Eagles rookie quarterback Nick Foles continued to turn heads and surprise fans with his play. I don’t see any way the Birds can keep Mike Kafka as the team’s top backup quarterback behind Michael Vick. Concerning Vick, he threw the ball on Friday in Philadelphia. He didn’t go to the game in Cleveland.
Back to last night’s game, I like the fact that Foles sees the entire field. Many times, coaches will have young quarterbacks just work one side of the field, but this youngster is mature past his professional experience.
The sky is the limit for him. I want to see how he will react to a team that’s blitzing him heavily and forcing him to get the ball out of his hands immediately. So far Foles has passed every test.
On his first touchdown throw, the young signal caller dropped into the pocket looking to his left where he had DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. He didn’t like what he saw there, so his drifted to his right and kept scanning the field looking for an open receiver. He found tight end Brent Celek, who had slid out into a route. Celek caught the pass, broke a tackle and went into the end zone.
He showed off his accuracy with his second touchdown pass. Foles hit running back Dion Lewis on a short throw in the red zone on an angle route, where he beat the linebacker inside. The ball hit Lewis right between the numbers.
Eagles head coach Andy Reid is trying to temper his comments about Foles, because some of the fans and people who cover the team are throwing out superlatives which are getting ahead this young man’s development.
You don’t sense any fear in this young man.
As Reid said, I’ve seen rookie quarterbacks get overly conservative after throwing an interception. He didn’t change his game or panic. Foles kept delivering the football in the same manner he’s been doing all preseason. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 146 yards with two touchdowns and that early interception.
He’s not afraid of the violent and physical part of the game. Foles is 6’6′ 245 pound with tremendous toughness, so he’ll stand strong in the pocket. He’ll hold onto the ball and stand strong in the pocket.
He’s not afraid of the complexity of the position. Foles came to the line and changed a play last night without any hesitation.
After his first game, Foles talked about improving his pre-snap reads. The fact that he’s concentrating on pre-snap reads says a lot about his understanding of the game. I”ve heard that he has a sharp and clear understanding of NFL defenses and coverages. It’s obvious because he knows where to go with the football.
I know it’s preseason but this kid looks comfortable in the pocket. And he seems to be able to check down, and go through his progressions with no issue right now. He has earned the #2 spot on this team right now, and the eagles may have found a diamond in the rough. Third round pick potential starter in the Nfl, that’s not common in today’s Nfl great draft this Eagles.
I agree pdiddy, if you recall back in Pre-Draft Discussions, I stated a few times that Foles was one of the few QB’s who had a NFL Arm in my opinion and could make all the throws.. I had some concerns about his mobility and getting his footwork and balance, mechanics, striaghtened out which it appears he has worked hard on and probably has been helped with the solid QB Coaching that the Eagles do with all their QB’s… What I did not expect is the maturirty and ease that he appears to play with in learning this Eagle System and has been thrown lots of differenct plays,formHe gets rid of the ball not only quickly, but to the right receivers,he slides up and over really well in the pocket and has enough foot speed to buy himself a coupld extra seconds and what I like most about him is that he’s keeps his eyes on what ‘s happening downfield to find receivers and at 6-6″, he is still able to make the throws to open recivers where like Big-Ben does and you don’t see too many young QB’s doing this (even Veteran QB’s struggle with this) Foles and does not seem in “Awe” or “intimidated’ by the big staage of it all.. There is no doubt that he should start the Season at #2 behind Vick and to be honest, I would rather have the Eagles keep Trent Edwards at #3 and move on from Kafka who was never going to anymore than a #2/#3 Qb in the NFL..
I had Foles on the Eagles Radar back in Pre-Draft talk and though he was the best of the 2nd Tier QB’s coming out after Luck/RGIII.. I was a little surprised when they grabbed him thinking they liked what they had in Kafka but the reality is that Kafka is another Kolb where he is just a dink & dunk type of thrower and playing in the Eagles System with the outside speedy Recievers they have, it’s a prerequesite for an Eagle QB to have a big arm to get the ball downfield and Kafka does not have this where Foles most definitely does… Keep playing him and as I mentioned a QB Corps of Vick,Foles and Edwards is a pretty strong and Deep one
**Paulman Trade Rumor****
Eagles Trade QB M Vick, DE D Tapp to the JAcksonville JAguars for
SS Dwan Landry, Back-up QB Chad Hennee and a 1st Round PIck in 2013 and a 3rd Round pick in 2014..
Foles is running the offense like a seasoned vet. He seems unflappable in the pocket. No disrespect to Mike Vick, Sunshine(Foles) is definitely on the rise! When healthy, I have no doubt that Vick can lead this team, however it remains a mystery if he can lead the Eagles to greatness.
Look.. Vick will not do it.. It wasnt a bad thing that we snagged him, he was the perfect segue from the McNabb years..You need a big man to be the qb of your NFL football team..The beatings they take are horrific and Vick will never last..Nick Foles will get his chance this year.
