Barkley ’13 vs Foles ’12
Posted: May 30th, 2013 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 81 Comments »Matt Barkley might have been rated as a 2nd round player by multiple teams, but the bottom line is that he fell to the 4th round. He was pick #98. Nick Foles was taken in the 3rd round, 88th overall in the 2012 Draft. You would not know this based on the hype.
The question for Foles was if he could make a serious run at taking the backup job from Mike Kafka, who wasn’t exactly on the most solid ground in the world.
The question with Barkley is if he can somehow steal the starting job from Vick and Foles.
That is kinda crazy when you think about it.
Barkley isn’t your typical 4th round pick. The Eagles had a Top 50 grade on him. Dallas had him ranked 31st in the entire draft (must read if you haven’t already…Dallas draft board got leaked). Barkley was a huge star in high school. He was a USA Today HS All American. He played elite competition at Mater Dei and started all 4 years. Barkley started all 4 years at USC and set plenty of school and Pac-12 records. There was speculation that he could have been a Top 10 pick in 2012 if he had come out. He stayed for his Senior season and fell to the 4th round. Bad for him, good for us.
I went back and re-read some Iggles Blitz archives from last April, May, June and July. Foles wasn’t much of a subject. Vick and Kafka were the guys we talked about over and over. Could Vick bounce back? Could Kafka take a big step forward? 5 bonus points to anyone who knows the correct answers.
There were some reports that the Eagles were high on Foles, but that was about it. No hype. Little talk about him. There is an OTA clip from last year where Adam Caplan is talking about the battle for the backup QB job and he says that it is Kafka vs Trent Edwards and that’s it. Foles was a complete afterthought.
Foles ended up being a much better QB than we anticipated. The preseason games really brought out the best in him. Kafka got hurt. Foles stepped up and really showed good potential.
We haven’t seen nearly as much of Barkley in practice because Chip Kelly is more guarded with the media. We hear that Barkley has been up and down, but that is pretty normal for a rookie. We really don’t know much.
The one thing we do know for sure is that Barkley is going to do everything in his power to be the starting QB this year. QB coach Bill Lazor made a remark last week that Barkley was the first player in the building on a regular basis. Barkley said in a recent interview that he was putting in 14 hour days. He is locked in and going all out to do his part.
Many rookie QBs struggle with the transition to the NFL. Barkley played in a system that used some NFL passing concepts so that should help him adjust quicker. He played for a tough, demanding coach in Lane Kiffin (and a bit nuts). Barkley also has the right attitude. He doesn’t see Vick as his boyhood hero. He doesn’t see Foles as a former college opponent that has done well in the NFL. Barkley sees them as teammates and more importantly…competition.
I don’t know how Barkley will do physically, but watch this interview from PE.com and you have to come away impressed by how Barkley is handling the situation mentally and emotionally.
I’m hesitant to think Barkley can start as a rookie, but I certainly won’t be shocked if that is what happens. He’s not a typical 4th round pick and he’s not a typical rookie QB.
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Tim McManus wrote about Barkley a few days back after talking to Lazor.
Reuben Frank wrote about Barkley and the arm strength issue.
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If you want something to compare Barkley’s interview to, here are a couple of Foles videos from last spring.
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It is worth noting that the change in leadership has put many positions up for grabs, QB included. Do you think there would be as much talk of Barkley having a chance to take the starting gig if Andy was still in charge?
I think it would be more pronounced because he’s the star from USC and not the kid from Arizona (which hasn’t produced any NFL QBs until him).
True. All of which highlights that very little of the hype has to do with the individuals, necessarily.
Reading the BTB post, I wondered about the authors’ moral bearings. As a journalist, you want to deliver good information to your readers. But those guys are also hardcore Cowboy fans. Aren’t they hurting their team by compiling this information? Is it likely the other 31 teams would have compiled it themselves anyway?
Tommy, had you found a video clip of the Eagles war room and realized you could have done something similar, would you have done it?
