You can’t play much better than Nick Foles performed yesterday against Tampa Bay. The second-year quarterback completed 22 out of 31 passes for 296 yards with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. He had a quarterback rating of 133, which is outstanding. An effort like that should be rewarded with another game to start.
Still many of the Eagles players feel Vick is their leader. Star Eagles running back LeSean McCoy was interviewed after the game and he didn’t hesitate to make it clear that he considered Vick the team’s leader and starting quarterback.
“We have two starting quarterbacks, yes, Mike Vick and Nick Foles. They both can play,” McCoy said. “Mike is the starter. Coach Kelly made that clear, but if he needs Nick to step in and make some plays he’ll do that. But Mike is the guy we go with. He’s the starting quarterback, no matter what this town says or what outsiders want. It was Coach Kelly’s call and that’s the call he’s made.”
Despite that, it was one thing that Foles came into the Giants game just before halftime and lead the team to victory, but he did again against Tampa Bay, who have a better defense than New York. Foles started out the game with short passes. He got the ball out of his hands and into the hands of his playmakers.
Should they make Foles their starting quarterback and bench Michael Vick? There’s no question that the Eagles offense has been more consistent under Foles, but would it be a good move to make him the team’s starting quarterback.
Does Foles’ success have anything to do with Kelly getting better as a play caller with Foles than he was with Vick? I think it does and I believe that’s one of the reasons I also feel it’s going to give the head coach another reason to keep Vick as the team’s starting quarterback. Don’t get me wrong, Foles could be named the starter and I wouldn’t have any problem with it, because he’s performed well enough to start.
I think Kelly feels Vick has also played well, despite completing only 54% of his passes. Vick has run for 307 yards. The passing game has been more consistent with Foles under center, but the running game has been more explosive with Vick playing quarterback. I think the head coach is seeing ways going forward in which they can make scoring easier for his offense.
Yesterday in Tampa Bay, Foles led an eighty-five yard drive to get things started. First it was a screen pass to LeSean McCoy for 44 yards. This was a great call. The Birds were expecting man-to-man coverage and a Bucs front four that were going to get after Foles, so they induced the pass rush to go get Foles and ran off the secondary with their wide receivers, then dumped the ball off to McCoy and he had plenty of room to roam.
Forty-four yards on the first play of the game, was quite a way to begin. The drive ended with Foles running a quarterback draw up the middle for the score.
He was getting the ball out of his hands quickly to all of his receivers. Eight of them in fact, got the chance to catch the football in the first half.
There are better quarterbacks in the NFL than Vick, but there’s not a tougher quarterback and the former first pick in the draft has teammates, who respect him and feel honored to follow him into battle. I could tell from the way Kelly answered questions after the game that I don’t think Kelly wants to shake things up by making Foles the starter. He likes Vick better in his offense, which is one of the reasons he named Vick the starter in the first place.
If he wants to make Foles the starter, he’s got plenty of reasons to do it right now. I would applaud him making Foles the starter, but I don’t think he’s going to do it. Kelly likes to have a speedy quarterback. Foles has done everything anyone could ask to be the starter.
I say all of that but still believe Kelly has called a better game with Foles at the helm. The head coach is getting better as the team goes forward. That screen to start the game was a great call. I don’t give Kelly all of the credit for the success of Foles because the youngster has played great, but I give him some of it.
On the first touchdown throw to Jackson, Foles faked a throw to Brent Celek who was crossing short to his right, safety Mark Barron bit up on the fake and Foles threw the ball in back of him to crossing speedy wide receiver. The Bucs were in a quarter coverage, which has the four defensive backs defending their area of the field. Barron went up after the short receiver on the Foles fake and it opened up the inside route of Jackson’s.
Foles put plenty of air under the touchdown pass to Riley Cooper. It gave Cooper time to get in great position against Buccaneers rookie cornerback Johnthan Banks. Foles made the same kind of throw to Jackson when he came from across the field on a diagonal for the score.
The difference between Foles and Vick has been in the red zone. With Vick at the quarterback position, the Birds have only been able to score touchdowns in 5 out of 19 trips. With Foles as the signal caller the Birds have scored touchdowns in 5 of 9 journeys to the red zone.
