Ed Rendell Says Chip Kelly Didn't Have The Eagles Ready To Play
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Former Governor of Pennsylvania and high profile Eagles fan Ed Rendell called out Head Coach Chip Kelly for the team's slow start and eventual loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the season opener.
Rendell, talking with Rich Zeoli on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, pointed to a significant number of mistakes Kelly made that cost the Eagles a chance to start the season off on the right foot.
"He didn't do the best job getting the team ready to play. I think he made a mistake not using DeMarco Murray on third down and one yard. DeMarco Murray had the best rate of making first downs on third and one last year of any back in the NFL. That's what we got him for and he was on the bench and Ryan Mathews ran that third and one play. I think that was a mistake. I think Chip waited to long to send the field goal team in. I think they were hurried at the end. That might've contributed to the missed field goal."
He suggested the poor start out of the gate was due to the lack of adequate preparation leading in to the game.
"The team wasn't ready to play. I think they read their press clippings a little bit...Our first string guys didn't play a lot in preseason, so they looked rusty. They didn't look ready to start. We played a bad first half, only a great play from Kiko Alonso kept us from being way behind at halftime."
However, Rendell was happy with some of the adjustments at half time and thinks the Eagles won't have a problem rebounding to a strong year.
"We did shake the rust off. We played a very good second half, much better defense, good blitzing. Alonso looks like he's going to be a game changer and Bradford looks like the real deal. The offense kicks it into gear, scored three touchdowns in one half. So, I think there's reason to be optimistic. We're going to cure most of the problems that are affecting us."
