Foles Gold

Posted: September 14th, 2015 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 94 Comments »

Nick Foles led the Rams to an upset of the Seahawks on Sunday. They won 34-31 in overtime. One TD came on a punt return, but the rest came on offense. Foles threw for one TD and ran for another. The Rams gained more than 350 yards and looked very good at times.

This had more than a few people making the argument that Chip Kelly erred when he traded Foles away.

No, he didn’t. Chip made the right move.

I said that on Twitter and some people responded with “Let’s talk at the end of the year.” They want to let things play out so we can then judge Foles vs Sam Bradford. That sounds reasonable. But it is wrong and misses the point entirely.

Chip Kelly traded Nick Foles because he wasn’t the right guy for the Eagles. He wasn’t good enough to run this offense the way Kelly wants it to be run.

That doesn’t mean Foles is terrible. That doesn’t mean Foles can’t be the right guy for some other team. He’s just not the QB Kelly wants.

I watched all of the Rams game on Sunday. Foles numbers are pretty impressive. 18-27-297. And that was against the Seahawks. Just going by the numbers…wow. But anyone who watched the game saw the holes in Foles performance.

Let’s start with the good. Foles made one incredible throw to Stedman Bailey on a corner route. He put the ball over his shoulder where Richard Sherman couldn’t get to it. That was a perfect throw. As a bonus, it came in overtime and set up the winning field goal. Foles made a good throw on the run to his right side that helped move the chains. Maybe his most impressive play was when he was about to be sacked and still managed to get the ball to his RB. That wasn’t a throw. It was more of a backhand toss. It looked more like Hot Potato than football. But anyone who saw Foles at Arizona knows he can be creative when he has to.

Foles didn’t throw an INT. He didn’t make any decisions that made you cover your eyes. He was aggressive, but smart. He threw the ball downfield when he had the chance. You can’t count on long, methodical drives vs the Seahawks. You have to take some shots. Foles generally found the open guy and got him the ball.

Now for the negative stuff. His completion percentage was very good, but his accuracy wasn’t. Ball placement was an issue. There was a TE wide open along the sideline. If Foles makes a good throw, the guy can catch it and motor down the field. Instead he gets the ball and his momentum takes him out of bounds. This wasn’t the only throw to be high or to the left or to the right. The passes were catchable, but not as accurate as they needed to be.

WR Tavon Austin got behind Sherman for what should have been a TD down the right sideline. Foles underthrew the ball and it was incomplete. A TE came wide open down the left sideline. Foles underthrew that, but the TE was able to make the catch and score. Go back and watch college tape and you’ll see Foles underthrew deep balls there. Eagles fans watched him underthrow deep balls for 3 years. That seems to be an unfixable flaw with him.

Foles pocket presence was up and down. He threw the ball while falling backward a few times. That led to errant throws. It was an issue he had in 2014 as well. Foles failed to realize a free blitzer was coming his way and Cary Williams turned that into a sack/fumble/recovery and TD. The rusher was coming from his blind side, but the QB has to feel that rusher. Foles held the ball for a couple of seconds. This wasn’t one of those plays where the QB has literally no chance.

Just based on the numbers and who he was playing, it appeared Foles had a terrific game. This is where watching the game and knowing some context is so important. Seattle has a new defensive coordinator, Kris Richard. This was his first game. They also were playing without their star SS Kam Chancellor. I commented during the game that I couldn’t remember seeing so many wide open guys against that defense. Turns out that was true.

Foles TD pass to the TE worked despite the underthrow because the SS fell down on the play and left the TE completely open. There were numerous other plays where the receiver didn’t have a defender within 5 yards of him. You cannot count on this happening on a regular basis.

Go back to 2013. Think about how often Foles came up with big plays on an underthrown deep ball or when his guy was wide open. You love that when it happens, but those situations weren’t as frequent last year and Foles numbers dipped.

I think this is one of those rare situations where both players are better off with their new teams. Think of this in basketball terms. Chip Kelly is looking for a point guard to run his fast break offense and score a ton of points. The Rams are more conservative. They want the guy who won’t turn the ball over and knows how to run a more methodical offense.

Bradford had his good moments in St. Louis, but wasn’t meant for that offense. He thrived in college when he was surrounded by great talent and played in an up-tempo attack. Playing small ball for the Rams just wasn’t a good fit. Foles doesn’t have enough talent to be a great player and lead a great offense.

