Chip Kelly's Practice Tactics Prove To Be Paying Off for Eagles
By Kevin McGuire
Following Sunday afternoon’s hard-fought victory over division rival Washington, there should have been plenty of reason to celebrate the Philadelphia Eagles improving to 3-0 to start the 2014 season. Instead, as the team prepares to fly west to take on San Francisco, we are left wondering whether or not Chip Kelly’s relatively new practice schedule is too intense on its players. Specifically, is Philadelphia’s defense and offensive style already taking a toll on the performance of the defense?
Concern grew from postgame quotes from defensive back Cary Williams, who suggested the defense is getting worn out as a result of the offense being too quick to move the football and score and practices not allowing for enough time to receive proper rest. For Kelly and his staff, the proof of the new training philosophies seem to be showing in the second half of games, and resulting in wins. If one of the reasons Kelly was hired as head coach of the Eagles was to change the way things are done, there is no question that has been done.
"We train in a great way," Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis said Tuesday, per PhiladelphiaEagles.com. "The sports science we have, the way we analyze it, there's no concern (about having tired players). I actually think we're the strongest team in the fourth quarter, and it shows. We keep finishing the games; where others don't have it in the tank, we have it in the tank. It shows."
Through the first three games of the year the Eagles have proven to be a good second half team. Perhaps that is because the training is different than what most teams are used to doing. This does not make the Eagles a Super Bowl contender, but over time it can prove to enhance the chances the Eagles have while other franchises are slow to adapt to a new way of training and thinking. Kelly is a progressive thinker when it comes to preparing his team, and that has not changed. If players have a problem with it, they should take a hard look at the results before voicing concerns about the team’s routines in public.
"I've been with 10 different organizations, and it's not even close,” Davis continued. "So there is zero concern. It's the opposite of that; there's complete confidence that we are the strongest team in the fourth quarter."
For the Eagles this coming week on the road against the 49ers, the concern at some positions will be just getting to the fourth quarter. The offensive line took another serious hit this week with center Jason Kelce undergoing surgery. If the rest of the team can benefit from Kelly’s methods, then the tension at any single position or unit can be eased with strong performances elsewhere. The Eagles have the ability to close out games, it would seem. Every game may not be pretty, but if a game is close in the fourth quarter, then the Eagles are going to have enough in the tank to get the job done most of the time.
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Kevin McGuire is a Philadelphia area sports writer covering the Philadelphia Eagles and college football. McGuire is a member of the FWAA and National Football Foundation. Follow McGuire on Twitter @KevinOnCFB. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