His quarterback rating during those trips is 104.2, which is an outstanding number. Vick’s quarterback rating has been 57.1, during his trips to the red zone.
The only thing Vick has done better than Foles is running for two touchdowns compared to Foles’ one running score.
In mop up time during the Denver game, Foles threw a touchdown pass to Eagles wide receiver Jeff Maehl in the red zone. He then connected with DeSean Jackson on a stop and go last week in the red zone. Yesterday, he ran a quarterback draw for a touchdown, then he got the ball to Jackson on the crossing route from twelve yards out for another score. He’s getting the job done in the red zone, but will Kelly name him the starter.
‘Kelly calls better plays with Foles in the game’…Really? Or maybe its that Foles executes them better? Or maybe its because Foles recognizes coverages and blitzes better and gets them into the right play? Or maybe its because Foles is better!!!!
Come on now there were a few times in the game yesterday when Foles was blitzed and was a sitting duck…blitz recognition? you fans that talk like you know the game crack me up…Sometimes you can’t recognize the blitz, sometimes the defense does a good job in disguise…I will say that’s what they did to Foles the times he was sacked and hurried and I’ll say the same has happened with Vick.
unreal one particular blitz that got him that i remember was a guy just ran free someone didn’t get the line into the correct protection… i’m not sure but peters and a TE didn’t communicate…. that may have been foles fault– not sure how they call the protection…
anyway certainly every qb is going to get hit by certain blitzes— but certainly you can see foles having a crisper comand of the offense, a quicker delivery, receivers who ‘couldn’t get open’ are now open, desean has 2 RZ TD’s in 1.5 games with foles and none with vick…. something is different
You beat me to the punch on that HAC. I compare it as analogous to a car with a cruddy battery. It may crank eventually but it’ll take awhile. The offense runs like a well-tuned car when Foles is under center and this is coming from a black guy (me) before anyone gets it racially twisted. Hey, I like Vick. I’m sure he’s a real nice person. But, he’s too hesitant and seems to be too unsure and indecisive; throws into double and triple coverage, too often looks for the home run play instead of checking down to the hot receiver. I trust my eyes I might add. My personal preference is Foles but I’m sure Chip’s not listening to me even though I’ve been an Eagles fan for over four decades. I believe the more Foles plays, the better he’ll become. I can’t truthfully make that assessment about Vick after witnessing his total body of work over a ten year period. There’s more to quarterbacking than just being a good athlete. I’d love to have a Super Bowl win on my bucket list. I don’t expect Foles to deliver that gift this year, but, I do expect to see the Eagles, at least, establish a foundation for that possibility and Foles could be a part of it.
Agree HAC. Honestly G, Kelly only makes good calls with Foles in the game? The difference is Vick is a one read QB, has been his whole career, if the primary is covered, he runs. Foles doesn’t have that luxury, he’s not as athletic. So he’s learned to go through progressions and read defenses. I’ll take G’s word that Shady is still in favor of Vick starting, but I’ve also heard a report in which most of the players have chosen to abstain from commenting on the matter and one unnamed player stated to the effect, “do you see how the offense ran today?” “who would you start?” I’ll agree that Vick is a tough guy and his teammates respect that, but ultimately they want to win don’t they, that’s the whole reason Vick was named the starter in the first place right? “To win now?”
I honestly don’t believe that a MAJORITY of players favor Vick. I believe MOST of the players JUST-WANT-TO-WIN no matter who’s under center. if that’s Vick, fine. If it’s Foles, great. But, I believe they know within themselves which quarterback is the better performer within the scheme presented them but they’d prefer not to be backed into a corner and create a locker room schism. I believe Kelly also knows deep within himself who executes his scheme better. He’s said many times a super fast running quarterback is NOT a necessity to execute his scheme and he’s NOT locked into an exact duplicate of his Oregon concepts but, for some unknown reason, columnist, fans, and other various and sundry hangers-on and observers refuse to believe him. I, for one, do.
Last week, I stated that I wasn’t impressed with what Foles did against a depleted Giants Defense. After watching him yesterday not only was I impressed with Foles but I am astonished that he has not seen more playing time in this offense. I am hoping that is going to change from here on out because I like watching him and more importantly he gives this team a chance to win.
