I like this Chip Kelly guy more every day.
Sure, his defense is a disaster looking for a place to happen. During the midst of the carnage Sunday vs. the Chargers, I tweeted that the only thing his secondary was missing was a Big Top.
And yes, I immediately questioned his time management at the end of the game, when he gave the Chargers way too much time to march down the field and kick the winning field goal.
But this team will be fascinating to watch, if only to see what new wrinkles Kelly’s explosive offense unleashes each week.
None of that, however, is why I have more respect for Kelly today.
This involves something that he did yesterday.
Kelly admitted he screwed up. Just like the rest of us do every day. Only he made his mistake on a bit bigger stage.
The NFL rules on injury timeouts is different than in college. At a crucial juncture at the end of Sunday’s game, with the Eagles driving for what appeared to be another touchdown, Michael Vick got body-slammed to the turf. The ref called an injury timeout, meaning that Vick would have to leave the field for one game. This despite Vick’s protestations that he was fine and ready to go.
What Kelly now admits he did not know was that he could have called a time out and then inserted Vick back in the game without sitting out a play. As it was, backup Nick Foles trotted out and tossed a fade pass that didn’t connect. Yeah, I didn’t like that play call either. Vick returned on the next play, but the Eagles wound up settling for a game-tying field goal. Not enough, as it turned out. The Chargers rolled right down the field and kicked the game-winner.
At his Monday press conference, Kelly came clean.
“That’s on me,” the Visor said. “I should have asked. I think it’s difficult to be familiar with any rule because the rule book is so thick.”
Kelly was asked a legitimate question and gave a reasoned answer, in effect throwing himself under the bus. He wasn’t belligerent. He didn’t try to belittle the question, or the questioner.
Think his predecessor, who just happens to be in town in two days, would have done the same thing, especially in the past couple of years.
“I’ve made mistakes,” Kelly continued. “I think we’ve all made mistakes. That’s what this game is all about.”
How refreshing. We know how you feel, coach. We make mistakes every day.
Just don’t make any Thursday night.
Remember how Buddy Ryan used to say all the coach of the Eagles has to do is beat Dallas twice a year? All you have to do is win this game Thursday night.
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