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Cary Williams: Chip Kelly shortens practices

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly has adjusted his practice schedule. Whether that was a result of cornerback Cary Williams' comments earlier this season or something Kelly already had planned, however, remains unclear.

Practices are closed to the media, so there’s no way to gauge the exact changes.

Williams revealed the schedule change while talking to reporters at his locker Tuesday afternoon. Last month, after the Eagles’ home win against Washington, Williams said Kelly’s uptempo practices were like playing a couple games during the week. Players were fatigued by Sunday, Williams said. Kelly called Williams in for a meeting the next day.

“We shortened a couple days,” Williams said, according to Birds 24/7. “We've taken a couple portions out of practice on both days. We've got a different schedule. We practice three days a week really, and everything else is a walk-through, tempo type thing. He's shortened some of those down.”

According to Kelly’s coordinators, the head coach constantly evaluates where the players are in terms of fitness and preparation and adjusts his practice schedule accordingly.

“As you get toward the middle of the season, we make slight adjustments,” offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. “What we do is very dynamic. Certainly, we listen to what the players are saying. What they’re saying is important to us. But we have a plan, as we go forward, how much work we’re going to get done each week.”

“I haven’t seen a problem since Day 1, Week 1," defensive coordinator Bill Davis said. “Chip is doing what Chip always does. He reads the information. He gets the feedback from every player, from all the data he gets from all the sports-science things we do. And he adjusts daily, weekly. We’re always moving the target to make sure that the players are at the optimal spot on Sunday. I don’t think he’s missed the mark yet this year.”

Whether it was Williams’ words or the fourth-quarter collapse that almost cost the Eagles against the Rams, Kelly’s adjustments helped the team maintain its focus through the 27-0 shutout of the Giants.

"Physically, I definitely feel a change,” Williams said. “I think a lot of guys feel the same way. Chip is definitely understanding that, he understood that, and he came out and said that is probably the reason why we came out and did what we did and played at a high level (against the Giants).”