Brutally tough question because I write for PE.com. If not for that, I would almost unquestionably do it. Since I do contribute to the site, I would probably have to not do that. Would be hard to pass up the chance for that kind of notoriety, though.
You suck! Get over it!
You can’t prove that in court. I’ll get AC Viking to represent me and he’ll go Perry Mason all over you.
In the past I may have ducked down and cowarded. With Chip, I’m resurrecting Kung Foo theater to mainstream… watch out!
Then I’ll have AC Viking and Kwai Chang Caine on my team.
This has to be illegal formation… or something refs.
Tommy works for the man now, he’s no longer one of us.
Yet the “man” is us. You can not separate, Tommy, from “us” . Impossible.
On other teams compiling it themselves, I would have to think that’s what the interns are for.
Hey Tommy, do you mind doing an article about “What we know about Chip kelly and his philosophies on offense and defense and special teams so far” such as we will run the ball much more. Option routes, hybrid defense, emphasis on blocks,etc.. I would love to read it.
Good topic for June, when nothing is going on. Remind me in the June 10-20 range.
June is less than 12 hours away. I think we are in the 10-20 hrs range.
Tons of Fishduck video on these subjects and it would be good to get Tommy’s NFL slant on effectiveness. We could learn a lot about formations and tendencies.
IMHO, Oregon KO and Punt teams have always sucked. I believe this has been due to personnel not scheme. It would be good to get Tommy’s opinion on these important facets of the game.
Barkley is a “face of the franchise” type guy in terms of handling the media and representing the team. He seems to have the right kind of attitude in general and a great work ethic. So the question is: can he become a franchise QB on the field? As Tommy has pointed out, he is not a typical 4th round pick, so in my opinion there is a chance, even though there are lots of questions with him at this point. I happen to like what I’ve seen from Foles so far, but Barkley is better at being the franchise guy off the field, of course, this all means next to nothing if he does not back it up come gameday.
Good stuff T-Lizzle, really enjoyed this one,,..
1)Loved hearing Bryce say that he thinks this years training/practice is much harder then last years…
2)Loved hearing how the TODDfather and Kelce have taken Lane “the big, swinging” Johnson under their wings…Took Lane out to lunch this ast Saturday, and Lane was raving about how helpful Todd has been(Check out the one on Gunn interview on csn)….
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I gotta ask a question that really been bothering me…you see all those videos, clips, interviews that we get in CSN? They are only like 50 second videos….does Csn just post a segment of the videos or are they already being posted in its entirety, and if the entire video isn’t posted by Csn, where can I find the rest?….I find it hard to believe that these “one on Gunn” interviews are only 40 seconds long…I a,ways feel like as soon as a csn interview starts to get juicy, it ends
I don’t ever speculate about it, but I wouldn’t be shocked either to see Barkley start…I’d probably be less shocked to see Barkley start then I would be to see Vick start ( don’t care what the media says)…I’m assuming it’s Foles. Vick does not have the high tempo, spread offense, some option route experience that Foles has…so I have a hard time seeing how Vick can Learn this new offense in one offseason, DRASTICALLY better than Nick..and I say Drastically, because if it’s even close, I assume you go with the kid, NO?..Maybe if Vick had been playing in this system for the past two years, and Foles was just learning it now, I could see how Vick could have a attic advantage, but that not the case…and Vick did this to himself. How many times have we heard some variation of the excuse that, last year was my first time doing something, and I will be muchbetter at it next year, out of Vick?
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1)2010: I never really took the time to watch film and study defenses the way I should have. Took 6,7,8 years for a QB to start studying properly?
