Chip Kelly Is Holding Onto Hope Eagles Can Turn It Around
By Ed Benkin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Eagles are 1-3 and their head coach is dealing with plenty of issues. However, Chip Kelly believes the answers to all of the Eagles' problems come down to one thing.
Execution.
A host of mistakes and inconsistency have resulted in a disappointing start to the season. Everything from talent to scheme is being question by Eagles fans, but Kelly believes his team simply has to take care of business better. Kelly also believes his offense is not in the chaotic state it appears to be in the eyes of Eagles Nation.
"I don't think it looks like chaos," said Kelly. "I wouldn't use that word. I think we've been out of sync a few times, but I think we have the right guys and we're doing the right things."
Kelly continued to emphasize during his Monday news conference his faith in the talent level of his team. He added the offense has shown signs of success this season, and believes consistency is the key for the offense to put together a full four quarters of football.
"I've seen us move the ball," Kelly said. "I saw us move the ball in three consecutive drives, or three out of four drives in the second half. I saw us move the ball in the second half against Atlanta, saw us move the ball against the Jets, so I have confidence in this group. We just have to do it on a more consistent basis."
Moving the ball has been difficult for the Eagles this season. Quarterback Sam Bradford has only shown small doses of his first-round talent, while an already suspect offensive line is dealing with a series of injuries. Meanwhile, the defense continues to deal with a time of possession issue which Kelly insists is not a factor in football. However, the defense was on the field for 41:08 against Washington, and may have been out of gas during the Redskins' 90-yard game-winning drive. Kelly still insists the close score is an indication of how close his team is to reversing its record.
"It's a matter of making one more play than your opponent," said Kelly. "We had a touchdown called back because we lined up wrong. That's the difference in a football game. We missed an extra point. we missed a field goal. That's the difference in a football game."
Many fans are pushing the panic button after four games. Several of the Eagles problems appear to have little chance of a quick fix. However, Kelly insists now is not the time to burn the blueprint and go back to the drawing board.
"It's razor thin," Kelly said. "You don't throw the baby out with the bath water and say, 'Okay we are going to change our offense, change our defense and change everything we are doing in our approach.' It is just that we just need to settle down, take a deep breath and when we have an opportunity to make a play, we've got to make a play."
