Rage Against the Machine
Posted: November 23rd, 2015 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 434 Comments »The Eagles lost on Sunday in embarrassing fashion. Everyone who watched that slopfest was upset with the team. I certainly wasn’t happy with what I saw. So why didn’t I come on here and rip the team more on Sunday?
Some of you are upset that I wasn’t upset enough.
Let me explain where I’m coming from. I was a typical sports fan as a kid. I lived and died with losses. Seeing my sports heroes lose a big game just devastated me. I would be crushed for days. I would stew with rage. I wanted coaches fired. Players benched. Some cut or traded. Typical post-loss emotions.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve changed. I still get upset with a bad loss, but I get it out of my system pretty quickly. I become more analytical than angry. Emotion doesn’t solve anything. It is fun to vent, but the satisfaction is temporary at best.
I love football coaches. I have ever since I read articles about Tom Landry and Buddy Ryan back in the early 1980s. I was fascinated by X’s and O’s, but also the philosophies behind coaching. Over the years I’ve read all kinds of books on coaches. I watch interviews and documentaries when I can. I listen to coaches shows on the radio. Heck, I enjoy listening to coaches from other sports.
Last night I went to the football coaches bible, Finding the Winning Edge by Bill Wash. I wanted to see what he had to say about tough losses. There is a section that deals with losing streaks. Walsh said a few interesting things:
- Avoid gimmick solutions. If the gimmick doesn’t work, it just makes things worse. And most gimmicks don’t work.
- The atmosphere on the field and in the facility should remain the same. Don’t make things tougher or more intense. You don’t solve problems with emotion.
- Don’t plead with the team to play better. A coach must maintain the dignity and authority of his position.
Walsh built a team that sustained success over a long time. He did have some losing teams early on. The year after winning his first Super Bowl, SF went 3-6. The next year his team went 10-6 but had a terrible stretch in the middle of the season, losing 4 of 5 games.
Walsh never panicked after a bad loss or a losing streak. He stayed the course with his schemes and philosophies. He focused on fixing the problems that were hurting his team.
Chip Kelly could rant and rave about his team. That wouldn’t solve anything. I could rant and rave about Kelly and his team. That wouldn’t solve anything. And it just isn’t my style. There are plenty of people with blogs or Twitter accounts who rip the Eagles regularly. That’s not my thing.
This doesn’t mean I’m not frustrated with the team. I absolutely am. Even though I handle losses better these days, they still depress me. I want so desperately for this team to get back to being one of the best in the league. Seeing them miss the playoffs last year and then fall to 4-6 this year is frustrating and depressing.
Instead of staying depressed, I turn to the coaches I’ve listened to and read about for advice. Can this be fixed? How so? Where does this team go from here?
It is easy to say “Blow this team up. Fire ’em all…with extreme prejudice.” Might even be fun to do that. But what would Carolina be this year if the owner had fired Ron Rivera after their 3-8-1 start last year? Marvin Lewis went 4-11-1 in 2008 and 4-12 in 2010. Then he got Andy Dalton and the team has been winning ever since. Who knows what would have happened to that franchise if they fired Lewis.
To be fair, sometimes a team can wait too long. Norv Turner should have been fired after the 2011 season. The Chargers gave him a final year and he went 7-9. That wasted a season in the careers of Philip Rivers and Eric Weddle, two outstanding players. When you have a franchise QB like Rivers, you have to take advantage of it.
I’ll write a column on Tuesday with my thoughts on Chip Kelly’s future. The key is to make a decision based on the whole body of work and not the last game.
When you have a flat out bad coach, he has to go. He is clearly holding the team back. When you have a coach going through a bad season or bad part of a season, that is much more difficult to evaluate. Is this an anomaly or is it reality?
Chip Kelly said on Monday that he still believes in this team. That might sound insane to a lot of fans, but again…think about teams in the past that have had a bad record at this point and finished strong. Fans of those teams likely would have had the same angry answers when asked about their team.
Only time will tell how this season plays out. It is important to see what happens. That will give us some answers about the future of Kelly, his staff and the team.
Like everyone else, I’m desperate for the Eagles to win the Super Bowl. There is no magic formula. Bill Belichick won last year. He’s purely an NFL guy, but this is his second job. He was a failure in his first stop. Pete Carroll won before that. He came to the NFL from college after failing before that as an NFL coach. John Harbaugh won the title before him. He was a longtime NFL assistant with no head coaching experience. He was never even an offensive or defensive coordinator. Three different paths to NFL glory.
I wish I had the answers to what the Eagles need to do. I don’t. I’m constantly re-evaluating what I think and trying to figure out what is best for the team.
One thing I do know. I can’t wait to see how this team responds on Thursday. That will tell me a lot about these players and coaches. I’m not saying I have to see a win or else, or that the team can’t make any mistakes. I just need to see something that makes me believe in this group again. That was lacking on Sunday.
And I’m not talking about effort. People who say the team quit are nuts. This is the NFL. Guys play hard, with very few exceptions. Effort is a given. Besides, if that’s what I’m focused on, I’ll watch small school football. Those kids play for the love of the game.
I’m talking about execution. NFL players are paid to make plays, not to almost make them. Make some friggin’ plays. Is that too much to ask for?
Of course, a 45-0 shutout of the Lions would be acceptable as well.
_
Agree 100%.
I hate it too when people say a team quits. It’s still their jobs, whether they’re having fun out there or not. People who want to get paid and not get fired don’t quit in front of millions of people watching. Amani Toomer just said about the same thing on the radio.
I think sometimes we’ve seen that happen, but the way these reporters ask the questions is pretty silly. As if a guy will tell a reporter, “Yeah, we quit. Just didn’t feel like playing today.”
All that question does is piss off the players at the reporters, then the reporters just complain the players don’t want to talk to them.
One of my biggest fears is if/when Chip leaves the Eagles, he will get a second job and win multiple Super Bowls. Wouldn’t that leave an empty hole in your soul?
think CLE fans think about that every year/
Unless he inherits like the Raiders or some ascending team that already has talent in place…nope I don’t see it happening.
i think he’ll be smarter and go to a team w/ a qB, miami, tennesee, jacksonville, etc.
You can take Miami off that list.
He already said he wanted to do that. It was a comment he made when talking about Coughlin. How he wanted to be like Coughlin and win multiple Super Bowls with one team.
Yeah you’re right… and if I remember correctly lots of the people who call themselves reporters we’re talking about him getting fired the year prior because he was too hard on the players by making them come to meetings 5 minutes early n was being too strict with grown men… and Coughlin n Manning have won 2 Super Bowls.
That’s how I see it. We pay the tab while he gets more data, he spends a few years churning it at Texas or somewhere, comes back to the NFL and is HoF lock after he wins three in 7 years.
I just want to fire the wide receivers coach and cut Miles Austin, not Chip. I’m still so angry about the Dolphins game more than the Bucs game. I feel that game was the one that pulled the rug out, and the Bucs game is us still on our faces.
Let’s compromise Tommy. I’ll stay calm and level headed with just an assistant firing instead of Chip. Let me know your decision and I’ll fedex it right over to Lurie.
This is the crux of this team. Chip the GM’s biggest mistake was trusting this young receiver core (or having faith in Cooper and Austin). You can argue about Mathis and Maclin, but Mathis could have been a cancer, and Maclin took more money. But these receivers are just not good, and I am sure it is a combination of things, but none of them have stepped up when needed.
When Cooper and Austin are taking the majority of the snaps, that’s an issue. Matthews puts up 100+ yard game, and the following week Cooper and Austin have more snaps.
Huff has a TD in the first quarter the last two games, then rides the pine for most of the game losing snaps to Austin and Cooper.
Bicknell is an issue, but even larger is Chip’s idea that it’s just plug and play and all the receivers can give him the same thing. They can’t. Cooper and Austin are not better receivers than Agholor, Huff, or Matthews. The young guys need to be on the field more.
Cooper and Austin both had 44 percent of the snaps. Matthews had 100 percent, Agholor 76 percent. So your first paragraph is simply false. Maybe you didn’t notice it during the game, I didn’t (I just had the feeling that Austin didn’t play as much as usual and liked that), but it’s false.
The problem was Huff rotating with Agholor and only playing 24 percent of the snaps. And that’s where I think Chip deserves criticism. Matthews 100 percent is good, Agholor 76 percent is good, but Huff needs to see basically all three WR formation snaps + the ones in 2 WR sets where Agholor couldn’t go (remember, he’s still not at 100 percent and a rookie).
Cooper should be the #4, with not many snaps (let’s call them Stamina snaps, when one of the other three needs a break). And Austin should simply be inactive or at least not seeing any snaps. He doesn’t play ST and his performance as WR is just awful.
Now, we have to upgrade the position next year. We have 3 young guys who could develop into better players. We maybe don’t need a #1 WR. But we NEED a WR who can give you 60-70 percent of the snaps and be productive. Austin and Cooper have to get cut, it simply isn’t good enough.
But in season, letting the three young guys play more or less every WR snap is the best option we have. And while Chip didn’t do that, he at least changed the rotation. I hope he goes one step further into the right direction against the Lions.
Yeah, what he said…
ditto
I don’t disagree, but Cooper and Austin are taking snaps from Huff. If there’s three receivers on the field, Agholor needs to be higher as well as Huff. Austin and Cooper getting near 50% of the snaps is not okay. That means both Agholor and Huff could be on the field more.
I don’t understand how they earn snaps each week. Cooper went 5 games without a reception and he played quite a few snaps in those games.
Like I said, it’s not perfect. But at least Chip is reacting to the performances of Cooper and Austin and is reducing the snaps for them. Let’s hope he reduces them even further.
Especially Austin. I mean Coop is way overpaid, but I think besides that, as a #4 WR, he’s kind of OK. There’s a reason for being the 4th best WR on your team. He shouldn’t be a #2 or #3 though, not good enough.
Austin, I don’t know what to say about him. No effort. And a WR as slow as he is, he better has good hands and good body control. He showed neither of those two things so far. Matthews, Agholor, Huff, they all had their drops. But at least those guys give you a good height-weight-speed combination. Austin is slow as hell and can’t catch the freaking football if the rare occasion of him being open happens. Unacceptable imo.
I think its actually a lack of trust in his WRs. Huff and Agholor should be starting and be given the majority of snaps. Let them young boys work together, with Pope, to develop on field chemistry with each other. Cooper and austin will be gone next year so at least give the young bucks a chance to develop together and become new no name unit similar to our DLine last year. What can hurt? That we lose games??
Their receivers coach is garbage as is.
http://www.csnphilly.com/eagles/desean-jackson-lashes-out-after-praters-int
Thank you, Tommy. The context and background is important. Chip has several attributes of a very good coach and he should get more time. Lurie will give him that time because he knows teams are not built quickly and hiring good people and supporting them is the right formula. I do believe Chip made some bad assumptions that hurt this team. He needs to learn from them and grow as a GM/team builder. We need more talent and depth. He needs to identify the root causes of the team’s problems and figure out workable solutions. He also needs to show more innovation in his game planning – teams have adjusted to his offensive and defensive schemes. He needs to find ways to counter and keep countering until success occurs. In the last 14 games, the Eagles are 5-9. That is almost a full season of unacceptable results.
sammy watkins w/ a highlight grab in traffic.
“Avoid gimmick solutions.”
There’s the problem in a nutshell – we have a HC who insists on a gimmick solution on offense whose shortcomings are becoming painfully obvious at this point.
Add to that his shortcomings in both personnel selection and ejection and you have a major, long-term disaster on your hands.
Here’s another Bill Walsh nugget:
“Better to get rid of a player a year too early than a year too late.”
I’d dare say that should apply to coaches as well.
Replace Chip with who?
