NFL 2013 Film Study: Eagles Offense

Chip Kelly's offense doesn't rely on one set play in the traditional sense. Each play has a series of options based on the reaction of the defense.

  

Option 1:  Zone read,Vick can hand it off to Mcoy or keep it and hit the edge. 

Option 2: Celek on the seam route. 

Option 3: Jackson on the bubble screen 

Option 4:  Cooper coming across the middle on a slant route.

London Fletcher looked lost Monday night, however it wasn't his fault, whatever Fletcher did Vick chose a counter for it. Fletcher bites on the run and Vick gashes him over the top to Celek running the seam.

Stopping the Eagles won't be easy, the flexibility of the offense prevents the defense from attempting to lock in on one aspect.

Michael Vick’s Preseason Success is Fool’s Gold

"I’m having fun playing football and I fell in love with the game again and I am thankful for that.” 

He looks it too, Vick has been outstanding this preseason. Through two games Vick is 13 of 15 for 199 yards, one TD, one interception and a passer rating of 113.1. His preseason performance is reminiscent of his first year with former Eagles coach Andy Reid. That year Vick was a rejuvenated by a new coach and a new system as well.

To understand Vick’s early success we have to unpack Chip Kelly’s offensive system. Kelly has simplified Vick’s responsibilities at the line of scrimmage by minimizing the amount of information the quarterback has to process.

Speed in Kelly’s system isn’t only about how fast the team gets to the line of scrimmage to snap the ball. The reads the quarterback make are fast and definitive. When the quarterback approaches line he has a series of options to choose from based on what the defense shows him.

Chris Brown of Grantland covers this in great detail. “This concept, known in coaching circles as "packaged" or "combo" plays, resulted in two of the Eagles' three touchdowns against the Patriots (one run, one pass) and was especially useful when the Eagles went to their fastest no-huddle tempo. The idea behind the play, like so many of Kelly's concepts, is basic arithmetic: If the defense doesn't put two defenders over the outside receivers, the quarterback will throw a quick screen that direction; if they do line up those defenders outside, the offense should have favorable numbers to run the ball inside.”

The system is seemingly a perfect fit for Vick, who’s always been more of a reactive player than a proactive one. There’s just one problem, he’s yet to face a real defense. While preseason has its uses, this is not regular season football. Defenses aren’t showing their hands. Vick isn’t facing blitzes or disguised coverages. When that does happen, will he revert to his old habits?

Furthermore Vick’s quote about falling in love with the game again is troubling when you break it down. How many times have we seen stories about the rejuvenation of Michael Vick?  Vick is not a self-motivated athlete. He requires external motivation to be at his best; even then his enthusiasm and commitment eventually wane. Many believe that Chip Kelly used the Eagles quarterback competition as a tool to motivate Vick.  Does Tom Brady, Drew Brees or Peyton Manning need their coaches to motivate them in this way?

It’s very possible Michael Vick will have a great start to the 2013 season but it won’t last, Vick is the king of the sugar high. The media and his fans will rejoice shouting “Michael Vick is back and he’s playing the best football of his life”. It won’t last, it never does.  Michael Vick’s fiercest rival has never been on the other side of the ball, it’s behind center.

Vick Thinks he can Run for 1000 yards Next Season

Vick said on Mike and Mike in the Morning that he expects “to be one of the elite quarterbacks in the league again” playing for Chip Kelly. And he referenced his final season with the Falcons, when he ran for an NFL quarterback record 1,039 yards, as something he believes he can match.


“In 2006 I ran for 1,000 yards — and it wasn’t hard,” Vick said. “I feel like I still can do that.”

Read more: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/12/michael-vick-thinks-he-can-run-for-1000-yards-in-chip-kellys-offense/

Ten Questions with Susan Shan

1. Wow What a game by Micheal Vick last night. Do you think he is the MVP of the league?

It's too early to call Vick the MVP, but he's the early favorite even with three missed games.

2. Donovan McNabb just signed what we now know is a heavily incentive laden contract with the Red Skins, do you think this is a good decision for either side, and what have you thought of Donovan's stint in D.C so far?

I've always liked Donovan. He was one of my first interviewees, and he has remained classy and personable throughout the years. The contract is good for both sides; Donovan doesn't lose anything by signing it, and the Redskins can release him at the end of the season if they are not satisfied. It's tough to gauge Donovan's stint in D.C. because not only is this his first year, it's the coaching staff's first year. The entire team has to adjust to a new system along with a new quarterback. And, it's not as if Donovan has a premier wideout to pass to. Joey Galloway is almost 40 years old, and he's Donovan's WR2; that's a joke.

3. Who's the best team in football right now?

If the Steelers had beaten the Patriots, that would be the easiest answer in the world. Since the Steelers lost, I'll have to say the Falcons (with uncertainty).

4. Who's the best team in the AFC?

New England Patriots (reluctantly). I still think the Steelers or Ravens are the best team, but records don't lie; the Patriots beat both.

5. How good are the Falcons?

Their offensive weapons (Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez) were expected to be good, but the defense has really stepped up. The defense is ranked eighth in the league in terms of points allowed (19.4 points per game). I've always liked Curtis Lofton, and he once again anchors the defense. Lofton is a tackle machine who probably should've made the Pro Bowl last year.

6. Is Randy Moss done?

I don't think he's done. It was never a question about his talent, which he still has. The other stuff is up to him, and that's what will determine the rest of his time in the NFL.

7. How did you get into sports.? What unique challenges do women(and in your case a minority) face?

I was raised to love sports. My dad took me to bars when I was five years old to watch Texas A&M football games. I was also a tomboy who played sports instead of with dolls. Growing up, I had one Barbie doll that was given to me as a gift by my parents' friend. Instead of playing with the doll, I used to toss it around like a ball.

Sports reporting is a tough field for a female, much less a minority female. I fight to gain respect and credibility every day for my writing abilities and sports knowledge. People find it difficult to believe that I really did choose this field because I love sports and everything sports stand for. I could care less about fame, popularity, or being on television. As long as I can make a decent living doing what I love, that's all that matters.

8. The NFL just came out with it's 100 greatest players of all time. Do you have any major problems with the list? Who's your number one?

Honestly, lists like these are always tough to make. It's like when the NCAA Selection Committee chooses its field of 65 (now 68); some teams are overrated, some underrated, and a few deserving teams are snubbed. As a whole, I have no major quibbles with the list. Peyton Manning will be No. 1 by the time he retires.

9. I'm a Cowboy fan, so I have to slip in a question about my boys. Who do you think Jerry will hire? Is Garrett the answer or will he look in a another direction?

It's tough to argue with how the team responded to Garrett. If he continues to motivate the team like he did in his first week, he will be the Cowboys head coach next year. In addition, everyone knows how much I like Felix Jones. My biggest complaint with the Cowboys has always been that they have no idea how to effectively use the talented and explosive Jones. In Garrett's first game as head coach, he started Jones over Marion Barber. That's definitely a step in the right direction.

10. Fill in the blank Fantasy Football is _________________.

God's gift to football fans.

Susan Shan is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a B.A. in Creative Writing. She had her first major interviews at 16 with Donovan McNabb and Jeff Garcia. Since then, she has interviewed numerous athletes and written countless articles along with a brief stint as a professional poker player. Check out her website: susanshan.com