Eagles head coach Chip Kelly shouldn’t pay much attention to Michael Vick’s or DeSean Jackson’s plea for him hurry up and make a decision about who is going to be his starting quarterback.
Michael Vick made the request last week at the end of the Birds mini camp and a couple of days ago, Jackson went on the NFL Network and made the same plea.
I say let the whole thing play out. I’ve been at quite a few of the practices and I don’t think any of the quarterbacks, Vick or Nick Foles has played consistently better than the other to warrant being given the starting position.
“So far, I don’t know, it has been kind of even”, Jackson said. “[Michael] Vick and [Nick] Foles have been switching off [with] first team [and] second team. So it is the same thing with them. I have been hearing some things about Vick saying that he wants to know. At the same time, the team wants to know too. We need to go into training camp prepared and know who is going to be our starting quarterback. Whether it is Foles or Vick, I think they would both do a great job and we will be ready for the season.”
If Vick is making the request because he’s sure he’s going to be the starter, he’s taken a great deal for granted. Vick is still learning the offense. His decision making and accuracy haven’t been exceptional.
I’ve heard and seen some observers of the practices say Foles is leading the way. I haven’t seen that either. Many of the media members felt Foles had a good workout on the last day of practice last week, but I saw him throw two passes which should have been picked off on consecutive plays. How can you have that good of a practice if you’re throwing interceptions?
In my opinion, neither Vick nor Foles played well enough consistently to be given the starting job in the OTA’s and mini-camps. It should be decided during training camp and in the preseason games.
When you think about the read option, Vick definitely has an advantage. If you think about the age of the quarterbacks and their potential upside, Foles has the advantage. It’s going to be a very important decision for Kelly.
At some point of time whether that be in training camp, the beginning of the season, or sometime during the season, Foles will be the starting QB, AND WILL PUT A CHOKEHOLD ON IT!!!
For all the guys that felt Foles should be traded. You don’t trade your the best QB on your roster. How do you feel about the FACT that he is here, and competing with Michael Vick, not Dixon, or Barkley, for the starting spot.
Enough with the he can’t run the read option stuff. He can play. Dixon can’t, and all the Barkley supporters are wishful thinkers; He is not all that, spare me those post.
Nick Foles the starting QB, and the future for your Philadelphia Eagles. I told you so………..
There’s something we agree on GMCliff. I think Vick might be the starter at the start of the season, but he will lose the job because of turnovers and/or injuries.
Irish, or because of inefficiency…….
I don’t hate on Vick as most. I want to see him succeed. He may have a great year, but Foles is the future of this team. Matt Barkley is overhyped trade bait for a future draft pick, and Dixon is a Practice squad veteran.
Gmcliff just a simple question. What do you base your Foles “he can play”. on? His 59 percent comp percentage?Cant be that.His 6 tds in 7 games? Cant be that. The way he dosent turnover the ball? 5 ints and 5 fumbles in 7 games. So it isnt that. His athleticism. Sacked 20 times in 7 games so it isnt that. So what exactly was it that he did well? That told you he could play? Dont tell me if he had this or that, he didnt so dont speculate. Tell me what he did well with what you actually saw. Please enlighten me.
Gmcliff has eyes; he saw smarts; he saw decisiveness in the pocket; he saw the rare, extremely rare ability of a young qb to feel pressure in the pocket, to step up , instead of abandoning the pocket , and then extend the play with his brains and his arm, not his legs, these are the qualities we all see in foles, except those blinded by prejudice
Dag, I respect you more than most, so I don’t feel attacked by you when I say something contrary to popular opinion.
My opinion of Foles in based totally upon reasonable expectations for a 3rd round QB, who wasn’t expected to start, and showed me enough talent, that leads me to believe he has the talent to improve over time with experience.
His stats to me, don’t tell the whole story, nor give an accurate evaluation of his abilities, because there were real circumstances, so as you requested I won’t use those as an excuse. But, Foles did move the team downfield better than Vick, under the same circumstances, and they played better in their losses under Foles, than they did with Vick in their wins.
There is more to work with with Foles despite the lack of foot speed. I think he makes up for that deficiency vs Vick with his intelligence. He has his flaws, but again what would you expect from a guy who wasn’t even drafted to start, however made his case to start before the season began?
Give the guy some credit. Don’t get me wrong Foles has his flaws as well. Foles wasn’t the QB I wanted the year they drafted him, I liked Oswieller. He was Paulmans guy, and Paul was right.
But we can’t say he isn’t talented because he didn’t perform last year as well as RGIII, Russell Wilson, or Luck. For the exception of Wilson, the other two were drafted to start, and were prepared as such. Who’s to say they won’t have a setback this year?
