Jason Kelce Understands Fans' Frustration: 'Bad Teams Do Things We're Doing'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- When your team racks up 29 first downs, accumulates 436 yards, runs 88 plays, and commits just one turnover at home against a 3-5 team, well, said team usually wins that game.
The Eagles did all of that last week against the Dolphins, but thanks to a blocked punt, a tipped ball touchdown, a red zone interception, and a missed 32-yard field goal---they lost 20-19.
And, understandably so, fans in Philadelphia are becoming restless.
"I can tell you that I was very, very, very frustrated after the game," Eagles center Jason Kelce told Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show on Friday. "If you just go back and watch the game, there's no way offensively we shouldn't have put up more points. You have so many mistakes, you have so many yards moving the ball very effectively throughout the game for the most part and you only come away with 19 points because of the mental. And that's really been the culmination of the season.
Listen: Jason Kelce on the 94WIP Morning Show
"In all honesty, that's why it's so frustrating for fans," Kelce continued. "It's stuff that you see in---bad teams do the things we're doing. And the worst part about it is that, we have the players to be a great team. If we could just eliminate these things, if we could just play in rhythm, if we could just play mistake free football---not try to over do, not try to overthink it---we have a great offense. The problem is we continually do these same things week in and week out."
Kelce was furious with his own play, calling it the "worst game of his life" immediately afterwards. The 2014 Pro Bowl center is unconventionally having an inconsistent season, often committing holding penalties or errant snaps.
Former Eagles Pro Bowl linebacker and co-host of Tuesday's 94WIP Mike & Ike Show with Michael Barkann and Ike Reese, Seth Joyner, questioned Kelce's size (6'3", 295). Kelce disagreed with Joyner, something not many people do.
"I think if you look at by and large my body of work, even this season, the mistakes that I'm making aren't because I'm too small," Kelce refuted. "I don't really---there are times when I'll get pushed back in pass protection, but those are very limited and very small. Most of the time, my size and athleticism makes up for it and creates positive plays. And I think if you look at the vast majority of mistakes I've made this year either come from mental mistakes, poor technique, not being in sync with certain players. I'm not smaller this year than I have been my first four years, and I operated just fine then."
This Sunday, the 4-5 Eagles will likely be without starting quarterback Sam Bradford, as they host the 4-5 Buccaneers. Bradford suffered a concussion and a left-shoulder injury against the Dolphins and Mark Sanchez is expected to get the start vs. the Bucs.
"Obviously there are some timing things different in the skill positions," Kelce said, when asked about the differences between Bradford and Sanchez. "Up front, the biggest difference is the cadence and I think Mark has a tendency to push the tempo a little bit more."
