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Chip Kelly Off-Season Choices Hurting Philadelphia Eagles

By Erik Lambert

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Sep 20, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Chip Kelly implored Philadelphia Eagles fans from the beginning of the 2015 off-season that it was okay to trust him and what he had planned for this roster.

It was okay to that he traded Le’Sean McCoy for Kiko Alonso.

It was okay he let both starting guard Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans go.

It was okay he allowed Jeremy Maclin to leave.

His scheme was good enough to where it didn’t matter that he let four key cogs in the offense go because he had ways to overcome it.  Well based on the early returns people are less than happy about those decisions.

Alonso had a history of knee injuries when the Eagles traded for him and after a brilliant start in week 1 he is now back on the injured list with another problem.  The severity isn’t clear yet but it’s further reminder of the gamble Kelly took.

Same goes for the offensive line as it has been consistently overpowered in the run game to this point, unable to do anything with DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews or Darren Sproles.  Say what  you want about McCoy, he at least looked like a much better fit in this offense.

Perhaps the loss that is looming the largest, ironically, is Jeremy Maclin.  He was the go-to guy last season with over 1,300 yards.  Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor and Riley Cooper routinely were unable to gain any sort of separation against the Dallas Cowboys.  A Cowboys secondary, by the way that was playing without top cornerback Orlando Scandrick.

That does not bode well for the rest of the season, and should place the blame squarely at the feet of the head coach.

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