Chip Kelly Knows The Offense Must Improve
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Eagles know they had their chances on Sunday in San Francisco. All they needed was a little bit of offense.
One day after the Eagles first loss of the season, Chip Kelly addressed his team's offensive issues. All three of the Eagles touchdowns came from either their defense or special teams. Just one offensive score would have been the difference in the game, but the Eagles were stopped just outside the one-yard line in the fourth quarter. Kelly acknowledged playing with a host of replacements on the offensive line has been difficult.
"There's a different group of guys playing right now," said Kelly. "I think that's the reality of it. We have to do a better job. Everybody on the offensive side of the ball has to do a better job in terms of executing because we're leaving plays out on the field."
The biggest question concerning the offense are the struggles of Running Back LeSean McCoy. It was another rough game for McCoy, who was held to just 17 yards, but Kelly insists there is nothing wrong with his running back.
"We're banged up up front," Kelly said. "It's not the ball carrier. We're not generating what we need to do in the run game at all, so it doesn't matter who we hand it to."
Help may be on the way in the form of Lane Johnson. The right tackle has finished serving his four-game suspension and will likely be back in the lineup on Sunday when the Eagles host the Rams. The team activated Johnson Monday afternoon, but Kelly said he needs to be sure Johnson is physically ready to play.
"We haven't seen him for a month," said Kelly. "He told me he was in Dallas working out. He looked good. It's just the unknown...where is he at and how does he process things?"
Kelly knows his offense needs to get back on track, but believes his team is close to getting where it needs to be in the early part of the season.
"Let's put ourselves in a situation where we can make better plays," Kelly said. "I think we can build upon what we did special teams-wise. I think our defense is rounding into shape and doing some really good things. If we get all three phases to play well at the same time, I think we're going to be a good team, but that's something we all have to work on."
The Eagles will be back at practice on Tuesday.
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