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znModeratorNote: I moved the articles on Ayers to a new thread exclusively about Ayers.
znModeratorJim Thomas @jthom1
LB Akeem Ayers expected to agree on 2-year deal tonight with Rams.
Jim Thomas @jthom1
That was quick. Akeem Ayers has just signed that 2-year deal w/Rams.
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Nick Wagoner @nwagoner
Lots of familiarity in building with Akeem Ayers obviously though Jeff Fisher never coached him in TEN. Gregg Williams/Frank Bush did.
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St. Louis Rams @STLouisRams
#Rams make it official… Sign Akeem Ayers.
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Nick Wagoner @nwagoner
My pal @MikeReiss says Ayers shined as a pass rusher in sub packages. I’m sure Gregg Williams has plenty of plans for him in similar role.
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Myles Simmons @MylesASimmons
Ayers: “We’ve got a lot of young guys on defense, and a lot of talented guys … I wanted to be a part of a good team and a good defense.”
Ayers: “I have a lot of excitement just to be a part of this team, a part of this defense.”
znModeratorBut, he has genuine virtues as a starter. Including mobility and, apparently, a knack for late, clutch drives. (Sam was good then, too.)
It is true that for me anyway clutch drives count a lot. I would rather have an awkward up and down qb who comes through in the clutch than a smoothee who comes up short in the clutch.
Though one of the key points Cosell made is that he IS excellent as a ball control passing game when he does throw on rhythm and get the ball out, and that coaching should stress that.
Anyway, clutchness. It;s actually what finally sold me on Bradford. In terms of that, here’s an imperfect but interesting stat—-percentage of comeback wins/game winning drives. That is, percentage of total starts that are won in a 4th quarter comeback.
It’s imperfect because the REAL stat is percentage of wins in comeback situations. That is, how many does he lose, how many does he win. But no one keeps that stat. So this is as close as we get.
Foles, counting just 2013/14. 20 starts, 4 comebacks/gwd. 20%. Which isn’t too bad. Notably, 3 of them were in 2013, when their games were closer…partly due to qb play. 2 were close games against Washington and the Colts. What that suggests to me is that he has a short memory and can get up off the mat and deliver when the game counts. If THAT is true, and we see that in Rams games, then, I will be sold.
Some CW/GWD comparisons. Last 2 years only. A few qbs chosen at random.
Brady: 9 of 32 starts, 28%.
Rodgers: 3 of 25 starts, 12%
Luck: 5 of 32 starts, 15.6%
Wilson: 10 of 32 starts, 31.2%
Romo: 6 of 30 starts, 20%March 12, 2015 at 7:30 pm in reply to: DeMarco Murray expects to be an Eagle? … now, Murray IS an Eagle #20263znModeratorfrom off the net
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moklerman
From what I’ve read, McCoy basically wasn’t buying into Kelly’s system. While he is explosive and versatile, apparently he wasn’t aggressive enough consistently. Not hitting the hole like Kelly wanted putting the offense behind the sticks.
znModeratorA scout’s take on Nick Foles
By Nick Wagoner | ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The St. Louis Rams will officially introduce quarterback Nick Foles to the media at a press conference set for noon ET on Friday.
It’s probably a safe bet that there will be some gushing from coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead about their new quarterback. While Sam Bradford might be the player in the entire NFL with the most to prove, Foles has his share of doubters as well.
I shot an email to ESPN NFL Insider scout Matt Williamson, who is a former Cleveland Browns scout, asking him to give me a quick run down on Foles and what he brings to the table in St. Louis.
Here’s what he had to say:
“I am not a huge Foles fan, but he has some ability. He is a big passer who is a decent athlete with an above average arm. By looking at his TD/INT numbers from 2013, you would think he values and protects the football extremely well. He does show those traits at times, but Foles was also about the “luckiest” QB in the NFL in 2013. By that, I mean that KC Joyner has a QB Bad Decision Metric and in 2013, Foles made plenty of bad decisions/throws that he didn’t pay for with an INT or turnover.
In 2014, that started to even out in a big way. The Eagles Chip Kelly offense also wasn’t as unfamiliar to the rest of the league in 2014 and Foles didn’t have an awesome OL to protect him, as he did in 2013. During last season, his pocket presence/poise began to be a red flag and the pressure disrupted him and he perceived pressure that wasn’t there at times.”
