Wagoner & others: Is Nick Foles the answer at QB for Rams?

NFC West Q&A: Is Nick Foles the answer at QB for Rams?

By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/118858/nfc-west-qa-is-nick-foles-the-answer-at-qb-for-the-rams

Today’s question: One thing holding the St. Louis Rams back has been the quarterback position. Is Nick Foles the type of QB capable of helping them get over the hump?

Josh Weinfuss, Arizona Cardinals: This is another one-word answer: Nope. Here’s the thing about NFL quarterbacks: They’re all good. They wouldn’t have a job or continue to sign contracts if they weren’t. Here’s the other thing about NFL quarterbacks: Some aren’t as good as others. And Foles fits into that category. I’m most interested to see how he fits into Frank Cignetti’s offense. If Foles struggles early, it’ll be clear he was a system quarterback in Philadelphia. He had some success in the Philadelphia Eagles’ system against the Cardinals, going 1-1 the past two seasons. He was 21-for-34 for 237 yards and three TDs in a 24-21 win in 2013. Last season, Foles threw 62 times against the Cardinals, completing 36 passes for 411 yards. But he had two TDs and two interceptions in a 24-20 loss. He had help with the Eagles — with LeSean McCoy, Darren Sproles and Jeremy Maclin among others — he won’t have that kind of help in St. Louis.

Paul Gutierrez, San Francisco 49ers: Not against the 49ers. At least, not necessarily. Look, the Niners have faced Foles only once in his career and they made him look downright mediocre in a game his previous team, the Eagles, should have won last season. Foles had a passer rating of just 42.3 in throwing more incompletions (22) than completions (21) while getting picked off twice in a 26-21 Niners victory at Levi’s Stadium. Foles only played in eight games last year and has never started in more than 10 in any of his three seasons. There is obviously an allure to his measurables, but unless the Rams are going to give him a receiving corps reminiscent of The Greatest Show On Turf, how is he an upgrade from Sam Bradford, who also has a hard time staying healthy and on the field? Bradford, at least, went 2-2-1 against the Niners while compiling an 88.8 passer rating in those five games. Then again, for the Rams to get over the hump, they need to beat the Seahawks, and Foles has never faced the Legion Of Boom.

Terry Blount, Seattle Seahawks: I may be in the minority on this one, but I think this was a great trade for the Rams. Even if Bradford comes back 100 percent healthy, it was time for St. Louis to cut ties and move on with someone who brings a different style of play. Frankly, I just don’t get why Philadelphia coach Chip Kelly wanted to let Foles go. The Eagles were 6-2 with Foles last season and 4-4 without him. Yes, Foles throws too many interceptions, but now he has former NFL QBs Jeff Garcia and Chris Weinke to coach him and help eliminate some of those mistakes. At 6-foot-6, 245 pounds, Foles is a huge physical presence in the backfield and now he has gifted rookie running back Todd Gurley back there with him, when Gurley returns from ACL surgery. Time will tell, but I believe the Rams got the better end of the deal