Here's something to add to the angst of Eagles fans today as they come to grips that the 0-2 Birds now will face the 2-0 Jets Sunday in the Meadowlands.
What if there is a fatal flaw in Chip Kelly's 'Genius,' one that other NFL teams have figured out?
Yes, the Eagles clearly have struggled in their first two games, particularly on offense and especially with their running game. The play of new guards Allen Barbre and Andrew Gardner has come under heavy scrutiny as the replacements for All-Pro Evan Mathis and veteran Todd Herremans.
But that does not explain how poorly the Eagles ground game, realigned behind DeMarco Murray and Ryan Matthews, has fared. Murrray, who led the NFL in rushing last year, carried 13 times for two yards on Sunday vs. Dallas. As a team the Birds put up a single digit on the ground - a whopping total of 7 yards. The Eagles are dead last in the NFL in rushing. They are averaging 2.1 yards a carry.
It's as if the other team knows the Eagles plays.
Maybe they do.
Both Dan Quinn, the former Seahawks defensive coordinator who is the new head coach of the Falcons, and Cowboys defensive boss Rod Marinelli, seem to have figured out Kelly's system.
There is a reason why so many people openly wondered about Kelly's lust for a mobile quarterback, in particular No. 1 pick Marcus Mariota, who played for him at Oregon.
His ground game depends on it.
Most of the time the Eagles line up in shotgun. When the QB places the ball in the gut of a running back, he then makes what some refer to as the 'read option,' reading the defensive linemen and then either giving the ball to the back or pulling it back.
But that is based on the threat of the quarterback running. The Eagles, with Sam Bradford at quarterback, don't have that option.
Defensive teams aren't even considering it, instead splitting the gaps, crashing into the backfield and wreaking havoc on the Birds' ground game. Most of the plays don't have a chance. If Bradford would even occasionally pull that ball out and scoot around the end, it would create doubt on the defense. There is none now. You know when the Eagles run, the back is getting the ball. Defenses are keying on that and shutting it down.
Of course, that doesn't explain why the run game worked with Nick Foles, except for the idea that Shady McCoy was able to make plays with his speed and change of direction.
Murray looks like a frustrated back, pacing the sidelines and exhorting his teammates.
That's what happens when the other team knows what you're going to do.
Can Kelly fix this before facing the Jets on Sunday. He'd better. The Jets are 2-0 on merit, with a stout defense that completely shut down the Colts Monday night.
That's not going to help matters much.
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