I’m not gonna get into the controversy bullshit…But I will say, Real Talk supports Nick Foles! (and the starting QB #7) Foles played very well yesterday..There were a few moments/possessions when we didn’t move the ball, but the overall performance of Foles was solid! That’s all I got to say about that!
Foles is a Pocket Passer who rely’s on getting the Ball out to his Playmakers
to make plays
Vick is an Athlete who plays QB and tries to make plays by himself when his 1st option is covered..
Simple as this…
Would you rather have your QB Run 5-10 Times a Game for 75 Yards or get the ball out and into your Playmakers hands an additional 5-10 times a game.. Very easy Decision… Play your better QB who spreads the ball out, makes better decisions and makes opposing Defenses have to honor the entire field…
First thing, let me give credit to both Danny Basens and G.Cobb for their articles in the past few weeks: Basens always asks the right questions, then gives answers that look at the picture from many angles…G, Cobb did a couple of really nice ones last week, giving a technical evaluation of the passing game under Foles…Very readable and made sense…Both of these guys leave the newspaper columnists in the dust…See, the Internet can produce better journalism.
As for QB controversy, the one answer is obvious: Foles & Barkley are the future, with Foles being a diamond that just needs a little polishing.
Vick HAS played better this year, more under control, and has respect in the locker room…So maybe Kelly lets him start next week, going on the old cliché that a man doesn’t lose his job because of injury…But Foles, well, the ‘kid’ has ALL the tools.
BTW, I thought Kelly ran the ‘West Coast Offense’ better yesterday than anything Reid did over the past 5-6 years: Big difference is Kelly can and does make adjustments. [—-)
The ‘D’ improved a little again, the whole ‘D’, and I LOVED Barwin’s sack on the Tampa QB in the 4th quarter that sealed the win…Good clock management from Kelly, too.
Have a good day!
You make a lot of sense there frank…either way, Kelly has some real options that will allow the team to be competitive this year. Then he will have some decisions to make about the future…..I personally would like to see us get the kid from Oregon if we could, but if Foles keeps playing at such a high level (133 QB rating type play), then I could change my mind.
it is so insulting to listen the TV puppet heads insinuate that the Eagles have 2 QBs.
Mike Vick is a fragile weakling who losses games.
Mike Vick is an average QB when healthy and that lasts all of one about 3/4 of a game for a season and a horrible quarterback when he is not 100 % or 15 and 1/4 games of the rest of the season.
We have 2 QB’s that have proven they can win, and they can run the offense that Kelly wants to win. Teams will need to spend extra time preparing for both, since they have very different styles. I just want to see the eagles keep winning, and could care less who is playing the QB. We have 2 division wins and another conference win…the division is very weak….we look to be playing some meaningful games in December this year!!!
GO BIRDS!!
Nick Foles is an average NFL QB which is 50% better than the inefficient basement dweller Mike Vick.
The Eagles have one average NFL inexperienced QB Nick Foles
that is it.
They also have a Mark Sanchez, Matt Cassel, Ryan Fitzpatrick type loser bottom 5 QB who losses games named Mike Vick.
Oh, one last thing: the NE-NO game was a great one, and you can see how much Brady misses Grankowski and Hernandez…The Saints pound you, too.
But the winning drive with Brady and no time outs was a thing of beauty.
What happens if the defense doesn’t get takeaways and lets the TB offense score 33 points like SD did…? Win wouldn’t be guaranteed…Gotta give the defense some credit they played a pretty good game yesterday…although 20 points is a bit much I’d like to see given up to a TB offense..
when one makes 7 million and the other makes less than 700 hundred thousand, less than one tenth the salary it is futile to use your hypothetical kumbaya equalizers
Only you would make that QB vs QB, from my comments…Simply put defense plays well, the Eagles have a better chance at winning games…Gets your finger out of Foles ass, and open your eyes to football as a team sport, you stupid fuck!