Foles, of course, had a rough 2014 after a breakthrough 2013 in which many thought he was developing into a possible franchise answer in Philadelphia. He suffered a broken clavicle that limited him to eight games and he had his share of struggles, though the Eagles were 6-2 at the time of his injury.
As Williamson points out, one of the biggest questions for Foles will be how he can transition to the Rams offense. It’s unlikely the Rams are going to drastically alter what they do, which means Foles will be asked to be on target and on time with a lot of play action passes spun off the run game. Foles’ primary job will be to protect the ball and make good decisions. His career numbers indicate that hasn’t been a huge issue but as Williamson mentioned, there have been some notable warning signs.
Foles will also have to prove he can stay healthy for the entire season. His injury history is nowhere near what Bradford’s is but durability is going to be paramount if Foles hopes to evolve into a long-term solution in St. Louis.
znModeratorGuys, I’m getting old. But I do watch pre-season games. And I don’t really remember this Keenum guy. If a die hard Ram fan doesn’t remember him at all … does that mean he’s pretty forgettable?
They signed him after Bradford went down to be the 3rd qb, which remember was just a couple of weeks before the season, so he never took a snap I don’t think. He was probably mostly neck deep in the playbook.
the wiki on that –>
On August 31, 2014, Keenum was waived [by Houston] .to clear a roster space for recently acquired quarterback Ryan Mallett. He was claimed off waivers the next day by the St. Louis Rams. He was waived by the St. Louis Rams on October 28, 2014, in order to make room on the roster for newly acquired safety Mark Barron. He re-signed to the team’s practice squad on October 30.
On December 15, 2014, Keenum was signed off the Rams practice squad back to the Houston Texans. He filled a roster spot after starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick broke his left leg in a game against the Indianapolis Colts on December 14, 2014, and on December 21, 2014 he won his first NFL game beating the Baltimore Ravens 25-13. On December 28, 2014 he won a second consecutive game with the Texans against the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-17.
On March 11, 2015, Keenum was acquired from the Texans for a 7th-round pick in 2016
…znModeratorit’s pretty clear the team has a need for depth, though ends William Hayes and Eugene Sims both have experience moving inside.
Westbrooks too.
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znModeratorEzioAuditore
Eagles fan here. I hope the trade works out for both teams. I have to be honest, I was not a fan of the deal, and I think Chip Kelly got taken, so I hope he can make something out of Bradford’s talent. Just wanted to come by and share overall thoughts on Foles for having watched him every game he has played in the NFL.
ETC.
Some follow up.
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EzioAuditore
[in 2014] you could tell from the very first preseason game he just wasn’t the same Nick Foles. He just looked different and uncomfortable in the pocket.
If I had to guess, I’d say it was a combination of things. For one, I think it’s close to impossible to repeat his 2013 season, so maybe he tried too hard to be the same guy, and he became too mechanical instead of just going out and not thinking too much? That could be part of it. I also think the instability of the offensive line played a role as well. They played well for him at times, but it’s possible he didn’t trust them.
Nick Foles doesn’t have an impressive skill set. He has a quality arm, but not a rocket. He isn’t overly mobile, he has a slow delivery, and he isn’t smooth or fluid in his movements. Your jaw will never drop watching Nick Foles play football. So I’m thinking it’s also possible that he simply regressed to the mean after his amazing 2013, and maybe it was just one of those drop-off seasons that many players have.
I think just through experience alone, he’ll get better, so I’d tend to believe he’ll have a better season than 2014 going forward. But, I would never expect him to play like 2013 again. Everything went perfectly for him, including luck. He had several dropped INTs that season, which helped pad his 27-2 TD to INT ratio. He had the best offensive line in football that was healthy the entire season, the #1 rushing attack in football. 2014 didn’t play out as smoothly, and I think all the parts kind of affected each other. Nick Foles more than any of them.
March 12, 2015 at 2:21 pm in reply to: DeMarco Murray expects to be an Eagle? … now, Murray IS an Eagle #20231znModeratorAccording to stuff I read, it’s done. Murray signs with the Eagles. Posters saw it on NFL network.
znModeratorJim Thomas @jthom1
Akeem Ayers, the free-agent LB from New England, is currently at Rams Park on visit.
