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Five NFL scheme changes to watch: Offense

By now, you've probably heard: Chip Kelly plans to do things a little differently in Philadelphia.

The Eagles coach has his claws dug deep on offense, and whether Michael Vick, Nick Foles or even Matt Barkley runs the show, we're going to see something unique.

Frankly, the hubbub around Kelly -- tantalizing as it might be -- has overshadowed a slew of scheme changes around the NFL. Here are five teams outside Kingdom Kelly planning to switch things up on offense:

Cleveland Browns

Many wrote off quarterback Brandon Weeden last season after the rookie struggled out of the gate and failed to match the heroics of his first-year peers.

Some of Weeden's difficulties were rooted in Pat Shurmur's whiff-of-death West Coast attack that didn't suit Weeden's strengths. The former Oklahoma State passer came out of a free-wheeling, shotgun-heavy college attack that overlaps more generously with what new Browns coach Rob Chudzinski has planned in Cleveland.

Chud and coordinator Norv Turner desire a vertical passing scheme that emphasizes deep strikes downfield. The Browns wisely are running more shotgun to "free (Weeden) up to see the field and throw." His arm strength is a positive, and the Browns say Weeden has significantly improved his footwork. Decades have passed without good quarterback play in Cleveland, so this is encouraging (if it pans out).

Chicago Bears

Similar situation in the Windy City, where Jay Cutler will direct a pass-heavy offense. I'm a big believer in Marc Trestman, an accomplished and innovative architect of offensive football.

The Bears have to make a decision about Cutler, and if he can't thrive under Trestman, it's time to move on.

Chicago's attack was maddening under Lovie Smith, but Trestman promises to spread out defenses and use route concepts to set free his weapons. He was a gutsy and intriguing choice for head coach, and Trestman is bound to take the Bears somewhere new.

Buffalo Bills

While rookie quarterback EJ Manuel said the Bills' offense was easier to grasp than Florida State's, he also noted that Buffalo's playbook depicts "a true West Coast-type progression" attack.

We expect the Bills to operate out of a pro-style base with elements of up-tempo and zone-read concepts.

New Bills coach Doug Marrone fell in love with one-back formations and no-huddle looks last season at Syracuse. Flexibility will be paramount under coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, but what the new coaches must get right (and what Chan Gailey's staff never did) is consistently unleashing C.J. Spiller. Expect friskiness out of Buffalo.

Arizona Cardinals

A long string of hobby horses threw passes for the Cardinals in 2012. The wreckage has been cleared away by new coach Bruce Arians, who wasted no time finding a proven veteran signal-caller. An aging Carson Palmer raises long-term questions, but he was far from a liability in Oakland and, in theory, gives Arians the type of strong-armed leader this aggressive passing attack requires.

The Cardinals have shown faith in their young offensive tackles and drafted two guards -- Jonathan Cooper and Earl Watford -- to bolster the line. The problem for Arizona has been health under center. If Palmer is kept upright, the Cardinals will be less inept come September.

New York Jets

Long gone are Tim Tebow, Tony Sparano and a five-years-too-late Wildcat offering. Gang Green is shifting to a West Coast-heavy scheme under new coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, and it's up to Mark Sanchez or Geno Smith to make it work. "We're gonna go after people," Mornhinweg said during spring practices.

The West Coast is a demanding progression-reliant system that asks quarterbacks to see and process information differently. It takes time and reps to learn.

Sanchez, playing for his third coordinator in three years, rests in the driver's seat heading into camp, but Mornhinweg said Smith is "way ahead of the pace of a normal rookie." The competition should help both passers.

Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.

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