I don’t like the scheme or how this team is put together but Id rather see it through than pull the plug at the first signs of trouble. I think Chip should at minimum get next year to right the ship.
Bad organizations play roulette with coaches… We aren’t the Browns
Rob Ryan.
The guy is meant to be a head coach and people keep trying to shoehorn him into the defensive coordinator role.
Lol. Ok.
……. Wat
Sincerely hope that’s a joke!
I can dig it
Once again if you can explain to me how a spread offense with a zone run scheme and WCO passing game is gimmick you will be the first.
but the tv said it was gimmick
and Heath Evans… a great teams have fullbacks.
I am sure fans and management in Cleveland count their blessings every day that they acted quickly on the Belichick guy. If they hadn’t fired him when they did, they would never be able to get rid of him now.
Another pointless post by a pointless poster. I guess the 9-0 Panthers got to where they are with a gimmick offense. The Niners went to multiple nfc title games and a SB appearance with a gimmick offense to right?
Eagles just need to run QB power 10% of the time. Problems solved!
I wish that was the only problem.
I don’t think there are many Eagles fans who are at the end of their rope with Chip the head coach.
The problem is, Chip the GM has utterly dropped the ball since he’s gotten full control of the personnel decision making. So how long do you put up with a clearly above-average coach for someone who’s been the worst GM in the league?
Perfectly stated. Tommy, I think this is a viewpoint that is valid and one I would like you to respond to on Tuesday’s column if possible.
Most will agree that Chip the coach has earned some goodwill. Chip the GM has not.
The problem with criticizing Chip the GM is he’s in year one of a rebuild. You have to give a GM three years before you know how it’s going to come together.
Yeah but it’s the execution of the rebuild that’s been so rancid. I don’t disagree with the overall intent behind it; the team the last two years was above-average but was never going to win a SB or even contend. However, the methods Chip has utilized since taking over have been, by and large, gawdawful. To wit:
1. Bradford trade: we swapped a bottom 5 NFL starting QB for another bottom 5 NFL starting QB, only for that negligible upgrade we also shipped out a 2nd round pick (a HUGELY valuable asset) and are now paying Bradford almost $13 million more than Foles. Lots of people are going to say “well we have the cap space.” Yeah, but cap space gets rolled over year to year. It’s not like a government budget you HAVE to spend. Paying Bradford instead of Foles means we lose a bunch of cap room next year.
2. RB resource allocation. Signing Murray and Mathews makes no sense. I liked the Mathews signing. But then, after shipping Shady out in the name of “well, our system is so good we can basically plug and play at RB” (which I agree with!) to then sign Murray for the same money/more guaranteed as Shady is just asinine. That could’ve been Maclin’s money and we’ve all seen how much our WR corps sorely needs a threat on the outside. And don’t give me that “oh Maclin wanted more than he was worth.” It was a million extra bucks a year for a WR who’s had proven success in our system, was in his prime, and for whom we had no backup plan. Pay the man.
3. Offensive line: it’s becoming clear this year that Chip the Playcaller doesn’t feel comfortable opening up the offense, and a lot of the All-22 breakdowns I’ve read suggest that this is because the interior o-line is so weak. Well, we’ve put ZERO resources into the offensive line, and then Chip doubled down on it by cutting Mathis out of what appeared to be spite.
There are other things, like the Desean situation specifically, that have been touched on by other observers. The overall trend of Chip’s personnel decision making has been less talent for more money for the sake of…culture? Personality? The fact that apparently Chip will only coach players who fit a certain personality type means we’re drawing from a very small talent pool, and that’s equally as troubling as his disregard for how an NFL cap works and how valuable draft picks are.
So, at this pace, no I’d rather not give Chip 3 years to double and triple down on his buffoonery.
I’ve said to a few people that many coaches in the NFL who have been around for a while don’t have great track records here and still get jobs. Chip hasn’t even been a head coach between college or the pros for a full decade yet, but he’s young and he shows legitimate promise in this league and the (smart) players seem to take a liking to him. Many players seem to enjoy the atmosphere and embrace playing hard and fast and being overall competitive. Players we’ve drafted with Chip seem to like the coaches and the vibe they get here.
Thanks Tommy for being so level headed. Obvious this is all a complicated matter that is going to require a complicated solution – it isnt just one thing, that can be fixed. From a fans perspective, part of the problem is that we dont really know what goes on behind the curtain. We cant really tell what the gameplan was or how they evaluate talent. All we see are predictable plays who fail every week in exactly the same way, and brought in players who continue to fall short of our expectations. As always, the problem presents itself in a simple way – bad plays on the field. But is a product of a multitude of moving parts that are hidden from us. And I know for myself that this is what creates a lot of the frustration. The fact is that none of us knows what is really going on in this organisation and why they are currently failing. If we did, we might feel much better about the whole thing. Then again we might feel worse too..
Thanks for the reasoned discussion! We all hate losing, and this team is not very good right now, but raw emotion helps nothing and may only make things worse!
Simply put; 4-6 is far from good enough when we were told 10-6 was not good enough. I’m not in favor of firing the head coach, but this team needs to receive the maximum level of criticism and venom for this embarrassing skid mark of a season.
This next draft and off-season needs upgrades in talent; both on the roster and the coaching staff working under Kelly.
This schedule should have yielded an 11 game division winner; and now we’re looking at 8-8 as a prayer finish. Brutal.
Hear, hear.
Stop with the kumbya crap. This team has quit on its impersonal Megnomanical coach and the sooner all of you realize it the better.
You don’t come into a game vs TB AT HOME with a division lead on the line, and after taking a tough loss to MIA and COMPLETELY lay down like that unless you have quit buying what this coach is saying.
Look I get this patience, give him a chance but I saw all I needed to see vs TB. It’s over. This is the beginning of the end. This isn’t 1980s Walsh era football. Coaches have a window of 3-4 years and Chip’s team has been trending DOWN for over a calendar year.
You point to Carolina as an example but they have a stud QB and a stud LB to build around. We got that here?. NOPE.
Carolina arguably has less talent on the outside and a no name vanilla Offensive Coordinator but you know what they have the QB. They built a team with a core of solid draft picks and most important they have a coach the players would run thru a wall for. Anyone on this team gonna run thru a wall for overly controlling Chip? Vs TB it Looked like players were barely interest in running thru blocks let alone walls for Chip.
You guys are maintaining this loyalty to Chip that won’t be reciprocated. The minute one of the dozens of college programs comes along and offers him full control he is out. He sees this ship sinking and the sooner you all see that the easier this will be for all Eagles fans.
Prior to this year, Newton was an immature, raw talent with unlimited potential. This year, he has matured as a passer/person/leader and combined with a strong defense, things have worked out well for the team. It’s not that Chip is a bad coach, but lacks a franchise QB. So many good coaches have failed due to lack of strong QB play. Hopefully, Chip finds his guy and turns this thing around soon.
Please define a college program where the head coach doesn’t have full control?
So your saying Temple Matt Ruhle has same level of program control as Nick Saban.
Authority to choose his own staff?
Yep
Authority to recruit his own players?
Yep
What is this great level of program control that you think Saban has? All college coaches are CEOs of their teams.
Wow so not only are you a fake soothsayer but your posting is Geoff Mosher level bullshit. Can’t wait until all the college openings come and go and Chip is still in Philly. What are you going to do then genius?. This blog is just turning into a blog of morons.
I’ve said this before, possibly here.
I think last year’s Thanksgiving-day victory over Dallas was to the Chip Kelly era what the victory over the New York Giants that ended with DeSean Jackson’s punt-return touchdown was to the Andy Reid era — a last hurrah.
I think Chip’s first-year success was a fluke based on three things: the newness of his offense; the incredible year that Nick Foles had; and an offensive line in which all members played at their peak and stayed healthy the entire season.
Since then, the offense and special teams have gotten worse and although the defense appeared to have gotten better, that’s been called into question the last few games.
To me, the Eagles look closer to being in need of a massive rebuild than they do to being a few plays or players away from the playoffs.
The notion that you may well be correct has me really bummed.
It has me bummed, too.
One thing that was brought up on the radio last week. Are we rebuilding and we just don’t realize it?
AR’s leftovers have been pretty much gutted. Chip is bringing in his own talent. Did we set the expectations too high based on pre-season results?
We’re stealth-tanking. Like Hinkie, but with stealth. Chip didn’t even want to win at Dallas, that’s why he put it on Sturgis’ shoulders. “Damn kid can’t even lose right!” That’s why he only calls 3 plays and doesn’t let Billy Davis cover slants. That’s why he dumped our best players and brought in people like Miles and Riley. These four wins they’ve gotten were basically accidental.
oh, so like the Lakers
Yes, QB’s in the year of ACL recovery overall have QBR -10 compared with pre ACL numbers. Rebuilt WR corps and RB corps will diminish the return further due to no prior chemistry with our new QB. Even without O-line issues… we should not expect amazing performance by our offense.
Conversely, I think our defense is in a good place (with the exception of our repeatedly depleted ILB corps). I think the last game by the D is an anomaly that would have been different had they held onto some turnovers (that they created).
Tommy, thank you for your calm, reassuring voice in all the mayhem. Whenever we have a tough loss I always come straight here, it’s like football therapy. While Jimmy, Rich and Matt are literally pushing out article after article trashing the team and echoing the fans, you are the logical voice (although Jimmy’s one word article was pretty spot on). There’s a time to air out frustration but there is no way we can fire Chip after this season. If next season resembles this one then yes. But I for one am willing to go through another terrible and frustrating season if it means we might have a shot at greatness.
For all those out ther calling for Chip’s head, where is this better head coach we’re hiring? And you want to waste another year of Cox’, Hicks’, Kendricks’, Logan’s, or Barwin’s (struggling to think of offensive examples here) prime in order to put another coach and another staff and another philosophy in? Let Chip get this thing airborne or crash it to the ground so we can get a top pick. But don’t take the keys while he’s taxiing to the runway.
It all starts with a franchise QB. Kelly was hoping that Bradford could be the one and it seems as though he is not the answer either. I wouldn’t mind pulling the “Sixer method” and hope to land a franchise QB with a high draft pick. Belichik doesn’t win SBs without Brady, same for Carroll without Wilson and Harbaugh without Flacco.
just need to get hot one year. No one thought Eli was the answer, but he was good in the years they won.
Yeah. The key seems to get a guy who is capable of getting hot in the playoffs. Very hard to do. Bradford may very well be that guy. He may very well have beaten Carolina if the O-line and receivers were better.
I think Eli is an anomaly and not the norm. I can’t count on stars lining up perfectly for Bradford or another mediocre QB. You are much better off searching for a franchise QB and take your chances that way. If you can’t find one, Chip can move on to another coaching gig and Eagles can look for another coach. The process starts all over again…
This may be the hardest thing to find in pro sports. I think Tommy did a piece on the path of all the current franchise QB’s. No common denominator. Really wild for Indy and GB to have back to back guys.
Again, Eli had an elite D that won for him most of the time
This quote from McLane basically sums up my current frustration with Kelly perfectly:
Josh Huff scored the Eagles’ first touchdown when he caught a crosser, eluded four tacklers and went to the house for a 39-yard score. I’m not the biggest Huff guy, as regular readers here know, but he has a skill set and that is running with the ball in his hands. So why not ride the hot hand and call for a pass that gives Huff another opportunity? He didn’t have another target the rest of the way and finished with just 17 snaps. Riley Cooper and Miles Austin, meanwhile, played 31 snaps, respectively. “He was rotating with [Agholor] on the other side,” Kelly said of Huff. “Again, a lot of it is coverage-dictated. So if you watch the tape, we didn’t get much man free after that snap. Specifically, it was a lot more Cover 2 with two high safeties and guys rolled up on the outside receivers.” Oh, so it was that new-fangled Cover 2 defense in which outside receivers are never a threat that explained why the Eagles’ crew once again underperformed. Lovie Smith, who has run the same defense for decades, sure did throw Kelly a doozie employing Tampa 2 coverage. … Can someone explain to me why Taylor Hart is playing more snaps (32) than Vinny Curry (15)? Yes, Hart plays more base defense than Curry. But Hart was on the field for 10 pass-rush opportunities. I’ve yet to see him get remotely close to a quarterback this season. “We have a rotation that goes on in our defensive line in terms of who’s in and who’s out, and that’s the way they’ve always rotated,” Kelly said. It’s asinine.”