I like him. Give him more than a chance, and so will the rest of us.
Kelly doesn’t strike me as the type of guy who will give in to player pressure. This year, players will figure that out and there will be a purge at the end of the season.
Kelly is not studding any of those comments.
Of course the players want a QB named before training camp – that make sense for them.
Kelly wants it to be an open-ish competition – you can’t compete in shorts – so of course he’s gonna wait ’till he sees folk in pads and maybe a game or two.
I will say I don’t think training camp will be close. Whoever is gonna emerge the QB will do so in camp and their won’t be much confusion on who that will be…I think.
I agree! Just think the guy who wins is probablydifferent than the guy you think wins!
Kelly has a fantastic opportunity to exert his will here and show that he is in charge. Anyone who want’s to fight the Alpha Dog is gonna go home licking their wounds. We had a push over for a coach for 14 years that was oblivious to lots (see issues at lehigh). That is no more.
Chokehold on it, the gm has spoken, cliff has been right, you other mfers woefully wrong, it will be big nick foles
Bottom line, Chip Kelly us finding out fast that as a HC of Profesional Pkayers whose livliehood depends on Playing and Starting, that he’s now in the real of
“big Boy” Football where Players are just not going to accept things like they do in College where the HC has almost complete control of his roster, etc, etc..
I’ve said this 100 times this Off-Season, this will not be 100% Chip Kelly’s Team as long as Mike Vick is an Eagle and that he now realizes himself that it was a mistake to bring him back for 2013.. If Vick is not head and shoulders above Foles as far as grasping and executi g this system, then Vick is the odd-man out and then when you add the potential locker room split, the dumb-ass comments that come from Vi k and the distractions that he brings, it was an unnecessary move which will make his Initial Season as a wasted Season for the Franchise moving forward
I’ve also stated that Vick is simply not smart enough or maybe a better word, e executes his decision making well enough to remain a QB for the Eaglex and it’s a real Shane that Fokes/Brakley are splitting the much much needed reps with Dixon sprinkled o. For the read-option for this system will not work for the Eagles period.. They don’t have the QB to run it, have wussy WR’s who will not cat h the short timing passes and take the hits that will come afterwards
Scratch the entire Read-Option concept and go with Shurmur’s pure West Coast System with Fokex and Barkley moving forward and they will at least have a chance..
Little change of subject, here is an update on my choice for the Eagles in the 2nd Round Jamie Collins:
Drafting without a first-round pick for the first time since 2009, the New England Patriots had extra incentive to get good value from this year’s selections. They may have done just that, as the first player they chose, linebacker Jamie Collins, could make a huge impact on the team’s defense.
The Patriots originally owned the 29th overall selection in this year’s draft. They traded their spot to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for four later picks; one of which (52nd overall choice in the second round) they used to grab Collins from the University of Southern Mississippi. Although he is a raw prospect, his draft position is indicative of the big plans the Patriots have for his future.
The 6’4″ and 250-pound Collins is a physical specimen with tremendous athletic ability. A scouting report by ESPN Boston’s Field Yates proclaimed that the 23-year-old “enters the Patriots program as the team’s most explosive and athletic linebacker overall.” His versatility could lead to him playing multiple positions with the Patriots in an effort to take advantage of his full skill set.
Collins’ ability to make plays from sideline to sideline is offset by inconsistency as a run defender. With his physical tools, the hope is he will mature as a player once he is coached up and thrown in with other talented linebackers like Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes.
The current group of linebackers, including Mayo, Spikes and Dont’a Hightower, are all considered much stronger against the run than the passing game. WEEI’s Christopher Price wrote that for now, the Patriots envision Collins as a player who can help the team with their pass defense against running backs and tight ends.
David Duggan, who was one of Collins’ coaches at Southern Mississippi, told Price that the linebacker can be a force against the pass. “I’ve seen him cover running backs and tight ends and wide receivers in the slot. He understands pass coverage assignments, and he’s so strong that when he gets his hands on you, you aren’t moving.”
Another tantalizing possibility for Collins is lining him up on the defensive line with second-year defensive end Chandler Jones. Those two players may have the best combination of athleticism, strength and speed of anyone on the Patriots’ defense, and could have the potential to terrorize opposing quarterbacks.
For as many accolades as Collins has received for his coverage skills, he was also a very effective pass rusher in college, accumulating 21 sacks (with 10 coming this past year). While he is a bit undersized to be a full-time defensive end in the NFL, it would be wise to have him rush the passer in certain situations. The agility of he and Jones coming off opposite ends in situational downs could wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
According to NFL.com, one of Collins’ weaknesses is uneven burst and effort on plays. The key to how much he can help the Patriots’ defense will depend on if Bill Belichick and the other coaches can get his motor to run consistently hot.
