We should at least take a hard look at Chip Kelly

[rayzor]

he's the next bill walsh, don coryell, ron erhardt/ray perkins or at the very least the next great coach who will accept nothing but greatness from his players and no quarter given to his opponents.

he's the guy that is going to be taking the game to another level. his offense is already being used and half the teams in the playoffs are using similar offenses to his.

we have several teams using the read option quite a bit. we have a team using a no huddle offense. we have a team using his hurry up one word playcalling system.

bits and pieces are being used.

the truth is, though, that it's not all that revolutionary. it's doing what those other innovators did and take what is already being done and build on it.

the read option offense is nothing more than a run first offense, except that instead of the defense knowing who is going to get the ball, they now have to decide between a couple guys.

he runs a run first offense that forces the defense to throw everything they have at it to try and stop it and they make it look like they are going to run it every down (which they do most of the time). when defenses throw everything they have at it, they leave themselves exposed in other areas and the kelly offense is built to take advantage of those weaknesses that have been exposed. the defense never knows what the offense is going to do and they can never tell from how the offense is lined up, because they have all of their plays from their 200+ page playbook coming from just a handful of formations.

and it's not like kelly doesn't use more traditional concepts, either. his running game opens up the passing game and once those two are established, they start using play action, screens, and everything else we are used to seeing...but each time the defenses are trying to set up to stop the run. and the pace at which all this happens gives no time for defenses to get set up or really look to see what kelly's offense is going to do.

so tell me how in the world will this not work? what is it about this run first offense that wouldn't 1) fit our personnel and 2) be effective in the NFL?

it's unproven as a base offense because no one has run it well and even at that, it's far from a given that kelly would even use the read option because that's not what his offense is based on...it's on doing one thing so well that defenses are forced to respect it enough by putting extra men into stopping it, and then make the defense believe that you are going to be running that every play and then using that against them. it's directing the energy of the enemy in a direction of your choosing and then taking advantage of the weaknesses that are exposed and doing it at a pace that is incredibly difficult to keep up with.

[top dawg]

I get what what some of you are saying, but this year was not like last year. Our staff and personnel have one more very important---perhaps critical---year of experience. Before this past season, everyone had their head all up in the clouds, notwithstanding an entirely new staff and new personnel that were, quite frankly, still flying by the seat of their pants. You had a n extremely young team that was still learning how to win on a professional level. No one had their feet on the ground because of decidedly marginal success. This past season, the defeats came fast and furious in September and October, and suddenly the reality set in that the honeymoon was truly over and that true success comes with true grit and determination.

Say what you want, but Cam was still a neophyte at the beginning of the season, and his "sophomore slump" proved it. Once the light clicked on for Cam (and Rivera and Chud), the not so mysterious Cam was as unstoppable as an NFL QB can be, even though seasoned defenses had an entire off-season to prepare for him. To me this bodes well for the future. Last year we were banking on fool's gold, this year we saw a team really go through it---with the pressure on---and succeed. Everyone, especially the players, could have packed it in by mid-season and tanked, but that didn't happen. This past season may appear to be like last season on the surface, but it was different in so many key ways.

As for Sean Payton making all the difference, I say blah blah humbug. Drew Brees is the capstone of the Saints organization, and if we continue to get pressure on him, which we can with CJ and Krak, then we will be a thorn in his side for the rest of his career.

[rayzor]

I get what what some of you are saying, but this year was not like last year. Our staff and personnel have one more very important---perhaps critical---year of experience. Before this past season, everyone had their head all up in the clouds, notwithstanding an entirely new staff and new personnel that were, quite frankly, still flying by the seat of their pants. You had a n extremely young team that was still learning how to win on a professional level. No one had their feet on the ground because of decidedly marginal success. This past season, the defeats came fast and furious in September and October, and suddenly the reality set in that the honeymoon was truly over and that true success comes with true grit and determination.

Say what you want, but Cam was still a neophyte at the beginning of the season, and his "sophomore slump" proved it. Once the light clicked on for Cam (and Rivera and Chud), the not so mysterious Cam was as unstoppable as an NFL QB can be, even though seasoned defenses had an entire off-season to prepare for him. To me this bodes well for the future. Last year we were banking on fool's gold, this year we saw a team really go through it---with the pressure on---and succeed. Everyone, especially the players, could have packed it in by mid-season and tanked, but that didn't happen. This past season may appear to be like last season on the surface, but it was different in so many key ways.

