Beating The Colts Rests With The O-Line
PHILADELPHIA, PA (CBS) — Dennis Kelly feels more confident and comfortable. Andrew Gardner feels a lot more comfortable, and Wade Smith is reaching a comfort zone.
Hopefully, this all bodes well for the Eagles Monday night and their patchwork offensive line when they take on Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts.
Kelly or Smith will start for injured All-Pro left guard Evan Mathis, out with an MCL sprain to his left knee for eight weeks, while Gardner will replace right tackle Allen Barbre, who was lost for the season with an ankle injury after replacing Lane Johnson.
The Eagles pick up Smith, a 2012 Pro Bowler, to add depth to a shaky front.
But it appears the Eagles aren't too nervous working on their third right tackle and second left guard only two games into the season, after going the entire 2013 season without a major injury on the starting offensive line.
"I feel more confident and the line feels more at ease throwing Gardner in because everyone gets a ton of reps during practice," said Kelly, who started 10 games his rookie year after the Eagles' offensive line was decimated by injuries in the 4-12 2012 season. "I think it helps playing a lot of different positions. The 'two' offensive line did very well during the preseason, and I played left tackle at Purdue, and that helps."
Kelly started at right guard his rookie year, but he's never played left guard. The only difference, he says, playing on the left side. Kelly was not told whether or not he would start entering Monday night.
But it seemed likely Kelly would get the start, knowing Chip Kelly's system and what it entails.
"We want to make sure everyone is ready and all the bases are covered, but we haven't had a sit down yet telling me I was going to start," Kelly said. "But as of right now, I think I'm going to start—and it will be my first start at left guard."
Kelly will be going up against Arthur Jones and Corey Redding in the Colts' 3-4 scheme. And Kelly has one huge advantage flanked on his left by All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters, probably the best left tackle in the game, and center Jason Kelce to his right, arguably the best center in football.
"Those two being so good at what they do helps me a lot and elevates my play," Kelly said. "Once we get our communication down, we're going to be okay."
Smith has caught up fast to Kelly's system.
"This is a mental marathon and I've been able to pick up things pretty fast," Smith said. "Anytime you play offensive line for the first time with guys communication is the key. We all have to be on the same page and what's going on. With this offense, the no-huddle and signals, different code words, it's mentally taxing to get up to speed. I'll do what I can to contribute to us winning. We'll see what happens when Monday comes."
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