I think Foles is the Eagles QB of the future. I want to give him some more time to develop since we’re not in rebuilding mode (Vick gives us the best chance to win the SB), and the fact that he hasn’t played the pass rushers of the NFC East or the better defenses throughout the league. But with Foles’ development and Vick’s contract, I wouldn’t be surprised if Foles became the starter next year; Vick’s contract will make it almost impossible to sign both DRC and Maclin to long-term deals unless Vick redoes his contract or is cut/traded. However, with all his attributes he is still a rookie and one must remember that many of QBs have shown promise only to falter in the real games. Yet, I whole-heartedly believe that his best attribute is his attitude, which is the first step to becoming a good QB.
I just heard a Eagles draft day story. In the 3rd round Roseman and other Eagle execs were discussing who they all wanted to take. Roseman said I want this guy while other eagle execs threw out other names, then all of a sudden andy throws the other names off the board onto the floor and put Foles name up on the board and said “Were taking Foles”.. Andy obviously had a good feeling about the kid for awhile.
I Give Andy Reid Credit, after years of drafting injured players and just pure bums, it looks like he has drafted a stud.
The draft class in general seems to be one of the best in his era.
But now that he has Ferrari talent on Defense, he still has a lawn mower
coaching them (Castillio aka bozo the clown)
But Reid has received a Ultimatum Borne of his no championship Legacy.
And it’s win the Superbowl or take your tactless agent and move on.
Whew…I’m just glad he’s not another Kolb or Kafka or Detmer or any of the other “Stop Gap” measure QBs Reid and company has drafted in the past.
Being a 6’6′ QB is more important for the Eagles because the primary recievers are small and average height. This has been evident by their lack of scoring in the red zone. It’s this simple; a 6′ qb (Vick) trying to see through 6’4″ – 6’8″ offensive and defensive lineman in a small space. Vick can only see through small lanes as the recievers cross. Foles can see the entire route path and throw just when the reciever break open. Being 6’6″ sounds great, but Foles first and second objective is to pass or throw it away. Vick is pass first, then take off. Vick has only been making a real effort to understand defenses for the last couple yeras, it’s too much to ask of him. He will have some great games, but not against the better teams in the league.
Jp a good analysis. Vick is not the answer. Good teams give him fits the way jimmy Johnson defenses did long ago. I want Foles to be big Ben … However sometimes Andy can make a QB look better than he really is…. You all know the names here, i remember WIP and its callers anointing Feeley, Garcia, Hoying Detmer as the next great QB…I caution everyone to take a breath before anointing Foles. I hope that this one is for real! If so we have a shot because we are not close with 7
Lets just say if Nick Foles is the real deal, Kendricks is best LB you’ve had since Trotter, Fletcher Cox is that dominate DT we saw him at Mississippi, would this not be the greatest all around draft in NFL history? Can someone name me a draft that was so on the money like the one the Eagles had in 2012? honestly I cant think of any.
I said it before and got blasted on here because I did not think the demeco ryans trade was as significant as a lot of other were making it out. I started to question well what did the Texans see in him to let him go for only a 4th round pick? its not like he was hurt he played nearly an entire season after the injury. If im Andy Reid im starting Jamar Channey week 1.
EAGLESSUCK… I agree
Chaney was balling before Juan decided to try Matthews at MLB setting back Chaney as well as the rest f the defense….I’ll take Chaney on Demeco Ryan right now….I haven’t seen one tackle behind the line of scrimmage by Ryan…He’s on the down side of his career and I’d rather have Chaney manning the middle.
JH I dont know where you heard that draft day story, but I believe it. I think ever since Banner’s “definition of insanity” quote Reid incrementally had total control of the team’s operations taken from him until this season. Hence Banner’s mysterious dismissal prior to this season. I feel many of the past few drafts had less of Reid’s fingerprints on them. Anyway, this draft looks to have some players from it. Best Foles moment from game was him getting pasted in chest and sacked, getting up, adjusting his helmet and playing the next play. No limping, no shaking of his hand, no pending X-rays or MRI’s. Refreshing to see.
Chaney is not a legitimate NFL Starting LB.. He had a nice stretch the end of 2009 Season due to the rest of the Eagles LB’s playnig so poorly that he looked great.. He’s a back-up Player/Special teamer and nothing more in my opinion and to be honest, doesn’t have the smarts to be the MLB where you have makes calls and adjustments… PLay him at SAM and see how he does and move Kendricks to WILL
Odds of a full-lown QB contorversy by week 6 are now at 7 to 1 for.
Kowing these 3 things:
1 – Vick will not be the Eagles’ QB nxt year due to his salary and ineptitde
2 – Foles has exceeded expectatons
3 – Foles will be the Eagles’ starting QB in 2013
At what point does he get the start this year? I don’t think thyll put him in right after the bye week…wouldn’t be smart to put a rook in against the murderer’s row of Atlanta, NO, Dall where he`ll be asked to put up 30+ each game just to keep up….so I`m thinking they`ll let Vick flounder thre, ad Foles comes in permantly in week 11.
Hope springs eternal.