“The Eagles Now Have Themselves A Full-Scale Quarterback Controversy”– GCobb’s header for this blog thread
Realtalk there are other threads for you to write about defense, this area is Monday morning QB smacking Vicapologists today
You act as if Vick has player horrible or poorly this season…You act as if the Eagles were being blown out in the Giants game before he went down…This isn’t about Foles vs Vick…Kelly will make that decision, and it won’t be a decison that you’ll like…But for us Eagles fans who have watched the game unbiased, know that if the defense plays well, and can limit the majority of the teams we play the rest of this season to 20 points or so, the Eagles have a good shot at winning those games…A QB can’t do it alone, bottom line!
Also if G or the other writers would actually post a few articles about the defense from time to time, I’d post there….
That young rookie Wolff, is getting better game by game…By years end I predict he’ll be our best safety…Fletcher, had another solid performance following up his performance from last week. Still not that all impressed with these LB’s in coverage, still saw the same ole same in that regard…Eagles did a pretty good job of getting pressure when they only rushed 4 at times as well…Saw more of that hybird 3-4….Could of been the opponent? Either way, the defense looked ok…back to back weeks the defense has given a consistent effort…
Earl Wolff is better than Kurt Coleman and playing better than his 5th round draft position but will he improve much more. His height and speed will never make him elite. Where as Bennie Logan collected his 2nd sack and will continue to improve. Howie nailed this draft. 4 out of the 5 first picks are all contributing. Best draft in a long time.
Not lose your starting job to injury? Ask Kolb how he feels about that one. LOL! Foles should start against Dallas because of his play yesterday. If we had lost that game, and it was because of Foles I would be saying play Vick. The truth is we won because of steller play for the QB, and so we should rest Vick one more game just to be safe. I was and always will be a Foles supporter, so give him another game and lets see what we got. Don’t rush Vick back, because if its too soon he could re-injury that hammy and that may be it for the season and his eagles carrer. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, McCoy is a idoit! What happens if Kelly names Foles the starting QB? Wonder what he’ll say then? If that happens I honestly believe Vick will be released.
I never did and still don’t get this angle that foles does not have the potential to be a franchise qb, before this game you heard these ambiguous terms, foles doesn’t have “it”, not in “love”with him, yet by the numbers as a rookie, playing with that oline he had, his numbers compared favorably to all rookies and as good or better than the starts of hall if famers like aikman
If you know football you could see that foles has all the tools, especially pocket awareness and instinctual ability to put the ball where it needs to be.
Foles has the potential to be a great nfl qb, Kelly knows this, but he’s probably in conflict with the offense he wants to run. Ultimately, if he stays with foles it may save him from an early exit as running qbs will fade with the coaches that ride with them
In the NFL you generally dont lose your starting job to injuries but Nicks Foles play and results have to make chip think long and hard. Obviously nick plays wayyyyyy different then vick:
Foles – efficient, takes what the D gives him, throws a nice soft ball, leads receivers, seems to focus on 1st downs, highly skilled in situational awareness, capable of throwing open teammates, generates and sustains long scoring drives.
Vick – uhhh dangerous with his legs, throws a plus deep ball, espn top 10 high lite waiting to happen.
anyways foles skill set really fits this team best right now because of how awful our defense is. nick keeps the defense off the field consistently with his skillset. mikes boom or bust style of play puts the defense on the field more than they have to be.
imo you have to go foles just to protect your D. Our offense will score with either qb but the less amount of chances you give our D to fail the more likely we are to succeed and win.
Gcobb, sometimes players are really stupid. Aaron Hernandez still gets support from players even though he is on trial for murder. If Kelly has any brains and balls he will decide to start the best QB on the roster in Foles, esp if his goal is to win games. Even though we won’t win that many games since we have no defense whatsoever, Foles gives us the best chance to win.
greenfan
October 14, 2013 – 10:19 am
“You make a lot of sense there frank…either way, Kelly has some real options that will allow the team to be competitive this year. Then he will have some decisions to make about the future…..I personally would like to see us get the kid from Oregon if we could, but if Foles keeps playing at such a high level (133 QB rating type play), then I could change my mind.”
Foles will never play to a 133 passer rating: Manning is leading the league right now with 128, and Matt Ryan is 6th with 100.9.
A 100 passer rating is exceptional for any QB…High 90s means he’s very, very good.