I know some of you will point to 2013. But think about that year. Shady led the NFL in rushing. DeSean had the best year of his career. The OL was the best in the league and only missed a few snaps all year. Riley Cooper had his best year. Brent Celek had the highest ypc of his career and scored the second most TDs.  Last year some of the players came back to Earth a bit and Foles numbers changed quite a bit. 2013 was an anomaly. Beyond that, Foles level of play didn’t match the numbers. That is one of the best statistical seasons of all time. Did Foles do anything that made you think he was one of the best QBs ever?

Foles might turn out to be a good starter for the Rams. That’s fine, but doesn’t mean you can assume the same would be true in Philly. Chip Kelly has different expectations for a QB than Jeff Fisher. Sam Bradford may or may not be the answer, but after the 2014 season it was clear Foles wasn’t the answer and Kelly had to move on. The worst thing a coach can do is hold on to the wrong player too long.

Kelly has a vision. Now he needs the QB to make that vision come to life in the NFL. Tonight we get the first real clues as to whether  Bradford is that QB.

_

94 Comments on “Foles Gold”

  1. 1 Greg Richards said at 5:00 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Hey, the greatness of Napoleon Foles should never be questioned!

  2. 2 Media Mike said at 5:12 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    “Chip Kelly traded Nick Foles because he wasn’t the right guy for the Eagles.”

    This is ok as long as we’re looking at Bradford back there and not RGMe and/or Kaepernitwit in the future.

  3. 3 Nelson ALGore said at 5:14 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    RG3 Should get a look at safety for us. We are pretty thin there

  4. 4 Media Mike said at 5:14 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Nate Allen is out for the year with an ACL injury, maybe the Raiders would like RG3-string

  5. 5 RC5000 said at 5:20 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    I liked Foles considering the alternatives at the time. Morris could be as good as Foles was here. Foles can be a nitwit…let’s not act like he’s really significantly better than Kaepernick yet

  6. 6 Media Mike said at 5:21 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Morris?

    And Kaep is terrible.

  7. 7 RC5000 said at 5:28 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Morris looks just as capable as Foles game managing and has a bigger arm than Foles.Kaepernick and Foles numbers were similar last year. Did you watch Foles here last year lol.

  8. 8 Media Mike said at 5:29 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    I’ll agree with you on Morris, I think he’s got a live arm and a live brain. I never really understood why he hasn’t panned out yet until I read the stuff on the frequent coaching changes he’s dealt with.

    And Kaepernick is significantly worse than Foles. I’ll not change that opinion under any circumstances. I cannot stand that dude.

  9. 9 Media Mike said at 5:22 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    ohhhhhhh, new QB Morris.

    Duh.

    And yeah, he could be a good player down the road. Love the arm and IQ.

  10. 10 mksp said at 5:12 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    He looked like the same Nick Freaking Foles we’ve come to know and be agnostic about.

    Hit some open guys. Waited too long to throw the ball generally. Escaped the pocket too early resulting in missing wide open guys in his progression.

    Took some hits, played tough. Usual Nick Foles stuff.

    Don’t miss it one bit.

  11. 11 Media Mike said at 5:17 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Holding the ball too long is lethal. I hate it.

  12. 12 xmbk said at 5:29 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Still wish him well. Hope they win the division, don’t like the other 3 teams.

  13. 13 Media Mike said at 5:30 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    I’ll admit to being a fan of Seattle as well. I enjoy their ability to taunt and mangle the garbage Niners.

  14. 14 xmbk said at 6:41 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Yeah, don’t like all the talking they do after games. Say it before, or better yet, let your play do the talking.

    If I wasn’t already an Eagles fan, #culture would have me jumping on board. Maybe it’s the old coach in me, but it’s about more than being a mercenary.

  15. 15 Nelson ALGore said at 5:12 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Saw Foles get blindsided …. just sighed. Im pulling for the guy but he is not w/o his issues. Namely pocket awareness.

    That said when the game is on the line he finds a way to win. in that sense he’s like the QB version of Tim Tebow.

  16. 16 Media Mike said at 5:15 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    So subtle, yet so good.

  17. 17 BlindChow said at 5:19 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Or he gets his special teams and defense to pull out the win for him?

  18. 18 Ray888 said at 5:15 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Who do you want as your QB – Serena or Flavia? Comparison is apt between Bradford & Foles. CK picked his “Serena” and let “Flavia” go.

  19. 19 Media Mike said at 5:16 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Bradford has a rear end the width of 3 normal people?

  20. 20 Ray888 said at 5:18 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Besides that!

  21. 21 Media Mike said at 5:19 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Got it!