As for Sean Payton making all the difference, I say blah blah humbug. Drew Brees is the capstone of the Saints organization, and if we continue to get pressure on him, which we can with CJ and Krak, then we will be a thorn in his side for the rest of his career.

i hope you're right, esp. since it seems like we'll be going with rivera next year.

come training camp time i'll probably be homeristic again, but i can't see it coming easily or with as much enthusiasm.

[DOMOMAN]

ESPNs new Insider Piece lists the Panthers as the Number 1 option for Chip Kelly in the NFL

Benefit: The ideal QB to bring Kelly to the pro game

Carolina may not have an opening just yet, but we're looking at best fits that could make sense now -- not top openings -- and the Panthers would match well with Kelly.

This week, we've heard endless debates about whether Prototype Made-For-College Coach® Chip Kelly can become a successful NFL head coach. Meanwhile, the Redskins are headed to the playoffs under Prototype Made-For-NFL Coach® Mike Shanahan. That matters, because that Redskins team is going to the playoffs in a season in which it busted out zone-read plays regularly and its starting quarterback ran the ball 120 times in 15 games, with 77 of those coming as designed runs. Meanwhile, Kelly's starting QB at Oregon this year, Marcus Mariota -- in a scheme some dismiss as something that will never work in the NFL -- had run 98 times in 12 games heading into the Fiesta Bowl.

So consider the raw numbers: Kelly's offense exposed his QB to hits via runs and scrambles about 8.2 times per game, an almost identical rate to Shanahan's 8.0 times a game. Break it down on a per-play basis, and the discrepancy barely changes.

Elsa/Getty ImagesCam Newton could be a great QB fit for Kelly's offense.

Kelly's offense is not Shanahan's offense, but let's get this out of the way as a starting point: If Kelly can be prosecuted by analysts as a guy running a "college" offense that is criminally negligent in exposing his QB to hits, Shanahan might as well occupy the same jail cell after directing the NFL's offensive story of the season in Washington. Offenses evolve up levels, and they evolve down. Close observers of Oregon's offense know this, and note that Oregon does a lot more that would be considered "old school" even by NFL standards than many realize. Don't let the pace blind you. As Chris Brownrecently wrote in a fantastic explanation, "Oregon is successful because it does well what good teams have always done well, albeit with a slightly more modern wardrobe."

And the Oregon passing offense has also been brutally efficient. Mariota ranked sixth nationally in passer rating this season while Darron Thomas ranked 11th last season and 17th the season before that.

In Carolina, Kelly would be handed a QB in Cam Newton who would create the easiest transition for him in terms of having a QB fully capable of taking a hit when exposed as a runner, and one fully capable of marrying those running skills to a down-the-field passing game. Again, what Kelly would bring to the NFL would not leave people shaking their heads, believing some sort of revolution is upon us. But based on what he does well, it's hard to find a better place to start in terms of offensive personnel than Carolina.

And as Shanahan, with his own suddenly "gimmicky" offense, might re-direct when asked about how that offense made the Redskins' season: "What about the defense?"

[rayzor]

great little read.

loved this quote, btw. it's spot on and the very thing that i've been noticing since studying what kelly does.

his offensive mentality is more traditional than many of the spread offenses that are taking over the league already.

it's not a pass happy scheme...it's a very physical run first offense with a spin that is already becoming effective in the league.

[panthers55]

Kelly would be great to try as an OC. But I have no idea why everyone wants him as a head coach. Their job is more coordinating coaches, personnel and practice issues, player issues and drafting, game management, etc. He has zero experience at the NFL level. Why would he be better than Rivera who at least had coordinator experience. If you really like what Kelly is doing there, hire his OC as our OC. But Kelly would have a big learning curve just like Rivera had and Schiano did this year.

Name me one college coach who had absolutely no NFL experience as a player or coach who was instantly successful in the NFL. I can't think of any.