I would have liked to see Foles start the season, because Vick is on a 1 year contract and not the future. But Kelly choose Vick. And stated that he was not going to remove him on a whim.
Having said that. Foles has done what he has done against winless, scrub teams, that are in complete disarray. In addition, Chip Kelly is getting better
at game planning and coaching, also a result of the weaker competition.
For Vick to be Vick his hamstring has to be 100%. So there will be more time to see how consistent Foles will be. Kelly will lose the team if he out right replaces Vick. But if Vick stinks when he returns, the players would understand that.
jakedog
October 14, 2013 – 10:42 am
“Foles has the potential to be a great nfl qb, Kelly knows this, but he’s probably in conflict with the offense he wants to run. Ultimately, if he stays with foles it may save him from an early exit as running qbs will fade with the coaches that ride with them.”
A running QB has never won a Super Bowl…Steve Young was the closest, but I would describe him as ‘mobile’.
Pretty soon, regardless who our QB is, the Teddy Bridgewater talk will be starting.
The Birds need to draft for defense: some guys who can bust people up, corners who can cover man to man, and safeties who can read the field and get to the right spots, etc.
This being said, I think our defense has been improving littlr by little.
I think we’re gonna win too many games to be talking about Bridgewater….I’m also not impressed with that schedule Lousiville has this season, they don’t play anybody!
Hahahaha!!!!!!! Vick Starts. End of story!!!! Foles can not run, as example by the hits he took looking like a statue in the pocket. Foles should play Dallas and get murdered like Baby Arm? Sure. No trade value at the end of the season experts! This is truely entertaining.
^^^Absolute, utter, imbecilic, retarded, Vick slurper! Not an Eagles fan! Enough said…..
You beat me to it Dcar. This guy is either mentally retarded or racist…or I think probably both.
Btw that “statue” was sacked once against one of the best defenses in the league. And on top of his exceptional passing day, he even had a nice TD run for those fans that want a running QB for some odd reason when traditional passers are the ones that win Superbowls
What game are you watching?
So the ability to run is what you are looking for in your QB? The NFL has absolutely made a move towards mobile QB’s, but defenses are adjusting and the result is a higher number of injured QB’s throughout the league. D you really think it makes sense to put your franchises future on a mid-30 QB who’s biggest asset….at least according to you is his ability to run?
Look…IMO…both QB’s have played well this year. They have done it in different ways and both have proven that they can win. Whatever way Kelly goes….and I think that he will go back to Vick once he is healthy, puts us in a good position of having a quality backup in case of more injuries.
I want to see this team make the playoffs this year. Get away from the losing attitude that we saw in the last few years under Big Red…get back to a franchise that is feared in the league….obviously we need a defense to be much improved, but with the way our offense is scoring points, we can start winning games right now!
Screw the Cowgirls!!! GO BIRDS!!
Has Foles shown that the game is not too big for him – Check
Has Foles improved in every outing – Check
Has Foles got a future in the NFL – Check
He may not win many games this year because the defense is just not good enough but Foles has shown that he owns this offense.
There is NO Controversy Foles is a STUD and IS TAKING THIS JOB!!!!!!!
haha…maybe if you were the head coach…..
Foles Amazing in the second half- 6 for 7 – 145 yards – 2 TDs
mhenski you make some very valid points about Foles and the Defense.
thanks chev. i think chip has to consider how foles helps the D.
Look at Vick and Foles when stand side by side. Vick just comes up t Foles shoulder pads. That is why Vick has trouble throwing screen passes and playing in the red zone. If Vick was 4″ taller, he’d be OK. He also throws with a 3/4 delivery. That’s why he hits linemen in the head with his some of his passes. We need to figure out if Foles can be our quarterback of the future. We have a good enough offense now to judge. Last year wasn’t fair to either player because OL was horrible. But I can’t see us winning super bowl with Vick by the time D is ready.
Good point heartland
Vick is a shrimp by prototypical nfl standards for qbs
Throw in his low release point
Throw in his bad decisions
Throw in his inability to read a defense
Factor in his outstanding running ability
Factor in his howitzer of an arm
And you have a terrific runner, strong armed but average to below average quarterback
That’s not my opinion, that’s what his numbers say