Getty ImagesNew Eagles coach Chip Kelly knows he’s going to have to change some things, but he has a very distinct requirement for his defensive coordinator.
Speaking to reporters at Senior Bowl practices, Kelly said his main criteria for determining his next coordinator isn’t a 3-4 or a 4-3 style, but “shutoutability.”
While making up words on the fly shows a certain agility of the mind, Kelly said he doesn’t necessarily need people to think the same way.
“You need really, really, smart people. People who are dedicated,” Kelly said, via Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News. “You need people who are just a little bit ‘off’ too.”
Kelly also said as he wraps his mind around a 53-man roster (instead of the hundreds he had at Oregon), he’ll have to adjust things as basic as his practice routine.
“The Eagles are not a cross-country team” he said.
While parts of the staff has been hired, it hasn’t been announced. Thus, defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro is walking around wearing an Eagles nametag, but because there hasn’t been a press release, wouldn’t comment on his status.
“I’m not worried about who we don’t get, I’m worried about who we do get,” Kelly said. “I wanna make sure that that person is the right fit, because I don’t wanna be like, ‘God, I wish I’d spent a little more time and investigated this.’ I’ve been pretty thorough, unless it’s somebody that I’ve either coached with or had a real good working knowledge of.
“It’s been fun. It’s talking football, talking philosophies, talking strategies. It’s stuff I love to do. To me, that’s not work.”
And as soon as he finds someone with the requisite ability to never allow points, he’ll be in business.
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Birds are going to miss Todd Bowles next year
Good to see he’s humble in looking for a defensive coordinator. His skill set requires a defensive coordinator to balance our his equation Great coach assessing his weaknesses out the gate !!!
Well I guess he would be the first head coach that wants that out of defense. What a breath of fresh air.
Really….And so are 31 other teams.
If he’s looking for no points, he already has that in his offensive coordinator.
Why do I feel like this isn’t gonna end well at all?
Good luck Philly, you’re going to need it.
This guy already hired pat shurmur. What a joke! He will be coaching Arkansas in 2014.
If he want’s to shut out every opponent, just schedule 16 games against Cleveland.
The Eagles haven’t shut out a team since 1996. Having the ability to do it once would put him ahead of Andy Reid’s ability.
All others to report on this stated that he was clearly joking when he made the “shoutoutability” comment, yet this report doesn’t….hmm…
Everybody seems to already think Chip Kelly will be a failure as a head coach some like Heath Evans called him the worst head coaching hire ever. All of this commentary has come before the man has even coached a game in the NFL.
All I know is that if you want to be a winner you need to take some risks. Chip Kelly is a brilliant offensive mind and has the smarts to surround himself with a great staff. He has plenty of talent to work with on offense already and if nothing else he’s going to be very motivated to prove his style will work in the NFL.
I never thought i’d see the pistol and read option succeed at the NFL level but Colin Kaepernick is starting in Super Bowl 47 running an offense that most viewed as a collegiate gimmick lets just give Chip Kelly some time.
Hundreds? Did the ncaa change the rules again?
Hire Dick Jauron!
In this day and age, I don’t believe you can “shut out” teams anymore. I think the best you can (consistently) hope for is field goals in the redzone.
Kirby Smart, please…
Can I give ole Chip a clue, if your looking for shutoutability in a DC get in line because 31 other NFL head coaches looking for the same thing.
Bring on Kirby Smart! You got to be kidding
me with that Todd Bowles comment!
Lovie Smith
This guy doesn’t deal in reality does he?
Steve Spurrier TWO.
I bet he is. Shurmur ain’t gonna put a lot of points up.
Luvi Smith is perfect for The Eagles. Not to mention he would be able to offer any guidance Chip might (probably will) need. Why wouldn’t you go after a proven successful def coord?
This is not sounding promising. Although, Shurmur was a good hire, so we’ll see.
These guys hired the 2013 version of Mike Leach and gave him how much money?
I like this man’s style.
How many times is this joke he said gonna be over analyzed and written about? What else would a coach want at defensive coordinator?
Jerry Sandusky?
I just hope he hire’s. Somebody that has NFL exsperience. If his offense dont do very well the first season. The defense has to make some stops
Phever, you call yourself an Eagle fan but yet everything you post about them is negative in nature. Nobody on here knows you, just change teams bro. Cuz us true fans won’t miss you at all. Dueces
When Chip Kelly leads Dream Team 3.0 to five consecutive Superbowls, you will fall to your knees in worship of the greatest coach who ever lived.
Iggles Fans are incredibly delusional!
Not possible in today’s NFL. How many shutouts did the league have this year?? Without research, I’d guess 0.
I hope he meant shut-downability.
Shutoutability? Not practical. You can have a 3 and out inside your 5 yard line and then a team would only have to march 15-20 yards to get into FG range. Too much pressure on a D Coordinator. I would not want to be that cat’s D coordinator.
Shurmur is more QB coach and guy who holds up the big wacky play cards. OC only in title. Chip is clearly running that side of things. Shurmur has a very nice record w/ QB development though.
Eagles don’t have a bad Defense just coached wrong for a number of years sunce Jim Johnson passed away. Need a stand out LB and a new way of thinking.
Dream Team 3.0 will shut everyone out.
I wonder if the other teams that were looking for dc’s specifically for “giveupbigplayability” will catch on to this new trend. Genius. Simply genius.
If they add Dick Juron with Schurmur call them the 2012-2013 Browns.
Shurmur isn’t calling the plays, Kelly is you dummies
I know the Jeff Luries and Howie Rosemans of the world hate Tim Tebow for his Christian beliefs and would never allow to be their QB. If it happened somehow I would welcome it.
I would also fear Dallas dumping that mediocre dud Romo for Tebow. They truly would become America’s Team once again.
Wow, Chip just realized NFL players aren’t going to run cross-country in practices? This guy has absolutely no clue as to how to motivate adults who in many cases make more than he does. They aren’t going to do 9 pm curfews and sleep in dorms either. This guy is totally out of his depth. Let the disaster commence.
Shut outs in the NFL? This Kelly is even more delusional than I thought.