The Eagles Offense
Posted: July 15th, 2013 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 64 Comments »No-huddle offense. Spread offense. Air Raid. Run ‘n Shoot. West Coast Offense.
Chip Kelly’s offense doesn’t fall into one simple category. There isn’t a simple name for the offense. It has multiple elements to it. Let’s focus on what we know Kelly wants to do.
* Score points
* Play up-tempo
* Run the football
* Use zone blocking
* Spread out the defense
* Work primarily out of the shotgun
* Have the QB get the ball to his weapons
* Have a mixture of big and small WRs
* Use option routes so that WRs can adjust to what defenses do
* Use TEs, with different sizes & skill sets
If I had to say what this sounds like the most, I’ll agree with Tony Dungy and say the Buffalo Bills K-gun offense. The other day I wrote about the comparison to the Bengals no-huddle from 1988. There are a couple of key differences. Cincy didn’t use the shotgun extensively. They did use the FB on a regular basis.
The Bills were a single-back, spread offense that used the shotgun on a regular basis. They loved to run the ball. In their 4 Super Bowl seasons, the Bills finished 7th, 1st, 1st and 8th in the NFL in rushing yards. Most people think the K-gun was named after Jim Kelly. Not so. The K was for TE Keith McKellar. He was an athlete that could catch the ball and be used creatively. He gave the Bills flexibility.
One of the keys to running a good no-huddle attack is the ability to keep the same personnel on the field and do multiple things with them. This can put the defense at a disadvantage. Defenses like to match-up with offenses based on personnel and situations. When they can’t adjust, the offense can dictate the situation and attack where/how they want.
Chip Kelly wants to move the football down the field and score points. He loves big plays, but isn’t afraid to have his offense be physical and grind out a long drive on the ground. Kelly is a former O-line coach and remains a firm believer in running the ball.
When you think about college offenses, Oregon was similar to many teams, but still unique. Nick Foles Arizona team ran the spread, but was a passing offense. They never finished higher than 52nd in the nation in rushing in his 3 years as a starter. They were 114th in his Senior season. West Virginia is an Air Raid team that doesn’t use the TE. Oklahoma State is a spread team that loves to run the ball, but they have been built around big, dominant WRs (Dez Bryant, Justin Blackmon). Urban Meyer loves the spread, but has his QBs run the ball a lot. Rich Rodriguez also believes in the QB being a big time runner. Oklahoma does some similar things to Oregon, but hasn’t had a truly mobile QB in a long time. That will change this year and should be interesting to see.
Kelly wants the best of all worlds. And amazingly, he found a way to have that at Oregon. He could spread you out and throw the ball. He could spread you out and run the ball. He mixed in the option to help generate big plays from the run game. Some spread offenses are too finesse and they struggle with physical teams. Finesse teams can also struggle in the Red Zone and/or bad weather games. Oregon was a great Red Zone team and could play tough, physical football when it needed to. One of the reasons that the Run ‘n Shoot was so hated in the NFL was that it was built around small WRs. Kelly sees the value in small WRs that can win in space, but he also likes bigger guys that can win 1-on-1 battles through size and physicality.
The beauty of Kelly’s ideas is that they are simple. He’s not trying to re-invent the wheel. He’s stealing ideas from smart coaches in college and pro football and then mixing them into a single offense.
It does take the right coaches and players to pull this off. Anyone can create a playbook. It takes good coaches to teach it and know how to run it for maximum results. You also need the right players, in terms of size, skill and talent. And the OL…don’t forget the OL. If you can’t control the line of scrimmage, no offense is going to work. Football history is littered with great ideas that weren’t executed well. Everybody has good intentions.
Now that Kelly has come to the NFL, he will mix in some of the WCO concepts that are so popular in the league. He has veteran coaches Pat Shurmur and Bill Lazor to help with that side of things. Shurmur is well-versed in the WCO and how to run an NFL passing game. Lazor has worked in the NFL and college football. He can help bridge the two worlds.
Soon enough we’ll see the Eagles offense in action. It will be interesting to finally see how the visions in our head compare with reality.