This offense is in desperate need of playmakers. We have a few that are capable of making things happen with the ball in their hands. However, they routinely watch the game from the sidelines. Josh Huff, Darren Sproles, Agholar, Ryan Mathews have all spent more time watching Miles Austin, Riley Cooper and DeMarco Murray than they have playing in an offense that is designed to get the ball into their playmaking hands.
Which brings me to my next point. Why do we let simple defensive alignments dictate the entire scope of our offense? Is it really so simple in the NFL that all you have to do is play cover-2 and you can completely take away every WR route that’s run more than 3 yards downfield? I highly doubt other teams in this league decide to completely abandon their WRs the moment they see cover-2. This offense, really any offense, should be designed to get the ball to its playmakers with space to run. Unfortunately, this offense seems to allow a defense to choose exactly what it wants to stop and then tries to inch down the field with 3 yard passes to Jordan Matthews, because that’s what the defense decided to give you. News flash, Chip…no defense is just going to decide to give you big plays, you must manufacture them with scheme.
It’s almost as if Kelly thinks scheme and Xs and Os are more important than talent. Like a bad player who has a theoretical advantage is better than getting a good player the ball and letting him do something.
To be a head coach at a place like Oregon and in the NFL, a man has to have a strong ego. To be a succesful head coach, however, means a man has to recognize his own limitations and be willing to learn and adapt. The situation with Chip is deja’ vu all over again, reminds me of how we use to scream for Reid to run the ball,
Yes, definitely. There is the idea that Reid’s offensive ideas lost their effectiveness after a certain time, and he never managed to adjust. (Of course, this coincided roughly with his QB’s decline, so YMMV).
There were those that wanted to draft big guys like everyone else, run the ball like everyone else, pay veterans like everyone else. I never agreed with the fan’s clamor. The only way a coach can be successful over time is _to not be like everyone else_. You have to be ahead of people, not follow the crowd. It’s like trying to win a race during rush hour, it’s just not possible except through luck. But if you have big ideas and can be going the opposite direction when everyone else is stuck in gridlock, then you might have something.
So I am supportive of Chip and Lurie if they think they have to stay the course and see this experiment out to the end. Chip was brought in to be an innovator. He has already influenced the NFL to an astounding degree! There is no reason to have him as our football coach if we want to be a solid, defensive, above-average conservative team. We could just dust off Marty Shottenheimer if we want that!
So as bad as this has gone, as awful as I think some of Chip’s personnel decisions have been, as inflexible and annoying as his playcalling and press conferences are, putting limits on him right now would be the wrong move. Let it play out.
Good post.
“Josh Huff, Darren Sproles, Agholar, Ryan Mathews have all spent more time watching Miles Austin, Riley Cooper and DeMarco Murray than they have playing in an offense that is designed to get the ball into their playmaking hands.”
I’m not calling for heads to roll, at least not in the middle of the season. I am raging, though, against this strange use of personnel.
I simply do not understand how a seemingly intelligent man like Kelly has made such head scratching decisions this year. Miles Austin seeing more snaps this year than any other WR is chief among them. Riley Cooper being paid handsomely to be a blocking WR (never even thought that was an actual thing), isn’t far behind. Having a stagnant offense, devoid of playmakers and in desperate need of a spark and specifically designing each game plan to eliminate the contribution of the few guys we have with playmaking ability is simply and stunningly stupid.
It’s hard enough with the salary cap to field a team with enough playmakers to consistently put up points, it’s damn near impossible when you relegate the few playmakers you do have to sitting on the bench to watch how savy veterans like Miles Austin and DeMarco Murray do their thing. And, by thing I mean drop passes and average 3.7 yards per carry while being the only RB in the NFL that seems to carry the ball further away from his body and with more disregard than LeSean McCoy.
Continued amount of PT that Austin gets is just baffling and reminds me last year of the continued insistence on starting Fletcher even after he got vaporized in the Dallas game.
There is a fine line between stubbornness and foolishness which Kelly seems to cross at times.
I appreciate the logic in this post. It makes total sense and completely describes how I’m feeling with this team right now. Out of frustration my knee jerk reaction is that we need to start all over, but what would that really accomplish?
We need talent. I will be more depressed if we finish 8-8. I get the idea of demanding players to keep fighting. A coach needs to demand a never quit team. That said he can make an example and bench a few slackers like Miles Austin and Riley Cooper. Play the younger guys and see what talent is on the roster. Sink or excel while evaluating the future. We have an ok QB. A better option would be ideal. If Bradford stays then he requires a strong run game to excel. We have a mediocre offensive line with guards who cannot open up the run game. A talent infusion is essential. We need better quality at WR. The plug and play philosophy has failed and requires reevaluation. These WRS have dropped balls on their hands it has cost games. All of this said, My patience for the Kelley experiment allows for time to get his guys. He gets more than 1 offseason. Kelley needs time to workout the GM variable. Based on the above Kelley stays through this contract. Any other scenario would seem premature and we could lose the next Belichick.
I’m not sure we don’t have the talent – we just have to use what we have and I don’t think we are right now.
OK, so let’s conjecture for a minute that we find some sort of mojo and slap down the Lions, get a little steam and finish 8-8 to win the division. Do we all agree that getting hot at the right time is really all that is needed? I’m not naïve enough to continue to smoke the CK hooka and think all will fall into place – but it could happen. If what you say is true and the coach and players should always keep fighting – well, Thanksgiving in Detroit will let us know if that is truly the case. If we tank, so be it – see you next year. If we come out and get a solid win – there is still time in this division. And if we do win the division and take an early exit in the playoffs – so what – at least we win the division. Really didn’t have many more expectations than that to start the year.
Unless CK is truly tanking…
They don’t and it is going to be an issue this coming offseason when they won’t have the same level of money to spend in FA especially if they extend a few players including Cox.
I tend to stay away from the Eagles after an embarrassing loss, so forgive me if what I say has already been discussed.
*If the season continues to go down the tubes then it wouldn’t surprise me to see Chip as the new coach of USC. He’s not getting fired, but he might not care to stay. You need a QB in this league and we don’t have one. Plus, Lurie might want to strip Kelly of his GM powers. Who knows how that’d go down.
*In the event that Chip is our coach/GM for next year, brace yourselves for Colin Kaepernick.
*The D has fallen off the rails since Carolina. Why? Are they on the field too much? (yes) Have they been overrated? (a little) Have they been in unfavorable match ups? (sure, but who cares) It’s kinda disheartening that the one bright spot on the team is fading.
*Players saying that Demarco quit on some plays is the most worrying thing to come out of this game.
*The fact that Temple has the best football team in the state of PA is nuts.
Sometimes players struggle and make the coach look bad. And trust me, I can rationalize the last game in a vacuum. Defense had a poor game, almost every defense has one, and your offense better be up for a shoot out or you’re going to lose. Our offense can compete on an even field, but it is not good enough to play from behind. So the blow out happens while we push the O beyond its limits. I get it.
But this isn’t a one game thing. This team has struggled all year. Some players are having good years, some are struggling. Like every team. The coach has to find a way to deal with the places we are struggling while emphasizing our strengths. The coach can’t go make the tackle, but you can’t have a missed tackle be the difference between 2 and 80 yards. You can’t put the failure of a drive on a dropped ball. There are 2 other downs. It’s cliche but put your players in a better position to succeed. There’s bad execution, and then the other team executing better. Sometimes the other guys have an easier assignment.
Here’s the source frustration: We saw Chip do some Boneheaded crap in the off-season, and some head scratchers, and a ton of unconventional stuff that we’ve been seeing diminishing returns on year by year. Bill Walsh’s bible says stay the course, Chip! But look at the course and there’s a crystal clear trend, specifically on offense. We want to see adjustments, he’s crossed the line between stoic/determined and asinine/stubborn. The NFL changes every year, adapt or get left behind.
The dude is a brilliant man, and thinks about football day and night. I’m sure he had a ton of ideas and I know one of them or more can fix this team. I just want to see him attack this thing, win the day, so to speak. I expect big things this offseason from him, and I’m not talking personnel moves. If he continues the trend of doing what he’s doing (more “addition by subtraction” stuff), I’ll be highly disappointed.
how many are really having good years? Cox, Logan, Thurman, Hicks, Jenkins…Mathews on O. ??? I’m not trying to be overly pessimistic, I just think it’s a down year (or lack of talent or both).
Really, continuing to use Cooper and Austin might just be the thing absolutely killing us. There are negative plays (drops) and no plays where the WR bails out the QB on a slightly poor throw, our field on O seems so darn condensed away from the sidelines. It adversely affects anything else we try to do. Maybe we don’t need a superstar WR but we need productive ones.
remember kevin curtis
There is to an extent. But i stand by the statement that the talent-gap and performance gap isn’t very wide in the nfl. Every team has players playing at a high level, players struggling, players over-achieving, and players under-achieving. You’d best be a moving target in the NFL or teams are going to hammer your weaknesses until you shatter.
Yes elite teams look like they have no/few weaknesses, but that is an illusion. That is a coach at work. The Patriots have a functional secondary featuring Patrick Chung. And he actually makes plays for them! Byron Maxwell looked much better than what he is at Seattle. And I’m not saying the coaches made them better players. They use them for all they are worth. You see it all the time, players moving to other places and becoming different players in a different scheme for better or for worse. The players aren’t playing particularly well, but you have to work with that, find a way.
As for Austin and Cooper, at some point the only position the coach can put them in and not expose them is the bench.
patrick chung got killed all game last game, just TT couldn’t connect, difference between good and bad teams
Yeah it usually does come down to that. I’m not saying we have no personnel deficiencies or anything. Or that they’re playing well. But I’m going to give Chip a big honkin’ slice of this cowpie we see every Sunday. No team can execute everything the coach wants perfectly. A bishop will broadside a rook diagonally every time. You’d best move the rook or have a counter in place. We can wish that rook was a queen. We can whine that we have pawns on the chessboard all day. But by and large every team has these issues.
I do wonder how some get so worked up. Anger on a personal level at the coaches I mean. I can understand being angry at players not trying.
No relegation from the league, your long term future is sorted. Basically printing money. My soccer team in the UK has around £170 million pounds worth of debt and club is worth around £60 – £70 million. We are one step away from going bust & we aren’t even in the top division.
That is real make or break stuff. The pressure on the coach is huge.
This (possibly) isn’t the Eagles year. But so what?. The league is organised so you go again and are given the best draft position to succeed in the future.
Regardless of not winning a Super Bowl, you stick by the team as that is what separates you from glory hunters!.
way too rational for an eagles fan
The Lions are playing solid right now. The Eagles are not. The Eagles will lose this game. They then face three tough games and they will lose all of them. The team will have given up by this point and then they will lose the final two games. This will put them at 4-12. Memba this :
http://media.philly.com/images/20150910_05.jpg
Easy to kick while down, difficult to bring potential solutions to the table.
that John Smallwood guy got the NFC completely wrong
They are 10 times worse than weathermen.
