Three Eagles were voted into the Pro Bowlrunning back LeSean McCoy, tackle Jason Peters and defensive end Jason Babinand all were deserving.
But NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger would have added Jason Kelce to the list. The rookie center, who surprised everyone by winning the starting job at training camp, played that well.
Ryan Kalil of Carolina and Scott Wells of Green Bay are the centers for the NFC team, but Baldinger feels Kelce played better than both of them.
(Kelce) got better every week, Baldinger said, and this game (against Dallas) might have been his best. He went one-on-one with a Pro Bowl nose tackle (Jay Ratliff) and he won the battle. I mean, he won convincingly.
The Eagles left him on an island with no help (against Ratliff) and he took Ratliff out of the game. The Cowboys ran blitzes at him, they ran stunts, they tried to isolate him and it didnt work. Show me one play (on the tape) where he gets beat. There isnt one.
It was an impressive performance for the sixth-round draft pick from Cincinnati. It is true the Cowboys lifted some starters when it was clear they didnt need the game but most of that was on offense. The Dallas defense played its first unit, which meant Kelce was going against Ratliff, DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer and the other regulars. He did a superb job in the 20-7 victory.
In reviewing the tape, Baldinger kept pointing out little things like Kelces footwork, the way he set up in pass protection, the way he used his hands, the way he was able to slide side to side to pick up a blitzer. He looked like a 10-year veteran, not a rookie.
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One of the knocks on Kelce prior to the draftindeed, the reason he slipped to the sixth roundwas his size. He is listed at 6-2 and 280 pounds and many scouts felt he would be overpowered by defensive tackles, who outweigh him by 50 or 60 pounds.
But Kelce is so quick and his technique so sound that he is able to handle the big guys inside. Occasionally he will get jacked up by a 3-4 nose tackle but as Baldinger pointed out: That happens to every center. The question is: Does he win most of the time and the answer is yes.
Looking back on the Dallas game
On the first possession, the Eagles had second-and-one at their own 40. They lined up in the shotgun and ran a stretch play with McCoy carrying the ball. It was a tough play for Kelce, who had to make the long snap to quarterback Mike Vick and still get down the line to block the defensive end. Kelce was able to execute it, though, because he was so quick out of his stance. He sealed off the end, Marcus Spears, and opened a nice lane for McCoy to gain six yards.
Later in the period, the Eagles faced a third-and-six at their own 13. Dallas defensive coordinator Rob Ryan sent a blitz with Ratliff and linebacker Sean Lee running a stunt. Kelce and rookie guard Danny Watkins picked it up with Kelce taking Lee and Watkins blocking Ratliff. Vick had time to hit DeSean Jackson for 12 yards and a first down.
You can see (line coach) Howard Mudds influence, Baldinger said. He drilled these guys on all these different looks and blitzes. Early in the season you saw some hesitation (among the linemen) but not anymore. They arent getting fooled.
The most impressive play came during the touchdown drive right before halftimea six-play, 87-yard drive that took only 50 secondswhen Kelce blocked three men. It was on the third play when Dallas sent another blitz. Kelce snapped the ball to Vick and threw a block on Ratliff, then picked up the blitzing Lee and also took out Spencer, who ran a stunt behind Lee.
Thanks to Kelce, Vick was able to stand in the pocket and complete a pass to Jason Avant for a 27-yard gain. Three plays later, Kelce pinned Ratliff at the line, providing Vick with a clear passing lane to Jeremy Maclin in the end zone.
That is the Eagles best two-minute drive of the year, Baldinger said, and Kelce is right in the middle of it. He really knows how to use his hands. He comes out of his stance and stabs Ratliff right there. Bam, its over. Kelce wins.
The Cowboys tried different things, including an old trick: attacking the centers snapping hand. Ratliff and Spears tried to beat Kelce on the right side, figuring he used that hand to snap the ball so he would not be able to jam them with it. But Kelce was quick enough to make both the snap and the block. Ratliff finished the game with just one tackle.
I give Howard a lot of credit, Baldinger said. He saw something in this kid the first week of camp. He had Kelce running with the first unit almost from the start. At the time, it seemed like a gamble, putting a sixth-round pick in that spot, asking him to be the guy in the middle. Its a lot of responsibility but Howard knew what he was doing.
Kelce has a chance to be one of the best centers in the NFL. Hes almost there now. He didnt make the Pro Bowl this year, but I wouldnt be surprised to see him make it next year. I think Jay Ratliff would vote for him. Jay is going to the Pro Bowl this year but he didnt make a play in this game. Kelce owned him.
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger and Ray Didinger break down every Eagles game on Under Review every Thursday, Friday and Saturday on Sports Nite and Sports Rise on Comcast Sports Net.
E-mail Ray Didinger at viewfromthehall@comcast.net.
