Image courtesy of sportige.com
SOMEONE in an Eagles group I belong to, pointed out an article (written by another Eagles fan) that summarizes how one Redskins fan said he would stop Chip Kelly’s offense. The summary made the ‘skins fan sound like a moron, and I had a laugh; but then I thought “an Eagles fan did do the summary”. So I went to the source material to see it for myself.
I’m glad I did. I have to say, there was a lot of sound research and football knowledge on display there. Nothing the guy said was technically wrong, and he made some of the points that I made when I did a breakdown of why we were so successful last year. The only problem with his “blueprint” was that he put in too many moving parts.
So how would I do it?
Step one to stopping someone, is understanding what they do. What do the Eagles do? We run the Spread. Okay so what is the Spread? The Spread is a system that typically uses a 3 WR formation (sometimes 4), to spread a defense horizontally, so it can force man coverage concepts that open up the middle of the field for short passes and the run.
What Kelly added to this system was a frenetic pace, and the constant employing of “the mesh” which basically is a legal way of running a ‘pick play’. (If you want to know more about “the mesh”, Sheil Kapadia has an excellent article on it.) Kelly also tweaked the system a bit by frequently using TE’s in the place of slot WR’s, though they are mostly used as receivers and not much in pass protection. So the Eagles typically pass block with just the 5 O-linemen, with a touch of chipping or slow releases.
Now some historical perspective:
Back in the 1990’s there were already 2 teams heavily employing the Spread: the Houston Oilers and the Atlanta Falcons. Back then however, everybody called it the Run and Shoot (RAS).
Both the Falcons and Oilers scored a ton of points using this system. Neither team had a TE of note from their RAS days, primarily because they almost never used one. Even in the run game. The result was a lot of hits on the QB. The sack numbers for QB’s Warren Moon and Chris Miller really don’t tell the whole story. Miller had the misfortune to play in the same division as Pat Swilling and Rickey Jackson (Saints), Kevin Greene (Rams), and Charles Haley (49ers). (If you aren’t familiar with those names, look them up.) There were a lot of late hits and free runs to the QB. Miller missed quite a few games.
What I’m saying is the Spread is expensive. It requires you to gamble with the most precious resource on your team: Your starting QB. It’s why you don’t see a lot of it these days. For example: Bill Belichik has been recently borrowing concepts from Chip Kelly. Now take a look at Tom Brady’s recent sack numbers and completion percentage. However Brady’s recent TD/Int ratio indicates that Nick Foles (or another QB) may be able to produce similar numbers in this system.
Once more: The Spread is the Run and Shoot. Kelly’s version is run at a faster pace, while getting as close to cheating as possible without justifying the flag being thrown. That’s our Offense in a nutshell.
So then how do you stop it? Simple. Play some Cover-2 and consistently send 6, (since the Eagles typically block with 5). It’s Jim Johnson 101.
That’s it. Really. You don’t need 80 steps like what’s listed by our Redskins friend up there, just 2. Make sure the hit is delivered (even if it’s late), and make the tackle on the short completion.
That’s it. It’s not easy, but it’s simple. You make it a game of attrition. Because limping QB’s can’t run the hurry-up, and scared QB’s rush their passes, or get flagged for intentional grounding. (Remember those?)
It was this formula (and everyone running some version of the WCO) that ran the RAS out of the NFL. And as I said in another article: If I know this, you can bet NFL DC’s do too.
EAGLEMANIACAL.com 
Rush 6, we let the tight end block, then we hurt you through the air!!
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The only problem with that is that Kelly doesn’t really use his TE’s in pass pro. That point is also referenced in the Sheil Kapadia article I mentioned further up the page. It’s also AGAIN referenced by the ‘skins fan in his breakdown.
Kelly uses his TE’s and Backs to chip as they release into a route, but not really as hardcore sit and fight types. It’s just not his M.O.
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Surprised no one pointed this out already. If you 1) rush 6 and 2) play cover 2 behind it, Chip will win the numbers game outside. He will simply thin out the box and and attack on the outside. He will also attack in the middle behind the rushers.
First, remember the qb in our offense “blocks” one of the rushers essentially with the read on the handoff. If not, qb gets 5 yards a pop. So the advantage is not quite what you think it will be.
Next, 6 rushers means 5 defenders in cover 2 left against 5 eagles (4 receivers and 1 RB). Too easy. If I’m Chip I stack the receivers up 2 by 2 on either side then send one in Orbit motion to the other side. Now 3 by 1. If cover 2 doesn’t shift, Orbit player gets it. If D shifts RB gets it to the other side which will now no longer have the MLB.
Oh and I haven’t even mentioned quick dig or curl routes to the middle of the field which is now vacated by middle linebacker and rushing 6
The point of this offense is we win no matter what the D does! Unless our o- line starts whiffing on blocks or our players execute the plan poorly.
Excited for 2015!
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And yet teams like Green Bay, San Fran, Arizona, Seattle and even Washington w(TWICE) seem to have figured out how to keep wraps on our scheme. The RAS/Spread/Whatever it’s called today was figured out years ago. Kelly combined aspects of the game that already existed. He didn’t re-invent the game or even invent a new wrinkle.
But it’s good to see that you’re excited for 2015.
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The Eagles in 91 beat the R n S with a base 4-3 defense. They simply beat the Oilers up and took their will to play. The Eagles aren’t built for a physical game. Even with the “upgrades” this team is going to have a hard time facing tough competition. With that being the case Chip’s frantic pace does provide a challenge to most defenses. It can wear a team out fast, but a defense filled with athletes or poor decision making by the QB makes Kelly’s pace a liability for his own defense. Also the spread offense is a self killer in the Red Zone. Kelly really should invest in a fullback and if this team really plans to zone read with a brittle QB like Bradford he will be gone by week six.
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Couldn’t have said that better myself.
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I want to believe in Chip Kelly and his system, but the biggest turnoff for me is how so many have blindly jumped on the wagon and for what? He won 20 games in two years with players who aren’t even Eagles anymore?? The funny thing is by this time Ray Rhodes also had 20 wins and a playoff victory to boot. Andy Reid had about 16 wins, but he also had a playoff victory under his belt. Rhodes had two playoff appearances and his team completely dominated a superior opponent. Chip Kelly’s team folded when it matter most in the playoffs and last season. He hasn’t earned this blind faith/loyalty these people are giving him. His system has yet to prove it can win a championship in college or in the pros.
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And THAT is what I’ve been saying for 2 years now.
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My whole attitude has been wait and see. It’s still too early to be all in, but I’m war I’ll supporting him.
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