Report: Eagles To Interview Chip Kelly
The Eagles are one of three teams that will interview Oregon head coach Chip Kelly, according to a report.
Mike Garafolo of USA Today says that the Eagles, Bills and Browns will each have a sit-down with Kelly. Word first came out earlier today that Kelly is expected to interview with Joe Banner and the Browns Friday.
Kelly’s name has been tied to Philadelphia well before Andy Reid was even fired.
“I’m looking for someone that’s innovative. Somebody that is not afraid to take risks,” said Jeffrey Lurie on Monday. “Somebody that looks [at] and studies the league and studies the college world and decides what the best inefficiencies are on offense and defense and special teams and can execute it with their coaches so that you take advantage of trends and take advantage of, again, inefficiencies in terms of where the game is at and understand where it’s going. So, a student of the game who is obsessed and who absolutely and, on his own, is completely driven to be the best, that’s what you’re looking for.”
Kelly can definitely be described as innovative and a risk-taker. Is he willing to adapt? That’s one big question, as Nick Foles — whom Eagles management appears high on — is not a fit for the system Kelly runs at Oregon.
“I have never ran the zone read; I’m more of a dropback [QB], but I’ve been under center, I’ve been in the gun,” said Foles. “If I can adapt I want to, but I’m not a zone read quarterback. Some people are gifted with different things, that’s just not one of my skill sets.”
A Kelly/Foles union could not work unless Kelly is willing to adjust his approach. On Wednesday, he suggested that he is open to change. From the Daily News:
“Anything you do has to be personnel-driven. You’ve gotta be able to adapt to the personnel that you have. There’s a lot of great offenses out there, but does it fit with the personnel you have? I think the key is being sure what you’re doing is giving your players the chance to be successful.”
It has been noted that Kelly helped influence how the Patriots run their offense. Obviously Tom Brady is not fleet-footed, so that offers some hope that Kelly can adjust to the situation.
It has also been debated just how much power Kelly is seeking, and whether he could fit into the Eagles’ desired power structure Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports that Kelly is not seeking total control of football operations.
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