Ever since Matt Barkley has set foot on the field in an Eagles practice, he has been praised by the coaching staff for his football IQ, work ethic, and talent. Chip Kelly called him “a real student of the game” and gushed about his ability to pick up the offense quickly. The future for the USC graduate certainly looks bright.
But unfortunately, while Barkley may have all the intangibles, he may be more of a work in progress. Despite strong showings in OTAs and mini-camp, Barkley has largely struggled ever since the pads have come on in training camp.
In Barkley’s defense, he is playing mostly with the third team. But a player of his experience level needs to completely wow the coaching staff with out-of-this-world play, and the rookie hasn’t been able to do that.
Instead, like most rookies, Barkley has struggled so far in his first NFL training camp.
On Sunday, Barkley had an impressive pass early on, but then took far too many chances as the day went on. He was nearly picked off multiple times and struggled when the pass rush nearly got to him.
Monday’s practice saw Barkley completing 7 out of 11 passes, but many of his passes were short dump offs.
On Tuesday, Barkley played horribly. Barkley managed only four completions out of 16 pass attempts. According to John Gonzalez of CSNPhilly.com, Barkley failed to connect on ten straight passing attempts at one point. He played exclusively with the third-team.
Three days of training camp in pads have passed and Barkley still has yet to put up an impressive performance. He will have to bounce back with strong performances for the rest of camp, as well as in the pre-season, if he wants to re-enter the starting quarterback race.
However, it’s not even just Barkley’s performance so far that will keep him out of the running. Both Nick Foles and Michael Vick have been more consistent to date.
While still struggling with his accuracy, Foles has had his share of good plays so far. Yesterday, he slung a pass past Earl Wolff, David Sims, and Mychal Kendricks into the hands of Jason Avant.
Vick has continued to outperform the competition and lead the quarterback competition. For the second straight day now he has thrown two touchdown passes in practice. He is also being utilized more in designed running plays, which will likely be an integral part of the 2013 Eagles based on Kelly’s penchant for it at Oregon. And for the first time, Vick has received significantly more first-team reps than Foles, 24 compared to Foles’ 13.
Even if Barkley is able to beat out Foles for the backup quarterback job, he will need to unseat a red-hot Vick. Vick also has the advantage in experience and athleticism.
Barkley has no shortage of talent, but don’t expect him to be able to contend for the starting quarterback spot at this rate. The job is Vick’s to lose right now, and it would take Barkley a truly phenomenal rest of camp to win the job.
And for a player of his inexperience, that may be expecting a bit too much.
Follow Yueh Ho on Twitter @YuehHo
Mr. Ho any word on how kinne and Dixon are doing? Being that this is a true competition for the qb job, I’d like to know how all are doing.
Dixon has had his fair share of good plays so far and has shown good deep ball accuracy. It’s unlikely the Eagles would keep 4 QBs, but they may be tempted to if Dixon continues to play well in the pre-season.
Thx
No surprise here…his presence on this team to be the starter, has been completely overblown, and exaggerated….I’ve said this several times before this article.
I know Vick winning the starting Job would make Paulman, and many other Vick haters to pull their hair out, and deservedly so, for being so unmerciful toward this man……Deal with it….Vick, then Foles, w/Foles being the future, not Barkley…….
Most of you were dead wrong. Now, be honest, and admit it……but I don’t expect you to. Your too proud to do the honorable thing, and bow down to reality.
You’re saying Vick is this year’s Doug Pederson?
speaking of the legend doug pederson
Chiefs OC Doug Pederson claims he thinks Alex Smith is the best quarterback in the NFL.
It’s obviously a coach expressing hyperbole while standing behind his guy, but it’s another sign the Chiefs truly believe they can execute a pass-first offense with Smith at the controls. They’ve barely even practiced running the ball so far in camp. It’s the kind of play-calling that got new coach Andy Reid in hot water in Philadelphia. Smith was little more than a game-manager in San Francisco. Aug 1 – 10:46 AM
haaaaaaaaaaaaa
The only person I would be pissed off to see in an Eagles uniform is Casey Matthews…HE CANNOT PLAY!!!!!!!!!!Enough is enough……..
You all should be more fed up with them still trying to save face for drafting him, as much as you are up in arms about Vick.
for at least a portion of the season Vinny…Then it’s Foles; Barkley won’t see the field unless both Foles, and Dixon get hurt.
nothing to admit on my end. i dont want vick to be the qb because if he is its a dead season with no playoffs as i stated from the start. you know with vick you are getting below average qb play and know your qb will not be leading you to the playoffs, you know their will be lots of awful fumbles, picks sacks and ugly non fundamentally sound football plays from your qb. you also know he will give you 1 or 2 espn type highlite plays a week which doesnt compensate for the negative plays.
there just isnt much to look forward to with vick controlling the O, limited to no hope, and no entertainment unless you enjoy watching your team struggle to move the chains & sustain drives but I suppose some like myself will just laugh and shake their head and say hopefully we can find a average to above average qb next year
No way Bark was gonna win the job. The only 2 people who thought that that would happen are him and Jon Hart.
