Patrick Causey, on Twitter @PhillySportsJD
Here is a roundup of stories on the Eagles in the local and national media:
Chip Kelly the Next Bill Walsh?
UPDATE: Bedard's article can be found online now in its entirety right here.
Greg Bedard of SI.com wrote an in-depth article on Chip Kelly that hit newsstands this week. While the article is not available online (yet), he has been making rounds on Philadelphia sports radio talking the piece up. Today, he appeared on 94.1 WIP in the Morning, and had the following to say about Kelly:
One of Bedard's central themes of the article is that Chip Kelly has drawn favorable comparisons to the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame coach, Bill Walsh. Like Walsh, Kelly came from college. Like Walsh with the west coast offense, Kelly's spread option attack was heavily doubted by NFL old timers who thought it was a gimmick that would not succeed.
But now the tide has turned, and Bedard talked about the influence Kelly's offense has had on the NFL, with different aspects of his offense being adopted by a number of NFL teams, including the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.
Bedard also discussed how both Kelly and Walsh thought their offensive scheme was good enough to makeup for a shortcoming in talent. Walsh spent his first two drafts heavily investing in defense because he thought he could compensate the lack of talent on offense with his west coast scheme. Since Kelly has taken the reigns for player personnel, you have seen him invest heavily on the defensive side of the ball both in the draft and through free agency.
Beard explained that the media is so fascinated with Kelly because he is an "enigma wrapped in a riddle." He told the story about Chip did not even tell his own father that he was hired by the Eagles; his dad heard the story through the media.
PhiladelphiaEagles.com has a feature on the story in SI.com, you can check it out here.
Evan Mathis Missing From OTAs
In a move that surprises few, Evan Mathis was not present as the Eagles gathered for voluntary OTAs yesterday. Mathis has been in an ongoing contract dispute with the Eagles for the last two seasons. He has sought (unsuccessfully to this point) a trade from the Eagles in each of the last two offseasons.
It is unclear what happens next. Chip Kelly and Mathis have taken shots at one another through the media since the NFL Draft, so it is unclear whether the schism between the two can be repaired. But Mathis is still one of the highest paid guards in the NFL. And the Eagles — who have not drafted an offensive lineman in the last two seasons — are in desperate need of Mathis' services. It seems like this unhappy marriage may continue out of necessity, at least for one more season.
DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy Missing from OTAs
Speaking of players missing OTAs, both DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy have not participated for their respective teams yet.
Jackson was once again a no show for the Redskins OTAs, after having missed part of the voluntary workouts last season. To make matters worse, Jackson was seen at the Cleveland Cavaliers game last night, which sheds light on why the Eagles let Jackson go in the first place.
Meanwhile, Rex Ryan claims that McCoy missed the OTAs because of a thing with his neck:
Ryan says LeSean McCoy has a "little thing in his neck" that is keeping him out of #Bills OTA practice.
— Vic Carucci (@viccarucci) May 27, 2015
Perhaps this explains why neither DeSean Jackson or LeSean McCoy are wearing midnight green. #Culture