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2) This time last year: the year before was a lockout shortened offseason, I finally have a full offseason, with good study habits and this year will be the year…hahahahah…yet, the team was actually ok around the QB early on last year but of course Vick was NOT ready to play when the preseason started, got hurt right away(in typical Vick fashion)..then the regular season started and the team played a brand of football that should have blown the browns out of Cleveland on that day, yet it literally looked like Vick was playing for the Browns…and the trend of the team playing decent football, continued for the next couple weeks, but Vick/joe Webb in the playoffs esque, team sabotaging performances riddled with Boneheaded mistakes only typically seen out of rookies, continued, week after week…Yes Vick might be the leader in the locker room, but NO ONE can tell me that he didnt start losing some of the players last year…by the 4th game you could see the offensive players display the, “ARE YOU SERIOUS?”, “Not again!” body language and disbelief at how embarrassingly ridiculous Vick continued to play and hurt the team…I will never forget him scrambling to the goal line, seeing a steeper defender inching closer to him, blatantly closing his eyes, falling to the ground and fumbling the ball before even being touched..20years from now, I couldn’t forget that moment if I tried..
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3).Now, the recent Vick epiphany is that he has finally learned to hold the ball. After a decade as a NFL starter, here comes this college coach, messiah, that revolutionized the way the great Mike Vick holds the football..I listened to that interview live and was Genuinly embarrassed for hi. When he said it…to the point that a lot of people couldn’t tell if he was joking or being serious..In one sentence he talked about his love and admiration for the great Andy Ried, and in the next second he doesn’t even realize that he is directly spitting in Reid’s face by saying that in 2013, a coach has finally taught Vick a basic, pee wee football concept that the great Andy Reid couldn’t teach him…Even if it’s true that chip managed to teach Vick to hold onto the ball, which has proved to be about as difficult as finding the cure for cancer, I would like to see our leader be smart enough to keep that to himself…but sadly, he is not, and I don’t see how at this age, after years of bad habits, average at best at reading defenses(by starting nfl qb standards), holding the ball too long, not protecting his body, he is going to change so much, that it’s worth making him our Qb the next 3 years..and if Right NOW, you can say, there is no shot in hell that Vick is our QB 3 years from now, then there is no reason he should be our QB this year…
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It came Right out of Chips mouth: “A qb is like a tea bag, you never know what you have until you put it in hOt water”…well a 31 year old veteran should be significantly better then kids who at most have 6 games of nfl experience in the most dysfunctional environment imaginable, if we are going to wait a year before dunking one of our young tea bags in hot water….Not only do Not think that Vick can be drastically better that Vick can be drastically better than Foles…but I think come training camp, Foles wipes the floor with Vick n terms of commanding and leading this offense…
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Vick has all the physical ability in the world, arm, speed, and 10years of NFL playing experience, #1 pick in the draft..The fact that Nick Foles, a 3rd round pick is even competing with Vick, tells us everything we need to know..Vick dwarfs Foles in terms of Physical ability..unfortunately for Vick, QB is the most mentally demanding position in sports, and the fact that 10years of pro game experience hasn’t given Vick a clear cut mental edge over a kid, then that tells me all I need to know…I wont sit here and act like I know what fOles or Barkley will be, but I am CONVINCED that we know what Vick ISN’T…like Andy Ried, there is a limit to how far we can go with Vick…
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So, in my mind…the real question is, can Barkley supplant Foles this summer?
So you are saying you want Vick to start right?
Basically…lol
haha
Vick played the option in Atlanta. Alex Gibbs was the line coach. The foundational play was the OUTSIDE ZONE. Chip prefers the Inside Zone as his base play–but Vick can run the option. In Atlanta, he had one TE–Algee Crumpler. In Chip’s, he’s going to have 3.
great! unfortunatley Im talking about wide reciever option ROUTES!! Thus the ROUTE word that comes after Option lol…
And he’ll still stink
Barkley is probably as polished a college QB as you’re gonna get, started for a big time program for four years in a pro style system. Problem is he has average measurables, average athleticism, average arm. In college he struggled when his great talent declined to merely above average (mediocre OL, two NFL starting caliber WRs as a senior). His problem will be to learn to play under pressure within the limitations set by his skill package – the talent at USC until his senior season was superior to his opponents.
