Fansided
Fansided

Evan Mathis Warns San Francisco 49ers About Chip Kelly

By Erik Lambert

Dec 6, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Denver Broncos guard Evan Mathis (69) in pass protection during the first half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Denver won 17-3. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Denver Broncos guard Evan Mathis (69) in pass protection during the first half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Denver won 17-3. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Things didn’t end the way Chip Kelly hoped they would in Philadelphia.  After back-to-back seasons finishing 10-6, including a playoff appearance, the team regressed to a 7-9 finish.  This after the head coach was granted complete power over the roster and proceed to make a number of major moves, including several that were questioned like the release of All-Pro guard Evan Mathis.

One can imagine it must’ve been sweet karma for the 34-year old.  He went to the Denver Broncos and won a championship.  Kelly, the man who thought he couldn’t play anymore (despite clear evidence that was not the case) was fired.  Now he’s clinging to what could be his final NFL lifeline as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, tasked with trying to turnaround Colin Kaepernick and a team that was in the Super Bowl three years ago.

When asked about how things were in Philadelphia, Mathis has some sharp comments regarding his former head coach.

"“There were many things that Chip had done that showed me he wasn’t building a championship team,” Mathis wrote in his e-mail to  9NEWS. “Two of the main issues that concerned me were: 1. A never-evolving, vanilla offense that forced our own defense to play higher than normal play counts. 2. His impatience with certain personality types even when they were blue-chip talents. The Broncos team I was on would have eaten Chip alive. I don’t think he could have handled the plethora of large personalities.”"

Indeed at times it was felt that Kelly overcame lack of creativity in his scheming by simply speeding things up.  He didn’t understand how good the NFL is at adjusting to those things.  As defenses caught up, he failed to adapt and soon the offense stopped working.  Instead of adjusting himself, he just started replacing players as if they were screws in an engine.

  • DeSean Jackson left for Washington.
  • LeSean McCoy was traded to Buffalo.
  • Jeremy Maclin left for Kansas City.
  • Mathis went to Denver.

It’s no coincidence that the offense began to fall apart after those three walked out the door.  Mathis himself grew so frustrated that he asked Kelly for his release.  Now he has a Super Bowl ring.  Maclin helped the Chiefs to their first playoff win since 1994.  Jackson helped the Redskins to the playoffs.  Buffalo finished 8-8 on the season, one win better than the Eagles.

Perhaps he’s trying to warn the 49ers of who exactly they let take over their team.

Home/NFL News