'He's more of a player's guy, not a plays guy': Chip Kelly's offense gives flexibility to players

Jul 25, 2025 at 07:45 AM

Levi Edwards

Digital Team Reporter

In today's NFL, adapting is a necessity.

Players aren't the only ones tasked with the ever-changing landscape of football, but coaches as well – if not more so than players. Chip Kelly is fully aware of that as he's back coaching in the NFL for the first time since 2016.

The Raiders offensive coordinator certainly has his own philosophies he wants to impress on the locker room. And those principles will be received over time.

He's also not willing to place his players in compromising positions quite yet. Early in the process of installing his offense, the emphasis is on getting the ball in playmakers' hands, and letting them handle the rest.

"I think there's a ton involved in that," Kelly said after Thursday's practice, "being able to figure out what are the strengths and what are the weaknesses of each individual player, and then try to put them in positions where they can make plays."

At his disposal is quarterback Geno Smith. Smith and Kelly have been familiar with each other for awhile now, as Kelly, when head coach of the Oregon Ducks, tried to recruit the quarterback. Kelly also coached Smith's cousin, Jeremiah, last year on the national championship winning Ohio State Buckeyes.

While they've admired each other from afar, working together has been seamless. Largely due to Kelly's willingness to scheme around Smith's skillset.

"I think Chip has done a great job, number one, with implementing his style of play," Smith said. "We want to be tough, we want to be physical, we want to attack the line of scrimmage. He's doing a great job schemewise, putting us in position to make plays. We've got a lot of great weapons on offense, so he's putting the guys in positions to make plays. And you can see it out there from day one, just the guys who are touching the ball and getting up, getting in open space."

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Tre Tucker feels the same way as the quarterback. The wideout, averaging over 13 yards a reception in his career, could see high usage in this offense considering how Kelly spreads the field.

"He's very good at putting guys in the right spot to succeed," Tucker said. "I feel like sometimes, people can just put people places and just expect you to run a certain thing, but he's more of a player's guy, not a plays guy. So, the players, we make the plays, but he puts us in position to make them."

With the flexibility Kelly allows his offensive weapons to play with, it starts with the quarterback position. He prides versatility at the position.

The more adaptable his signal-caller can be on the field, the more explosive his play-calling can develop into.

"The beauty of it is that the guy pulling the trigger can run everything," Kelly said. "So if we're with Geno and say, 'Hey, we'd like to do this.' He can do it. If you want to do that part of the game, whether it be quick game, he can do it, throwing the deep ball, he can do it, throwing the intermediate big balls, he can do that. He's got so much experience, and to have a veteran quarterback, it's such a comforting feeling.

"And really, Aidan [O'Connell], who's got experience, he's not a rookie," he added. "In his first two days, he's been really really sharp. ... And for those guys to be able to diagnose, and they're the point guard. They're the ones that are pulling the trigger of your play, but to have those guys doing it makes it really easy."

The offense is bound to become more intricate over the next few weeks of training camp. That's for all offenses around the league.

The good thing for Kelly and his players is they have a mutual respect and understanding for the ebbs and flows on the horizon.

"They want to be coached. They're thirsty for knowledge," Kelly said. "When you go into the meeting room, there's a little buzz and there's an excitement. It's not like, 'Oh God, we're in camp. What we do here?' It's like, they're excited. It's special when you get an opportunity to be on [an] NFL roster, and I think these guys are really taking advantage of it.

"As a coach, it makes it a blast to come in this building every day."

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Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) walks out on to the field for practice at 2025 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.