Foles is a work in progress, his mechanics need work, it’s obvious he didn’t get a high level of coaching in college. But the experience of playing behind a bad OL in Arizona, with mediocre skill people gave him a taste of NFL life – guys trying to kill you with your receivers blanketed! Foles has great size (and big hands) and better than expected athleticism (except for his 40 time, he tested out similar to Ertz and Celek at 6’5 243 lbs). PFF stats say it all, with no pressure Foles was one of the worst QBs in the NFL, with pressure right in the middle of the pack and ahead of numerous veterans. When you struggle completing passes with no pressure, that’s probably a sign that your mechanics aren’t polished and when you think about throwing you start aiming the ball – and the cure for that is reps, reps, reps. The fact that he plays much better under pressure suggests that he’s comfortable with pressure and probably throws better when he’s not thinking.
How much do Foles Mechanics really need tweaking? Or how much of it is a case of him having no time to throw the ball properly? You see it all the time when accurate legends like Manning and Brady start getting banged around by pressure, their mechanics break down, and accuracy goes out the window…I need to take the time to go back and watch him throw the ball in last years preseason(gonna download the games this weekend n check it out), when he actually had enough time for us to properly judge?…Most young QB’s need mechanical work, its not uncommon at all…Its just hard to tell, how much mechanical work he needs when he had so little time to drop back, plant, and throw properly last year…
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One thing we do know, is that it definitely looks like Foles has the mental make up to play QB in this city. You never saw a case where he was about to buckle and fold…Games start to spiral out of control and a player can get into that “Quicksand” where he just gets engulfed by the pressure…You put a kid last year in the most dysfunctional situation immaginable, and he didnt win games, but it didnt break him either…and that says a heckuva alot. Better prospects tghan Foles have been thrown into the fire too soon, and were ruined for it..Foles took hit after hit, kept eyes down field, and kept delivering the ball…You can fix mechanics..But all the Tony Robbins videos in the world cant fix weak mental make up…Foles has “IT”, not only to play in the NFL, but to also play in this city..”IT” alone wont make you a great QB. hopefully Foles puts in the work to develope into the guy that can lead this next decade of Eagles football…Seems like Barkley could also have it, but we wont find out until he gets baptised by fire the way Foles was last year…I am however excited that we have two young QBs that look like they have a shot at making it in this league…
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Hypothetical: Would you trade Foles straight up for Ponder or Blaine Gabbert?
I think you are a little to harsh on Barkley. Barkley still had a very impressive senior despite getting no help from the run game, his defense or his OL.
OL wasn’t that great but the defense was 36th in YPP and their top 2 backs averaged 5.4 and 6 YPC. Plus he had the best receiving duo in the country to throw to in Lee and Woods. On the other hand…..Lane Kiffin.
True, Lane Kiffin almost only called bubble screens to Lee and that was that in his senior season.
Well, the real question is–when Barkley shows up early every day, why isn’t he walking into a room with Vick and Foles already there?
I thought about that as well…if Barkley is really putting in more work, it would push a smart competitor to work harder…and thats a very exciting dynamic for a young team going forward..The impact Barkleys work ethic can have, that alone can be worth a 4th round pick
Clearly Barkley is impressing the QB coach and Chip. My take-away is that they think he has very high football IQ, is a very quick decision-maker, and makes accurate passes. The more I read the interviews with these coaches, the more I sense Barkley is the guy. I do not read much about Foles from these coaches.
The consensus in the blogasphere is that Chip will not make a QB decision until the week before the Skin’s game. Personally, I think the decision will come at the end of training camp. There will be clear separation between the QBs by then.
or..the guy they talk about the least can always be the guy. No need to boost Foles ego, if he has an idea that he will be the starter
I’d really like to see an article on who is “wowing” people at the early camps. For instance, who is showing more speed, better footwork, more athletic skills among the draftees and free agents, than was expected? Jake Knott, maybe?
