As Dan Campbell and the Lions gain fans around the NFL, count the Kelce brothers among them.
"I’m not gonna lie, after watching 'Hard Knocks,' I kind of became a fan of the Lions and a lot of the characters they got," Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce said on the latest episode of the New Heights podcast he co-hosts with his brother. "Dan Campbell, would love to play for him. Awesome guy."
Jason Kelce and the Eagles played against Campbell and the Lions in Week 1, and escaped Detroit with a 38-35 win. Philadelphia's All-Pro center said the
Lions lived up their identity on HBO's 'Hard Knocks' as a gritty, strong-willed group.
"They got a tough-minded, hard-nosed coach and their team played that way," he said. "At one point, we’re up 17 and you’re close to breaking the will of a team but they fought to the end, very close to beating us. If we don’t have Jalen Hurts in that game, they probably do beat us."
The Eagles built a 38-21 lead entering the fourth quarter, largely on the legs (and occasionally the arm) of quarterback Jalen Hurts, before the Lions mounted a rally. Jason Kelce, who played every offensive snap for the Eagles, reiterated that "we don't win that game without Jalen Hurts," who broke heavy pressure from Detroit's defensive front by rushing 17 times for 90 yards.
"The protection that broke down early with blitzes and different looks that we either didn’t communicate well or pick up well, his ability to go offbeat and make something happen saved us," he said. "Multiple third downs, multiple drives that were kept going because of the type of player he is, and then he didn’t disappoint in the air … A lot of the success of the offense came down to one guy doing a really, really good job and that’s Jalen Hurts."
A four-time All-Pro in his 12th NFL season, Jason Kelce has seen just about every defensive lineman the league can offer. While he didn't clash much with Lions rookie Aidan Hutchinson last Sunday, he came away impressed with the No. 2 pick. Asked if Hutchinson reminded him of anyone he's faced in the past, Jason Kelce said, "He's like a more athletic, more nimble Jared Allen type player."
Jared Allen, a four-time All-Pro who spent 12 years with the Chiefs and Vikings and twice led the NFL in sacks, is a candidate for the Hall of Fame.
Hutchinson had a quiet game in the box score and was guilty at times of losing contain on Hurts. But he did find his way into Philly's backfield and caused some problems for arguably the best offensive line in the NFL.
"He has some really, really good stutter bull (rush), long arms, gets extended, can attack you inside, outside or right down the middle and makes it all kind of look the same," said Jason Kelce. "Speed to power, they lined him up a couple times in this overload set where he’s clearly outside the tackle, coming down with a full head of steam. He’s going to be a really, really good player."
The other Lions rookie to catch Jason Kelce's eye? The same one who was catching eyes all camp in Allen Park -- and across the country on 'Hard Knocks:' Malcolm Rodriguez. The sixth-round picked started at linebacker, made six tackles including a tackle for loss and draw praise from Campbell for not missing a single assignment in an otherwise sloppy game for the defense. The 5'11, 225-pound 'Rodrigo' also slammed the 6'3, 295-pound Kelce to the turf with a hip toss from hell near the Lions' goal line.
"I thought I had him," Kelce said. "I was driving him in the end zone and right at the last second -- [insert Karate sound] -- gave me a nice Judo hip toss. Did not see it coming. It was impressive nonetheless, a quick twist of the hips. He’s a good player. He made a better move on me on a draw play earlier in the game where he made a tackle on Jalen Hurts. That kid’s got a really bright future. He’s been a star of the Hard Knocks show, seems like he’s got a great mentality."
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