Chip Kelly: Eagles Need More 'Consistency' On Offense
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Chip Kelly addressed the injuries to Cody Parkey, Kiko Alonzo and Andrew Gardner, as well as the drops the Eagles are making, and how well the defense—and rookie middle linebacker Jordan Hicks—has been playing in his day-after presser. Kelly also reiterated his confidence in quarterback Sam Bradford and running back DeMarco Murray.
The operative word, however, with Kelly was "consistency."
The Eagles haven't been consistent on offense. Of the 12 quarters the Eagles have played this season, they've played well offensively for four quarters—the second half against Atlanta in the season opener and the first half of their 24-17 victory over the Jets on Sunday, with all 24 points coming in the first half.
"It's consistency in terms of things we do right in the first half, we have to carry that over into the second half, and it's the same thing if you start slowly, and then turn it on the second half, you just have to be more consistent over time," Kelly said. "Again, it's inconsistency. It might not be one specific thing. It could be a missed block by an offensive lineman, so on first-and-10, we now have second-and-14. Now you're behind the stakes. Or on third down, we have a great conversion, but we throw it and drop it. We don't stay on the field. Usually with this group, you get one first down that leads to more first downs. It's really those opening first three plays. There can't be any incontinency on those first three plays. We need more consistency in what we're doing."
On Jordan Hicks, Kelly said, "He's someone that caught our eye. He's a very, very intelligent football player. It's a compliment when we say he never acted like a rookie. He has a maturity to him, and a real good football mind in diagnosing things."
On Bradford, Kelly said, "Some of his best throws are when he's moving. It all comes back to everybody with fundamentals. He's consistent with his arm action and where he's putting the ball. The ball he threw to (Ryan) Mathews was a great throw."
On Darren Sproles, "I've never been a round a guy who practices as consistently hard as he does. Even in walk-throughs. What you see on Sunday from Darren is what we see every day in practice."
On the drops, Kelly said, "I don't know if we've seen more (drops), but they've seem to come at more critical times. There's a third-and-three and there's a drop. It's magnified a little that way. A drop on third down is more magnified than a drop on first down. A drop is still a drop. Big play. We know that. They know that."
On the defense, Kelly said he does see consistency. "We have consistency on the edge, Jordan has really adapted. We're getting consistent play on what guys are doing, and we've been consistent with our rush defense."
Kelly wasn't too specific about Parkey's injury, but he did admit the Eagles are trying out kickers. Alonzo will receive a second opinion on his injured left knee, which has been reported as a sprain.