Thats true Bugs. Paulman, my buddy says he is the future. I say he’ll be trade bait for a future draft pick. No drafting a QB next year because the defense still needs upgrades…..JaDeveon Clowney should be the target.
@Mhenski, I hope we do have a bad year; Taking a few more steps back to take a few more steps forward. I don’t mind Vick starting at all. I was asked do I really see Vick starting at QB this year?, and I said …YES…..
WHOOOOP HERE IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!
I vote for dueling tank jobs between the eagles and the sixes and lets get 2 superstars in her to make us relevant again. Just get me the Adam sander fast forward button from click so I don’t have to watch.
I’m with ya Mac the only sixers ill watch this year is when they go to the lottery drawing
Wait till preseason starts and watch him shine. Bark will prove you all wrong dammit. PRACTICE WE TALKIN BOUT PRACTICE LOL
No he won’t Diddy……..
Heard chris polk is now running with second team.. If lesean gets hurt polk will take over.. He is a beast… He was supposed to be a second round pick and if He would have came into the draft the shape hes in now he would have been a first..
Misinformed Llawrd…Bryce Brown is solidly entrenched as McCoy’s Backup.
With Felix Jones after him…..Keep dreaming about Polk making a real impact
The eagles dont have the receivers for any quarterback to flourish. Maclin is hurt Cooper is gone.. The only positive is The 6’7 BC kid is getting reps with the ones. He caught a touchdown yesterday, I think .
The tight ends will be featured in this offense Larrwd. And Bark will kill it in preseason just watch.
Let him shine Diddy. He’ll be used as trade bait in the draft, and we can unload him on some sucker like we did Kolb.
Lol as long as we get a better player than Nate Allen next time.
Exactly
I am intrigued by him Llawrd…..What do you know about his College Career?
That damn duce staley .. thank god for Gmcliff setting him straight..
Your Welcome, and don’t you forget it…..
Correction for GMCliff,
I never stated that Barkley would compete for the Starters Job in 20-3 and anyone who expects a Rookie QB from this last Draft Class is dreaming..
EJ Nanuel has a real good chance because the Bills only have Kolb and an undrafted QB on their current Roster
But QB’s like Geno Smith, Landry Jones, Mike Glennon,
Tyler Wikson and Barkley are all 2-3 Year Projects
As we all stated and knew months ago, this was a very weak QB Class as far as anyone making a short-term impact .. EJ Manuel will Stsrt at some point in 2013 since the Bills have Kolb and won’t be very competitive with him
(In fact, he just hurt his Knee the other day and will be missing some Camp time already)
I don’t think he’ll even be anything in 2-3 years. He will be spraying Pledge on his church pulpit.
I too never said that you felt he could compete for a starting Job. I referenced you statement that he would be the future, mainly because Kelly drafted him. I saying it won’t make a difference, because I think you guys are totally overvaluing him a player completely.
I feel his IS a little better than Kolb was coming out f College, but the result in total career will be the same; another overhyped draft pick, that never becomes anything except a memory of what he was in college.
Cliff, How is a 4th Round Draft PIck “Over-Hyped” .. It seems like you are the only one on here Over-Hyping and Over-Stating what other Posters expectations are of Barkely.. (Outside of Jon HArt) I don’t recall any other Poster expecting Barkley to light the NFL on fire in his first Season or Two.. He is a 2-3 Year Project as most Rookie QB’s are in the NFL
Thats not true Paul. Several posters were talking about Barkley starting.
His being drafted in the 4th round, has nothing to do with his overhype. The fact that a number to most posters on here, yourself included have already anointed this guy, as the future,:
“Oh this guy is going to be great”,
“You can’t be the starter for USC for 3 years, and not have the skills to be an NFL QB…..Bull!!!
The perception of his overall potential is completely overhyped. I think he continues the tradition of USC QB’s after Jim Plunkett, that can’t stand up to their overstated hype.
Thats what I mean about overhype. I’m tired of hearing it. I don’t think he is an NFL QB.
Plunkett played for Stanford (won the Heisman Trophy in fact)
As did Elway & Andrew Luck and have a Sophomore Staring this Year by the name of Kevin Hogan who will be the next great one out of Stanford and probably will stay thru his Junior Season and compete for National Championships, Heisman Award come 2014
Remember the name..
