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Versatility is a Very Valuable Virtue - Tommy Lawlor, Iggles Blitz
Some football coaches love specialists. They want players who have mastered a particular skill or role. Chip Kelly is not one of those coaches. He’s pretty much the exact opposite. Kelly wants players that he can move around and be creative with. His no huddle approach has helped him to see the value of players being able to handle different jobs. Substitutions slow the game down, plus you tell the opponent what you’re doing and allow them to react.
Eagles Wake-Up Call: Will Boykin Get a Shot? - Sheil Kapadia, Birds 24/7
Boykin had six interceptions last year, tied for second in the league. He had 23 interceptions/passes defensed combined; that ranked fifth. The numbers would be impressive for any starting cornerback in the NFL. But Boykin's accomplishments were even more noteworthy considering he only played 51.6 percent of the team's defensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus. Davis' comments left the impression that perhaps in Boykin's third year he might get more of a shot to play on the outside. But Chip Kelly talked about Boykin last month and seemed to indicate that the third-year player would remain in his role as the team's nickel.
Fan-Demonium: In Search Of Versatility - Tommy Lawlor, PE.com
Chip Kelly loves big players. He loves fast players. He loves skilled players. More than anything else, he seems to really love versatile players. Kelly wants players whom he can move around and be creative with, whether on offense or defense. Think back to the 2013 offseason. Kelly added tight end James Casey in free agency. Casey can play tight end, fullback or H-back. The Eagles signed Connor Barwin, who could play either outside linebacker spot. The team drafted Lane Johnson fourth overall. Johnson could play either tackle spot and probably either guard spot. Bennie Logan was the third-round pick. He could play nose tackle or defensive end. Fifth-round pick Earl Wolff was a pure safety, but could play either safety spot.
Top 5 teams to watch in offseason workouts - Judy Battista, NFL.com
Let's not even pretend there is anything more interesting here than the offense, which just lost its best playmaker in DeSean Jackson, but gained one of the game's most electrifying and versatile players in Darren Sproles. Virtually everything that goes on with the Eagles is really about coach Chip Kelly, though. How his team embraces life without Jackson -- the lack of outraged comments coming from his former teammates suggests either fear of upsetting Kelly or a quiet acknowledgement that Jackson was a handful for him -- will tell us plenty about how it will run this season.
Foles: DeSean was a 'great teammate to me' - CSN Philly
The Eagles' quarterback also fielded questions about his football team -- specifically its decision to cut ties with Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson. "You know, it's surprising," Foles said to Comcast SportsNet's Derrick Gunn, referring to the Eagles' decision to release Jackson. "But at the same time, you learn that it's a business. It's a tough business, at times. We develop a lot of friendships on a team and I've had many of my close teammates let go. It's very tough, but at the same time, you know it's part of the game, part of the business."
Running back is becoming the worst job in professional sports. | SportsonEarth.com : Mike Tanier
Running backs are traditionally football's second-biggest stars, but the position is rapidly becoming the worst job in professional sports. Chris Johnson and Maurice Jones-Drew at least got the opportunity to cash in with their previous contracts. The current generation won't be so lucky.
The Notebook: A look at Michael Sam's future as a pass rusher - Stephen White, SB Nation NFL
Does Missouri defensive end Michael Sam have the moves to be a productive NFL pass rusher? Retired NFL defensive end Stephen White takes a look.