any day of the week. Good stuff. TY.

  22. 22 Anders said at 4:56 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    He is still raw in his route running and he isnt Irvin like WR at catch point.

  23. 23 Flyineagle45 said at 11:50 AM on October 16th, 2014:

    Should we trade for spiller orrrrrr?

  24. 24 Anders said at 1:04 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    I do it right away.

    Also Vikings aint super happy with Patterson. I do wonder if we might try to trade for him in the off season.

  25. 25 CrackSammich said at 3:15 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Really? I’d love to see a link for that about Patterson. What’s not to like about that guy?

  26. 26 Ramiroquaaii said at 7:04 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Agree, Vikings makes more sense.
    Sproles is 31 and Spiller is 27, Polk have been losing important time. I think worth at least do some speculation.

  27. 27 Anders said at 3:48 AM on October 17th, 2014:

    He is still raw in his route running and he isnt Irvin like WR at catch point.

  28. 28 Nailed it! said at 12:18 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Don’t know if anyone has read this yet, but it is pretty interesting. I still think if you asked Chip if he knew about the OODLA Loop he would look at you cross eyed but its a fun read none the less.

    http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2014/10/16/6986819/chip-kelly-revolutionized-nfl-ooda-loop-eagles-profile-bio

  29. 29 BC1968 said at 1:25 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Chipkrieg!

  30. 30 MaggieMagpie said at 3:04 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    With his interest in all things military he probably did. Did you look at the date that “The Art of War” was written?

  31. 31 Mike Cappelli said at 4:47 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    One of the best pieces I’ve read

  32. 32 Mike Cappelli said at 12:20 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Having players with versatility seems crucial to making these tweaks.

    I always wondered if other fans get All-22 breakdowns. I guess that’s why when the Eagles perform poorly we get upset with the team. When the Giants perform poorly they complain about mean Eagles fans.
    Still ridin’ high from that shutout!

  33. 33 Anders said at 1:08 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Some fanbases get break downs (like Seahawks on their SBN blog), but nobody gets anywhere near the same breakdown as we get.

    Just to name a few:
    Eye in sky from Eagles own site with Fran Duffy (must read every week for scouting on the Eagles and opposing teams)
    Kellystrator!!
    Phillymag all-22 review
    Chipwagon

  34. 34 botto said at 3:52 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    what’s kellystrator?

  35. 35 Bert's Bells said at 3:57 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Oh man. Awesomeness. You’ve probably seen it. CK breaks down a half dozen or so plays (both sides of the ball and special teams) from the previous week. on pe.com

  36. 36 Anders said at 4:55 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/videos/videos/Kellystrator-Week-6/743b5d21-9041-4e60-8d82-b700923c7772

    Worth every second

  37. 37 D3FB said at 3:24 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    I know Gimpy who used to write for Scout’s Notebook, absolutely hates Steelers coverage. All the Pittsburgh guys just stick with the old school narrative crap. No one does film breakdowns, or X’s and O’s.

  38. 38 deshawnbentley said at 12:46 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Bobby shmurda

  39. 39 Ben Hert said at 1:13 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Wasn’t a lot going on in that video, but two parts really stoff out to me. Its great to see Chip excited about a win like that. Makes me think he’ll be around for a long time here.

    Of course my other favorite was clearly Mark Sanchez commenting on the quality of chicken fingers. Oh the life of a back-up QB…

  40. 40 P_P_K said at 2:40 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    It sure seems like there is a lot of camaraderie on the team.

  41. 41 Ark87 said at 3:25 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Sanchez gets serious munchies on those side-line, when he was Sanchize the cameras would often catch him wolfing down a hotdog. Seems like a cool guy, but I could see him driving people crazy as a starter.

  42. 42 Jernst said at 1:18 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    I see what Chip is saying, I guess, but doesn’t that show that the Eagles stick with their specific schemes? Which, by the way I totally support. Pick a scheme you think gives you the best overall advantage and work on executing it to perfection.

  43. 43 ACViking said at 4:11 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Re: A D-Jax Opposite and Some MML-1 Trivia (Miracle at Mea. . . .)

    Former Washington TE (and Eagles nemesis) Chris Cooley lambasted D-Jax for his poor blocking.

    D-Jax — I have no doubt — considers himself an elite WR . . . which caused me to wonder what kind of blockers truly elite WRs have been.

    The greatest WR in the NFL’s pre-flag-football passing era (read: pre-1979) was Paul Warfield.

    [If you want to see sheer greatness on the biggest stage at a key moment, go to the 5:43 mark of these highlights from the ’73 SB. This was nothing new for Warfield.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twKTnl4i49A%5D

    “Bouncy Paul” — the guy could sky — was a lithe 6’0 190 lbs. A former college RB, he had incredibly good hands, was the best RAC receiver I’ve ever seen (including Washington’s own HOF WR Charley Taylor, also a former RB) . . . and blocked like a OT.

    Consider Warfield’s background.

    In the 15-year period from his freshman year at Ohio State in 1960 through 1974 (his last NFL season before jumping to the short-lived WFL), Warfield played for 3 coaches. Just three.

    At OSU from ’60-’63, he played RB and wing-back for the great Woody Hayes. The man who made dust famous. You didn’t block. You didn’t play.