that would be great, but unrealistic at this point. We are still learning. cant really play fast and show what you can do, while you are thinking. Until the plays are second nature to you, and until pads come on, its very difficult to judge…which is why it kind of pissed me off, that Chip used one of the designated open Media work outs as an “installation” day…then the media starts talking about what a sloppy day it was..well DUH, they are installing new plays…Think we are better served, if they leave the installation periods closed, and let the judgemental media see the competitive, repitition sessions, which is what Im hoping we see today…OTA is a leaning period. The rewards of this learning period is being better equiped to go into camp and perform. Philly Human Nature is that we all want to judge and know who looks the best at every chance we get, so I would prefer having the open media sessions on the days where they players are just running players they are most comfortable with. If we are just going to judge anyway, I would rather hear judgements from days where our players have some clue of what they are doing…bad Intel skews oppinions
All true, but I think if you have great feet for instance, it shows up day one, and it can’t really be taught. I bet the day Leonard Mitchell showed up in shorts, Ray Rhodes said– ohhhh, no-ooooo! I would think Brian Westbrook turned heads right away.
True, but even for a guy like Bryce..the footwork in chip kellys run plays are going to be much different than how Bryce had to run under Andy, so on an installation day, I dont see any good then can come out of the media being there….You can certainly blank out everything else and watch the way a QB is planting, and delivering the ball, but how many of the media members privy to the practice are even qualified to try and judge QB mechanics and present the intel to us?..Im sure Geoff Mosher can look at a strong, accurate tight spiral, but do you really want him trying to judge QB mechanics and footwork?
More Les Is Less.
You can get More or Les
there it is! lol
On the off chance that Barkley is the starter..which is more likely, Foles gets traded or Vick gets cut?
I’m sure we’re keeping 3 QBs anyway, so…neither?
A 10 million dollar back up seems unlikely. And Barkley and Foles seem like the same person to me, not big on either although I think Barkley has the higher ceiling. Rather see a guy like Dixon as a 3rd stringer than Vick as a backup.
I think Vick’s contract is structured such that he doesn’t receive most of if any of that incentive money if he doesn’t start.
I see Vick in a non eagles uniform..maybe Jets, Niners, Seahawks…and there is always the ghost of Al Davis that can shine its stupidity on Oakland…although i hear, Tyler Wilson looks better than expected
I think the important part with Vick as a backup is that Foles would also have to emerge as a legitimate option. If we are going with the premise that Barkley earns the starting spot, I don’t think it is too much of a stretch to believe Foles can earn that backup role, but I also don’t think we can assume it as a given. If Foles struggles with picking up CK’s system, you need a viable backup and most likely that means Vick stays. On the other hand, if Foles proves to be a capable backup in this premise that Barkley earns the starting spot, I agree that Vick will be cut/traded.
Barkley, Foles, and Dixon is my vote. Vick goes to Oakland is possible. If he does not hold the starting job, Vick’s presence in the locker room could be disruptive. As a manager, I always tried to keep the team cohesive and get rid of the troublemakers, even if they were God’s gift.
Foles, Barkley,Dixon is my vote…
check out the Brandon Graham interview with Spadaro posted on PE.com today ..it will get you pumped
If the Eagles thought Barkley could take them to the Super Bowl, then why didn’t they draft him in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd round? They only drafted him in the 4th because he fell and became a “what-the-hell, why-not” value pick. Since Barkleys been at the Novacare complex, I wonder if they feel he really can compete for the starting job this year.
Because they liked Johnson, Ertz and Logan better than they did Barkley…
As I’ve covered, Barkley wasn’t a “why not?” pick. Bill Lazor worked him out. The Eagles met with him at the Combine. There was genuine interest. They tried to trade back into the 3rd round to take him, but teams wouldn’t deal. All of this doesn’t mean he’ll work, but there was definite interest in him.
Is Kafka still in the NFL? What about Edwards?
I think Kafka is up in NE.
Funny that you bring up Mike Kafka. I remember some other similar article about how his arm strength wasn’t a problem for him, either. Something about throwing balloons at darts, and how Kafka’s “feel” could overcome his noodle-arm.
