It's a tremendous weapon as a change of pace. It's definitely not a tremendous weapon as an offensive philosophy.
The Eagles went tempo on the fourth drive of their preseason game against the Dolphins Thursday night at the Linc, and the result was a nine-play, 93-yard drive that took 3½ minutes.
If you're having flashbacks of Chip Kelly ... don't worry.
Ertz promised tempo in Doug Pederson's offense will always be the exception to keep an opposing defense off balance and never this team's standard offense.
"We've been there in the past and it didn't work out too well for us," said Ertz, one of four offensive starters left who played for Kelly.
"I think the tough thing about going tempo is you kind of get away from your game plan sometimes, so it's going to be something to spice things [up] every now and then. Whenever we need to jump-start things, we'll jump to it."
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On that 93-yard drive, Carson Wentz was 3 for 4 for 47 yards, and LeGarrette Blount and Wendell Smallwood combined for 31 yards on five runs and 15 more yards came on a facemask penalty.
It was the best rhythm the offense showed this preseason, and it wound up being the last drive for the first-team offense this preseason (see 10 observations).
Instead of the usual 2½ quarters, Pederson pulled the starters after that 93-yard drive.
"When we're able to go fast like that, it puts the defense in a predicament," Ertz said. "Especially with our offensive line and what they're able to do, not just in the passing game but in the running game as well.
"And then the caliber of players we have, it kind of puts a defense on its heels and that's what we saw tonight."
The Eagles went on to win, 38-31, in the third of four preseason games (see Instant Replay). The backups are expected to play next Thursday night against the Jets in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Eagles open the regular season on Sept. 10 against the Redskins in Landover, Maryland.
Once the regular season starts, expect tempo to be a significant part of the Eagles' offense.
Just not the only part.
The hurry-up as a base offense worked for Kelly at first. But now he's out of the league, along with his gadget scheme.
Is the no-huddle a more effective weapon when used sparingly?
"Yeah. I mean, obviously," Ertz said with a chuckle. "When you're able to do both things, I think it's great."
