For the first time since his days in college, Chip Kelly will be fielding largely a roster of his own creation. Many words have already been written and said about the sudden change in demographics on the Eagles, the incomings and outgoings that grabbed headlines on a regular basis this offseason.
Naturally the question remains, Will it work?
1. A lot of important positions are filled with new faces.
Talent is one thing, but chemistry and cohesion quite another. The novelty around this team is exciting, but it's also pressing. These players had some time to get acquainted with each other in the springtime OTAs, but they'll only have about a month to grow into each other on the field, to gain trust, and to acquire proper timing with one another.
2. The quarterback predicament is also noteworthy.
How could it not be? The Eagles did a deal for Sam Bradford in exchange for Nick Foles to, what one must presume, is what they feel the long-term answer under center. Why else would they bring him aboard? There's no team in football that would pay over $13 million for anything approaching a back-up, so the plan has to be for Bradford to be their face this autumn.
It would take a serious health concern for Bradford to not be the starter from the word "Go." He's said as much. Kelly expects Bradford to be throwing passes when training camp begins. There's technically an open competition between he and Mark Sanchez, but if it's the latter taking the snaps in Atlanta in Week 1, not only is Bradford's future under suspicion. So is Chip Kelly's.
If a decision of his that important doesn't pan out that early, there would be more than some rumblings about his inability to find a franchise quarterback. He's been through a few now.
3. Rookie watch.
Chip Kelly is normally someone who likes to ease his rookies into the fold, but that tact could be in jeopardy this time around. The Eagles' leading receiver last season, Jeremy Maclin, took the money and ran out of town for Andy Reid's Chiefs. That left a gaping hole in the pass game that needs filled as soon as possible.
Kelly and the Eagles are placing their faith in Nelson Agholor to fill that hole. Taken in the first round from USC, he's presumed the No. 1 option. An excellent run after the catch talent, that skill-set should make him at home right off the bat. His hands ability and speed are qualities that have never been questioned.
Agholor jumped out of the gate in 2013, improving in receptions, yards, and touchdowns over two seasons. He added 4 touchdowns on punt returns, a position he could have early on in the preseason.
He could produce a threatening receiving tandem alongside Jordan Matthews, who last season had the best outing of any rookie Eagles receiver, and the possibility of Agholor repeating that feat is not out of order. And while Philadelphia rarely puts out pass catching tandems, recent years show a somewhat different picture.
Here's a list of wide receiver combos in recent seasons who grabbed headlines (and yards):
2014: (2,190); Jeremy Maclin 1,318; Jordan Matthews 872
2013: (2,167); DeSean Jackson 1,332; Riley Cooper 835
2010: (2,020); DeSean Jackson 1,056; Jeremy Maclin 964
True, most of that involved players who currently play elsewhere. But if anything can be known from Chip Kelly's tenure in Philadelphia, it's his friendliness to up-tempo, receiver-friendly offenses, and his willingness to insert new names and faces into his schemes. His Eagles posted a top-five offense last season, surpassing 6,300 total yards, and posting the sixth-best yardage per game (272).
4. Secondary should be No. 1 defensive priority.
The Eagles last season gave up what they call "X-plays" by the bushel -- plays involving extra yards. It was a consistent problem: their stout front seven held teams firm near the line, then came the long bomb -- 18 plays all told of 40 yards or more, the most in football since the Chiefs allowed 22 of them.
Philadelphia allowed an average of 12.3 yards per completion, the second worst in the NFL, and became the first team in history to allow more than 4,000 yards while also limiting opposing quarterbacks to less than 62 percent completion rates.
DeSean Jackson hauled in an aggravating 81 yard touchdown in his first chance at revenge since joining the Redskins. Larry Fitzgerald snagged an 80 yarder and John Brown the game-winning 75 yard catch-and-run in a match at the Cardinals. Eli Manning connected with Odell Beckham, Jr. for a 63 yard pass play. They allowed three unanswered touchdowns from a Rams squad quarterbacked by Austin Davis with a 34-7 lead. Dez Bryant had three scores in the second Cowboys game on a Sunday night. There are more.
There was little shock, but much pleasure, then, when cornerbacks Bradley Fletcher and Cary Williams were dismissed. Walter Thurmond and Byron Maxwell were brought over and Malcolm Jenkins will get a second chance to head up the safety position. There are nine new defensive backs all told, and a new DB coach, Cory Undlin.
It's hard to say those problems have been answered after only an OTA session. But it's not hard to say an improvement has already been made. The secondary in 2014 was listless and uninspired, and replaced by players with accomplishments to their names, not to mention an air of confidence. If these are the right moves, the Eagles could post one of the elite defenses in the league alongside a stout and deep linebacking corps and an attacking defensive line.
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