  22. 22 Greg Richards said at 5:19 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    That backside!

  23. 23 Nelson ALGore said at 5:39 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    rumor is CK has a frontside that big

    #bigballschip, #frontsidechip, #readyforkickoff, #19:10yet

  24. 24 Ray888 said at 5:44 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Aren’t you comparing “apples” & “oranges”?

  25. 25 Nelson ALGore said at 5:46 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    was just segweying () to Tommy coughlin dick tucking last night

    I think CK would have made the right choice down there and go for it at the end

  26. 26 Ray888 said at 5:50 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Why do coaches forget that at the end of the game with a lead the enemy is the CLOCK not the other team. How hard can it be!

  27. 27 Media Mike said at 5:16 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Better karma grab……….karma grabbing Cruz’s knee or Sugg’s achilles?

  28. 28 Greg Richards said at 5:19 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Other than being annoying, what has Cruz done that’s so bad?

  29. 29 Media Mike said at 5:20 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Salsa danced in our end zone with no repercussions. And had the Sunday Night Football crew join in the merriment.

  30. 30 Greg Richards said at 5:20 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Yeah, I can’t wish the same level of karmic retribution on a guy who dances that I do on a thug who purposely and unnecessarily dives at players’ knees.

  31. 31 Media Mike said at 5:21 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    I can………….because he’s a Giant.

    And Suggs has put some awesome hits on Pittsburgh players.

    Pittsburgh fans are almost as low of a form of life as New Yorkers.

  32. 32 BobSmith77 said at 5:24 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    No way. The NFL is dull enough. I still wouldn’t hope any player gets injured either. These guys take enough of a beating just through routine play.

  33. 33 Media Mike said at 5:26 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    I reserve that venom for guys with whom I register high levels of disgust.

    Cruz, Eli, Suggs (but only after the Bradford thing), Chris Baker.

    For example, I feel bad for Dez that he’s injured. That dude is fun to watch play.

  34. 34 BobSmith77 said at 5:36 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    You hate Cruz that much simply because he celebrated in the end zone vs Eagles?

  35. 35 Media Mike said at 5:37 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    And that he’s a Giant. And that NBC glorified it at our expense.

  36. 36 Ray888 said at 5:41 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    It’s never inappropriate to ” act like you’ve been there before”.

  37. 37 Nelson ALGore said at 5:36 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Karma would be funny if he got hurt dancing in the end zone tho.

    I remember a kicker getting excite after FG then jumping and popping he’s knee out and ending the season on IR

    lol

  38. 38 Media Mike said at 5:36 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Gramatica, I believe.

  39. 39 Nelson ALGore said at 5:37 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    yes haha funny to this day

  40. 40 Ray888 said at 5:39 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    His brother must have been the one with the brains in that kicking duo.

  41. 41 RobNE said at 5:47 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Good movie

  42. 42 Nelson ALGore said at 5:34 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Suggs by far. Dirty player that hit qb in the knees in preseason. (because we lit them up in practice that week???)

    What has cruz ever done to that level. jeopardize our season over meaningless play or dance in end zone

  43. 43 Media Mike said at 5:35 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Salsa dance = I hate you.

  44. 44 Nelson ALGore said at 5:43 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    save that shit for someone who has earned it like Baker or Suggs or remember stev smit those guys suck

    study shows the average nfl player can only salsa dance in the end zone around 4 years. Sconces and burnt toast can elongate those careers in WRs

  45. 45 Fufina said at 5:26 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    I think Foles can be a decent QB in the NFL, he reads defences well and if you give him a solid offensive line he will make plays.

    QB’s continue to develop throughout their careers – look at Roethlisberger to see how a QB can continue to work on his flaws and develop. Think Foles has what is required up in the brain and has ‘enough’ physical tools to be effective. He has mechanical issues – specifically footwork wise in ‘tight’ area’s – give him people around his legs and he seems unable to set and throw from a clean base.

    I think Chip is unwilling to be patient with waiting for players to put it together. He says he wants the best team for this year and i believe he means it.

    I am on board with the trade since Bradford has the potential to be MVP/HOF great. IF you get that guy you contend for the next 10 years. Foles upside was Flacco/Eli – give them a great team and they can make enough plays to bring the game home but cannot carry a team.

  46. 46 Media Mike said at 5:28 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    That’s an interesting way of looking at it.