I predict the new coach ofthe Eagles will take the #6 pick and trade down. THey are going to need to select offensive lineman after offensive lineman. I remember Andy Reid wouldn’t let Donovan McNabb play until that o line in front of him was solid. You could bring ANY qb onto the Eagles team and they would be garabge because this oline is garbage. It’s a fact.
So you’re making predictions for years down the line saying Chip will be gone? You must be a psychic
I think Jeffrey Lurie wants to fire Chip Kelly right now. The only reason you think he wont be fired is because everyone in the media is saying he wont be fired. But everyone in the media also predicted this team would go 11-5. So yes he will be fired and I think if they lay an egg against the Lions Lurie might just call it quits then.
I read a report that Jeffrey Lurie left his owners box before the last game was even over. You really think he is going to put up with this?
who is Jeffrey Laurie?
so the only reason you have for thinking chip’s gonna get fired is that the media said he won’t and they were wrong about our season record?
also, out of curiosity, was it the MEDIA who told you Lurie left his box? i thought you didn’t believe the media
No he is going to get fired because he isn’t a good coach.
You actually believe what you think about Lurie wanting to fire Chip now? Dude how gullible are you? He just gave Chip full control over his best buddy Howie Roseman. So what if he walked out of the owners box, no one wants to see a team getting their asses handed to them. Sorry man but it is absolutely dumb to really believe Lurie wants to fire Chip now.
If my Dad gave me the keys to a brand new Porsche and I pulled out of the driveway and smashed into a mailbox, there is no way in hell he would let me keep it.
An analogy that doesn’t make sense when in reference to Chip’s situation. Good try though.
Makes perfect sense. Sorry. Chip Kelly got a brand new car and he couldn’t even drive it out of the driveway without totally effing it up.
I guess eventually he will be right……it might take years
I predicted this team was going to be horrible from day -1.
will Chip Kelly be coach of the Eagles one year from today?
No.
holding you to that prediction
he’ll have a different screen name next year
the hard on for fat boy Reid gives it away every time
Ok well since people want to make predictions into the future, I predict a 3 eyed minotaur will one day be president of the United States.
So, if we had a good line we would be able to compete regardless of other circumstances – say, like the cowboys did when Romo went down….oh yeah. They have the “best O line ever” and still could not win one game (even against our us with our crap OL says you) without Romo…
No you can’t just reverse my logic and say it is true.
Please use logic before you refute mine…
take a class on logic.
the old “I know what you are what am I” counter play?
His logic is incorrect. You may hate me but the truth is he made a logical error.
I can’t tell what your point was. If it was a good O line always wins games then the Cowboys example is a good rebuttal.
I said you cant put a good QB in front of a bad OL. Reversing that logic is exactly what you are doing and in logic, that is an error.
so you would bench a good QB for years until your O line was upgraded?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirming_the_consequent
A implies B doest no imply that not B implies not A
Personally, I think it would be a better formation to put the QB behind the OL, but to each his own.
Chip Kelly and Andy Reid are tied in Super Bowl victories
Not in regular season NFL games since they moved onto new teams. Andy Reid is ahead in that stat.
fat boy Reid chokes in the playoffs. bad coach, bad clock management, bad play calling.
just wait and see
He got to the Super Bowl. How does he choke in the playoffs? He has been to 4 NFC Championship games. He doesnt choke in the playoffs.
zero for four!
Reid should be labeled a choking hazard
How is a choke artist in the playoffs if he continually wins in the playoffs and gets to the conference championship game and to the super bowl. He doesn’t choke in the plyaoffs. Buddy Ryan choked in the playoffs. he won zero playoff games. thats choking in the playoffs.
Reid can’t win the big one
Belichick ate Reid’s lunch in 2005
….and that’s quite a feast
Belichick also paid a 500,000 fine the Patriots were stripped of a first round for supposedly taping the Eagles opening 15 plays. All the evidence of this was deleted by the NFL. SO yeah if you consider cheating eating someone else’s lunch then you make a valid point.
^wingut^
but what happened to the last 15?
announcing that you script 15 plays isn’t too bright either
I am an andy reid fan, I thought everyone knew that forever that the first 15-20 plays are scripted? just BB is the guy that thinks hey, lets tape them! brilliant
what?
He choked in the super bowl … i think we all had fencers reflex watching him lost in the final 2 minutes
That team did not choke. You must have not watched the game.
Ok i wasnt screaming at my tv with the announcers saying wtf is andy reid doing.. and belichek double checking the score.
Ok if it wasnt a choke what did fat andy do to close out the victory ??
Just cause you don’t win doesnt mean you choke. Have you ever played sports in your life?
Nope.
Did andy Reid ever wear a Rams uniform ?
Andy choked. He didnt have the team ready and his game plan sucked and he had no clue wtf to do as the game was on the line.
Bet his boys had a great time partying though.
wish I wasn’t screaming at my tv like joe buck said we ALL WERE !!
team didn’t choke (I didn’t think the offensive line showed up! and did their job) but Andy blew it .. had team unprepared, his game plan ineffectivea..nd his final 2 minutes of clock management & cluctch lack of play calling was epic fail franchise HOF emabarrasement for us all.
Not sure hwo you equate Donovan McNabb throwing up with the Eagles choking.
Part of why Mcnabb puked was because the o line left him scramblingbthe entire first half. He was under seige!! But i was never a fan of joe buck.but when he asked the world wtf is andy reid doing !!?? I stf down and judt wstched it all slip away
I doubt you even watched the game.
Wish i didnt rewatch it. But alas i did.
Why? I thought DMac did a heckuva job avoiding tge relentless rush all first half.
What am i missing about fst andy’s 2 minute ckock management? ?
What did u see dif fee rently than me buddy? We sre buddies right??
y’all know this has to be that other troll, right? unless i see them both on here at once i’m convinced.
are there 2 now?
i’m positive that it’s the same dude with two profiles. nobody else is that emotional/ dumb/ stubborn
snatchmaster! that’s the name
He’s also EaglesFanQQ and LongDong or whatever. He just keeps changing his name. It’s sad to see people keep responding to him.
Gonna be really interesting to see how the team responds to this last loss. Do we crumble, or rally? If we lose to Detroit things could get really ugly this season because we’re all out of cupcakes to potentially beat up on.
Ugh…the trolls back and people are feeding it. Once again a nice community of rational Eagles fans that enjoy constructive conversations has been hijacked. If any of you agree with my sentiments please resist the urge to respond to this waste of space. Trolls feed on all these comments telling them how stupid they are. They know what they’re saying is upsettingly stupid and are looking to get that rise out of people. If we ignore it, the pestilence will whither away and we can go back to having a nice fun discussion board.
you’re right. damn it.
Trolls are pretty easy to deal with since most of them are just looking to get a laugh out of people getting mad with them. What is really sad is that this site is now populated by 1, let me say that again, 1 stupid troll that continues to get banned but this particular troll is very persistent with the many name changes. linglong, assmaster, cryeaglescry, are just a couple of the very “original” names he has come up with. Just a shame that Tommy does this site because of his passion so he won’t hire a moderator to constantly just ban this moron.
“Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Case Keenum (concussion) is feeling better and could play this week.” can’t see foles getting that job back.
poor fella
Saw that concussion happen on TV, could not believe the independent authority did not pull him off the field. A teammate tried to pull him up and he was like a rag doll. Had to sit him back down. Then he got up stumbling. If the system can’t get that one right…
well someone better have been fired.
As soon as he went to the ground, anyone with any background whatsoever would know he had a concussion. He immediately exhibited the fencers reflex, then grasped his head in agony. Duh.
Fisher should be suspended if Kenum plays
Lol @ Jeff Fisher beimg the head of the competition commitee
Lol at him being head of anything.
i keep saying most overrated coach in the league, but thats none my businazz
chip kelly?
no you fuc*kin idiot we are talking about fischer or are you illiterate?
chip kelly is most overrated
you’re overrated.
I am over water .. right now actually .. over water.
Your constant name change is overrated since they all suck and you’re still just a troll little bitch.
Stop feeding the troll.
The Eagles are the best argument for learning Buddhist meditation and detachment ever created. When you identify with something outside of soul or being, pain results. Eagles fans scream out from this pain. Not being a perfect Buddhist I deal with this issue in three ways. First, I never watch football with the sound on. Not listening to inane commentary takes most of the negative emotional sting out of the game. Second, I always find one or two players to root for who I know will do well, independent of team results. Third, rather than judge on the basis of one game, I take a long view. In the long view, the Eagles may or may not win a championship before I die, but I will enjoy watching them try.
who are the guys you chose to root for now?
I like the idea here
Because of the way TV broadcasts the game (showing mostly line and box) I try and find players in this framework. On defense, Demecco, Michael Kendricks, and Hicks are all fun to watch in gap protection. Conner Barwin, too. It’s harder to really watch Fletcher Cox and see what he does, but when you can –huge treat! On offense I watch the tackles – Peters and Johnson. I love to watch the war for balance and obstruction that takes place with them out on the wings of the line on pass plays. Although, often I’ll just watch the entire pocket and find some happiness when the entire line succeeds at its job of forming the pocket. In Kelly’s first two years, watching Jason Kelce get out and block on the sweep was a thing of absolute beauty. All this is a habit from being a youth soccer coach for 20 years. As a coach you must find and build from your player’s successes – otherwise you run them down and they hate you. But when you focus on successes in football, the entire game starts to look and feel happier as a spectator, too. It’s a habit that you kind of have to train yourself into to find happiness in Eagle’s fandom.
oh yeah gotta turn off the sound. i’ll even put on a record so my wife doesn’t disappear. i can see what’s going on, and the pressure’s on me to identify looks and plays because i don’t have yakking everything to fill dead air.
Music is a nice idea. And yeah, it’s fun to really participate in identifying the plays and the strategies, for sure.
Tommy Lawlor said Reid should be fired with one less loss back about the same time in 2012.
http://igglesblitz.com/2012/11/big-picture/
but Chip Kelly is treated differently. Why is that Tommy?
Why does the press treat Chip differently than Reid?
this organization was a mess
is?
it’s not dysfunctional the way that one was at the end. i think that was as big a part of the problem as the underperformance.
reid was never this bad til his son killed himself
i mean coaching moves not player performance.
heartless punk
press hate fat coaches who can’t manage the clock during a game?
No they hate mormons.
Let’s not bring in the church here…
And everyone hates you.
Oh no. Now I am going to kill myself. Random people who are butt hurt because Chip Kelly really sucks hate me.
yeah we do, so do it.
Oh don’t get me wrong I could care less about you in reality and I actually welcome little bitch internet trolls like you that I can take to school everyday. But you should go kill yourself because really who has the time and effort to change there user names multiple times just to troll a board. You are a complete tool who gets no respect.
If I saw you in real life I would take a shit in the side walk then make you eat it.
how does one shit “in” the sidewalk?
on a sidewalk i can totally see, but “in” it is pretty much impossible.
….watch your grammar bro, how you gonna argue with people when you can’t form sentences?
lol Now that is funny right there. So do you really think you’re tough? I am not one to advocate fighting but I promise you that you do not want to throw hands with me buddy. My sparring partner gives me a better workout then whooping your ass would. So if you think you are a real tough guy outside of this blog whats your email address and we can exchange numbers and meet up in real life and then I can record you actually shitting yourself for the entire blog to see. Whenever you’re ready tough guy lets make it happen.
You better not be some 150 pound MMA bitch, I eat them for lunch. I will feed my dog your dick.
Nope I do not do MMA and I am 5’9 185 lbs. I’ve been boxing since the age of 7 and I have participated in 3 gold glove events. You aren’t shit but a bitch like I said 100 times. Cmon if you are so tough and about it lets make it happen. We could go bare knuckle or with the gloves and I am still going to beat you up. Being that you’re such a Desean Jackson fan you are probably a bitch just like he was and he was definitely not “bout that life”. So hit me up when you are up for it.
ha you wouldnt even be able to touch me. Sure I will meet you. WHere and when?
