Felix Jones runs a drill in practice. There is no real tackling at Eagles camp.
Rikard Larma/Metro
Everything is different at Eagles training camp. From the loud pop music blaring at practices to running backs attached to strings, it’s new era under Chip Kelly.
One of the newest wrinkles recently revealed is no tackling. Well, that’s not entirely true. There has been tackling in recent days, but Kelly isn’t asking his players to take each other down to the ground. He’ll let them use the preseason games to work on that.
“We have four preseason games for that,” Kelly said. “They’re hitting pretty good when they get an opportunity. The big thing with tackling, you want to be on your feet anyway. We don’t want people diving. We want to be good form tackle so they get an opportunity. In the first team period we do every day, we’re going to be doing that.”
After losing two players to season-ending ACL tears — receiver Jeremy Maclin, linebacker Jason Phillips — in a three-day span, maybe it’s not such a bad idea. In fact, Kelly admitted that preventing injury is the main reason for it.
“It’s the pile-ups,” Kelly said. “Most of the time it’s not the tackle or the tackler, it’s the rest of the guys coming through. It’s a dance everybody’s got to dance but you want to make sure you get enough physicality in practice. I think our guys are doing a good job right now.”
The Eagles enjoyed an off-day Tuesday, but they’ll be back out there in full pads Wednesday. The first preseason game is scheduled for Aug. 9 at the Linc against the New England Patriots.