March 12, 2015 at 1:30 pm in reply to: DeMarco Murray expects to be an Eagle? … now, Murray IS an Eagle #20220znModeratorDeMarco Murray plans to sign with the Eagles
by Michael David Smith
If all goes as planned, DeMarco Murray will be an Eagle by the end of the day.
That’s the word from Adam Schefter of ESPN, who says that not only is Murray visiting Philadelphia today, but he is expecting to sign a contract with the Eagles.
The Cowboys and Murray have been in talks, and other teams including the Raiders and Jaguars have shown interest as well, but from all indications Murray wants to go to Philadelphia. He thinks he can win there, he thinks he’s a fit in the offense, and he’s close friends with Sam Bradford, the quarterback the Eagles just acquired in a trade with the Rams.
Murray is the reigning NFL rushing leader and Offensive Player of the Year, and he’s arguably the best free agent still available, two days into free agency. Adding him would give a major boost to Chip Kelly’s offense, and alleviate some concerns among Eagles fans that Kelly doesn’t have a plan in place.
Clearing cap space to acquire Murray certainly qualifies as a plan. Whether it’s a winning plan remains to be seen.
znModeratorfrom off the net
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SunTzu_vs_Camus
I think Bradford has 2x the passing skillset of Foles…and I wish Sam well.
This feels awful lot like Warner vs Bulger. Warner was NOT playing well and Bulger was playing better.
It hurt cutting Warner but it made sense. Same with Bradford.
Rams moved on…so we fans move on.Bradford was nails in the pocket and threw a strong ball….but very stiff when moving around
tho he threw very well…he was so stiff.I think Foles may have better pocket intangibles & mobilty that may help…and may hurt sometimes.
Foles can get jumpy feet and lose ALL mechanics but contort
his body to make the crazy-Favre side arm throw. I like that competitve part of Foles gave – that never gives up on a play
…but sometimes ya need to!! We’ll get some great plays from Foles…and some stinkers – like those 3 punts he threw against our DBs that we couldn’t catch!! So, we need to draft jump ball specialists in this draft and re-sign Britt.Quick, Britt, KWhite would be extra safety for Foles who gets the ball out awkwardly and not always where it should be.
znModeratorSo is that a coachable thing?
w
vI listened to Cosell on it. From what I gathered? You have to coach him to get rid of the ball. You can’t improve his “release quickness” and you can’t improve his arm. You coach him to unload the ball and not take time on plays.
That was Cosell’s view.
He’s good when he unloads the ball.
Cosell didn’t say THIS but he’s good at play action.
So IMO that makes him a fit.
znModeratorWell, I’m not saying you’re wrong. I did see him hold the ball on some plays but it’s hard to know why he was holding the ball. Maybe no one was open so he was trying to extend the play. Watch the highlites against the Vikings again though. He did not get good protection in that game but he was able to feel the pressure and buy time with his legs. I did see him throw off his back foot which I didn’t like.
If you look at numbers…he is one of the worst in the league at getting rid of the ball. He has a high percentage both years of taking over 2.6 seconds to throw. Meaning, he ranks poorly v. everyone else both years.
That isn’t because receivers aren’t open, I submit, it’s because he’s not confident making tight laser throws to tight windows. He waits for something more.
He is much, much better as a qb when he just throws it quick (under 2.5 seconds). In fact when he does that, he is one of the top qbs in terms of completion percentage.
When I watched those highlights, I saw a guy who was slow to throw it. It worked in what we watched because those are highlights. BUT if you look at his completion percentage when he holds the ball, it’s actually bad.
Passes over 2.6 seconds, percentage of attempts
2013: 61.5% (5th most in the league)
2014: 51% (5th most in the league)Passing after 2.6 seconds or more, completion percentage
2013: 55.9% (15th in the league)
2014: 46.4% (38th in the league)Passing under 2.5 seconds, completion percentage
2013: 74.6% (3rd in the league)
2014: 73.4% (6th in the league)znModeratorBy the looks of things Foles must be used to poor pass protection. He rarely had a clean pocket to throw from in that video.
