ChipWreck: Is This Chip Kelly’s Last Year in Philly?

The Eagles have landed. In a year where the NFC East was ripe for the taking, the Philadelphia Eagles 2015 season has been a disaster. After

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After two 10 win seasons, Kelly’s Eagles are 4-6 in 2015

back-to-back 10 win seasons Chip Kelly was the toast in the city of brotherly love. Now, those same fans who once praised Kelly are sharpening their pitchforks to run the third year coach out of town.

At 4-6 the Eagles are still in the NFC East, but after rookie quarterback Jameis Winston threw five touchdowns and Doug Martin ran for over 200 yards, the Eagles playoff chances are fading fast. This tension has been building in Philadelphia since Kelly took over football operations. In that time Kelly has let successful players such as Lesean McCoy, Desean Jackson, Nick Foles, and Jeremy Maclin go while bringing in players that made the Philly faithful scratch their heads. While Nick Foles played at a pro-bowl level, Kelly brought in the extremely fragile and unproved Sam Bradford who shockingly couldn’t make it through another NFL season.

The main problem? Kelly’s once dominant and playmaking offense is

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Desean Jackson (left) and Lesean McCoy (right) were shipped out of town and since their departure the Eagles offense hasn’t recovered.

staler then a two week old cheesesteak. Chip’s confidence that his system was greater then the players has come back to haunt him as the Eagles have struggled to move the ball all season while his former players are making splashes in their new NFL homes. Fans have to wonder what kind of team the Eagles would be if those players still donned the green.

So what now? It would shock me if the Eagles fired Chip Kelly especially one year into giving him complete control. However, I predict that Chip Kelly will leave Philly at the end of this season. Why? He’s always been an opportunist, and their are just too many great opportunities out there. Don’t believe me?

Consider this. Chip Kelly was dying to get Marcus Mariota in this past draft and couldn’t pull off a deal. The Titans need a new coach and would probably give Chip full control if he became the coach. Also given the state of the AFC South, Kelly could see an easier road to the playoffs as well.

Still, there’s always college. With so many great college jobs that are available, or may become available he may go back to college football and

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Could Kelly return to the PAC 12 as the Head Coach at USC? (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

look to win a National Championship. Possible jobs that could open include Texas and LSU while jobs that are already enticing include USC and the University of Miami. We know that Kelly can coach in college, and in recent years coaches like Saban and Harbaugh have thrived in their returns to the NCAA.

Could the Eagles make the playoffs? Sure. Could Kelly return next season? Of course. Still the way this season has gone and how the team has appeared to quit on Kelly, or at least the defense in the game against Tampa Bay, all eyes will been on Philadelphia as the soap opera plays itself out. Once thing is for certain, it certainly isn’t sunny in Philadelphia right now.

 

 

Does the Big 12 Have a Big Problem?

With the College Football Playoff in its first season the debate continues to rage about which teams should make the final four cut. For the Big 12, it’s two best teams could actually miss the playoff because of the decision the conference made in 2010.

The conference needs to bring back the Conference Championship to help in Playoff picture

The conference needs to bring back the Conference Championship to help in Playoff picture

Nobody could have foreseen it at the time but when the Big 12 eliminated the conference championship game after the 2010 season, it put up a major roadblock for it’s teams to reach the National Championship.

Despite both teams owning 10-1 records with one game to go, Baylor and TCU have been trying to crack the top four for the playoff all season. Even if both teams finish at 11-1, and despite both having a good strength of schedule, the conference’s lack of a title game will probably keep the two out of the playoff. Despite both teams having tougher schedules, the reason that a team like Ohio State could make the playoff over a Big 12 team is because of the extra win and game the conference championship provides.

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Despite great records and schedules, the lack of a conference championship game will probably keep a Big 12 team out of the playoff

Ohio State has had a much easier schedule and is considered to be in a weaker conference, however if they beat Wisconsin in the Big 10 championship, it will be hard to keep a 12- 1 team, especially one that beat a top 25 opponent in the conference championship out of the playoff. Conference like the SEC, ACC, Big 10, and Pac 12 all have conference championships with gives the champion of each conference an extra win to add to their resume for the playoff. If the Big 12 wants to have a better shot of getting into the playoff, it needs to bring back the conference championship game.