Eagles hope to finally get off to fast start vs. 49ers
PHILADELPHIA — Chip Kelly does everything fast — thinking, talking and even hustling among groups of players inside the Philadelphia Eagles' practice bubble while he prepares them for Sunday's clash with the San Francisco 49ers.
But one thing the coach's high-revving offense hasn't done despite the Eagles' undefeated start? Start fast.
"I'm not comfortable with anything if we don't start very well," Kelly said Thursday. "We don't ever sit there and say, 'Hey, we won the game. So let's not address what's going on.'
"But you also have to give credit to the other team."
The other teams have all pounced on Kelly's squad this season, making the Eagles the first team in league history to begin 3-0 despite trailing by double digits in each game.
However they may not be able to afford a similar margin of error against a Niners squad which could be nearing desperation after a 1-2 start. San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick is completing 70.2% of his passes, and his 129 rushing yards have nicely supplemented a ground game capable of exploding with backs Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde.
Kaepernick's deep group of receivers should also put pressure on a 26th-ranked Eagles defense that has struggled to generate an effective pass rush. If the 49ers sprint to a few early scores, Kelly's team could struggle to dig out of another hole on the road against one of the league's most accomplished defenses in recent years.
"We're 3-0, but we've definitely had our fair share of mistakes, problems we need to get fixed," Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin told Paste BN Sports. "We're making mistakes early on in games we can't afford to do because teams will beat us down the road. ... We have to not fall behind early so we put ourselves in more manageable third downs, so we can get off the field.
"We need to put it altogether all game long."
Fortunately for the Eagles, San Francisco has also struggled to string four solid quarters together. However the Niners' issues arise in the second half, where they've been outscored 52-3 this season.
"They're going to want to run the ball with Frank Gore. They'll put in big people and try to run the ball and open up the pass for Kaepernick," Barwin said. "He's maturing as a quarterback. But he still has that big-play running ability at any time."
The Eagles extricated themselves from a 17-0 hole against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, a 17-6 deficit against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 and found themselves down 17-7 last Sunday against the Washington Redskins.
"We need to be more efficient in the red zone and take better care of the football," receiver Jeremy Maclin said.
Is there one overriding reason why the Eagles haven't clicked until the second half, where they're outscoring teams 74-24?
"I don't see a common thread," Kelly said. "Indianapolis did a really good job of running the ball against us. But the Washington Redskins did a good job of throwing the ball, controlling the clock against us."
Opposing defenses have been stacking the box against 2013 rushing champion LeSean McCoy, daring quarterback Nick Foles to throw.
"It can get a little frustrating," McCoy said. "It's kind of a respect thing. But still you really want to go out there and dominate."
But one thing won't change.
"Chip's going to let me get my touches," said McCoy, who has 175 yards on 60 carries with one touchdown.
But he had just 22 yards on 19 carries in Sunday's 37-34 win against Washington.
"Last year, I jumped out real early, and we went 1-3," McCoy said. "Now we're 3-0, looking good, everybody's playing well. ... I can't be selfish. We're winning games. That's what's most important.
"If I'm (ticked) off that we're not running the ball as well, and we're winning, what does that look like? Deep inside, I want to win."
McCoy accounted for 47% of Philadelphia's yards in 2013. So far, Foles has been the primary playmaker, but he can't keep taking 15 hits a game as he did against Washington and survive.
And the quarterback's protection has suffered with center Jason Kelce, guard Evan Mathis, right tackle Allen Barbre and left tackle Jason Peters all getting banged up to varying degrees. Right tackle Lane Johnson won't play against the 49ers while finishing up his four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Kelly is just trying to find some equilibrium for a team that typically got hot early last season but struggled to close games out.
"When you're daydreaming, it would be great to be up 35-0 at the half," Kelly said. "Not in this league. You're not going to be up on anybody 35-0 at the half.
"It's going to be a battle."
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