Here are some highlights of the Bills offense from 1991, including Jim Kelly running the option at the goal line.
Keep in mind that the Eagles offense will look different. This is just something to check out for fun.
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There are lots of similarities between Kelly’s offense and that of the Patriots. It is awkward to bring them up because Tom Brady is so freakishly good that it is hard to appreciate them schematically. It just seems like Brady’s magic. You also have a pair of freaks in Gronk and Aaron Hernandez. Gronk is huge and athletic. He can block and catch. Hernandez is one of the most versatile players in the NFL. Those are one-of-a-kind players.
Another difference is that the Patriots aren’t built on star RBs. Oregon had several star runners. The Eagles have LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown. The Patriots run game is more about moving the chains than big plays. Chip Kelly wants big plays on the ground.
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We can finally spill the beans on Jimmy Bama. That hack is taking over Bleeding Green Nation.
Don’t worry, he didn’t take out Jason in a bloody coup. Jason stepped away to focus on a day job that will consume a lot of time. Running BGN required a serious time commitment. At least this is what Jason says.
If we haven’t heard from Jason in a few months, we’ll know Jimmy Bama gave him the Jimmy Hoffa treatment.
I’m sure Jimmy will do a great job at BGN.
I have to say that because I don’t want him to give me the Hoffa treatment.
_
Pats still went 11-5 the year Brady missed. Would have been very interesting to see how they would have done in the playoffs.
With Matt Cassel at QB too, which is nothing short of miraculous. He’s been a train wreck in KC.
That NE team had 50-50 run/pass balance. They finished 4th in rushing attempts and 6th in yards. When Cassell did throw, he had Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Plus the OL was great. Nick Foles could have won 10 games with that cast.
If Matt Cassel won 11 games with it, Foles probably would have won 13!
Chip Kelly hadnt influenced the Pats offense yet, when Brady got hurt
“Most people think the K-gun was named after Jim Kelly. Not so. The K was for TE Keith McKellar.”
You just blew my mind.
I hate watching the Patriots *because* the action on the screen is on Brady. An excellent QB he may be, but the current style of Patriots play revolves around springing receivers open. I can’t see how the receivers are sprung on TV, and it’s not entertaining to watch Brady hit his first read most of the time. Patriots ball must be vastly more fun to watch at the stadium.
I don’t think you will really see the Chip Offense until the Skin’s game. Chip does not want give opposing teams any intel on his scheme. TC and PS will only give you a flavor of what Chip wants to do.
What worries me is that the QB position requires split-second decision making during the heat of battle. When you have 300+ lb. monsters trying to kill you, it’s a little hard to check-down to the correct receiver. Whatever Chip’s offense scheme is going to be, he will need a phenomenal QB and OL to pull it off. That is the Achilles heel of a Chip O. Hence, an opposing D will pass and run blitz the QB to rattle him and stuff the run. Oh, and if they can lay-a-lick on the QB they will; penalties be damned.
Totally agree that we probably won’t see any of our real offense until we kickoff in Washington, a game, I’m already predicting us to win!!
ish is about to hit the fan for RG3 when the text he was sending to that hooters chick during his wedding day are released…On top of that, the offseason between your rookie year and second season is crucial. Rg3 is missing a lot of reps this summer, and I expect it to show at the beginning of the season…Chip Kelly Era starts off with a win, on National TV, Thumping a Rival…I’m calling it NOw ..Fly Eagles Fly!!
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Today is the deadline for the Bills to extend Byrd…get on the horn Howie!
The key to the offense is ironically the zone blocking scheme, which isn’t that far from what the Eagles did in 2011 when McCoy put up great numbers. Kelly has never had this level of athleticism at Oregon on his OL, Stoutland had that kind of quality at Alabama (relative to the competition) but not the athleticism (they were more a power line). While they’re a little long in the tooth (Peters, Mathis, Watkins and Herremans) none of those guys are quite ready for the glue factory, and will buy a couple years to develop younger OL who fit the system (look for young OL to be shuffled in camp until they find a group they think are potential starters to sit on the bench in 2013). The thing with zone blocking schemes is you don’t need five studs, look what Mudd did in Indy with Scott and Lilja and Saturday, or Mathis (3rd) and Kelce (6th). You can take athletic but undersized or inexperienced OL and just keep practicing reps until they execute the scheme perfectly.
