When Chip Kelly was introduced as the Eagles’ head coach earlier this month, he was asked if he believes the team is capable of making a quick turnaround in 2013.

“I’m still in the process of evaluating that,” Kelly said. “The one thing that attracts me about the roster is the youth. It’s one of the youngest teams in the league. You have to watch about three plays to understand the speed. Youth and speed are two things you can’t coach. I’m excited about that.”

The point about youth is worth exploring. Coaches and GMs constantly talk about how young their teams are. Sometimes, it’s used as a built-in excuse. And other times, well, it’s the truth.

If Chip Kelly does in fact tab Ed Donatell to be his defensive coordinator, he has the backing of one of the all-time Eagle greats.

“If he’s the guy, I love that move,” said Brian Dawkins in a phone conversation with Birds 24/7.

A new name entered the public discussion about the Eagles’ defensive coordinator opening Thursday when the Saints fired Steve Spagnuolo.

Sean Payton explained that the Saints are moving to a 3-4. Of course, it didn’t help that New Orleans’ defense was terrible last year.

Andy Reid and the Eagles tried to hire Spagnuolo (in some capacity) last offseason, but he decided to go to the Saints. He spent eight seasons as an assistant in Philadelphia from 1999 to 2006 (quality control, defensive backs, linebackers). Spagnuolo was the Giants’ defensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008 before going to St. Louis. The Rams went 10-38 in three seasons under Spagnuolo’s direction.

So, the question is: Should the Eagles give him a serious look as defensive coordinator?

From mock drafts to Chip Kelly, here’s a roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles this week.

Mobile, Alabama was taken over this week by scouts, coaches, agents and, of course, Birds 24/7 writers, all looking to spot the next big thing. There is value to Senior Bowl week, as the NFL decision-makers get to visit with the prospects and watch them compete up close against top-tier collegiate talent.  It is also dangerous to put too much stock in what you see.

With that in mind, a look at some players whose arrows appear to be pointing up after a week in the Mobile sun. We’ll focus on potential positions of need for the Eagles.

A tiny nugget to start with:

As Chip Kelly continues to evaluate the Eagles’ roster, one player he’s probably looking forward to finding a role for is DeSean Jackson.

The 26-year-old wide receiver recently talked to ESPN about playing for a new coach.

Big and beautiful.

That’s how John Jenkins describes himself. During weigh-ins at the Senior Bowl this week, no prospect tipped the scales more than the 359-pound nose tackle out of Georgia.

Jenkins, a projected first-round pick, played well in Mobile, but he knows the questions about his weight are not going away any time soon.

“The biggest question will be… they heard the rumor about me being 370, and I came in at 359,” he said. “Now the question is going to be, ‘What are you going to weigh at the combine?’ That’s going to be the biggest question. And then when I bring it down, they’re going to be like ‘Ok, this man is serious.'”

Chip Kelly is big on speed, and Denard Robinson is world-class in that category.

It comes as no surprise, then, that Kelly tried to get Robinson to come to Oregon out of high school. Robinson chose Michigan instead, something Kelly reminded him of when the two sat down for a meeting this week at the Senior Bowl.

“I talked to Chip. I talked to him for a while,” said Robinson. “It was good. He told me he came down to Deerfield Beach to recruit me. He was like, ‘I wish you would have came [to Oregon].’ But it all worked out.”

A week ago today, the Eagles introduced Chip Kelly as their new head coach.

His first order of business was to fill out his staff. The Eagles are not confirming any of the moves and plan to announce all the hires at once. But many of the pieces are in place. Here’s a look at where things currently stand.

MOBILE, Ala. – Ryan Nassib had seen Howie Roseman on TV in the past. But the Syracuse quarterback prospect had never met the Eagles’ general manager.

Until this week – that is.

The Eagles’ brass are at the Senior Bowl, doing their due diligence on a number of prospects, including Nassib, who is from West Chester and attended Malvern Prep.

“I have talked to Coach [Chip] Kelly and a couple other people with the Eagles,” Nassib said. “The offense that he ran at Oregon was kind of similar to the one I ran in my last year with the read zone and stuff. He actually did a study on one of our best plays and knew all about it, so it’s actually pretty cool. Hopefully the opportunity comes. Philly’s my city, so we’ll see.”

The Eagles won’t officially announce their coaching staff until every position is filled; that’s how Chip Kelly wants it.

Safe to say, though, that Dave Fipp will be named special teams coordinator when that time comes.

Chase Thomas was in no mood to crow.

The Stanford linebacker was part of a defensive attack that slowed down Chip Kelly and Oregon last season. The Ducks failed to score at least 35 points just one time in 2012 – against Thomas, head coach David Shaw and the Cardinal in a 17-14 loss.

There is a good chance the Eagles switch over to a 3-4 under Chip Kelly — a sizable project in what will turn out to be a rather extensive remodeling effort this offseason.

Kelly hasn’t publicly committed to the transition, and perhaps it would be best to officially have a defensive coordinator in place before doing so. But there is a sense that he would like to make the move.

According to Howie Roseman, the team’s preparations for such a change predate Kelly coming on board.

Chip Kelly has a connection with Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel. He recruited the 6-4, 240-pound signal caller when Manuel was coming out of high school. Manuel, a Virginia native, ultimately chose FSU because it was closer to home than Oregon, but continued a relationship with Kelly.

And now, he wants to play for him.

MOBILE, Ala. – Kyle Long remembers the teaching moment quite well.

Oregon was getting ready for its Fiesta Bowl matchup against Kansas State. During practice, the Ducks ran a screen, but execution was far from perfect. Long and his buddy, tight end Colt Lyerla, went to block the same defender.

After the play, they started arguing over who screwed up. That’s when Chip Kelly stepped in.

“Chip ran over and said, ‘Both of you shut-up. Get over here,'” Long recalls. “And he had this smirk on his face. I knew something good was coming. He always has this little paper in his back pocket. He pulls it out and draws a square.”