You tell me bitch.
How about Thursday morning at FDR park?
In Westchester?
FDR Park Thursday morning at 9am. I am going to be holding a sign that says “Come get you bitchass kicked you 158 lb munchkin. My dog wants to eat your nuts!”
Well since I actually work a real job like a real person I can’t make it at 9am but we can meet up that evening bitch. Holding up signs saying your dogs wants to eat nuts? That definitely reflects on that dogs owner who is you and you are a little bitch that definitely isn’t about that tough talk. Why don’t you send me your email address and we can exchange numbers. Im done talking on a blog. Less words more action so lets see where you at.
Thursday is THanksgiving. WHat kind of fukcing job you work at chump
Chump? lol that is a joke right there you bitch. I work for a private equity firm and I am going into my office Thursday morning to finish up some paperwork. But knowing a bitch like you, you would know anything about equity firms and what we do. We can meet up any other day you geek. I am still waiting for you to send me you email address so I can call you and see how tough you talk on the phone.
Oh yeah. Well guess what you little bitch. I have owned $600 GOOGL calls due in Jan 2017 for over two years. Ill shit all over your private equity firm and piss on them too! My IRA is up over 355% over the last 3 years you little fukcing bitch!
hahahaha You literally have no idea what it is you are talking about. “fukcing” I actually believe its spelled “fucking”. You know nothing of distressed assets or of anything I do. Oh and you are still a bitch, you read that correctly? You are a bitch and I am still awaiting your email address so we can swap numbers and meet up man to man. You’re an internet troll and bad one at that, also on top of bitch you aren’t a real man because I continue to call you out and you ignore it. So when you are ready to man up and step to the plate like a real man let me know bitch.
You weigh 45 pounds less than me and could give me a blow job standing up. You are the bitch
lol yet I am still waiting for you to give me your email address so we can set it up and meet man to man. I weigh 45 lbs less then you yet you couldn’t land a punch on me if you tried. Cmon tough guy lets meet up, shoot me you email address and I’ll give you my number. I know you’re not going to do it because you are a true little bitch that is scared to meet up because you know you would get you ass whipped.
I would land a punch on you. I am 7 inches taller than you. As soon as you give me a chance I will grab you then just use my wegiht get you on the ground and go to town doing whatever I wish to do to you. It will be fun? Can you make it tomorrow morning? My dog 10 pound dog is going to be sitting in my truck salivating over eating your nuts.
Stop talking on the blog, send me your email or your number and we’ll get to it bitch. Less talk and more action.
Go count my money you dumb bitchass. Ill see you tomorrow morning at 9 am at FDR park. If you don’t show up you are a coward.
Not a surprise you are bitch made from head to toe. I knew you didn’t have the balls to really send me your email or number because you are a spineless bitch. You are soft and I can tell through the internet. Have fun living your life as a pure bitch that has no life but to change names constantly on a blog just to be relevant. If you ever get your heart up and really want to step up to the plate you know where to find me, until then you keep being the little punk scared bitch you are.
Where do I find you 158lb midget?
yeah not too creepy
Dude. Capitals in wrong place again. You are better than this.
kinda obsessed on oral sex with guys?
AND my dog is 10 pounds. He will eat your dick.
rumblr is the app you want
I am not looking to just start fights and I do not do that at all in general. I was just speaking to this fake tough guy that I have been boxing for over 20 years and he if really thinks he would do something then lets do it.
i didn’t think you were serious. but if you change your mind, there’s an app for it!
lol that is hilarious that there is an app for fighting. I had to google it to see about it. At this point in my life I still do boxing to keep in shape. I haven’t fought a sanctioned fight in about 15 years but in no way would I go on a app to just fight people. That’s more like Kimbo Slice style stuff right there lol.
Miss please calm down. Or is it Mrs.?
that’s just creepy. you want people to watch you defecate? and how do you “shit in the sidewalk”?
do you mix it with the cement?
don’t talk about it, be about it.
haha GOT EEEMMM!..Matt should we restart the southpark campaign and just keep telling him to kill himself?
“Andy Reid will be fired in January. I know there are a few people who think he should stay because of his track record. I understand where you are coming from. Here’s the deal. Reid is still a good coach. The problem is that he’s no longer the right coach for the Eagles. His bag of tricks is empty. The things he used to do to get teams to respond…they no longer work. This isn’t about him “losing the locker room”. The players still love Andy. For whatever reason, something isn’t clicking. It is simply time for a change.” — Tommy Lawlor
Substitute Chip for Andy.
Who is Chip Reid?
there are some good tidbits from that article:
“When you have this many guys “slump”, I think you need to look for a common denominator. The coaches. Something the staff is doing isn’t working, in terms of scheme, communication, and motivation. The same players make mistake after mistake, but don’t seem to get punished. Where is the accountability? There is way too much a sense of entitlement with this Eagles team.”
“Lurie needs to figure out what he wants the Eagles to look like. He can take a look around the league and figure out which teams he wants to steal ideas from. I would advise him to check out the Packers, Giants, Steelers, Falcons and Ravens. Do not look at the Patriots. Bill Belichick is a freak. Tom Brady is a freak. Copying them is fool’s gold.”
the second is funniest b/c it looks like Lurie copied the pats more than anyone else.
Typo
. I saw a typo
still should have traded for Mariota any way possible… no QBs on the horizon in the draft, Kaep sucks and the answer to QB is NOT on the roster, close to 1/2 league have their QB of the future. If we don’t have a QB it doesnt matter who is coaching…. Chip knows that the one position that he needs legit talent is QB otherwise this revamped defense is a waste IMO.
Nobody is going to trade a franchise quarterback. No way no how. It’s was moronic to even think it was possible. You could have offered the Titans the entire team and they still would not have done it. It just shows how Chip is in way over his head to even contemplate that possibility.
did he? how do you know? and doesn’t ever coach check it out?
why wouldn’t they?
because it like has NEVER happened.
like with RG3?
You think RG3 is a franchise QB? He got benched!
he got traded up for like a franchise QB
I said franchise QB. Not RG3. RG3 is not a franchise qb.
and i said he got TRADED For like franchise savior, are you stupid or just sound like it?
yes. happy now? I answered your question with a farce of my own… do you understand what rhetoric is?
is mariotta already? no one knew rg3 wasn’t until he wasn’t. come on guy
hes not a guy, closer to Caitlin Jenner this guy is.
hershel walker you dumb bit*h
How is Herschel Walker a franchise QB? SHould I kill myself now?
i just like firing back at you because you’re not the only one who can play this game brah.
“because it has never happened.”
Peyton Manning was traded
Drew Brees was traded
Carson Palmer was traded
so was Foles and Bradford!
Not in their rookie year.
that was trading used cars.
Brett Favre traded after not playing in Atlanta
Kurt Warner traded twice
Wasn’t Eli and Rivers traded on draft day?
so was Elway
why would the titans not do it, they have the worst roster in the league and need serious help EVERYWHERE.
….the real question is if we had traded Cox/Kendricks and (2) first rounders would we look any worse? In my opinion hell no and we would be able say hey we arent good because we have a rookie QB.
I really don’t think that would get it done.
this was a mildly encouraging read
http://eaglesrewind.com/
Great read. Thanks for the link.
Great, so once Chip leaves he’ll become a great coach for another team…
My biggest beef with chip is his entire offense is based off of reacting to what the defense is giving us… attacking weakness is great, taking what the defense gives you is important, but you can’t ALWAYS be reacting to what the defense is doing.. you also have to be able to DICTATE, IMPOSE your will, and we do NONE of that…
…
It’s year 3, chip has a thin playbook. not only Do teams have a good idea of what plays we will run, but by now teams also know that chips offense is basically trying to counter punch.. So not only do teams have a good idea what plays we are running, they can also anticipate how The Offense will attack them depending on what defenses they throw at chip..
..
If you have a thin playbook to begin with, and you get caught running the same play like 5 times a game, at some point an intelligent defender like Lavonte David will see it coming and make you pay for it..
..
You can’t ALWAYS impose your will as an offense, but you can’t ALWAYS be looking to counter punch. There has to be a balance, or you become extremely predictable.. Like a fighter who eventually gets the timing down of a counter puncher, and can force the counter puncher into a trap that he can capitalize on….. Can’t always be counter punching. At some point you need to be able to let the defense know exactly what’s coming at them, and Execute Regardless!! Film study is so detailed these days that defenses have a good idea WHATS coming anyway…
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Chip ISNT going to get Fired, so hopefully he makes drastic changes to his offense. Actually he can keep his offense, but he NEEDS to add a lot more variation to it..
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Imagine our Tempo wearing down teams and also have them trying to defend plays they have never seen us run on film…
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Need to add a new section to his playbook this summer..
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I do have confidemce that chip is smart enough to evolve after a year where his offense face Plants…his NFL success was ALWAYS going to be based on how well he could grow and evolve into an NFL. LURIE hired him because of what he thought he could become, not because of what he was…
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The guy basically ascended from New Hampshire to full control over a big market NFL team in Like 6 years, obviously he has a ton of growing to Do,and unfortunately, a lot Of it would come down to trail and Error… I can excuse the ERROR, as long as we LEARN from it and are better because of it
roll out celek as a “fullback” and pull back into an I-Form when faced with a dime/nickel defense, when they catch on to that you spread it back out when the base defense comes back in…. simple fix to our run game.. Chip says it’s a numbers game so prove it.
i actually wrote Chip an email also lol.
We’ve been in 21 personnel the last month basically trying to get the run game started. We are supposed to dictate the run but we don’t totally have the personnel. What’s the bigger problem is that we don’t have the QB play to execute passes. In Mark’s second pick you saw Nelson was WIDE open, problem is he ws 3rd in the progression / not turned around and Mark made a bad pass in double coverage. If that’s a good QB it’s a touchdown.
Is kelly to blame for not taking Hundley, yes. I’m not sure what CK didn’t see in hundley but it’s sad our developmental QB is Thad lewis.
Hundley? LOL stop it
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If anything he is to blame for not taking Derreck Carr, still not sold on Teddy
hundley is better then thad and maybe sanchez too especially with the age.
Lets not forget that Sammy Boy looked like Joe Montana in preseason so don’t let the preason Hundley cloud any judgement.
damn preseason.
and last year Foles looked like crap in the preseason and then in the season it never got better.
Stop it
anytime you have someone named Thad on your team it’s sad. THAD? what’s wrong with Chad? or Brad? Thaddeus?
THis entire offense is based on a crappy oline. THey cant react nor dictate. Just stop talking about them.
You have a capital in the wrong place. Please refrain from using poor grammar as it is un-becoming of young women.
I don’t understand why Bradford wouldn’t play on Thursday? He has a seperated shoûlder in his non throwing arm and it was originally said that he would have to miss a game or two, but even if he isn’t ready to play on that shoûlder Thursday, it’s not like it will completely Heal in 10 more days… Basically what Im saying is I don’t understandand how he could be ready to play the patriots, but not be ready for the Lions? If he is talkng about coming back for the Pats, won’t he still be playing with a seperated shoûlder anyway? Bradford playing is the only thing that could make me interested in this game,.. I have no desire to watch Josh Huff ONLY play 17 snaps so I can sit and watch Coop and That Cowboy reject Miles Austin all day..
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I’m dead serious, more excited about Panthers vs Cowboys then I am to see the Eagles on Thanksgivng, when schedule was released I was so happy to be playing on thanksgiving Again, the Eagles managed to ruin that for me…
the Cincy/Ari game was pretty good the other night.