Frank’s article on Barkley is heavy on stat reference, and little light on analysis, for my taste. Trying to make the case by citing that QB’s aren’t winning Superbowl’s by throwing bombs just isn’t that persuasive; I think most of us know that. Anyone who studies QB play knows a guy has to be able to drive it to the intermediate level before defenders can get there–that’s why arm-strength is important, not for the low-success rate long bomb.
I’d love to see Barkley succeed, but there is some irrational exuberance here, and I don’t think it’s going to serve Barkley very well.
whooa. we can not compare Barkleys arm, to that Limp noodle, poster child for Viagra armed Kafka…
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Barkley wont blow you away with arm strength…but I think his lack of it is a BS myth…Media was blown away at the last open session(when he had a bad day), by him making the throw of the day, that a few media guys said they had no idea he was capable of(in terms of driving the ball)..
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His arm isnt great, but its adequate
He’s kind of like that guy from the Bengals, Dalton.
The biggest negative on Aaron Rogers as a rookie was about arm strength. I think you can now say he has improved.
Noted, but you really don’t want to use a freak like Rodgers for comparison in any case, but particularly for mechanics. He came from Cal with weird mechanics taught by Jeff Tedford. They were totally rebuilt by McCarthy during Rodgers’ time on the bench in Green Bay.
http://thesidelineview.com/columns/nfl/can-quarterbacks-mechanics-be-altered
This is my problem with the Barkley advocates: They go “His arm is fine…OK, fine enough…OK, well, arm strength improves with age…uh OK, well, you don’t need a rocket arm to be a good QB”. I’m not sure which one it is.
For me, having a weak arm makes an already tremendously difficult task that much harder. Guys like Vick, Stafford and Cutler still have problems with consistent play, and they can throw the ball through kevlar. I think it sets Barkley up behind the 8ball, along with all the hype.
On my Pennington=1 to Elway=5 scale of QB arm strength, Barkley is at least a 2. And I do think he’s got potential to get that as high as a 3.
Cary Williams skipped todays OTAs to attend his daughters recital
Seriously? That’s a bit much…the wedding/honeymoon I get, but at some point you have to draw a line. I certainly wouldn’t take off work for something like that if it fell within one of the few days I had to work. Sure, he may be a veteran, but he’s a veteran JAG in a new system. You’re starting spot isn’t safe yet Cary.
GEagle:
What inference do you draw from the single fact that GWms skipped OTAs for his daughter’s recital?
Is it that GW has an attitude problem?
Or GW is unhappy that he was running with the twos yesterday?
GW is a clubhouse lawyer?
GW cashed in on free-agency and expected a red carpet?
And couple what GW did today with last week, right.
But how ’bout if you knew that GW sat down with Roseman and Kelly before signing his contract and presented them with a calendar listing all of Wms’ family and personal commitments for the next 6 months. And the Eagles’ front office said, “no problem . . . family comes first”?
Of what if GW cleared his intentions with his position coach before skipping OTAs?
Etc, etc.
__________________
A single, naked fact can be very dangerous in the hands of a journalist.
I don’t think it’s an enormous deal by any means and at the end of the day, these are voluntary workouts, but Cary Williams isn’t a guy that has earned the luxury of being casual with his attendance. I think it is fair to point out his absence. Again, no reason to take it to the extreme and necessarily question his commitment or anything like that, but I would definitely prefer a guy who was fighting for his starting job and was acting as if there was serious competition for his role than a guy that his missed large chunks of time at the OTAs.
Having said all that, it’s a small, relatively insignificant story right now. If he misses TC or mandatory practices, that absolutely is an issue of commitment.
I think if we’re talking about this two years ago at an AR OTA, its a non-issue, but something like this seems to go against the grain in terms of CK and what he’s about. It just seems like everyone on this team is all-in on CK, his system, how he runs things.
I know I sound like WIP caller, but skipping something in such a critical period (I heard OTA’s described as being a classroom for a new coach) for a simple dance recital really rubs me the wrong way.
