Kelly: No Dropoff With Foles In the Game


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One of Chip Kelly‘s most telling statements about his quarterback situation Monday actually came in response to a question about the defensive line rotation. The head coach spoke about the importance of having depth on your team, and used his quarterbacks as an example.

“I think in this league to be successful you better have depth,” said Kelly. “I think it showed at our quarterback spot. It was very evident. I know a lot of people when your number one quarterback goes down there is a big dropoff, and there wasn’t a dropoff at all.”

No dropoff at all since Nick Foles stepped in for Michael Vick midway through the Giants game last week. Not earth-shattering news, but a pretty nice tip-of-the-cap to his backup at the very least.

He danced with reporters again on the subject of QBs. Any questions about the position long-term were diffused by Kelly’s decision to focus on the here and now. Everything was tied to the hamstring. Who sees first-team snaps at practice Tuesday depends on health, says Kelly, which suggests that Vick would be with the ones if he was full go.

Is Vick still the starting quarterback when he’s 100 percent healthy?

“Until we know what the health is I’m not saying what anybody is,” said Kelly.

“All of our decisions are based on what’s going to give us the best opportunity to win. We have to put healthy guys on the field and make sure we can get a scheme together that’s going to help us beat the Cowboys. That’s all we’re talking about. I don’t see any divisions or one side going one way or one side going the other. Mike wasn’t 100 percent on Sunday and Nick did an outstanding job.”

Vick suggested to Comcast that “it’s going to be a long road” back from his hamstring injury. Kelly says he hasn’t gotten that sense. Meanwhile, the clock ticks towards Dallas.

Patrick Chung  returned to action following a two-game absence, only to leave early against the Bucs after re-injuring his shoulder.

“We are concerned when anybody’s hurt. He missed a game and didn’t finish this last game so it’s obviously a concern for us,” said Kelly.

Kelly anticipates that Jason Peters (shoulder) will play Sunday but he doesn’t think he will be a full participant Tuesday at practice. Chris Polk (shoulder) seems like more of a question mark for Dallas.

— Kelly said he think Fletcher Cox probably played his best game of the season Sunday. The coaches credited him with five QB pressures. He lauded the defensive line for helping to hold Doug Martin to 67 yards.