NFL Philadelphia Eagles

Chip Kelly’s Culture Will Be Vital To Philadelphia Eagles’ Success

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When Jeff Lurie essentially handed control of the Philadelphia Eagles to Chip Kelly on a silver platter, your reaction was probably both excitement and panic at the same time.

The excitement is easy to explain because this move solidified Kelly’s role with the team going forward, a spot that became increasingly tenuous with each rumor and report. It also meant that a brilliant coach, with a brilliant football mind, was now at the helm and could mold the roster just the way he needs it to be.

The panic is, in reality, easy to explain too. Kelly was the guy who released DeSean Jackson, a move that is still being touted as a reason for this season’s failure. Also, you’re hearing reports that Kelly wanted to draft receiver Jordan Matthews in the first round, and defensive end Taylor Hart in the third. The Eagles were able to get those players later than Kelly anticipated, but the fact that the guy in charge nearly went that route is disconcerting.

In the midst of all this new critique of Kelly and his methods, I feel like people are missing the biggest positive to this whole fiasco: the implementation of Kelly’s culture. Kelly’s “culture defeats scheme” mantra sounds outrageous at first, but when you look at it in the big picture, he’s exactly right. Think about it: what does Kelly demand of all his players? Be able and willing to tackle, and be able and willing to block. If you want to boil down further, be a selfless team player.

Those aren’t foreign, cutting-edge concepts in football — they’re fundamentals.

Yes, you do need a decent level of skill at your position past those two points, but fundamentals will be the core of every player Kelly is going to have on his roster. If you need proof of these things being vital to success, look at the Seattle Seahawks. Let’s be honest here, the Seahawks are not a team of superstars like, say, the Denver Broncos. What they are is a team of decently solid players who excel at the fundamentals. Those fundamentals decrease mistakes, simplify the mental aspects of the game, and ultimately allow them to go out and maul the opposition.

The Seahawks have that culture. They have that automatic ability to just go out and execute, and that’s what Kelly is going to try and develop here in Philadelphia. It may mean that, every so often, a talented player like Jackson is let go. But the Eagles still won 10 games, and if you really want to be honest, Jackson is far down the list as to why they missed the playoffs. All that speed and defense-stretching ability didn’t do much to improve the Washington Redskins.

The bigger picture is more important than any one player, no matter how high-profile they are or how flashy their skills are. Culture is crucially important, and I’m glad we have a coach that realizes that. Hopefully every Eagles fan in Philadelphia realizes that too while Kelly is dancing down Broad Street with the Lombardi Trophy.

Doug Green is a blogger for www.RantSports.com covering the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL.  Follow him on Twitter @DGreenNFL.

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