Highlights from Chip Kelly’s Thursday Press Conference
By Somers Price
Mar 26, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly speaks to reporters at the NFL Annual Meetings. Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports
All of a sudden, after not hearing from Chip Kelly all offseason, we cannot get the guy to shut up. Jokes aside, the Eagles head coach held his second press conference of the month Thursday morning prior to the first open practice of the team’s OTAs. Entering his second season as an NFL coach, Kelly’s avoidance of the media has become one of his hallmarks. Like every coach in the league, however, Kelly is required to speak at certain times of the offseason. Despite not being constantly out and about with the press, Chip usually is very poised and quick-witted during his availabilities. Thursday was no different, as he addressed the state of the team and how he sees things going forward with the defending NFC East champion Eagles.
The following nuggets come courtesy of the Twitter account @EaglesInsider.
ON NICK FOLES ENTERING YEAR AS UNQUESTIONED STARTER:
Kelly: Great thing about Foles is "he knows he's never going to arrive." ... Same approach in trying to get better every day.
— Dave Spadaro (@EaglesInsider) May 29, 2014
ON THE RECOVERY OF JEREMY MACLIN, AS WELL AS INJURED RECEIVER ARRELIOUS BENN & LINEBACKER JASON PHILLIPS:
Kelly: Jeremy Maclin is doing "fantastic" ... All 3 injured guys from last year are full-go
— Dave Spadaro (@EaglesInsider) May 29, 2014
ON THE SAFETY POSITION AND WHAT MALCOLM JENKINS ARRIVAL HAS MEANT TO THE TEAM:
Kelly: Nate Allen is the first guy up at safety right now next to Malcolm Jenkins, Earl Wolff is running with 2s now ... Good competition.
— Dave Spadaro (@EaglesInsider) May 29, 2014
Chip Kelly says Malcolm Jenkins has been "outstanding" thus far ... Says it feels like he's been in the system for a while.
— Dave Spadaro (@EaglesInsider) May 29, 2014
ON DARREN SPROLES AND SOME MISUNDERSTANDINGS OF HIS ROLE:
Kelly: Everyone thinks Darren Sproles is a receiver, he's a running back and a talented one at that.
— Dave Spadaro (@EaglesInsider) May 29, 2014
With several other members of the collective media in attendance, here are a few other Kelly quotes that jumped out to me courtesy of various other accounts:
ON WHERE HE SEES THE TEAM COMPARED TO LAST SEASON (COURTESY OF @JEFF_MCLANE):
How far ahead is team this year at this time as opposed to last year when it was your first season? Chip: "It's light years. ... Faster."
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) May 29, 2014
ON THE SITUATION IN DALLAS AFTER THE INJURY TO SEAN LEE AND HIS TAKE ON CONTACT DURING OTAS (COURTESY OF @GEOFFMOSHERCSN):
Chip, re: Sean Lee situation: we emphasize all the time you can't go to the ground in practice.
— Geoff Mosher (@GeoffPMosher) May 29, 2014
ON WHETHER OR NOT HE HAS AN IDEA OF A DEPTH CHART OR WHO HE EXPECTS TO START (COURTESY OF @ELIOTSHORRPARKS):
Chip says he has an idea who is going to start, but like last year, jobs are up for grabs. #Eagles
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) May 29, 2014
A FEW ADDITIONAL EXCERPTS WITH SOME OVERLAP OF PREVIOUS TOPICS (COURTESY OF @MATTLOMBARDO975):
Chip Kelly: This is really the first time we can go against a defense but we're impressed with their attitude. We're preparing to be better.
— Matt Lombardo 🏈 (@MattLombardoNFL) May 29, 2014
Kelly: We're exactly where we want to be for practice 3 in OTA's. There's no concern about where we'll be in September. #Eagles
— Matt Lombardo 🏈 (@MattLombardoNFL) May 29, 2014
Kelly: We're getting more team reps in now because everyone's more familiar with what we're doing every day. #Eagles
— Matt Lombardo 🏈 (@MattLombardoNFL) May 29, 2014
Something tells me that Chip Kelly was looking forward to this press conference much more than his limited availability over the course of the offseason. Gone were the questions regarding DeSean Jackson and the direction of the conversation was much more regarding his team and how he plans to improve off last season. I was able to listen on the radio, and the quick-trigger responses spoken in typical Chip Kelly warp speed had much more enthusiasm behind them. As we know all too well, Kelly is a football guy first and foremost. His relationship with the media and the publicized world that the NFL has become is far more limited than some coaches in the league. Kelly sounded much more in his element on Thursday and seems as excited as ever to sap every last ounce of productivity out of the OTAs before shifting focus to breaking down tape and moving on to the next stage of the offseason program.
For those who want to watch Kelly’s press conference, Philadelphiaeagles.com provided video of the appearance and is available below.