Duggan explained to Price he is confident the Patriots have brought their next great player into the fold. “When you’re talking about Jamie, it’s important to remember the Patriots are getting a guy who has never played more than a single season at one position. This is a kid with huge upside. He’s got great strength, he’s fast, he’s explosive and he’s long. He’s got great range and a really good football IQ. This guy is the whole package.”
How about Ziggy Ansah? –
Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah has every reason to be behind during the team’s mandatory minicamp this week.
Ansah entered the NFL as a first-round draft pick in 2013 after only two seasons of football – any level – on his résumé. He is extremely raw and viewed by many NFL observers as a developmental project. Detroit passed on several proven prospects with the hope that Ansah can turn into the next Jason Pierre-Paul (New York Giants).
If Ansah was behind this week, it would make perfect sense.
Instead, Ansah has not shown any problems learning Detroit’s defense this offseason.
“You know, we don’t have a real complex scheme for defensive line, but that’s a relative term,” Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. “You know, there’s still a lot for rookies to have to go through and learn, and he’s done a great job managing all of it. He’s very serious about what he does, hard worker, you know, works hard both on and off the field.
“Just naturally has a knack for picking up the game, and he knocked down a pass (on Tuesday). He did some really good things.”
That is good news for Detroit.
The Lions drafted Ansah to replace veteran defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch. Ansah is expected to provide a spark on Detroit’s right side, plus ease the burden on Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, defensive tackle Nick Fairley, and newly acquired defensive end Jason Jones.
Ansah had 62 total tackles, 13 going for a loss, including 4.5 sacks for BYU in 2012. He finished the Senior Bowl with seven tackles, including 3½ for losses (1½ were sacks). Ansah has received first-team reps during organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp, plus gained the confidence of his teammates and Schwartz.
“We had a couple of blitz periods (on Tuesday), and there are a lot of things that go into the blitz,” Schwartz said. “Our base scheme isn’t very difficult for our defensive linemen, but you know, in blitz with zone drops and man coverage and pickups and different things like that, he’s done a nice job managing himself through that.
“He played a lot of different positions at BYU. They moved him around an awful lot. That probably helped prepare him for the complexities of the game because he had to know so many positions at BYU.”
Paulman I agree with you 100%. Theres been rumblings as stated by Lenoard Weaver in the Eagles locker room. This isn’t college. No you cant just get rid of players and demote them in the NFL they will “shut it down”. These players make to much money to be bullied. Chip isn’t Bellichek with multiple SB and Tom Brady to have his back. If Vick isn’t the starter yes he has to go. Noway no how can he be on that team.That goes for any Vet especially if they have had past success. You think Trent Cole is gonna be a happy camper if he is a backup and not playing? Especially if this is a 5 win team? You think if Bryce Brown has some success and Shady isn’t getting ball hes gonna stay quiet? Can you imagine DJax playing 40% of the plays? lol. It isn’t gonna work. Especially if your winning 5 games. Chip is clever and witty in the news conferences right now getting tired of same old questions. Chip you haven’t seen nothing yet. Wait until you start losing games and have to face media. I have a very uneasy feeling about this.
I think Kelly will be quick to remind these guys, like Vick and DeSean Jackson, that the team has a 12-20 record over the last two years and they are a big part of that record.
I think you will eventually see guys like Vick and DeSean Jackson playing for one of the perennial losing teams in the league, like the Raiders.
The Eagles didn’t go from one of the top teams in the league to the bottom because of Andy Reid. You will see that when Reid builds a winner in KC. The Eagles went to the NFL basement because they replaced high character professionals with glory hounds who don’t know how to win… like Vick and Jackson.
Don’t expect to see these guys around when the Eagles are a winning team again.
Irisheagle this franchise has had 2 probowl WR in the last 25 years with TO and DJax. 2. Your focus is on one of them? Out of all the stinking garbage players on the Eagles you pick DJax to ship out? What damn game has Avant, Maclin or Celek won? How many PB have they been to? There are a lot of players that should go befoer him. Unbelievable.
LOL. I guess Desean hired Juan Castillo to run the defense and he also installed the wide nine while also making the pro bowl as a punt returner and receiver. Man he really ran this franchise into the ground.
