August 26, 2015

Breakfast with the Birds: Can Sam Bradford run the read-option?

By Rich Hofmann
PhillyVoice Contributor

We are now entering Day 4 of “Suggs-Gate,” and unsurprisingly, the takes are still flying in from every direction. Notably taking charge on Day 3 was CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, who argued Chip Kelly should be taking the heat that Jay Gruden is currently getting.

The Washington head coach played Robert Griffin III behind an offensive line that was getting manhandled by the Detroit Lions last Thursday, and his starting quarterback suffered a concussion. Instead of that particular situation, what got La Canfora all riled up from Week 2 was Kelly and the Eagles running read-option with Sam Bradford:

That's silly and unnecessary, and if it's indicative of the kind of offense Kelly will continue to run with this particular passer, then you'll probably be listening to plenty of grousing from the Eagles' linemen about the kind of hits Bradford has to absorb.

Let's get something straight right off the bat: Suggs did nothing illegal here. The Eagles were in a read-option look, as much as Kelly may protest and nitpick about their intent in that shotgun formation. Bradford, through his own actions and location on the field, was still declared as a runner and not a defenseless quarterback. Thus, there are no additional protections afforded him with hits below the waist and around the knee.

The Eagles left Suggs totally free to sprint in. You can scrutinize the play all you want on replay, but in real-time, it's a bang-bang play as to whether Bradford would keep the ball or hand it off. Dean Blandino, the NFL's head of officiating, said as much in unequivocal language during radio interviews Monday morning and then, in an extended meeting with CBS broadcasters and officials as part of the officiating aspect of our annual seminar, he took just as direct of an approach with us.

Spoke w/ Eagles OL today. Grousing will begin soon. Current grouse level is 4.8, but growing. http://t.co/0CdAQm85Zb pic.twitter.com/WnW5S8iN16
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) August 25, 2015

On Monday, Kelly made clear that the play was a straight handoff out of the shotgun. On the surface, it appeared to be blocked like a read-option with the defensive end coming free off the edge. If Blandino feels like the play wasn’t a penalty, the Eagles need to influence a change in the rules/interpretation of the read-option or find a way to adjust on the field. They don’t want Bradford taking any shots, especially unnecessary ones on plays where he’ll hand the ball off conservatively 95 percent of the time.

Across the country, a decent football team has a vested interest in the Suggs-Bradford play. Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, who employs a quarterback that runs the read-option better than almost anyone else (specifically because he often doesn’t take hits), is completely on #TeamChip. From Gregg Bell of The News Tribune in Tacoma:

“I have seen a couple of them and I really thought they were worthy of being noted as penalty plays,” Carroll said of such hits on QBs, most recently by Suggs on Bradford. “Obviously we’re really tuned into that.

“We’re counting on the league to do a really good job of doing that well so we take care of the QBs. You can force this thing about they’re a runner. When they don’t have the ball in their hands and the ball is already handed off and gone, guys need to make good decisions, hopefully. So we’ll be very much part of that discussion if things continue like it’s going, because it’s not right.

“We have been involved with that discussion with the league since Russell has been here. We’ve had the running quarterback and we’re really tuned into that. I’m anxious to see what comes of it because certainly it’s not the way we want it to go. I would think as we always err in preseason to over-officiate. I think this is an area in particular that we’ll hear something this week.”

La Canfora mentioned that Mike Shanahan dealt with this problem in Washington by instructing his quarterbacks to basically put their hands up and run away, “the ‘look-ma-no-hands’ approach.” If Kelly were to resort to that (note: he won’t), Jimmy would have a field day with Sam Bradford stick figures.

Monday/Tuesday recap

1. Super Bowl contenders: It took him a while, but our football writer is starting to see the championship potential in these Eagles.

2. Kendricks signs extension: There was a time in the offseason when it felt like Mychal Kendricks was definitely going to be traded. Now, the 24-year-old inside linebacker is signed to stay in Philly through 2019. From an on-field perspective, I literally can’t wait to watch Kendricks and Kiko Alonso in the middle of the Eagles defense. Those two guys can absolutely fly.