I say, look again.
The Eagles have one of the 2-3 best OLs in the league, and their sack percentage is low.
If you watch the plays again, it’s not that protection breaks down, it’s that Foles holds the ball. He takes too long to get plays off and has a slowish release on top of it.
Cosell made that point about him:
http://theramshuddle.com/topic/segment-6-howard-balzer-3-11-15/#post-20187
The key with Nick Foles is you have to define things for him. The longer he stays in the pocket, the worse he is and his arm strength declines…because he tends to throw off balance. So things need to be defined for him so the ball comes out.
znModeratorWell, it is a highlight reel. And there are probably lots of low-lights where he doesn’t do as well under pressure.
Still, he’s better than the 3 schlubs we’ve run out there the 2.6 years. By a good distance.
I agree with point #2. That’s pretty clear.
But I also see issues, even though these are highlights. That is, you combine a slow-ish release with a tendency to hold the ball.
According to Cosell that’s a flaw–he holds the ball and when he does, he loses his mechanics.
There’s a lot to still understand about his 2014 season. Here are some of the differences.
TD% inside the 10
2013: 47.6%
2014: 18%Accuracy on long passes, 31+ yards:
2013: 47.8%
2014: 19%TD%
2013: 8.5%
2014: 4.1%INT%
2013: 0.6%
2014: 3.2%QB rating:
2013: 119.2
2014: 81.4znModerator@RapSheet:
Nick Fairley is on his way to visit the #Rams after spending yesterday with the #Bengals. Imagine that St. Louis D-Line…March 12, 2015 at 10:03 am in reply to: audio, 3-11-15 … Balzer, Greg Cosell, JT, Karraker, Miklasz, Martz #20180znModeratorI’ll be rooting for Sam just because he’s a nice human being who has had a lot of crap to deal with and is doing his best.
I’ll be rooting for Foles because he’s a nice human being,also with some stuff he’s dealt with and he plays for the Rams.
Sorry but that is NOT how it is done. You don’t talk that way about quarterbacks on a message board. On a message board, when you talk about quarterbacks, you post conflict-driven, soul-grinding divisive messages of hate capable of demoralizing all readers and leaving them feeling hopeless about mankind’s prospects on this planet.
That’s just how it’s done.
Oh, and…have a nice day.
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znModerator2015 NFL Veteran Combine Participants
(subject to change)
Full Name Position College
Armstrong, Matt C Grand Valley State
Carter, Sherman C Tennessee State
Foster, Jason C Rhode Island
Gallington, Deveric C Texas Tech
Golic, Mike C Notre Dame
Gottschalk, Ben C Southern Methodist
Pocic, Graham C Illinois
Van Roten, Greg C Pennsylvania
Berry, Aaron CB Pittsburgh
Burton, Brandon CB Utah
Carr, Deveron CB Arizona State
Edwards, Kip CB Missouri
Lee, Saeed CB Alabama State
Love, Jordan CB Towson
Lyn, Keon CB Syracuse
Patrick, Johnny CB Louisville
Posey, Julian CB Ohio
Reid, Greg CB Valdosta State
Sullen, Jordan CB Tulane
White, Ryan CB Auburn
Anderson, Jamaal DE Arkansas
Brown, Sammy DE Houston
Carriker, Adam DE Nebraska
Cox, Rakim DE Villanova
Mims, Tevin DE South Florida
Paulhill, Shahid DE Temple
Rayford, Caesar DE Washington
Roh, Craig DE Michigan
Sam, Michael DE Missouri
Black, Larry DT Indiana
Collins, Nate DT Virginia
Forston, Marcus DT Miami
Harris, DaJohn DT Southern California
Jerideau, Byron DT South Carolina
Minter, Zach DT Montana State
Thompson, Everrette DT Washington
Troup, Torell DT Central Florida
Moore, Dan FB Montana
Pryor, Lonnie FB Florida State
Unga, Harvey FB Brigham Young
Dominguez, Ray G Arkansas
Goodin, Stephen G Nebraska-Kearney
Huey, Michael G Texas
Morris, Darius G Temple
Wells, Justin G St. Augustine’s
White, Ian G Boston College
Baker, Chris LB East Carolina
Copeland, Brandon LB Pennsylvania
Divitto, Steele LB Boston College
Doughty, Jake LB Utah State
Dowtin, Marcus LB North Alabama
Drakeford, Darin LB Maryland
Fox, Dan LB Notre Dame
Glaud, Ka’Lial LB Rutgers
Keiser, Thomas LB Stanford
Kimbrough, Jeremy LB Appalachian State
Lutrus, Scott LB Connecticut
Rolle, Brian LB Ohio State
So’oto, Vic LB Brigham Young
Steward, Phillip LB Houston
Miller, Jordan NT Southern U.