Thank you Paul I stand corrected on Plunkett. Rob Johnson wa the last semi successful USC QB. I have my data on Kevin Hogan, and others, but what does that have to do with Matt Barkley?
Did you ever research my LB choice in the draft Khalil Mack from Buffalo University? if not look him up.
He barely had any college career. But hes 6’7 and ran a 4.4 40 there is not many guys capable of that..
I agree with you there brother….I’ll keep my eye on him. I keep hearing he is destined for the Practice Squad for seasoning; but has potential.
Well boy’s by this time next week you’ll all clearly understand like it or not, why Michael Vick will be the starting quaterback until he gets hurt of course. And one one other tidbit, Vick nor any other quaterback on this roster will be throwing the ball to Master Cooper, because he thinks this is 1713 instead of 2013. Can’t wait to see the can of worms that the aforementioned opens up.
Good Day, Good Sports,
This year and probably next won’t matter for much anyway other than something interesting to watch develop. We’ll know who Chip’s q back will be in 2 years or so.
Tedy Bridgewater (Louisville) is poised for a monster Season
And will be the first QB taken in 2014 if he stays healthy
Taj Boyd of Clemson will go in the Top 5 also and is probably the most polished QB in College this year
There are 2 out in California with upside
The Kid from UCLA (Healy is it?) and the Younger Brother of David Carr at Fresno State
Johnny Football Manziel will struggle as his immaturity and
Arrogance will scare of most Teams and is too small and full of himself to make an impact at the Pro Level..
We will need to be really bad (probably like 2-3 wins) to have a shot at Bridgewater or Clowney. Would love to have either of them tho.
Top 5 Draft Positions for 2014 Draft
1) Raiders
2) Jaguars
3) Bills
4) Cardinals
5) NY Jets
The AFC is very weak heading into the 2013 Season
Top Heavy with Broncos,Pats,Texans leading the way
With Bengals, Ravens, Steelers, Colts, Dolphins,& Chiefs around 8-9 Wins
And then Titans, Chargers, Browns with 5-7 Wins then the bottom feeders
NFC will have many Teams between 9-11 Wins
(Packers, 49ers,Seahawks, Falcons, Saints,Giants, and possibly the Cowboys, Redskins, Panthers, Bucs, Vikings with 7-9 Wins and
With the Eagles, Lions, Bears, & Cardinals
Bring up the rea with 5-7 Wins)
The bottom of the AFC is weaker than the bottom of the NFC
The Eagles are really going to stink this year. I would tank it; try to be competitive in the games, which I think they also will, but put myself in a position to benefit from building through the draft.
These are Professional PLayers and Coaches, No one is going to tank it Cliff.. You attempt to win every game you play, that’s what these Players and COaches and GM’s are Paid to do..
You think a Organization is going to tank a Season just so they can Draft a 20 Year Old Kid, who no matter how talented, is still a 20 Year Kid.. C’mon Cliff.. Your smarter than this, have you been sitting out in the Sun too much this Summer..
and… tank it in the NFL means little because draft wise you are adding 1 player out of 50+ instead of basketball where you are adding 1 of 5 new starters. Plus…. its a crap shoot in the draft, your 3rd rounder could be better than your first. Silly idea gmcliff (although on par with your drafts).
I don’t really want them to tank Stevo Brother. I just want them to be competitive in each game, although I wouldn’t mind them losing because I know this rebuilding project, especially with Howie at the helm, are going to take a while.
I believe rebuilding through the draft is the exact way to go to help this team, but not exactly the Pac 10 homeboy network route.
hahaha!!! My man Paul…
Here is my thoughts on the Eagles going into 2013 preseason……. I will cut and paste this if we ever see new blogs on this topic again.
1. Vick will be the starter until he is hurt. At that time we will begin the back and forth qb stuff all year.
2. McCoy will put up the 2nd largest numbers in the NFL, only behind A.P.
3. We will watch this 2ndary get thinner and thinner each week.
4. The front 7 will look more like the Pitt front 7 of a few years ago.
5. Copper will be back with the eagles and this silly media junk will go on all year.
Times yours
Secondary already in trouble if they were really counting on Phillips. Dude can’t run anymore
Mike Vick
I am guessing that he’ll be much better this year for 2 reasons.
1. better O line and less pressure
2. this will be run first and less pressure
My concern is that he’ll want to run it first when in a pinch and will continue to tend to take on too much himself to handle. This is where he usually gets injured.
If he could manage this delicate balance, He’ll do well. Problem is he hasn’t learned to after al these years and may not now.
We’ll see.