Biglion I don’t know about you but when he went 90 on the Cowboys and fell backwards in the endzone I was with a bunch of Cowboys fans and imitated him and fell backwards on the bar. LOVED IT!. lol. When he returned the punt against the Giants I pretended to hold a ball above my head all week around Giants fans. LOVED IT. When DJAX gives the 1st down signal (the same as Celek which is apparently ok for him to do lol), I give the 1st down signal in the faces of my opposing friends also. LOVE IT. Nah lets talk about how he sucks and how good Johnson, Maclin and Avant are. Lets keep them.
I cant think of 1 play any other WR or TE on the Eagles has made on this team not named DJAX in the last 10 years besides Celek made 1 against someone it was a long one,cant quite remember and Maclin had a big flee-flicker play vs Atlanta with Kolb and a bomb with Vick in Washington that Mon night. That’s it.
I agree Daggolden.
I cant think of 1 play any other WR or TE on the Eagles has made on this team not named DJAX in the last 10 years
Well you would have had to be watching 9 years ago to see the 4th and 26 play in the playoffs vs the Packers. Or Chad Lewis’ catch in the NFC championship game 8 years ago. You know, back when the Eagles won games. The Eagles didn’t have pro bowl WRs, but the guys they had mad plays now and again. And they won games.
DeSean Jackson is a punk.
Vick sucks!!!! That is all……….
and the debate rages on…. so much fun, so little knowledge.
To say that Vick and Desean are THE ONLY problem and THE cause of the the losing seasons…..
* wide 9, no LB’s, DRC and Nnamdi sucking, bad 2nr round pick FS’s back to back…. all Vick and Djaxs fault right?
To say that Vick is “established” (from DJAX). WRONG! How is he? He is what he has always been…. potential!!
* I get smashed left and right for being a “vickologist” or whatever… but you will/have never heard me say hes good. Let these guys compete. If Vick isnt the starter than you cut him. Plain and simple.
question? Anyone else troubled that Foles is not taking this job? Anyone concerned that Nick Foles is not blowing anyone away? I am. Im rotting for this guy to steal the show and he is not. This was my fear… some people on this blog praise Foles because he’s young and tall…. and that somehow EARNS him the starting spot. Why isnt he earning it?
Well Foles was the most accurate in shorts. So that’s something.
But let’s be real, he’s not going to compete with M. Vick anywhere else – Vick’s (IMO) biggest problem is decision making (and fumbling, but there’s no fixing that, I don’t care what he says) – he’s always trying to make something out of nothing, won’t throw the ball away, won’t always take the checkdown (when one is available) and since they coached him not to run had become REALLY indecisive about that.
So IF Vick gets better on the decision making front (and there were various reports from camp he was doing that) – throws the ball away, doesn’t try to make every play into something, run smartly – he’s going to win the job.
Foles isn’t going to beat him out.
Now I am assuming Vick is:
1. Still progressing on reading/dissecting defenses – he improved tremendously on this front last year (Foles does better here as well)
2. is learning and grasping the offense as well as or better than the younger guys.
It won’t be a competition at that point ’cause Foles doesn’t possess the physical skills or arm to beat him out.
It’s just a wait and see game at this point.
To say that Vick and Desean are THE ONLY problem and THE cause of the the losing seasons…..
You are the ONLY one that called Vick and DeSean the ONLY problem. I said the problems were caused in large part by unprofessional, glory hound type players like Vick and DeSean Jackson. You can add Nnamdi and DRC to that group as well.
One thing you can count on is Vick and DeSean over-selling and under-achieving. But, some people like showy players (like Vick & DeSean) who look like stars one week then disappear for three weeks.
Myself – I cant wait till they are gone.
By that dumb ass logic I guess the whole team needs to go. Celek shows up every week? Maclin? Trent Cole had 3 f*&king sacks last year lol. Maclin has never had 1000 yartds. Yeah he shows up every week. They were 4-12. Like I said if you don’t want players back Im not starting with one of the 3 only PB players. What game winning play has Avant or Maclin ever made? Don’t you think we should start there first. Unbelievable
DJax was on pace for 1300 yards and 6 tds before he got hurt. He has 15 tds over 50 yards has been to 3 pro bowls is 26 years old has more 1000 yard seasons than any WR in the last 20 years for the Eagles but he to flashy lets get rid of him. Yeah lets stick Riley stinking Cooper out there he sends shivers up DBs spines. unbelievable.
“DJax was on pace for 1300 yards and 6 tds before he got hurt.”
saw what? when did he get hurt?
DeSean is a very unreliable #1 WR – If you even consider him a #1 WR…
DJax has 2 – 1000 yard seasons in 5 years. He has 4 – 100 yard games in the last 2 years. He has 6 TD receptions in the last 2 years.