Yeah it was…. I’m tired of watching crappy Football every week…
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at least I can watch a Panthers team that plays my favorite Brand of football: Power run game and a nasty defense, with a QB who is actually making WRs around him better, and hope that they Stomp the one franchkse that disgusts me more than anyone
Man that scene of Bennie laughing with Jameis really made me mad to. I was at the bar with friends this past Sunday watching the games and literally walked out and left after seeing that bullshit.
What is the big deal? Logan knows what he has to do.
It reminds me years back in the Superbowl, Steve Atwater dropped a Favre interception and was laughing about it. My buddy almost threw his beer at the TV and was cursing him out, saying the Broncos were going to lose, they didn’t deserve to win.
Worked out okay.
http://www.crwflags.com/art/pins/sports/nfl/sb32stamp.jpg
once that eagles game is over im outside, I ain’t watching any other games if we lose, never can, so yeah he better play and huff better go off.
its a weird feeling this year to be interested in the cowboys playing with romo now.
There is no bigger kick to the Nuts than seeing Dallas lose like 7 games in a row, yet are only like 1 win behind us? Doesmt get more Embarressing than that..
Brother you are so right about that.
oh it could get a lot more embarrassing.
Like if they make the playoffs.
yup or even get tied with us, or whatever.
Rather not make the playoffs. We don’t deserve it and don’t want the coach and players thinking it’s acceptable to win 8 games even if they get into the playoffs,,.
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The only way I would want us to make the playoffs is if SAM comes back, leads us to a big winning streak, where we look better than at any point this year… I would have to see some SERIOUS Growth, and even a few wins against teams like Pats and cardinals that we shouldn’t beat to feel like this team deserves to make the playoffs
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I would rather it be clear to Chip, that he wasn’t even close THIS YEAR and if he doesn’t evolve, it’s going to be ugly
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I guess I want to see Giants win the division, simply because I know we OWN that Franchise and kick their ass whenever we need to…
Oh I agree with everything you just said brother. What I was saying in that post is the Cowturds making the playoffs would be even more embarrassing to us Eagles fans. But yea this year better be a wake up call to Chip to go back to basics and rebuild in the trenches.
Could you imagine what the media would be like if we beat the pats? I gotta admit if Rex Ryan can’t stop tom brady when he’s missing half his starters, Billy Davis has no chance.
we don’t have to stop him, we have to outscore them.
yeah but the giants thought it was acceptable when the won the SB at 9-7, not that we have that defense, but…
our SB is in Foxboro this year.
nah we play 6 SB every year. the NFC EAST.
I don’t care about the AFC at all.
i’m sure chip knows things aren’t good
The players clearly don’t, since once again and eagle has the audacity to say that we are still in the division hunt… They say this every week, it as become an excuse that makes it ok to lose..
.,
After that game, the last thing I wanted to hear was a player point out that we can still win the division, and BG just couldn’t resist.
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Then my man bennie Logan goes on camera to address the heat he is taking for joking around with Jameis while getting our asses kicked,and Logan just doesmt get it, he thinks we were out of lne to be pissed about him having fun, Amd that he always gives effort on every play so he won’t change how he has fun playing the game…smh its fine if he thinks fans and media are overreacting, but when Respected hall of fame caliber ALL TIME EAGLES like Brian Dawkins and Seth Joyner go on record about how disgusted they were seeing that, maybe young Logan should take the criticism more serious
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How the fuck can you even be laughing and joking while you are getting your ass kicked? Let alone doing it with the opposing QB who is kicking your ass? logan is one of my favorite Eagles but this just doesn’t sit well withme..when will our players stop laughing, and get tired of everyone kicking dirt in their face, stand up and do something about it? Where is the Heart? fire? cox and KEndricks were the Only defenders who showed up against Tampa..
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You are coming off a loss to Miami, and you are losing to tampa while getting the ball ran down our throat, how the hell are you laughing and Having Fun? This might be a game, but there should be NOTHING Fun about our defense getting Manhandled like that against an average at best team
Carroll showed up, Barwin showed up, those guys were stopping TDs on those busted run plays.
Carroll also gave up the 1st three TDs and Barwin let a INT hit him in the hands.
Effort doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a good CB…
My point exactly pal.
LOL Johnny Manziel finally gets an opportunity to show what he can do as a starting QB, a week later the Browns are on a bye, and a video surfaces today that shows Manziel partying, looking like an immature Fratboy, rapping into the camera with giant bottles of Champaign… So much for rehab lol
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How can you be a starting QB, and look like such a jackass? This kid is just dumb..
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5 minutes ago, Browns announce he is Benched and they are starting Josh McCown.. The Browns were hoping to get Manziel ready during this bye week so he can show what he can do, and this idiot gets caught looking like a High school kid…
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It’s fine to unwind during the bye week. But how do you look so damn immature when someone has a camera in your face? It looked like a highschool party lol, grown man with Millions partying like a child, just pissed away his opportunity… Lol Browns coach said he is now going to be the #3 QB hahahahahaha I have seen STUPID, but this is up There
To quote the great Forrest Gump, “Stupid is as stupid does”.
Philly is a schizo football town but the fanbase has seemingly gotten even more hypersensitive about each lose or win. Just isn’t the same reaction from fans when I lived in SF, St. Louis, or New England (Boston).
Part of it is that fans are so desperate for a SB victory but I have a larger feeling it is because most fans (myself included) don’t remember the last time this was irrelevant or bad for several consecutive years. You have to go back to the early-to-mid 1980s at the end of Vermeil’s era until the beginning of Ryan to find a stretch where this team was below average/poor. Even then it wasn’t like this team had a decade or more of irrelevance either.
In recent memory, the Eagles hadn’t even had poor back-to-back consecutive years unless you count the last 2 of Reid’s tenure. It is a fan base that is accustomed to coming up short in the playoffs but not to periods of prolonged irrelevance either.
Since the 76ers traded Barkley in the summer of ’92, the 76ers had almost 20+ years of irrelevance with the exception of 2-3 years of when Iverson was at this peak. Otherwise it has been a string of bad/terrible coaches, busted lottery picks, and largely bad or underwhelming FA signings & trades. Even now all they had to sell yet is the promise of hope and future development/draft picks.
Phils are kind of the same way despite their recent run of dominance from 2007-11. They went nearly 20 years (1984-2000) with a single winning season and appear to be set to have another stretch of prolonged irrelevance ahead. If they are lucky, they’ll be a playoff contender towards the end of the decade.
I know this to be true, but reading it is even more depressing. Phils are at least 4 years away from contention. Sixers might get lucky this year and get Simmons, but still are 2 years from the playoffs. Not sure about the coach either, too many turnovers and coming up short. Flyers are going to be hamstrung by Lecavalier and MacDonald’s contracts. MacDonald is getting paid $5 mill to play in the AHL. They are at least 2 years out.
And finally the Eagles. I have no read on this team. It seems on paper sans the OL, they have talent. Yet they are mistake prone and that doesn’t seem to be getting better. The coaching has been getting worse as the season goes on, and I don’t know if they can make the playoffs next year or not.
This is as bad as it’s been as long as I can remember. I’m 39 now, and it always seemed like there was at least one team that seemed it could go deep in the playoffs. Right now, I don’t have that feeling about any team. I think this might be the 2nd year in a row that none of the Philly teams make the playoffs.
unfortunately chip is coaching like a pussy all year, so no one is getting cut right now even tho plenty deserve to be.. So once this miserable year ends, hopefully these players get kicked out of Philly..
my Whack List:
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1) Demarco Murray… I actually think he looks real good these day and with another summer in this offense to get comfortable can be a real beast for us, but he GOT TO GO! I was so excited to have Physical Power backs,and this pussy slides to avoid a 190lb corner? I don’t care that I think he can be really good, he has GOT TO GO! Leave the free agent RB’s alone and go Draft Zeke Elliot, unless we pick high enough for Fornier… Demeco’s contract can’t really be cut after this year, so I’m hoping we can trade him like we traded Shady… Get a 5th round pick or a young player on a rookie contract from a team like the silly Colts, Ravens, Raiders, Jags… Can’t cut him, need to find someone to take his contract off our hands..
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2) Riley Coop been stealing money since the end of 2013 season. Can’t wait to get out of his contract, if Coops racist remarks and poor play makes it hard for him to find a job, Id be happy to bring him back as a #5 WR/ST player on a minimum contract. He stole enough money.
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3) Miles Austin. i challenge you to find a more gutless performance by a WR than Miles Austin in the Miami game… Made JAmes Thrash look Like an All Pro
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4) “Turnstile” Tobin has to GO!! He has been working wth Stoutland for years, he has been given Game experience and he continues to be inadequate. I was hoping experience and Continuity would take his game to the next level, but he is killing us. Gardner and Barbre are both better, so Tobin needs to give his roster spot to a Guard drafted in the first 5 rounds..
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5) Dennis Kelly… JP And Lane wil be back. Like Tobin Kelly has been here for years, has some game experience, and hasn’t improved enough to continue as an Eagle.. He NEEDS to be replaced by a OT drafted in the top 100
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6) EJ Biggers… JaCorey Sheppard hopefully proves to be an upgrade, and once ROWE earns a starting job at outside corner, Nolan can move to slot corner, so we can replace BIGGERS with another rookie CB talent
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7) Couplin…not seeing ability to grow into a future starter and chosing to replace Prosinski with Couplin has proved to be a costly mistake to our ST unit.. We have veteran Safeties in thurmond (must extend), Jenkins, Maragos, so we Need to draft a young Safety that has a chance to start at safety 3 years later
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8) NEED a Quality backüp Center!!! I have NO clue how Josh Andrews is developing nicely and has the ability to be a quality Center who can start to push Kelce for his job and keep him on his toes. If that’s not Josh Andrews, then he needs to be replaced..
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9) Since I assume Bradford will be brought back, either Sanchez or THAD Lewis need to be replaced with a rookie QB. It’s hard enough to find franchise QBs, need to start taking draft fliers on a QB each year Til we fiind someone who Impresses us
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For Me, we need to leave Free Agency Alone and instead of trying to build this team quickily, take the time needed to do if right… I hope to see a free agency like 2014, sigń 1 quality starter like Malcolm Jenkins, 1 quality backüp like Nolan Carroll, and sigń a ST Ace or two…. The meat and potatoes of the makeovers NEEDS to come from quality Draft picks….. I viewed what chip did last Offaeason as rebuilding on the fly, where he laid the foundation for the Marynowitz/Chip Eagles since he got rid of the Howie restraints, so I understand why the need for so much Change.I wasn’t happy that chip chose to rebuild in year 3 because understood thei initial step backwards we would have to take before so many changes would pay off for us (assuming we brought in the right players).., last years makeover was similar to 2013 when chip just got here and we signed like 7 Free agents… We followed that offseason with quiet 2014 offseason…. So after last years drastic makeover, I assume it will be a much calmer free agency for us this year, and the only way to get to where we want to be is by Drafing the rigjt kids and coaching them up… More Jordan Hicks type picks, and less Matt Barkley type pics..
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So about 10 roster spot changes should Do the trick this offseason
-What sucks is Demarco is stuck on this team for another 2 years at least because of his contract so he is going no where.
-Cooper should and will most likely be cut as will Austin.
-Tobin is a Kelly favorite so in my honest opinion he isn’t go anywhere either.
-Jason Peters, as hard as this is to say, is honestly done at LT. He just doesn’t have it anymore. Whether that is move him to guard or regulate him to backup because I cant continue to see a future HOFer and one of my favorite Eagles struggle week in and week out.
-Most of the backup o-lineman can go for all I care.
-The draft and free agency must give the Eagles 1 day one starting guard, another CB to develop, and another OLB to groom under Barwin because he has clearly lost a step as well.
-Chip has to draft a QB he just has to. If he doesn’t then I might honestly start believing the notion that he wont be in Philly for much longer.
