Chip Kelly Says The Offense Is "Light Years" Ahead Of Last Year
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- In his first season as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, no offense was more polarizing the Chip Kelly's fast-paced, high energy scheme. The critics said Kelly's offense, which was so successful at Oregon, would never work in the NFL. From no-huddles, to visual play cards, to unique formations, the Eagles offense was as advertised and the critics were wrong. Kelly's offense finished 2013 ranked second in the NFL with a 417.3 yards per game average and fourth in the NFL with a 27.6 points per game average.
With off-season team activities (OTA's) beginning on Tuesday, Kelly addressed the media for the first time since the draft on Thursday and said the players are much more familiar with the offense this year.
"Oh yeah, it's light years [ahead of last year]," Kelly said. "I think for all of our guys they understand what we're doing. Every day last year was a new insertion and it was a new play and it was the first time in the red zone, first time coming out, first time in two-minute, you know. All of those things for the veterans have all already been in, they've understood them. For all those the guys there's a lot more, just a better understanding.
Kelly explained having one year in this offense under most of the players' belts makes a big difference. Kelly says the offense is going even faster in practice.
"We're going faster," Kelly said. "We're getting more reps off and more plays off because the guys have a better understanding, the mechanics of it. So, the basic structure of how we're doing things is the same. Our teaching, in terms of how we want to train on the field, we have an understanding when it's a full speed drill and when it's a teach period and all that, but I think we are getting more snaps off in team's and seven on seven just because our guys are more comfortable in how we want to operate."
The man at the helm of the Eagles offense is quarterback, Nick Foles. Foles is entering his third year in the NFL, but his first as the Eagles undoubted starting quarterback. Foles, who threw for 27 touchdowns and only two interceptions last year, continues to work hard on improving his game, according to his coach.
"I think the great thing about Nick and what you love about, and it's the same thing we preach, is he knows he's never going to arrive," Kelly explained. "I think it's a great trait to have. Some guys get to where they've won a job and now they kind of kick their feet up and they go on cruise control, and that's not him. I think he's continuing to improve on the little things. He's got, obviously, a very, very good understanding with what we're doing."