If the OL is big enough to handle big DL, and can execute the inside and outside zone blocks, then the other key player is the QB, but he neither has to be mobile or big armed (nice to have, but not necessary). As long as he’s smart, a quick decisionmaker and accurate, the QB can get the ball to playmakers who can exploit downfield blocking (that’s where athletic OL come to play, think of McCoy’s runs in 2011 with Kelce and Mathis blocking downfield, now extend that to those quick screens and underneath throws to elusive little receivers that use their blockers).
Brady is the perfect QB, think of what he did with guys like Brown and Patton his first few years, he didn’t have great TEs back then. Brady became a better QB with experience and better talent, but 2001-2003 he was basically a guy who throw a lot of quick short passes in stride to his receivers. Brees is another guy who comes to mind, throwing to a variety of targets, some big, some fast, some small and elusive. Something Foles and Barkley should be able to do. You don’t need a Flacco throwing it 50 yards on the dot, or a Kaepernick busting big plays on the option. You just need a QB with good anticipation to make deep plays, think of Garcia’s wounded ducks in 2006, but he saw when a guy was coming open on a deep route and threw it early enough that the duck wasn’t bagged by a DB.
The mistake people have made thinking about Chip’s offense is that the read option with a running QB was the key element. That’s because a QB tearing off a big play is sexy, five OL making the proper block on the inside and outside option runs is boring. But if those blocks are made consistently, the cutback lanes will be there, and when the RB starts ripping off big runs, the defense will tend to overreact, opening up the passing game for the big play as the safety cheats up.
The OL really is crucial. Keeping my fingers crossed that those guys stay healthy.
And Brady is a freak. He’s made everyone around him better, whether Deion Branch, Moss, Gronk, Welker or David Givens (remember him?).
The start of training camp is bitter sweet…so excited to have football back in our lives…yet so nervous about an increase chance of injuries. We are Owed some good injury Karma(fingers crossed)..Hopefully Bobby Deniro keeps the Eagles Ju Ju flowing…
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I read today that Kendrick’s bulked up…anyone have an idea how much he is weighing these days?
I think we can safely move on to the past tense with Hernandez. (… was one of the most versatile players in the NFL.)
That is probably a safe bet.
James Casey will no longer be under utilized and will have his breakout season just in time to take over the vacant crown left by Hernandez incarceration…Young QBs like Foles tend to lean on TE’s and Hbacks
honestly i dont expect a huge break out season for casey, there is alot of mouths to feed on offense as is.. celek and ertz could hinder a break out season.
If Chip can lead the Eagles to 4 Super Bowl appearances, I’ll forgive the fact that his offense doesn’t have a name.
Hopefully he has the presence of mind to win at least one of the four trips.
If Chip Kelly led Eagles make it to 4 Super Bowl appearances, I think the offense will get a name.
Great to hear Harry Kalas in that clip…
That was great. Best voice ever.
Except for Alex Flanagan of course.
Tommy, here’s where not being a local hurts you. Harry had a great voice…and personality… but the best voice EVER was John Facenda. Local guy…newscaster for the Phila CBS affiliate, WCAU. He was the original (“frozen tundra of Lambeau field”) voice of NFL Films. He passed in 1984. People always said, if they heard God, he would sound like John Facenda.
And yes, it was great hearing Harry in that clip…
Do you have a link of his work? I was twelve when he passed, I probably heard his voice but I don’t know the name.
uk.ask.com/youtube?q=John+Facenda+Audio&v=d5FR3DgK…
Roy…I do know John Facenda. Classic NFL Films voice. And you’re right…he is better than Kalas. They are 1-2 in the football world. I’ll take Mel Allen for baseball, Mike Emrick for hockey and 1980s Dick Stockton for the NBA.
The more I think about it, the more I think a QB like Matt Barkley is the kids of QB Kelly wants to run his offense. Smart, accurate, quick enough to move but still a passer first. The kind of QB who can get the ball to his playmakers. Specifically, the kind who can get it to the right playmaker for the specific play a high percentage of the time.
