Will Nick Foles be able to perform with the weight of the Eagles franchise on his back?
Super Bowl dreaming? The Ravens/49ers matchup certainly showed that very good quarterback play can get you to the big dance. Winning, well you need excellent play at quarterback and some. After Jacoby Jones’ 108 yard kickoff return the game looked as if it was over didn’t it? Then the gods of football said “NO” stepping in and shutting down momentum with a 30 minute power outage. Stepping up after the lights came on, San Frans second year quarterback Colin Kaepernick. With his legs and arm he brought back his team and came within a few yards of taking the lead as the game closed. A very good performance outshined by Joe Flacco’s MVP performance yes, but both clearly showed the importance of a quality quarterback.
Which brings us to the Eagles, who currently do not have such a quarterback on their roster. Nick Foles, Michael Vick or somebody else? This being one of the biggest decisions that Coach Chip Kelly will make and a decision that will define the season and season’s to come. Michael Vick would be a very unlikely choice as the starter and also unlikely to remain an Eagle. He is inaccurate as a passer and he is also unreliable as injury and 12 game seasons seem to be his normal.
Nick Foles, is young, has a strong-arm and still very unproven. The options other than Foles? The immediate talk after the Superbowl was San Frans Alex Smith, who has a good arm, is immobile and hasn’t won anything. An older version of Foles is pretty much what he is. If it is the draft you are thinking about, well forget it as an impact quarterback such as a Andrew Luck or RG III is not coming out this year.
So, the day after the Super Bowl we can begin to dream of next season and hope that the gods bless the Eagles. Health, luck, a good draft and a few good signings is what we need. As for the most important position quarterback, if we look at the Ravens and Joe Flacco, maybe Foles is the guy. It did take Flacco some time to win the big one. So if the Eagles make Foles the starter they will be also selling patience.