Eagles Analysis: 8 Predictions for the 2015 Season
By Pat Roach
Aug 2, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly talks at a press conference during training camp at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Chip Kelly will be Executive of the Year
There has been no shortage of dubious takes following Chip Kelly’s offseason blitzkrieg, but should the team find success in 2015 (they will), there’s little doubt that the Eagles’ czar will be crowned exec of the year. Simply put, given his implied success, it’d be almost impossible not to give Kelly the award, as no organization came close to matching the ridiculous turnover that the Eagles underwent during the offseason. As we have all been reminded of time and again, the Eagles traded star running back LeSean McCoy, lost Jeremy Maclin, cut stalwarts Trent Cole and Todd Herremans, and shipped Brandon Boykin across the state en route to one of the wackiest roster overhauls in recent memory. The whole of the offseason was so bold and boisterous that its controversial nature demands that success be reciprocated in the form of an exec of the year award for its maestro, Kelly.
Now, if you doubt Kelly’s hypothetical credentials as a personnel man, then look no further than last year’s winner, Jerry Jones. Good ol’ Jerruh’s claim to fame in 2014 was taking a flier on the hyper-talented –but equally stupid and immature– Rolando McClain, and making Zack Martin –and not Johnny Manziel, contrary to his own objection– his first round pick. Now, to be fair, both of these moves along with several others (The promotion of Rod Marinelli, implementation of a run-heavy attack, etc.) did pan out, and the Cowboys had themselves a great run. The fact of the matter is, however, that there’s no comparison when weighing the Cowboys’ 2014 offseason against the Eagles’ 2015 exodus, especially when Jones’ crowning achievement was being bound and gagged in the war room to avoid taking Manziel.
Jones earned his accolade with a playoff win, so if Kelly secures a postseason victory of his own, it’ll be highly difficult to deny the third-year head man his due respect.
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