Tommy
Will you be writing more articles on BGN now that JimmyK is the editor?
I might help from time to time, but 99% of my stuff will still be here. I did write there between the time Iggles Blog shut down and this place opened. Jason always let me know the door was open at BGN. Terrific guy.
I beg to differ lol
Re: Those Very Talented Bills / JOE GIBBS & Chipper
T-Law:
Those late ’80s-early ’90s Bills had some great talent (making the AFC Title Game in 5 out of 6 years, starting in ’88, winning four of them — losing only to the sugar-huddle Bengals in 1988).
On offense there was HOF QB Jim Kelly, HOF RB Thurman Thomas, HOF WR James Lofton, arguable HOF WR Andre Reed. Not bad.
TE Keith McKellar was very good and very athletic, sretching the middle of the field — much like the great Raiders and Colts TE Ray Chester in the ’70s.
The Bills O-Coordinator who installed the K-Gun was Ted Marchibroda — who also was the Colts’ HC during the mid-70s when they acquired Ray Chester from the Raiders and, with Bert Jones at QB, ran him down field. Marchibroda understood the value of a fast deep-threat at TE.
(NOTE: Marchibroda was also the Eagles OC under Marion Campbell in ’84-’85 — with the Birds finishing 23rd and 24th in points scored. Other than Mike Quick, the Eagles had ZERO game-breakers on offense. Wilbert Montgomery, battered by that point, was 30 year’s old in ’84. Jaworski, likewise getting battered at least four times per year by the Giants, with LTaylor, and the Redskins, was 33 in ’84. And TE John Spagnola was anything but fast.)
Also, the Bills’ had a pretty good O-line in LOT Will Wolford, LOG Jim Richter, C Kent Hull, and ROT Howard “The House” Ballard, which played together for 5 years.
The Bills’ achilles heel was their defense. They had HOF DE Bruce Smith, All Pro OLBs Cornelius Bennett and Pro Bowler Daryl Talley. And ILB Shane Conlon. That was it, really.
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Like all the winning teams we seem to discuss, the Bills had a great QB.
To win in January, it would seem then that Chip Kelly’s going to need a very good QB . . . unless his offensive system is remarkable at masking the shortcomings of a mediocre QB and the Eagles Defense becomes Gang Green II.
I think we have better odds of the Eagles finding a Top-5 QB than Roseman assembling a defense worthy of the Gang Green moniker — or any complementary moniker.
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So speaking of QBs and the Bills, in 1991 Buffalo lost to the Redskins in the SB.
That title was No. 3 for ‘Skins HC Joe Gibbs . . . with his 3rd different QB in 10 seasons: Joe Theismann ’82, Doug Williams ’87, Mark Rypien ’91.
Gibbs was, by all accounts, a brilliant offense mind — a student of Don Coryell and from the Sid Gilman coaching tree.
No contemporary of Gibbs was as good at developing his offense around BOTH the run and the pass.
We talk a lot about Kelly and Belichick.
I’m hoping that Kelly’s offensive system is more along the lines of a Joe Gibbs / Coryell / Gilman: punch you in the mouth with the ground game, and while you’re clearing the cobwebs, striking down field through the air.
Thank you to Tommy for not including any JV / gimmick / flavor of the month read-option on here. Nobody wants our QB to die by playing games with running the football himself on called runs.
By no means is this meant as anything negative towards you, I’m just curious as to why you hate the read option so much. I agree that it can’t be the basis of the offensive but I see no reason why the play would not have sticking power in NFL if run a few times a game and with a QB who knows how to protect himself.
I really don’t like it for two reasons:
1) I think the system represents a dead end because extra hits on the QB result from the extra running around with the football rather than directly handing it off and/or passing it.
2) Stylistically I see it as street ball. If the NFL devolves into a collection of QBs who do noting but run all the time, I don’t want to watch it. I’d rather watch a QB stand there, evade the rush, and complete a big pass rather than spend all game running around with the football. I’m not against a QB scrambling after reading the D in an Elway / Young / McNabb /Big Ben / Rodgers manner, but I’d be devastated if I had to watch a league full of Vick / RG3 / Kaepernick / Johnny Football type guys ruining the game.