  47. 47 Dragon_Eagle said at 6:42 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    I largely agree with this perspective. I would add the following. You can win a championship with a Flacco/Eli type IF you invest heavily in the defense. Chip is willing to invest in D but his focus is on offense. For an offense dominant team to be a champion, you need a top level (top-5) QB. Bradford could be that, but its highly doubtful Foles could reach that level.

  48. 48 Greg Richards said at 5:30 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Zach Berman
    ‏@ZBerm

    8s8 seconds ago

    Zach Ertz is ACTIVE. Inactives: Marcus Smith, Dennis Kelly, Josh Andrews, Brandon Bair, Stephen Morris, Kenjon Barner, Denzel Rice

  49. 49 Media Mike said at 5:30 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Glad we lost Mostert to Miami over an inactive player.

  50. 50 Greg Richards said at 5:32 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Chip wants the guys most ready to perform well in case a player needs to step in due to injuries. Barner is probably more ready right now and can return both punts and kickoffs while Mostert can only return kicks. I understand the decision. Upside for future seasons isn’t a big part of the equation for Kelly.

  51. 51 Media Mike said at 5:33 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    I hate that and will flame Kelly over it all day every day.

    But I think you have the correct read on Kelly’s logic.

  52. 52 A_T_G said at 5:55 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    This place is awesome.

    Even the crazy obsessive fans arguing the merits of guys 53 and 54 on the cuts concede the value of the other person’s perspective.

  53. 53 Greg Richards said at 5:31 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Looks like Taylor Hart has surpassed Bair in the D-line rotation. With only Allen and Hart active amongst the D-line reserves, I assume Curry will still get a few 3-4 snaps. Of course, he’ll play DE and DT in a 4-man line.

  54. 54 Sammy Bee's Knees said at 5:32 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Hart over Bair is a good sign. Good to have young depth on that line. I can’t wait to watch Curry move all over.

  55. 55 Media Mike said at 5:32 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Yup!

  56. 56 Sean Stott said at 6:05 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Let’s just hope Curry doesn’t bite on the bootleg fake (Twice!) again.

  57. 57 Dragon_Eagle said at 6:45 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Let’s hope Billy D had them working on that in practice this week – Shanny offense, expect it.

  58. 58 Media Mike said at 5:31 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    WAY pumped that Ertz is ready. Dr. Chip hit that time table right.

  59. 59 xmbk said at 5:32 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Interesting.

  60. 60 Sammy Bee's Knees said at 5:34 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    20-25 snaps for Ertz per Spuds

  61. 61 Media Mike said at 5:34 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Sounds like a plan.

  62. 62 A_T_G said at 5:59 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Maybe I missed it, but I am surprised you are able to form coherent thoughts today after the way the Giants had a chance to actually serve a purpose last night, but found ways to blow it that defy belief.

  63. 63 Greg Richards said at 5:35 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Honestly, if they don’t think he’s ready for his normal number of snaps, I’d just be conservative and sit him out. Burton can play.

  64. 64 Sammy Bee's Knees said at 5:36 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Ertz reportedly feels fine but Chip doesn’t want him to overdo it.

  65. 65 Media Mike said at 5:36 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    You don’t threaten teams up the seam well enough with the current crop of WRs (as of week 1) withouth Ertz out there at times. Burton is a great prospect, but not a threat up the seam.

  66. 66 Sammy Bee's Knees said at 5:40 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Heading into two hour class. >>> GO BIRDS!

  67. 67 Ark87 said at 5:40 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    I think we’re way over-analyzing Foles. It is whatever it is. The trade was made in 2015 not 2016, it’s a moot point. It really doesn’t matter either way for us. If Foles is wildly sucessful, people are going to beat Chip over the head with it if Bradford is even more successful, and exponentially more if the Rams convert the 2nd round pick into a stud player down the line. If foles isn’t successful that’s no win for us either. Just a good kid not living up to the hopes people have for him. We all know what Foles is: a flawed QB , there is plenty in his game to pick on, we don’t need to do that because we aren’t feeling insecure about the trade, right?

    Right. Let’s move on with our lives (edit note: interesting typo there, Let’s move on with out lives”, also appropriate). Sam Bradford is our QB.

  68. 68 RobNE said at 5:57 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Is Marcus Smith still hurt?

  69. 69 Greg Richards said at 5:58 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    He was questionable. Even if he was fully healthy it was going to be difficult for him to be active considering that the other options are better ST players.

  70. 70 RobNE said at 6:17 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Even when fully healthy our first round pick will be a healthy scratch?!?

  71. 71 TypicalDouche said at 6:05 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    My Eagles brethren, I am at the game right now and Eagles nation is our here in full force. Great site to see!!

