The 13 Questions I'd Like to Ask Chip Kelly

--I don’t have any illusions. I’m sure my questions would get the clipped answers and the stare, just like everyone else’s except Terrelle Turner’s. These are just the ones I’d love to ask.

photo at left: Coach Kelly patrols the sidelines versus Arizona. Photo courtesy of the Oregon photo store. Use promo code Foot21 for a 21% discount on framed and unframed prints.

1. What’s the most interesting question you haven’t been asked?

2. In evaluating a kid for recruiting, how much do you rely on video and internet clips, and how important is your impression of him as a person? Is all about measurables and mobility or do you try to evaluate his confidence and character? What makes you offer on one kid and pass on another? Is it a gut feeling? How much of it is the time on the stop watch?

3. What did you learn from last year’s Rose Bowl that you can use in this game? Is there anything you’re changing about the practice order or schedule based on what worked or didn’t work last bowl season?

4. Terrelle Pryor had a great game against Oregon. How useful is the comparison between him and Auburn’s Cam Newton, and does the experience of facing one help at all in preparing you for the other?

5. How do stop a player like Newton, or is that even a useful question? When you look at an opponent like Auburn, where do you start to break them down or look for an edge? Do you spy him, blitz him, sit back in the zone or mix it up as much as possible? In what ways is Darron Thomas a better quarterback than Newton?

6. The national guys are saying that Oregon is no matchup for Auburn, particularly on defense. Obviously you and the team focus on what you have to do, but does stuff like that annoy you or piss you off? Do you use it at all as motivation?

7. Who’s the best tackler on the defense? Any specific techniques or adjustments defenders have to make to tackle a guy like Newton in the open field? How do you counter the stiff arm, which he uses a lot, along with the ball and shoulder fakes?

8. I watch Newton carrying the ball and he’s swinging it around on that long arm of his like a stolen calzone. Yet he only has one career fumble. Your defense pursues and forces turnovers better than any team in the country. They have 20 picks. Any chance Newton has a bad, bad game due to some underrated PAC-10 tenaciousness?

9. Nick Fairley. The offensive line contained Steven Paea, who is stronger. Fairley is quick and violent. How do you block that guy?

10. You always say you give yourselves 24 hours to celebrate a win and then you move on to the next game. This is the last one. How will you celebrate it?

11. You seem to thrive on the energy, demands and challenge of coaching. What do you do to refresh yourself? Some guys seem to reach the top of the heap and burn out and lose interest.

12. One of the hard things about coaching has to be saying good bye to a group like this year’s seniors. What will you remember most about them?

13. If you win the National Championship, will you wear one of those regular hats, the championship hat?

What about you? If you could ask Coach Kelly a question, what would it be? And what kind of answer would you expect?