Chip Kelly Is A Long Way From Oregon

Through three games this season the Eagles defense has allowed 1,316 yards which averages out to 438.6 yards per game. After the Eagles defeated the Washington Redskins in their season opener, they have lost their last two games. In those two losses both the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs held the football for nearly 40 minutes which is destroying the Eagles defense. Defensively the Eagles are allowing opponents to convert nearly 42 percent of their third down opportunities which is currently 20th in the NFL.

When Kelly was at Oregon he was one of the best in having his offense score in under 2 minutes. In college there are 85 scholarships handed out which allowed Kelly to constantly rotate his defensive line. NFL rosters are limited to 53 players which takes away that luxury. 

Very quickly Kelly’s college to NFL plan is beginning to resemble that of current University of South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier. After compiling a 122-27-1 record in 12 seasons as the head coach at the University of Florida, Spurrier became the head coach of the Washington Redskins in 2002. In Spurrier’s first game as Redskins head coach, the offense racked up 442 yards of offense in a 31-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals and everyone in D.C. was singing his praises. By Spurrier’s second game the NFL had gotten wind of his system as the Eagles defeated the ‘Skins 37-7. Washington would go on to finish 2002 with a record of 7-9. In Spurrier’s two seasons with the Redskins his overall record was 12-20 before he resigned and returned to the college ranks.

The same fate could be in store for Kelly in Philadelphia. Everyone was in love with Kelly’s system in Week 1 when the Eagles defeated the Redskins as the transition from college to the pros appeared to be flawless for him. Now the other shoe has dropped as the Chargers and Chiefs have exposed Kelly for what he is; a college head coach. Kelly got his job with the Eagles because the current trend in the NFL is to hire college head coaches. After the recent success that Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh have had, NFL owners and general managers are turning to the collegiate ranks in search of their next head coach. What some front office personnel have failed to realize is that Carroll and Harbaugh both had past lives in the NFL. Carroll was the head coach of the New York Jets and New England Patriots while Harbaugh enjoyed a 15-year NFL career as quarterback; most notably with the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts.

It isn’t helping Kelly that the Eagles former head coach Andy Reid rolled into Philadelphia on Thursday night and led the Chiefs to a 26-16 victory. Reid had spent the previous 14 seasons as Eagles head coach and his accomplishments included six NFC East Division Titles and one Super Bowl appearance. Kelly’s saving grace is that the NFC East appears to be an extremely weak division this season.

The Eagles next three games are on the road as they will face the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If the Eagles return home after that stretch with a record of 2-4 or worse I guarantee you that the Philly fans will express their frustration towards Kelly. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie showed extreme loyalty and patience to Reid and you wonder if he will do the same towards Kelly? The jury is still out as NFL teams are licking their chops to face the Eagles.