Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly addressed the media for the last time in advance to a Week 5 showdown against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Philadelphia might be able to get the ground game going against a Saints defense which ranks 27th in league, giving up an average of 123.3 yards per game.
The Eagles offense has been inefficient this year. The Eagles run game is rank 29th in the NFL, accounting for only 280 yards on the season.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Eagles offensive line ranked second in the NFL in 2014. The team released both starting guards Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans in the offseason. They decided to start career-backups Allen Barbre at left guard and Andrew Gardner at right guard to start the 2015 NFL season.
Through four games this season, the Eagles offensive line is now ranked 21st in the NFL. Gardner suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 3 and was replaced by Matt Tobin. Barbre is the worst rated offensive lineman on the team with a grade of (-10.5).
"When we're running the football, it's a group deal," Kelly said. "It's not just on the offensive line. Sometimes it could be a different variation. Maybe if we bounce it we can get a couple more yards than we did, that's all."
Also they traded away franchise all-time leading rusher LeSean McCoy to the Buffalo Bills in favor of signing 2014 rushing champion DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews in free agency.
Murray has struggles in Kelly's offense so far. He ran for over 100 yards in each of the first eight games in 2014 with the Dallas Cowboys. In three games with the Eagles, Murray has only 47 rushing yards.
Mathews rushed for over 100 yards in Week 3 when Murray didn't play due to a hamstring injury.
Some say Murray is a running back that needs to get himself into a rhythm before he can start to be effective. Kelly says that sometimes that can't be the case if teams are stopping the offense on virtually every run play.
Murray explained his frustration after last week's 23-20 loss to the Washington Redskins. He told reporters that he isn't getting the balls enough.
Kelly believes that the offensive will get things rolling this week if the coaches and players work together as unit.
"It falls on everybody," Kelly said. "It falls of play calls. It falls on the play design. It falls on the offensive line. It falls on the receivers. It falls on the quarterback. It falls on the tight end. Everyone in our entire offense plays into or success or non-success."
This game is crucial for the Eagles chances of making the postseason. Philadelphia has never made the playoffs after starting a season at 1-4.
Michael Malia is a contributing intern for Eagledelphia. Follow him on Facebook (Michael Mallia) or Twitter @Michael_Malia.