Johnson, Jerrod QB Texas A&M
Kafka, Mike QB Northwestern
Kay, Brendon QB Cincinnati
Price, Keith QB Washington
Robinson, Zac QB Oklahoma State
Thomas, Darron QB Oregon
Wilson, Tyler QB Arkansas
Bush, Michael RB Louisville
Hampton, Jewel RB Southern Illinois
Hines, Quentin RB Akron
Jones, Felix RB Arkansas
LeShoure, Mikel RB Illinois
Scott, Da’Rel RB Maryland
Wood, Cierre RB Notre Dame
Mcmillian, Jerron S Maine
Mitchell, Charles S Mississippi State
Owusu-Ansah, Akwasi S Indiana, Pa.
Sebetic, Kyle S Dayton
Silva, Mana S Hawaii
Starling, Jawanza S Southern California
Young, Joe S Rutgers
Aladenoye, Josh T Illinois State
Breckner, Jack T Gustavus Adolphus
Foketi, Manase T West Texas A&M
Harris, Randall T Towson
Childers, Jamie TE Coastal Carolina
Momah, Ifeanyi TE Boston College
Ogbuehi, Emmanuel TE Georgia State
Veldman, Matt TE North Dakota State
Walker, Dallas TE Western Michigan
Waters, Eric TE Missouri
Adams, Joe WR Arkansas
Anderson, Joe WR Texas Southern
Gadsden, Ben WR Miami
Jean, Lestar WR Florida Atlantic
Johnson, Darius WR Southern Methodist
Kurihara, Tukashi WR No College
Mayo, Thomas WR California, Pa.
Mitchell, Carlton WR South Florida
Slaughter, Nathan WR West Texas A&M
Steelman, Trent WR Army
Williams, LaQuan WR MarylandMarch 12, 2015 at 9:43 am in reply to: reporters on the trade (Wagoner, Thomas, Clayton, King, & many more) #20172znModeratorAdam Schefter discusses Chip Kelly’s comments that Philadelphia plans to move forward with Sam Bradford as the team’s starting quarterback and the Eagles are not planning to draft QB Marcus Mariota.
March 12, 2015 at 9:07 am in reply to: audio, 3-11-15 … Balzer, Greg Cosell, JT, Karraker, Miklasz, Martz #20168znModeratorHow about, defenses started learning his skills and chips offense. They took away the number one options and what Foles did best. Therefore he had to depend on the plan B and his secondary skills. This caused a performance drop.
His play in 4 games (games 4-7) fell off enough for the Eagles to sour on him during the season, which is why they were shopping him before the trade even became a possibility. http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2014/11/eagles_started_to_sour_on_nick_foles_before_his_injury.html Those 4 games his avg. qb rating is around 71 and he throws 7 INTs. Fortunately for them they also ran for 480 yards in that same 4 game stretch.
Looking at it realistically, there’s something to account for there. What happened, what percentage of it was him and not circumstances, what percentage of it wasn’t him, can it be fixed, how and why? One thing I notice…those 4 games include 3 against the NFC west (SF, Rams, ARZ).
But then Cosell says this, and he could be right:
I think Foles can be a quality NFL starting quarterback. He throws the ball well. He’s a big kid. He has some movement within the pocket. The key with Nick Foles is you have to define things for him.
March 12, 2015 at 3:59 am in reply to: audio, 3-11-15 … Balzer, Greg Cosell, JT, Karraker, Miklasz, Martz #20165znModeratorCOSELL
The longer he stays in the pocket, the worse he is and his arm strength declines…because he tends to throw off balance. So things need to be defined for him so the ball comes out.