3. Sam vs. The SuggMonster: Easily the most important piece of journalizin’ you will read on our little site since we launched back in January.

4. Billy Davis: The Eagles’ creative defensive coordinator talks about a whole bunch of subjects, including Suggs and Kendricks.

5. Barner doing it big: My post about Kenjon Barner, who will be hard to cut after taking two punts all the way to the house. “He’s not a dance guy back there,” Kelly said of his former star running back at Oregon. #DuckBias gone right?

6. Eagles locker room seating chart: Easily the second-most important piece of journalizin’ you will read on our little site since we launched back in January.

What they’re saying

NFL Prediction: Dolphins, Eagles headline 4 new playoff teams in 2015: John Breech, CBS Sports

The NFL is a league full of parity. In every year since 1990, there have been at least four new playoff teams. Breech has the Birds pegged as one of those four teams, as I suspect they’ll continue to be as season predictions come out:

Chip Kelly has been able to put together consecutive 10-win seasons, despite the fact that he's been stuck with starting quarterbacks like Mark Sanchez, Michael Vick and Nick Foles. Bradford isn't perfect for Kelly's system, but he should be a step up from any of those three. And whatever Bradford's limitations are, Kelly will find a away to work around them. I mean, Kelly put together a system where Sanchez was able to throw for over 345 yards twice, he'll figure something out for Bradford.

What we learned: Week 2 winners and losers: Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com

For the second preseason week in a row, Rosenthal has the Eagles as big winners:

Chip Kelly: While Nick Foles was throwing a pick six in the Rams' preseason game, Sam Bradford survived his first healthy drive for the Eagles. Kelly rolled the dice that Bradford could be ready physically for the season, and thus far the gamble is paying off.

Preseason fantasy owners with lots of Eagles: No one crushes the preseason like Kelly. Opponents have no idea what to do with Philadelphia's pace in September, much less August. Kelly doesn't quite know how to turn his offense "off" and it shows when the team routinely lights up preseason scoreboards.

Re-Signing Mychal Kendricks Right Move at Right Price for Philadelphia Eagles: Andrew Kulp, Bleacher Report

The title is self-explanatory, but Kulp likes the dollar amount that Kendricks is locked in at. In fact, he thinks it could end up being a bargain:

Kendricks may be one of the most underrated playmakers in the NFL, a linebacker who is on the cusp of making his first Pro Bowl. The fourth-year veteran is one of only three players in the league with at least eight sacks, five forced fumbles and three interceptions over the past two seasons. The other two: All-Pros Julius Peppers of the Green Bay Packers and Lavonte David of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kendricks is a force in every phase of the game. He can fight off blocks and fill holes in the running game. He can rush the passer. He can eat up large chunks of field in coverage.

Joe Banner, who is sneakily one of the best football Twitter follows out there, is a big fan of the Eagles’ move to extend Kendricks:

Great contract for Eagles. Cap jumping next yr & record amount of cap rm available this is gd deal. Three dn LB's with pass rush skills rare
— Joe Banner (@JoeBanner13) August 25, 2015

Kendrick's most team friendly contract since Chris Harris last yr. Took just a little more than recent corner FA deal & less than ok centers
— Joe Banner (@JoeBanner13) August 25, 2015

Maxwell? Smart: Andy Benoit, The MMQB

Benoit wrote and tweeted a lot about the Eagles today, with a focus on defense and pricey new addition Byron Maxwell. He also thinks Kendricks is pretty good:

Needing to fill the void opposite Maxwell, the Eagles spent a second-round pick on lanky Utah corner Eric Rowe. It’s clear Kelly and Davis want to be physical on the perimeter. Think of the Eagles as the Seahawks East. That’s a great formula for disrupting an offense’s timing early in the down, which meshes perfectly with amoeba fronts and pressure-based concepts.