-As for Sam I could care less if he moves on as well but he is the only option for the Eagles so they may just have to give him an extension.
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I’ve been one of the most optimistic fans out there but we cant keep sugarcoating things brother this team is really flawed. But I am also still in the mindset that one good free agency and draft can put this team at elite status.
Id love to see Kap in here for the summer. Not that I want them to start, but i’m up for giving anyone a flier. I think this year and 2013 were much better years for QBs so drafting one this year just because doesn’t seem great to me.
I thought DeMarco has a huge hit next year, can’t/won’t be cut. Otherwise I agree.
I’d love to see Thad Lewis instead of Sanchez. Especially with a year under his belt. Sanchez has outlived his usefulness.
Tommy, if I can give some completely unsolicited feedback:
I’ve noticed a changed trend in the approach of your writing. You’ve mentioned yourself several times that you don’t try to analyze if a decision is right or was right, but rather to understand the logic behind that. This is a novel attempt but over the long haul it is going to look like rationalization and undue optimism. I can’t recall a moment since this blog and it’s predecessor’s were started, that you were critical with the teams direction or critically analyzed decisions in real time. That is not a knock on your writing, as I believe this is intentional.
Your audience on the other hand is expecting something different, a balanced and critical analysis. With the exception of longtime readers, if even that, most of your audience is not viewing your thoughts in light of your intentional approach.
I’ve learned myself to tamper my expectations of what I get out of this blog. I’m not suggesting you change your style, as I’m still a fan, evidenced by the fact I’m reading and commenting nearly 13 years after learning of you as an author.
You’re wrong, Tommy’s audience knows what to expect of Tommy, and, for most of us, it’s what we like and provides a welcome counterpoint to talk radio. Personally, I count on Tommy to talkie down off the wall.
he said him and philly fans are sick of each other
This may make this worrisome.
https://twitter.com/JimmyKempski/status/669285157438889984
I still cant see it happening. If that happened Chip would be gone on worst terms then when Saban left Miami. Chip built this team this year and then he is going to jet back to college? I’ll believe RGKnee and Kaepernick will be Eagles before Chip leaves the organization.
USC, LSU, and Texas are going to be looking for a head coach, no?
Yes they are going to be plenty of jobs opening up in college as their is every year. What I am saying is I take Chip Kelly for who he is, and he seems to be a man of his word, is very into military service, and loyalty so why would a man of such morals just up and leave after just receiving full control.
I just said this in another post about how he talks about resilience and the growth mindset. Leaving now would make me lose a ton of respect for him.
Exactly AG!. If a man that speaks with such integrity leaves like that I would lose every bit of respect for him.
Those are higher profile jobs. I don’t think he’s going anywhere unless he chooses. There is nothing in Lurie’s demeanor or track record that suggests otherwise. Personally Im not that high on Kelly, I think the emperor has no clothes
I think it depends on the person if they think a top college is a higher profile job then a professional team.
Me too, just going through my twitter and seeing what I missed today. Thought it was of interest, so I posted. I think tensions are high at Novacare because of the losing, but I really hope that doesn’t mean people wanting to part ways just yet.
I hear ya AG and I appreciate you posting that. I can imagine tensions are very very high at the NovaCare but if Lurie stood by a couple of down years of Big Red then he will stand by Chip after only one down year.
I honestly can’t help but think the Kaepernick that went to the Super Bowl should deserve a shot. As long as he stops kissing himself or getting caught in embarrassing situations in hotel rooms.
I agree Mags I would not be opposed to getting him here in training camp and see what he can do. Only thing that worries me is GM Chip actually trading something for Kaep and taking on that contract. If he can stay patient or work some good GM skills he should be able to get Kaep for a late round pick on a reworked one year deal. RG3 was just talking nonsense on my part.
Yes. I have wanted to like RGIII but it looks as though neither the spirit or the flesh is willing. ;~)
I was a huuuggeee fan of his in college, like really big fan. So it was extremely difficult to see him light it up his rookie year for the Skins, but at this point of his career his injuries have completely sapped his athleticism and he never developed into somewhat of a pocket passer. Such a shame for a kid with so much talent.
he looks pretty sad walking out on the field alone.
AG any chance you can put up the tweet from the 97.5 morning show?. Apparently Shefty is telling people that his tweet is being misconstrued and he can’t wait to get on 97.5 tomorrow morning to clarify himself.
It was Sirius that tweeted it and it’s been deleted. It’s the one Joe has in his post.
I think Shefty is right, because lots has been said about listening to the audio to see what he really said. I think he was speculating “from afar”, but being in Philly that got construed as, “I heard it from Lurie himself over krumpets and tea.”
I gotcha on that but 975the fan posted a tweet saying shefty is coming on their show tomorrow to clarify things.
Didn’t see it, and I’m on their twitter feed. Also searched for shefter and didn’t see anything. Somehow missing it.
I believe they deleted it AG. I am on their feed now and there is a couple of tweets in regards to it being “blown out of proportion”.
people hear what they want to hear. Schefty shouldn’t have said anything at all.
Of course Kempski would say that.
Also, said it was just his feeling from afar.
So no inside info
Interesting stat: the last Alabama QB to win an NFL start was Jeff Rutledge for the 1987 Giants.
College success is not NFL success.
It seems I missed the laughs earlier. Just remember everyone, Internet tough guys aren’t really so tough.
http://media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/963/111/1111963.jpg
yep how did that end? Did TD knock him out?
Hey TD just look for the Tom Brady look alike. If you injure the real one, that’s ok too!
Tom Brady with a 10 lb dog. What is that a toy poodle?
LOL, or a chihuahua.
lol The kid is pure troll. I am not one to advocate fighting but I felt the need to prove a point to all the people that he talked tough to. Like man this is the internet but people can find others, you cant just hind behind a screen. I just showed my son the convo me and him were having and we both laughed hysterically. My son proceeds to tell me that his friends father is a computer technician and that he can find where people are posting from and I really wanted to find this kid lol. Naturally I said no because it was mostly fun and games but the troll should realize that there are some folks out there that take the internet too seriously.
Pure gold!!
On Chip leaving i cannot see Lurie firing him, he gave him huge power last year and he is broadly supporting of coaches. I think the only way Chip leaves is if he decides he wants to move else where, and while i expect he will probably stay Chip has no real track record of staying somewhere long term.
Still just so frustrated by the situation and for the first time i have significant doubts about chip as the long term coaching answer. (i questioned the GM move from the start as a Howie supporter).
I will say this about Chip not staying somewhere long. He can’t get a much better deal than this. NH -> Oregon OC -> Oregon HC -> Eagles HC/GM.
He wants to be here IMO. He talks a lot about resilience and the growth mindset. This is his opportunity to practice what he preaches.
If he bails after everything, I will have no respect for him. I’d rather see someone stick it out and fail, then bail at the first sign of real adversity.
If only it meant the end of Cooper or Austin.
https://twitter.com/MattLombardo975/status/669293584340885504
hopefully it means someone is “hurt” but getting activated the day before travelling can’t mean anything.
what happened to Pratt?
and those other UDFA WR”s?
Pratt’s on the PS.
Harris and Davis were both cut pretty early. Bailey was unsigned for several weeks then signed on a CFL PS and is currently on the Jags PS.
Not sure if a reason to be concerned, but Kelce missed practice today which is the walkthru practice.
https://twitter.com/BleedingGreen/status/669265503513391105
Now the litany of stupid callers and pieces about how Kelly doesn’t understand Philly, Kelly turned his back on the city, Kelly has a disregard for the fans, etc
If this team was 7-3, people would be lauding Kelly instead. Just get tired of the knee-jerk homerism among the fans here even when you go to a game.
It’s dizzying. The media in Philly only makes it worse. Philly is the hardest city to have to deal with both the media and fans.
In my honest opinion if Chip did decide to pull a Saban or Petrino it would be because of the fans. Yes this season hasn’t shaken out the way most of us fans and people in general expected but that does not mean you go full rogue on a very good head coach. 3rd year coach and 1st year coach/GM and fans are already calling for his lynching. I don’t believe Chip is going to leave but if he does it will be from fan scrutiny and certain stupid philly media.
If he leaves, it will be because Kelly chose to do so entirely on his own and got a plum coaching job (Texas or LSU) watching for him.
He’ll decide to leave not due to the media/fans but the simple reality that this he has no QB, misfired badly as a GM this offseason, and now faces some considerable challenges to upgrade this roster in a year or two.
I get that but I also would like to believe that Chip wont just abandon a ship that he built from the ground up. I just feel like he has to much self entitlement to admit failure and leave. At least this is what I hope but I truly believe that he will be back next year and will have done his homework on Chip the GM.
Agreed. Chip’s situation looks very similiar to past times. Many of the most revered Head Coaches in the entire history of the NFL took 3 to 5 years before they won multiple times. Even Landry, of the (gag) Cowprodders, only won a couple of championships in close to 30 years. And Tommy already mentioned Walsh. Noll took 5 years to get his first SB.. How many championships did Madden actually win? One.
from Wiki: ‘Madden’s Raiders reached and lost five AFC title games in seven years, which left the Raiders with the same image that the Dallas Cowboys had previously had—as a team unable to “win the big one.” ‘
Lets not forget the most recent example in Pete Carroll. Failed at 2 NFL jobs, went to have great college success, returned to the NFL and wasn’t successful initially then BOOM he is now one of the best coaches in the NFL.
Yup. And I read somewhere that before the Super Bowl Carroll and his GM brought in and booted out something like 400 players.
In a similiar vein: “Thomas Edison’s serious incandescent light bulb research began in 1878, filing his first patent later that year…”Improvement In Electric Lights” in October 1878. from http://www.edisonmuckers.org/thomas-edison-lightbulb/
It was 3 years later before his light bulb became marketable.
what about Tesla though?
Outmaneuvered by ye scoundrel Edison, by God!
Yeah, these examples kind of mean that Kelly will probably win in his next stop, not here. Maybe Lurie should look for a smart coach that failed miserably his first time, but learned his lessons.
Let’s be the first team to fire and rehire a coach. Problem solved.
Kelly does deserve his share of criticism that after he fought for total control less than a year ago that he’ll leave after only 1 season in charge. Lurie too because it was his decision make that move.
It’s literally one year. Most of his most objectionable moves can easily be cut after next year.
Also a lot of money can come off the books next year in Cooper, Celek, Ryans, Austin and then their are a few FAs so the Eagles can still be players in FA if need be.
Yeah but he has 2 years left on his deal. I could see Kelly leaving for the right situation this offseason but there are really only for the LSU or Texas job.
He only leaves too if thinks he made so many miscalculations in the draft and via free agency the past 2 years that it will take 2-3 years to get this team back to where he would want them to be too.
The only way I lose a lot of respect for Kelly is if he pumps and dumps for a college job this offseason ala what Saban did. Basically acknowledging this is an uphill climb that he wants no part of but I would be really surprised if that takes place. Saban still tries to worm his way around leaving Miami but that is exactly what he did up until the 11th hour.
Kelly strikes me as being an egomaniac who just got the control he wants and will be damned if he turns tail and runs off to a college job (at this offseason).
Fans? Be real.
Whats unrealistic about what I said?
“In my honest opinion if Chip did decide to pull a Saban or Petrino it would be because of the fans” <—-That.
There is nothing unrealistic about that in any way. There have been plenty of players and coaches that have complained about fans. Also like you quoted guy its my honest opinion so I can say whatever the hell I want to say and if you don’t like it I really don’t care.
Can you name one head coach in the NFL that ever quit because of fan criticism? You can be as dumb as you want. I wont stop you.
My basic premise is between unruly fans and a crazy media market those things can drive a man mad. And guy don’t go there with name calling because judging from some of your post on this blog you really don’t want to call anyone dumb.