  72. 72 ACViking said at 6:06 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    T-Law —

    A couple of observations.

    One is you wrote that Bradford thrived when “surrounded by great talent and play[ing] in an up-tempo attack.” I’m not sure what that says about Bradford’s ability to raise the level of performance of the players around him. Does he need great talent around him to succeed?
    ________________

    Second is, based on one Rams game, Foles again seemed more comfortable not having to get the ball out quickly and, instead, taking a sack instead. That’s how he played in 2013.

    Kelly didn’t like that, of course. So in 2014, Kelly insisted on quicker decision-making — and I argued last year, and still maintain, Foles’s performance suffered as a result.

    So in a passing offense like the Rams that seems built off play-action with 5- and 7-step drops, Foles may function much better. Yesterday, he found the open receivers. Maybe he didn’t throw perfect passes every time. But he found the guys who should get the ball.

    And, as he did here, inside 2 minutes with the Rams needing a score, he raised his game and played great . . . a knack that many more talented QBs lack. (think Donovan McNabb).
    ________________

    The last observation concerns your comment how Foles reacted on the CWilliams sack-strip-TD — which I think the reply undercuts. You wrote:

    Foles failed to realize a free blitzer was coming his way and Cary Williams turned that into a sack/fumble/recovery and TD. The rusher was coming from his blind side, but the QB has to feel that rusher. Foles held the ball for a couple of seconds. This wasn’t one of those plays where the QB has literally no chance.

    Watch the replay — with is linked down below — one more time. The Rams were in a 2-TE offset I-formation with the lone WR on the offense’s right — leaving Williams free.

    Stop the replay at the 3-second mark. Foles’s just faked the hand-off, his back is to Williams, and the FB immediately stops to pass block.

    But the FB never looks outside for a blitzer — which, as you can see from the blocking scheme, is the FB’s responsibility

    By the time Foles gets his head around, his eyes go up field . . . and, about 5 yards — and a split second — away, gets a free shot.

    Granted. If Foles tucks the ball, it’s a great play. But sometimes even the great QBs — Brady, PManning, Rodgers — don’t avoid that kind of sack-fumble.

    Bottom-line . . . Kelly wanted a quick decision-maker. That’s not Foles relative to Kelly’s offense. More likely, it’s Bradford.

    But I’ll be very interested to see how Bradford performs inside 2 minutes in the 4th Q with the Eagles trailing. Foles was just about money-in-the-bank. Don’t know about Bradford. But that’ll matter in the playoffs.

    Here’s the link to the sack-fumble:
    http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2015091301/2015/REG1/seahawks@rams#menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000529124&tab=videos

  73. 73 Sean Stott said at 6:09 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    I don’t know man. When someone consistently chucks it downfield and receivers bail him out or DBs whiff, is that really a consistent and reliable way to play the game?

  74. 74 ACViking said at 6:16 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    all i wrote is Foles threw to the right guys yesterday.

    not perfect passes. but the right passes. and I don’t recall seeing a single time where he was bailed out. (That’s different from a defender slipping.)

    i think not worrying about throwing the ball instantly helps him.

    is he great? only in the last 2 minutes.

    is Bradford great? in 5 years, he’s not proved it.

  75. 75 FairOaks said at 6:11 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Generally agree. Some QBs though have that sixth sense when someone is coming (say Cunningham, Romo, or Wilson); Foles is OK in that area but it’s not one of his strengths.

  76. 76 Sean Stott said at 6:12 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Foles is dreadful in that area man in all frankness.

  77. 77 Fufina said at 6:44 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    If he tucks the ball and is in ‘running’ mode he can find ways to break free and make plays. He is not bad at using his upper body to shake out of contact at times.

    where he is awful is when things are happening around his legs, he seems to get stiff and static. My theory is that because he is not exactly quick footed he struggles to make the small re-adjustments you need to shift about and keep your centre of balance. It is his biggest mechanical flaw and he needs to put some serious work into his tight space footwork – do some RB agility drills.

    I think this could be one of the very rare cases where both sides win. Bradford needed a new start and a better situation to let him thrive. Eagles needed a QB with the arm talent to unlock RAC from the open receivers and someone who can make the fast throws this offence really needs (If you are only leaving 5 guys blocking at times as you maximise mismatches) you need the ball out fast and accurate at times.

    Rams need someone who is able to make enough plays to win games behind a good defence, who has the mentality to thrive in tight games (likely with their defence). The team/city needed someone fresh to revitalise the team and i think Foles can do that.