An interesting thought I just had, even if a QB gets popped on the play
every once in a while, if he’s good for five yards typically and the
usage of the play makes the overall running game with the running backs more effective, the effect on the pass rush could be such that the QB is that much safer when passing in the pocket that it makes up for the risk of turning him into a runner 5 or so times a game at most. Assuming the QB isn’t like Vick and slides on 4 of those runs while taking a hit on just one, I would take that if it meant one less time he’s blindsided in the pocket. Taking a hit as a runner is way more likely to be a hit the QB is expecting and can protect himself from to some extent.
But a real QB who isn’t illiterate is going to have the football out of there long before anybody can legally blindside him. When the QB is playing games with pulling the ball in and out of the RBs hands as he’s advancing towards the line of scrimmage, he’s a sitting duck of a target and not protected in any way, shape, or form from the collection of even bigger hits that are coming this year.
Very good thought. Basically, could one hit outside the pocket save 2 in the pocket?
My guess is no. See: Vick, Mike. He’s continued to threaten the D with his legs in Philly and it hasn’t ave saved him any punishment in the pocket. There’s plenty of room for debate there of course. How much of a threat, different style of threat etc.
It’s definitely an interesting and well thought-out line of reasoning.
Oline is always crucial. Everyone seems to be happy with our starters…but in terms of the bench..which players have a chance at being here past this season and which will have to be replaced? Dennis Kelly I would say has the best chance of sticking on the roster(in some Capacity). Watkins is in a sink or swim year..What about the rest of the backups? which have a chance at an eagles future, and which are just place holders til chip drafts someone better?
Hey Tommy, I just heard the chances of Buffalo resigning Jairus Byrd is zero now.. Rumor has it that he wants to be paid like a top safety. What are the chances of us signing him? Would his contract look like the one Dashon Goldson signed?
edit: they couldn’t resign him
I hear he wants 5years $22million, and the bills fundamentally don’t value the Safety position like that. The Bills official site suggest them possibly trading him. I heard rumors that they would want a guard and a draft pick in return….The Bills we extremely high on Andy Levitre, as they should be since he is one of the top young guards in the NFL..yet they let him wak in free agency without having anything close to a suitable replacement..If they can let Levitre walk, then I wouldn’t put it past them to trade Byrd or let him walk n FA….Keep in mind that the Bills are installing a brand new defense with a new Defensive coordinator that Byrd isn’t familiar with…If he holds out, it’s terrible for the bills….We need to Reunite Chung and Byrd!!!
“5years $22million”
only that? I would sign him to that instantly.
That’s what I said!!! Was shocked hen I heard he only wants Eric Weddle money. he should definitely get that…..allegedly they don’t value the safety position, which I don’t know if I believe. with today’s TEs can you really afford to not value safeties?..
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deadline to extend Micheal Johnson was today, instead the Bengals extended the other DE, Dunlap….man that must feel like a kick in the nuts to MJ.
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Clady reached an agreement with the broncos
I am a GT graduate, so I’m obviously biased when it comes to Michael Johnson, but man I think he would be awesome as a predator. I’m hoping Graham plays well enough this year where we aren’t shopping for one next year, though.
I agree, he would be a great Predator…but Im really excited about Graham and Barwin
ramblin’ wreck!
I doubt that. I might be wrong but Eric Berry signed a 6yr/$50mil deal for his rookie contract. That’s the highest for a safety I think. Byrd probably wants at least 5yr/$35mil.
We’d all love to trade for him. Question is value. If BUF puts him on the market, what will they get in return? I’d offer a 2nd Rd pick, but not a 1st. Some teams could offer a 1st, thinking a star FS could put them over the top.
I hear they want a guard….Byrds agent is the same guy that orchestrated the Peters to Philly trade…..How likely would a player for player trade be involving such a high caliber player?…What would be more likely: Evan Mathis for Byrd? Or Watkins and a 3rd pick for Byrd? Lol how you like that crazy hypothetical?