    Warfield spent the first 6 years of his NFL career playing for the Cleveland Brown for a very under-rated — and mostly forgotten — head coach named Blanton Collier. In Cleveland, Collier succeed the legendary Paul Brown. Before joining Brown as an assistant, Collier was an assistant at the UKentucky for the great Bear Bryant. And he succeeded Bryant as Kentucky’s HC before going to Cleveland.

    As an NFL HC for 8 seasons (14 games each), Collier’s record was 76-34-2, including an NFL title in ’64. Never had a losing records. Reached the playoffs 5 times.

    How good were his teams? In today’s NFL, Collier’s teams would have AVERAGED 11 wins per season. And in his first 7 season, Colliers’ worst record was 9-5. Wow.

    Any coach from the Paul Brown / Bear Bryant coaching tree knew a thing or two about running the ball. Even after the great Jim Brown retired, the Browns — behind Philadelphia-born HOF RB Leroy Kelly — continued at the top of the NFL in rushing.

    Warfield’s blocking was a big part of Cleveland’s rushing success. (Chip Kelly would be the first to point that out on the film, I’m sure.)

    And who was Warfield’s third HC? The great Don Shula. No team dominated on the ground like Shula’s Dolphins from ’70-’74. With Csonka, Morris, and Kiick. The first team to have two 1,000 yard rushers in the same season.

    In the 1973 SB, the Dolphins rolled over the Vikings 24-7.

    QB Bob Griese went 6-7 for 73 yards and no INT . . . FOR THE GAME. Miami went 53 att for 196 yards on the ground. Dominance.

    Again, no team can run like that without great blocking WRs.

    So the point with Warfield — and today’s WRs could take a lesson — is that HOF players do everything well. Warfield was among the very best at catching, running, and blocking.

    ________________

    Quick tid-bit on some past NYG’s offensive futility . . . since, as someone commented, the G-men have been shut-out 4 times in the past 2 seasons.

    In the first (and true) Miracle at the Meadowlands game, everyone knows what happened at the end.

    What may be forgotten — and just to show you how star-crossed the Giants were that day — the head-set of then-Giants Head Coach John McVay went dead late in the 4th Q.

    So right before the Miracle, McVay’s incommunicado with his offensive coordinator Bob Gibson.

    It was meant to be, I guess.

  44. 44 bsuperfi said at 8:26 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Man, I usually have a fine appreciation for your historical knowledge, but this was one of my favorites. It’s funny that d jax spurred it but it’s really about the ideal Kelly wr (don’t fail me j Matt).

  45. 45 GermanEagle said at 4:20 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    @SteveH

    Did you get my email?

  46. 46 SteveH said at 8:55 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    I did, will be sending one back.

  47. 47 SteveH said at 8:59 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Just create your account using the link I sent you.

  48. 48 iceberg584 said at 1:22 AM on October 17th, 2014:

    Drug deal?

  49. 49 GermanEagle said at 8:39 AM on October 17th, 2014:

    Psssssd. It’s about Megan Fox phone number and Funyuns.

  50. 50 botto said at 6:29 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    have you all watched the kellystrator bits on PEdotcom?
    its pretty awesome with chip breaking down some plays

  51. 51 GermanEagle said at 8:23 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Go. Jets.

  52. 52 SteveH said at 9:06 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    The Patriots aren’t scaring anyone this year. They look like a completely different animal.

  53. 53 CrackSammich said at 9:22 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Not as good as they once were, but nowhere near a pushover. And despite their offensive incompetence, Jets have been close in quite a few games. Just like last year…

  54. 54 SteveH said at 9:28 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Not a pushover no, what I mean is that typically every year the Pats are considered one of the top 3-4 teams and look dominant for good stretches of the year. This year I don’t think that’s the case.

    If the Jets put up a fight like they have that would be interesting, since they’re a pretty sorry group themselves.

  55. 55 CrackSammich said at 10:13 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Jets seem to have a knack at making both teams look incompetent for a lot of their games. Anyone else get that feeling?

  56. 56 SteveH said at 12:35 AM on October 17th, 2014:

    Jets-disease. It’s contagious!

  57. 57 SteveH said at 9:45 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    This is the least intense Jets-Pats game ever. Down year Patriots versus dead man walking Rex Ryans Jets.

  58. 58 Nicodemus_09 said at 9:59 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    I know exactly what you mean with the milquetoast articles in a lot of other NFL towns. Not all, but a great deal of them. Especially when it comes to alot of the websites. An extreme example is the Jags “Big Cat Country” Lol That website looks like it’s not only written by, but the whole website looks like it was created by high schoolers for extra credit. Spuds tows the company line to be sure, but make no mistake, theres never been a guy more happy, enthusiastic or unapologetic to do it. I really enjoy scouting pre & post game articles in enemy cities to get a feel on how outsiders see us like most Eagles fans i’m sure. I’m so myopic when it comes to my only being able to see & focus on my perceived flaws of the team. It surprises me sometimes & does my heart good to see articles where the writers so obviously fear this team & Kelly’s coaching, that it gives me a chance to appreciate what we’ve got going for us right now. From the team to our writers, from our bloggers to our fans & haters. It rocks to be an Iggles fan.

  59. 59 jpate said at 10:40 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Good bless any fan that is committed enough to dissect the Jaguars film

  60. 60 Mitchell said at 10:15 PM on October 16th, 2014:

    Since we have trouble in the RZ, we should take a page from the Jet’s offense(yes I said it) and use a DT like big Cox as our FB.

  61. 61 truehaynes said at 6:15 AM on October 17th, 2014:

    Or beau Allen 🙂