  78. 78 TommyLawlor said at 6:29 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    @ ACV…

    I do agree that Foles did some things well. I think he is a good fit in STL and could play well for them. I think his limitations will show up in some games and that’s where STL has to decide if he’s good enough for them.

    Think about Andy Dalton in Cincy. Good stats. Wins. But not big games. What do you do with that guy?

  79. 79 Corry said at 6:14 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Game time is sooooo close….I got butterflies. This is like Christmas morning.

  80. 80 PlanetX said at 6:25 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    YES! But, Christmas Morning with the added drama of you’re either going to be swimming in presents, (W) or you get absolutely skunked, (L).

  81. 81 Dragon_Eagle said at 6:27 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    unnnhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! I’m going to eat the wall. FRrrrrhhaaaaaagghhhhhh!!!!!

  82. 82 ac134spectre said at 6:27 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    I’m thinking wait on this. WhIle Tommy might argue that Foles missed, I’m not sure what the blocking and throwing lanes looked like. Plus a TE is open because the SS fell down. Does that mean Files showed great awareness?

    Could it be that Bradford gets hurt, or under performs because his awareness or field vision isn’t starter quality?

    Anyhow, good for Nick on his performance and let’s hope Bradford plays lights out.

  83. 83 Avery Greene said at 6:30 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    I think a good way to look at both QBs is how they function with different coaches. Kelly didn’t like Foles lack of quick-twitch decision making. Foles isn’t geared for that type of offense. Bradford is. Whereas the slow developing play allows Foles to pick apart the defense, where Bradford all through college was fast paced.

    I think some of the issues with Bradford in StL was his coaching. Great year under Shurmur his first year, then a different coach comes in with a system that only featured short passes. He wasn’t suited for that (plus he had no Oline).

    I def think Bradford has more talent, but Foles might fare better under different coaching. It wouldn’t be the first time that someone learned/excelled by switching mentors/teachers.

  84. 84 RobNE said at 6:31 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Let’s enjoy our game. FOles is so yesterday.

  85. 85 xmbk said at 6:43 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Was fun rooting for him, though.

  86. 86 BC1968 said at 6:33 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Week 1 overreactions. God forbid the Eagles lose tonight, close down the bridges and call the national guard. Or keep calm and wait for them to beat the Cowboys next week. I expect them to win tonight, but still, it’s either going to be 3-13 or Super Bowl talk tomorrow.

  87. 87 xmbk said at 6:43 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    I have to wait until tomorrow to talk SB? 😉

  88. 88 HawaiianEagle said at 6:36 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Fantasy start Ryan M or Sproles ?

  89. 89 Corry said at 6:38 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    I’m going to say Sproles because I *think* he may have opportunities for some big plays in the passing game.

  90. 90 xmbk said at 6:42 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Mathews is a good own, but Sproles for tonight could have solid upside.

  91. 91 Fufina said at 6:47 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    Mathews imho, think they are going to ease Murray into the season and i think we can run all over the Falcons.

    Also think Mathews will steal TD’s off Murray – he has 4-5 runs to get the team into the redzone and will be switched out for Mathews to give him a breather…

  92. 92 Corry said at 6:39 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    New thread folks: http://igglesblitz.com/2015/09/and-so-it-begins-3/

  93. 93 TommyLawlor said at 6:40 PM on September 14th, 2015:

    New post is up for the game.

    Kickoff is at 710pm. I guess coverage starts at 655.

    http://igglesblitz.com/2015/09/and-so-it-begins-3/

  94. 94 whatyouthinkimprejudiced said at 9:45 AM on September 15th, 2015:

    Haters gonna hate. You’re grasping when you criticize a QB for the following:

    (1) “Ball placement was an issue” because he hit a wide open Kendricks but “underthrew” it and because he got the ball to Jared Cook, but didn’t target the right part of Cook’s body. Apparently finding the open TE going down the field for a last minute TD before the safety can get there isn’t enough. You have to lead him PERFECTLY. Apparently hitting Cook on a sideline route for a big gain when pressure’s coming isn’t enough either. No pleasing some people.

    (2) Or criticisms of accuracy or down field throws in general, when Foles hit 66% of his passes and went for 11 YPA. When he has the Ram’s average WRs.

    People will rationalize anything, trying to make excuses for Foles’s performance against the NFL’s best (or at least top 3) defense because Kam was out and they have a new DC. That didn’t stop him from splitting the Sherman/Thomas coverage in OT.

    What’s his record as a starter? 17-5? Exactly.