That’s fine for a slot receiver, but that’s shit for a #1 WR.
Well call him the 3rd receiver than. lol. Irish if they were gonna save money and give it the savings to me and you than I would say cut his ass but their not.lol. So what do I care what they are spending.If they can move him for a stud receiver than I would say move him. But if you want to get rid of him for Riley Cooper or Jason Avant to take his reps then I say hell no.
Plus its more 1000 yard seasons than any other WR in the last 20 years besides TO. Its more 100 yard games than any WR on this team. So Johnson, Avant and Maclin have to go before him don’t ya think?
lets go back…… YEARS ago we had a good D and a solid O with westy and dmac… and no WR. I do not want to go back to those days but im not sure DJax is the guy we need. That said…. i want to see what he can do in this O. As far as starts being stars one week and nothing the next… you just described every “star” on this team. this TEAM boats and yet shows nothing…. you can include players like “the beard” in that list too.
Every team in every league on every level have players who celebrate no matter if they are in 1st or last place. Who the hell are the fans to let players know when its acceptable to celebrate.The Phillies suck and D Brown celebrates everytime he hits a home run. He should just STFU and go sit down. His team sucks. That’s why the players say f*(k the fans. lmao
great point Dag. Only thing is….. IF these guys form little groups and such and dont bow to the coach…. then we have a problem. I dont know that this is the case here but….. it certainly seems that it may be.
I know people don’t want to believe this, but coaches like Chip Kelly already have in mind who they want the starter to be. Its no way a guy like him who plans and has all these schemes don’t envision a certain guy on his roster running it. All this open competition crap is smart bc it makes the players compete harder and pay attention more on each rep believing he has a shot to start. It also give Kelly an out if something drastically negative happens with who he envisions starting if its injuries or poor play there is not a major ripple effect for sitting someone bc again nobody had the job anyway.
I know people don’t want to believe this, but coaches like Chip Kelly already have in mind who they want the starter to be. Its no way a guy like him who plans and has all these schemes doesn’t envision a certain guy on his roster running it. All this open competition at QB crap is smart bc it makes the players compete harder and pay attention more on each rep believing he has a shot to start. It also gives Kelly an out if something drastically negative happens with who he envisions starting if its injuries or poor play there is not a major ripple effect for sitting someone bc again nobody had the job anyway.
If Kelly is lucky enough to make it to year three you will see a more conventional approach to naming a QB, but I’m sure most of the other spots will still preach the open competition theme even when we know guys like Fletcher Cox is starting regardless. I like it but he has to be careful not to lose credibility with the players. the moment a guy outperforms another and doesn’t win the job this whole thing can go up in flames.
Andy Reid..
Fat Boy let this team become undisciplined. Now Chip Kelly is installing it. Chip has time to lose. Certainly the first year. It may be necessary to set the tempo for players who execute the way that Chip wants them to. That is how Bill Walsh started.
I have never been a fan of Djax. Selfish and unproductive. Has not grown and gotten better.
I hated Andy Reid with a passion. His fat arrogant ” I will reinvent the wheel” process was doomed from the beginning.
Vick, Djax, Avant and Trent Cole will all be gone next season. Pretenders.
Cole burns out. Got paid last season and did nothing. Djax got paid last season and did nothing. Avant too slow. Vick can still be a weapon, but has not played smart. Turnovers usually decide games in the NFL, because every team has million dollar talent.
Jeffery Loser has picked playoff coaches in the past and Chip Kelly will get the Eagles to the playoffs.
I did not want Chip Kelly. I thought he was another smaller version of Andy Reid. He is not.
He wants size and speed. (not undersized fastballs)
He wants to run and pass. (not pass, pass and pass some more)
He wants to set the tempo. (not mismanage the clock and the tempo)
He installing discipline (not leaving that job to so called veterans )
He is making players earn the right to start(not playing his boys
he didn’t even draft any of his players from Oregon.)
Chip is here to win.
It might take 3 seasons for Chip to Get his type of players in. I have said all along I could take losing if it meant a real chance at a championship.
Chip Kelley is going to win in Philadelphia.
I think so too. Especiallywith asses Size toughness and Discipline.
thats added size LOL
The word out of the OTAs was that except for scrambling it was a wash. If Vick wanted to go into camp as the apparent starter he should have put on a passing clinic at the OTAs.
That’s funny. Gcobb a former all pro NFL linebacker, sports talk radio host, and sports website owner is always there and hasn’t reported anything remotely close to it being a wash. Oh yeah, he did state on this very site that ARROWS STILL POINT TO VICK AS THE STARTER. Wonder where G could have garnered that from?