I think it is a bit bothersome, but I guess not nearly as much as you. I guess for me, the “all-in on CK” is a nice storyline, I do think players like him, but for a vet, OTAs are OTAs. They are workouts that are useful in terms of getting to know the schemes, the coaches, and your teammates, but a vet probably doesn’t feel they are going to make or break a season. A couple days into TC, a guy who missed all of the OTAs will be basically entirely caught up with the guys who were at every OTA practice.
Yes, I would much prefer a guy who is 100% dedicated and trying to get every rep he possibly can get in, but if he misses a few VOLUNTARY OTAs, I’m not upset. Again, if this is a trend that extends into mandatory workouts and/or TC, that is a major red flag for me.
You want my personel oppinion? I couldnt care less! honestly, it doesnt bother me..Just felt like passing it along. sort of like, poking the hornets nest and watching them go crazy lol
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I dont care wtf anyone does now, but come training camp, I expect them to perform…how they get to the level they perform is not my business..
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I have heard that JP is dealing with some sad ish, and it was kind of disgusting to hear Ike Reese stir the pot the other day and act like he JP just doesnt feel like being here..moments callers were calling in talking about cutting Peters and his lack of dedication…….Facts are very dangerous in hands of journalists. Totally agree…but I dont share ther reponsibility of a journalist. My platform is like 15 of you..lol. Merely passing along the info that the irresponsible Philly media deems to be news
I’m sure the coaches knew and ok’d it. And while its probably not a big deal Williams isn’t quite a lock to start. I’m not sure it says anything negative about him personally. At the same time if it comes down to him and say Brandon Hughes for a starting spot and its even for arguments sake it is something coaches might remember. They might not either I’m not a fly on the wall.
I thought the OTAs were voluntary? If Williams’ performance is adversely affected during training camp, I guarantee he will NOT start.
its not Ideal, but it doesnt bother me…especially at cornerback..OTA’s is for learning schemes. Not too many different variations for what a corner can be asked to do…Cary cant really show who he is until camp when he can get physical with a reciever anyway…If you can digest the playbook on his own, and play fast come camp, and earn a starting spot….then I dont care what he does in OTAs…..now Dlineman who have different gap responsibilities depending on how we line up, and OLB’s who are asked to do different things, those guys I need at OTAs…but wtf is a corner really going to do at OTAs?
Personally I’m more ok with this than the wedding/honeymoon. No reason you can’t schedule your wedding in march/April. You’re a professional football player you damn well know what the off months are. That’s just lazy planning. Your daughters recital; that’s something you probably are not be able to control the scheduling of.
chaps
I haven’t been around here for a while, but can you please fill me in who Geagle is?! His long posts got my eyes bleeding…
BAWSS!!!
Was that English?!
you have had your time swinging from my nuts,.,.now poof be gone!
I think you posted this comment in the wrong place.
http://www.philly.com
Yes, actually. It’s slang for “boss” and can be understood to mean the “ultimate man.”
He fell somewhat purely on arm strength concerns. I’m not going to believe he can be a starter until I can see him throw outs in an NFL game and otherwise be useful with the harder but routine passes (as a routine matter).
The other thing that was probably an issue, which isn’t talked about enough, is his size. He’s not very big or tall. Smaller you are, the more crazy good you have to be.
In college, I thought of Foles as a rather flat footed strong arm guy–I’d seen him at least once, unlike with Barkley, I’ve not seen at all. Turned out to be more mobile, at least in the pocket, and weaker armed than I expected. So there are probably surprises with Barkley, but it’s probably premature to think of him ever being a starter until we hit preseason.
Tom…I know you will break down brandon Grahams new interview…crazy exciting quotes
I still can’t get a handle on whether Barkley has the arm to make all the throws.
Different reporters have said different things.
I mean, it was obvious Mike Kafka would never have the arm to throw the sideline stuff (yet New England picked him up) but we should know by now if Barkley can throw the “out” routes with zip.
[…] is clearly in third place right now. How does he compare to Foles from last year? Can he make the same leap that Nick did? I don’t know that it is likely, but it is […]