I think the accuracy is good. It obviously declines the more there’s people around him. I think that’s a critical thing that needs to be worked on.
he was a little slow getting the ball out. But I don’t think there’s any issue at all with toughness
I looked at some PFF numbers, and it backs what Cosell says.
On getting rid of the ball.
In 2013, when he got rid of the ball quickly he did well. When he held the ball he did less well. The problem is–he held the ball more than he didn’t. In 2013 he held the ball more than 2.6 seconds 61.5% of the time–5th most in the league. But when he did, he only hit on 55.9% of his passes–15th best in the league. When he threw the ball under 2.5 seconds, he hit on 74.6% of his passes–3rd best in the league.
In 2014 he held the ball more than 2.6 seconds 51% of the time–5th most in the league. But when he did, he only hit on 46.4% of his passes–38th out of 39 qbs. When he threw the ball under 2.5 seconds, he hit on 73.4% of his passes–6th best in the league.
In his OL and being sacked. The issue in 2014 I think was not the line collapsing, it was just the line being LESS good than 2013.
So in 2013, he is sacked at a higher rate, though under pressure a bit less. Either way he performs better in 2013 than 2014 while being under pressure less–even though he is sacked more in terms of percentage of plays in 2013.
The key stats in 2013 for this are:
ranked 18 of 41 qbs in completion percentage under pressure
7 of 41 in accuracy percentage under pressure
14 in percentage of pass plays under pressure…that is 14th least
35 in sack percentage under pressure (he was sacked 22.5% of the times he threw under pressure)
1st in INTs thrown under pressure (meaning, least INTs…it’s zero)
2014:
36 of 39 in completion percentage under pressure
37 of 39 in accuracy percentage under pressure
20 in percentage of plays under pressure
1st in sack percentage under pressure (that is he was sacked just 8% of the times he threw under pressure, which was the lowest percentage in the league.)
21 in INTs thrown under pressure (he threw 5)
So in 2014, he is pressured less, sacked less, yet throws more INTs and is less accurate.
That doesn’t sound like a heavy OL breakdown to me…instead, it sounds like the 2014 Eagles OL was just less good than the 2013 and the result was he reacted differently, in comparison to the luxury of having a GREAT OL in 2013. The way Cosell put it, his mechanics get screwy.
Yeah he has to get the ball out quick. He can’t be standing back there trying to make plays when things break down. He doesn’t have a quick release, but he can get it out quick enough.
March 12, 2015 at 3:06 am in reply to: audio, 3-11-15 … Balzer, Greg Cosell, JT, Karraker, Miklasz, Martz #20164znModeratorMartz likes Foles. Loves our WRs. He believes in a GOOD offensive line, it makes the whole team better. (one of my precepts)
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from off the net
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waterfield
Heard Martz, and he talked about how extremely important it is for any team to stabilize the O line. He said Bradford suffered from the injured Ram O line and so will Foles unless its fixed. Said the O line is the single most important part of any football team and that most NFL teams, including the Rams, have great wide receivers, but many don’t have the O line to protect the qb. He said it’s a passing game now and the qb needs protection . Believes Bradford has more talent than Foles but that neither the Eagle O line nor the Ram O line will allow either to reach their potential. Says Foles is a good qb and Bradford could be a great qb and both could take the team to the SB if they had a good O line.
znModeratorfrom off the net
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EzioAuditore
Eagles fan here. I hope the trade works out for both teams. I have to be honest, I was not a fan of the deal, and I think Chip Kelly got taken, so I hope he can make something out of Bradford’s talent. Just wanted to come by and share overall thoughts on Foles for having watched him every game he has played in the NFL.
To give you an opinion on Foles, it has to be broken down by years, because the contrast in his three NFL seasons(specifically 2013 and 2014) are so great. He looked like a completely different QB in both seasons.
I’ll start with 2013, because 2012 was a disastrous season under Andy Reid, and he only came in because of horrible circumstances. He played okay. He played like you’d expect a rookie to play like.