NFL trades are rare to start with. I can’t see an OG for a FS. We could include someone like Watkins with a pick, but even that isn’t likely.
Well, if it can’t be accurately identified as any other offenses that have come before it, then it’s going to need a name.
and not “Spread Eagle”. That’s too obvious.
Through the first few championship seasons, THE AMAZING AIR-RUN! (suggested Aaron), or the “point scorer” offense.
Eventually, I hope Chip’s particular brand of play just becomes known as “football.”
“Chip Kelly wants to move the football down the field and score points.
He loves big plays, but isn’t afraid to have his offense be physical and
grind out a long drive on the ground. Kelly is a former O-line coach
and remains a firm believer in running the ball.”
For the Eagles… my thoughts of a big play are throwing deep on 1st down, 2nd down and 3rd and short.
The Ducks videos that I have watched over the past few months have shown me a different world of football… numerous big running plays.
My question: What is Chip Kelly’s vision/version of big plays?
Tommy, in case you didn’t see this article on fishduck.com, you and Jama Bama are referenced… http://fishduck.com/2013/07/chip-and-the-eagles-quarterback-thunderdome/
Wtf, that article quotes BoB Ford as saying He thinks if Vick doesn’t win the Job then Chip could line him up at running bak or TAZR?
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WTF#2 there is a website for British Eagles fans? Lol
TAZR? What position is that? Animal rights groups will not be fond of this!
Just explain to them that the position is a lot like the DRWNR position, except he lines up on the other side of the PDHISDBTTOSOCTY.
They will come back with something like… In our eyes PDHISDBTTOSCTY should be playing the between the eyes NINE Technique.
A funny thought occurred to me: someone thinking they might want to learn about football could stumble upon this comment thread as some of their first exposure to the game. It would take a long time to undo that damage.
Infinity.
I think Chip Kelly’s philosophy is that even plays that aren’t “designed” to score from fifty yards out always have that potential. He wants his blockers to be as sound as possible and his ball carriers to be as dynamic as possible to maximise that chance. The difference between this and Andy/Marty ball is that the plays those two called were probably much, much more likely to result in the homerun…but, if they failed, that left you with no gain (incompletion) at best, sacked or picked off at worst. At the same time Chip would love to just score on one play every time, he acknowledges that if you could somehow guarantee 3.34 yards on every single play, your offense would be unstoppable. So he prioritises calling less feast-or-famine plays (like runs) and hopes that the strength of the execution and the skill of the ball carriers can result in a few homeruns.
From the little knowlegde I have, it seems Chip likes to set up big running plays from just running the same play a few times to get the D to think they know what’s coming… over pursue and then Chip just throws a in a little twist. And the D is like WTF just happened.
Yeah, basically he waits until the defense is playing the short/safe stuff before he calls a deep pass, which increases the safety (and effectiveness) of deep passes. I think when he said in some interview “we’re about going forward” sums it up best.
Well said, Neil.
is desean andre reed or don beebe? lol
As usual – good stuff. First couple of plays in that video — a defensive player making an impact play. When was the last time “impact player” and Eagles D were used in the same sentence? Also, a WR laying out to catch a ball. Again, when was the last time we seen… What I’m getting at — we need a few “great” players at the skilled positions. Right now, we have McCoy and ??. We have a handful of “ok” players.
I can watch that clip of boomer getting a separated shoulder over and over. Any more clips of him getting hammered?
“Use option routes so that WRs can adjust to what defenses do”. This is where(ok, one of many areas) I do not believe Vick has the football smarts. Yesterday I watched a clip on TV where Eli walked up to the line, recognized a single safety, figured our the one-on-one coverage on Nicks. Took the snap, stared at the safety to freeze him and threw to a wide open Nicks who easily beat the one-on-one.
Than, Eli comes to the sideline and talks about the play to other team mates on offense. I’m not at the games and TV just doesn’t show enough but I don’t recall Vick going over to the players and discussing anything with them.
There were times in 2010 where Vick would get together with Marty and other players to talk about what was going on in the game. I don’t recall seeing that “Vick” in 2011 or 2012.