[rayzor]

Kelly would be great to try as an OC. But I have no idea why everyone wants him as a head coach. Their job is more coordinating coaches, personnel and practice issues, player issues and drafting, game management, etc. He has zero experience at the NFL level. Why would he be better than Rivera who at least had coordinator experience. If you really like what Kelly is doing there, hire his OC as our OC. But Kelly would have a big learning curve just like Rivera had and Schiano did this year.

because of the total program he runs. the practices he runs are considered the best in football at any level by NFL execs. his game management skills are solid just as his team management skills are.

he's getting looked at as a HC by several teams in the NFL because it won't take much for his skill set as a HC to transfer, esp. if, and he has said that his is what is going to happen, he has on his staff assistant coaches with a lot of NFL experience.

for the first couple years, at most, he just needs some advisors to help him adapt and adjust to the new league, but for as smart of a guy as he is it will come naturally.

his OC wouldn't help much because it's the way that he manages games and his decision making and play-calling that sets him apart, in addition to the way he runs a team.

[panthers55]

because of the total program he runs. the practices he runs are considered the best in football at any level by NFL execs. his game management skills are solid just as his team management skills are.

he's getting looked at as a HC by several teams in the NFL because it won't take much for his skill set as a HC to transfer, esp. if, and he has said that his is what is going to happen, he has on his staff assistant coaches with a lot of NFL experience.

for the first couple years, at most, he just needs some advisors to help him adapt and adjust to the new league, but for as smart of a guy as he is it will come naturally.

his OC wouldn't help much because it's the way that he manages games and his decision making and play-calling that sets him apart, in addition to the way he runs a team.

I hear all that mumbo jumbo. But answer the question. Has there ever been a college coach with no football playing experience at the college or NFL level who was never a coordinator or position coach in the NFL who was instantly successful in the NFL as a head coach??

[Marguide]

JR pay for a big name coach? Lol

Guess you forgot how much John fox was paid huh?

fox got top tier money to coach here

I think Cardiac is closer to the truth here.

John Fox was not a big name, expensive hire. He got the big bucks only after he had succeeded here. That is not the same at all as paying an unproven coach big bucks up front because he's the hot commodity.

Seifert was the closest thing to a "big splash" hire we've had, and he had Super Bowl rings.

I can't see JR shelling out big bucks to a hot college coach.

[beastson]

because of the total program he runs. the practices he runs are considered the best in football at any level by NFL execs. his game management skills are solid just as his team management skills are.

he's getting looked at as a HC by several teams in the NFL because it won't take much for his skill set as a HC to transfer, esp. if, and he has said that his is what is going to happen, he has on his staff assistant coaches with a lot of NFL experience.

for the first couple years, at most, he just needs some advisors to help him adapt and adjust to the new league, but for as smart of a guy as he is it will come naturally.

his OC wouldn't help much because it's the way that he manages games and his decision making and play-calling that sets him apart, in addition to the way he runs a team.

Ehh Idk about that dude

[panthers55]

I think Cardiac is closer to the truth here.

John Fox was not a big name, expensive hire. He got the big bucks only after he had succeeded here. That is not the same at all as paying an unproven coach big bucks up front because he's the hot commodity.

Seifert was the closest thing to a "big splash" hire we've had, and he had Super Bowl rings.

I can't see JR shelling out big bucks to a hot college coach.

JR said one of the things he valued in Fox and Rivera was that they played in the league like he did. Why would he hire someone with no NFL experience who didn't even play in college.

[rayzor]

I hear all that mumbo jumbo. But answer the question. Has there ever been a college coach with no football playing experience at the college or NFL level who was never a coordinator or position coach in the NFL who was instantly successful in the NFL as a head coach??

instantly successful? none...but how often has it been tried?

sorry, but i'm not one that's going to put a whole lot of stock in that argument that since it hasn't been done it can't be done. teams are willing to try and for a good reason...they aren't letting their vision be limited by that little insignificant fact that no one has come from the college ranks with no pro level experience has had "instant success". they can see that he has what it takes to be successful.

call it mumbo jumbo or whatever you want, but that doesn't take away from others being able to see a bigger picture than what you are keying in on where this coach is concerned.

[rayzor]

Ehh Idk about that dude

prove i'm wrong.

[rayzor]

JR said one of the things he valued in Fox and Rivera was that they played in the league like he did. Why would he hire someone with no NFL experience who didn't even play in college.

i don't actually think that JR would hire kelly. he's big into the "NFL club" mindset which is why there isn't more college coaches in the NFL than there is right now. that's why people have been reluctant to adapt to spread offenses in general. they have been too caught up into the "NFL way" and the notion that if it's not done in the NFL it's not worth doing. meanwhile teams that break away from that mindset have been winning championships.