When you come up with a coach that quit because of fan criticism, let me know.
I’ll make sure you are the first person I think of when I do boss.
His point
Your head
I would imagine Chip hasn’t made it this far without the self-awareness to realize that his brash demeanor causes some people to dislike him, and others to join in the cause when he is losing. I imagine he also realizes that if he wins, people will smile and shake their head, like they do with Belicheck.
In other words, I find it hard to believe that the opinions of the vocal fans calling in to WIP have any influence on Chip’s decisions, much to their chagrin.
that’s what I think too, the media though more then fans
this is not Eugene. and that is not the purple kush your used to
I’m sorry but you need to change your screenname if you are going to be so levelheaded, insightful, and articulate. I appreciate humor and irony as much as most but…
Quoting myself.
“There should be at least a couple of sports medicine facilities in Philadelphia, right? Well, at least a couple dozen people, right here on this board, had better go check yourselves in to be treated for your ankle injuries and sprained ACLs. Maybe some Gravol. All the jumping on and off and on and off and on and off the bandwagon is terribly hard on the neuromuscular structure. Not to mention vertigo.”
Same fanbase that really criticized him this offseason, went euphoric over the meaningless preseason, and is now burying him. Media too though went overboard with how this team looked in the preseason too though hyping them up to be a 11, 12, 13 win team.
Unlike the calm and reasoned commenters here.
They get emotional during game threads but the overwhelming majority of comments the past 2 weeks don’t want Kelly fired/gone.
Personally, firing him at the end of this offseason makes almost no sense unless Kelly himself wants out and makes it very awkward to keep him here.
Even next year, the only way he should be fired a year early is if this team completely collapses (4-12/5-11) year where they aren’t competitive and the players openly turn on Kelly and the coaching staff.
Media and fans have been very vocal the last 2 weeks and some inklings of players being unhappy selective players’ efforts. I wouldn’t say those this team has become dysfunctional or that Kelly has lost the team either.
Bob, I said earlier that I don’t think that Lurie would fire him. I think there are enough high profile jobs coming open that Chip might go back. I don’t think he’s lost the team either but the past 2 weeks have the arrow pointing in the wrong direction.
Disqus does allow IP bans, which are far more effective at killing little trolls than username bans. Just a suggestion…
Disqus does allow moderators to label posters as possible spammers
A problem could arise with IP bans, however. There may be more than one commenter at that address. eg. At my daughter’s house, there are 4 different people who could be online at the same time. ;~)
LOL – So you’re saying the troll lives at your daughter’s house? j/k
If someone is living with this troll and hasn’t poured orange juice on his keyboard while he is asleep, they deserve to get lumped into the ban.
That would be said if the troll’s mom couldn’t come here anymore.
Here’s how you kill a troll: You stop responding to him. It’s really that simple.
its so hard
I’m curious, I can see why the Eagles would be sick of Chip Kelly, since his team is massively underperforming, but why would Chip be sick of the Eagles? They gave him exactly what he wanted, full control of every aspect of the team. If the team fails, it’s totally on him at this point, what could be possibly be sick of the Eagles for? Is he just sick of being stuck in the losing scenario he’s created? It makes little sense to me.
Well said and another thing people forget is how secretive Kelly is, how would anyone know how he feels about his situation?. Like I was saying below I think a lot of this is unhappy and unruly fans and then the Philly media which over exaggerates almost everything. I will believe Chip is and will be the coach in Philly until the day Lurie announces his firing, until then I am going to try and block out the outside noise.
Yeah… if the report has some truth to it, I just want to know what more Chip wants from the Eagles… They gave him full control, shoving aside a promising young personnel exec in the process who was largely responsible for the influx of young talent on the team.
So, basically, no one can be blamed for how things unfold over the next couple of years except Chip. And right now the returns on a lot of moves are not looking too promising.
Schefter was referencing the fans not the organization
I’m… not sure I interpret his tweet that way?
he might be sick of the media attention and the constant questioning and complaining
There aren’t a whole lot of places where he isn’t going to get scrutinized by the media, college or the pros.
Think of the kid down the street where you grew up that didn’t get what he wanted so he took his ball and went home… That appears to be Chip (if we can believe schefter).
So, in other words, just pull something out of your ass? Create a narrative and apply liberally despite no actual knowledge of the situation?
I have NO idea what you’re saying or who you are accusing of pulling things out of their ass, but I think the point is that if Chip doesn’t want to be here, then I could see him talking his ball and going home. Personally, I WANT him to do that, as I don’t have much respect for him (and yes, I know you don’t care).
It’s sort of amazing to me that we’re calling for a coaches head when the team is 8th in total yards and 15th in total points and points per game. We’re not a perennial loser, we’re not the 49ers. I think people need to RELAX in this city.
Will say, if Chip had a different personality / relationship with the media he’d make it easier on himself. It seemed like in 2013 he was super humble, players loved him, glad to be in the NFL, 2014, spawned asshole chip who seemed a little pompus and started having a bad relationship w the media, especially toward the end of the year last year..
bulk stats are easy to pick up with our pace of play, our per drive stats are poor, and that reflects the eye test as well.
the points test says what we are i think which is middle of th epack. Probably doesn’t feel that way two games under .500 but that’s the way the season has expressed itself.
The eagles are 19th in yards per drive and 23 in points per drive. Not exactly setting the world on fire.
honestly…….i thought they would be ranked worse than that
Winning heals many wounds.
then just win already
I think the media questions and reporting on him had something to do with him being a jerk in the conferences, he is obviously someone that doesn’t like to be questioned a lot about his ideas, he wants to be left alone to do his thing it seems. which aint gonna happen here, or anywhere in the NFL
just let me cash my check, do my thing & don’t hold me accountable
and don’t ask me questions!
what?
uh .. sorry dewd, too many people care; care too much; too many is too wrapped up in this to leave you by yourself with our money.
not just the owners money,
but our money.
if you want the money and you want the control..you gotta want us also .. and guess what .. you know why you make and extra 2 mil a year??
yes you make as much as tom coughlin and his 2 rings,
you know why?
because we are STARVED AND RAVENOUS for a Ring.
1 RING!!!
WE come with 100 years of baggage!
its not a newsflash coach..
everyone knows we have zero rings..they ALL have 4 each. we are packing the house and glued to tv’s every game to pay you AND WE ARE FILLED WITH ISSUES BECAUSE WE HAVE ZERO RINGS and the best we got is some near misses and some almosts.
..
you want the job?
He’s not accountable to the media, he’s accountable to Mr. Lurie, and that’s it. Pretending otherwise is deluding yourself, and will constantly lead to being angry when you don’t hear the soundbites that you want to hear (spoiler alert: everyone wants to hear different things).
There’s no excuse for the performance on the field. But I am SO FUCKING TIRED of hearing reviews about Chip’s handling of the media. It is 100% irrelevant. If he’s winning, no one cares. The only reason they care now is because he’s losing, which really means, if you wipe away all the bullshit and fluff people throw up into the air to make themselves feel important, people care that he’s losing.
Losing games: bad
Winning games: good
Handling the media: who gives a good goddamn
A vicious circle.
Probably true, but I don’t care about his relationship with the media or even his relationship with the fans (both are crap because he’s such a terrible liar)… I only care about the product on the field, and it’s BAD and getting worse.
We run so many plays that “per game” stats are just about meaningless when comparing us to other teams. You have to look at “yards per play” or “yards per drive” to get a better feel for how well the team is performing.
I agree with your second paragraph, though.
I still have faith in Chip Kelly the coach. The issue is that the roster is an ill-conceived mess, which is the doing of Chip Kelly the GM, and I don’t have faith in him to fix it. Building an NFL team is much, much different than building a college team. When you do stuff like give away draft picks willy nilly, misallocate cap space, and banish productive players from the roster without getting anything in return it tends to bite you in the ass. Chip’s gotten some hard lessons on these points this season. I think he definitely has the smarts to learn from them. What I’m not sure of is whether he has the humility to do so.
“I think he definitely has the smarts to learn from them. What I’m not sure of is whether he has the humility to do so.” yup
I’m just the opposite. I feel like Chip the GM is fine, but Chip the coach is getting killed. The fact that Cooper and Austin are getting more PT than Huff is bad. But the predictability of his game planning seems to be killing this team. Plus, it doesn’t help that Kelce, Johnson, and Maxwell are all in the top 5 players in penalties. Same mistakes each week and nothing to fix it.
I think they’re both clueless
lack of talent on offense is killing the team
Would anyone kick the tires on one more year of PM?
nope sorry, he’s been brutal this year and his career is done
Interesting question, but I’d agree with Joe; he’s shot.
his spinal nerves are so shot that he has no feeling in his hands and he can’t even bend down to tie his shoelaces. it’s time to let go and focus on his pizza business.
A quarterback is all they need man. They don’t need Joe Montanna. He’ll they don’t need Joe flacco. They just need Jeff Garcia.
Yes build the o line. Add talent everywhere. The #1 peoblem has been qb
I’m a “build from the line guy”, but having a settled situation at QB with a perpetual play 16 games a season pocket QB would be ideal.
I agree. I usually am too. The line NEEDs youth and depth. However, I think the line has actually performed fairly adequately after the first 2 -3 games. Give me a 65% completion percentage of throws 5-12 yards of travel time and this team has at least 6 wins.
It has been a really tough time for the Eagles and for us as fans to have witnessed what we’ve witnessed so far this season. Let’s be realistic for a second. The Eagles are not playing up to there potential right now. Everything is just off right now. And for the very first time, Chip is facing some serious adversity and this is the where we find out what he’s all about and how he will respond to this.
Rams WR Stedman Bailey was shot in the head and hip in South Florida on Tuesday evening and is in the hospital.
Bailey was reportedly the passenger in a car with his cousin, the driver, and two younger relatives. Bailey was shot two times in the head, and is in critical, but stable, condition.
What a shame. If I owned an NFL team (that wasn’t the Dolphins or Falcons) I’d have a no Miami, no Atlanta, no Vegas element in their contracts that would void their deal if they incurred injury / arrest in any of the locations. The number of nonsense incidents involving players in Miami, Atlanta, and Vegas is putrid.
DBs w/ highest burn %
Hayden 68%
Tr.Johnson 66%
Maxwell 66%
A.Blake 65%
M.Jenkins 65%
B.Browner 64%
J.Taylor 64%
N.Carroll 61%
X.Rhodes 60%
So I guess we need to help out Chip the GM
Your score is: 6968 (GRADE: A-)
Your Picks:
Round 1 Pick 19 (NYG): Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU (A-)
Round 2 Pick 19 (NYG): Nick Martin, C, Notre Dame (A-)
Round 3 Pick 5: Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State (A-)
Round 3 Pick 14: Tyler Matakevich, OLB, Temple (A-)
Round 4 Pick 14: Brandon Shell, OT, South Carolina (A)
Round 5 Pick 13: Tyler Marz, OT, Wisconsin (A)
Round 5 Pick 23: Kareem Hunt, RB, Toledo (A+)
Round 6 Pick 14: Jordan Payton, WR, UCLA (A+)
Round 7 Pick 14: Victor Ochi, OLB, Stony Brook (B+)
Round 7 Pick 29: Blake Frohnapfel, QB, Massachusetts (B)
I am going to have to. Ego your round 6 pick for logistical reasons. Having two Mathews, two Jordan’s and two JPs on the offense will be a commenting nightmare.
https://twitter.com/JohnBarchard/status/669486915696087040
https://twitter.com/kenbertino/status/669321718880714752
He slide better than Michael Vick!
https://usatthebiglead.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/demarco-murray-slide-out-of-bounds-phi-mia.gif?w=1000
1st down!
Beast mode!