2013 was a special year for Nick Foles. He was accurate, decisive, poised, confident. Showed excellent accuracy and touch all over the field. He stepped up into the pocket, he was money on his down-the-field throws. He was very mechanically sound. He never lost confidence in himself, the offense, or his weapons, and that was a huge reason why he finished the season with only two INTs. He even showed some mobility, rushing for around 250 yards. The speed of the offense didn’t phase him, and there was nothing defense threw at him that he couldn’t handle. However, he had a game vs Dallas early in the season where he looked absolutely horrible. Some speculated he was concussed(although this was disputed). He just looked like he didn’t belong on the field. So, how does he follow up that disastrous performance? Throwing for an NFL record 7 TD passes the following game in Oakland. Mental toughness is a pretty strong trait of Foles. That is where Foles’ season really took off. He had an incredible stretch through game #14 vs Minnesota, where the magic started to fizzle out just a tiny bit. But he was still plenty good, and led the Eagles to a playoff birth, and led his offense down to a game leading score against the Saints in the Wild Card round, before the defense let up a late FG.
2014 was a totally different story. From his first preseason game, he looked uncomfortable. Most Eagles fans chalked it up to offseason rust, but this continued into the regular season. Whenever the slightest bit of pressure got to him, he looked scared, flustered, and uncomfortable. He would backpedal and throw off his backfoot constantly. Looked overwhelmed many a time. Granted, the offensive line had taken many injuries, but they actually protected him pretty well for the most part. He had some games here and there(like against the Redskins) where he took a lot of hits. Nick Foles’ decision-making also took a major hit. He completely missed wide open receivers, made the wrong reads, and forced throws unnecessarily. He had many of those “What in the hell was he thinking?!” throws, to which he had very few, if any, in 2013. Turnovers went way up. Before he got hurt, he was hovering around the NFL lead. Foles still showed signs of quality play, he was just very inconsistent. His best and most impressive game, surprisingly, was probably the home game against the Redskins where he was battered to a pulp. This brings up one of Foles’ best qualities: toughness. It’s odd, because while he did not handle a pass rush well in 2014, when he did get hit, he would get right up and gut it out. He did that, up until the Houston Texans game where he broke his collarbone and it ended his season.
Foles has always displayed that clutch factor. Foles can play a very poor game, but strap it in, in the 4th quarter and lead his team down for a critical score. He has a cool, calm demeanor and you never see a guy who gets mentally phased out of a game. So, which one is the real Foles? Logic would have one assume somewhere in the middle. I hope closer to 2013 on the scale, since I like Nick and want to see him succeed in the NFL for a long time. I think building his confidence early is key for him in 2015, so he can forget about 2014 and get back to a high level of play again. Having top notch pass protection will be key for the Rams in this regard.
Other:
-Foles has a pretty slow delivery on his passes.
-He has been injured a few times in his career already so far.
-His arm is stronger than people give him credit for.
-Very good locker room guy. Class act. Respected by his teammates.
-Has a basketball background. While he looks very clumsy and oafy at times, he is a half decent athlete for a guy his size.
-Has a pretty wealthy family. Isn’t one of those “I need to break the bank to support my family” guys. Not sure that will ever impact contract negotiations, but a random factoid nonetheless.
znModeratorFresh start in Philly: Bradford not looking back
By Jim Thomas
As quickly as you can say ”traded to Philadelphia,” Sam Bradford is moving on. The Eagles’ new quarterback had nary a discouraging word for his former employees — the Rams — during an introductory news conference Wednesday afternoon in the City of Brotherly Love.
“I’m not gonna sit here and make excuses for the way things are,” Bradford told reporters gathered at the Eagles’ facility. “I’m just excited to be here. I look at the opportunity — I think it’s a great one.
“I’m looking forward to the fresh start, and I can’t wait to get back up here and just spend time with coach (Chip) Kelly and to really dive into this offense.”
When asked about the woes in St. Louis, where the Rams haven’t had a winning season since 2003, Bradford said: “I’m not really sure how to answer that. I think the key to any successful organization is stability, regardless of whether that’s professional sports, business, whatever that is. And that’s something that we just didn’t have a lot of in St. Louis. But I think there’s a lot of other reasons that things have gone the way they have.”
He didn’t elaborate. Bradford said he had no regrets about his injury-plagued five seasons with the Rams, but like many players would’ve liked to have started and finished his career in the same place.
“I think any player, when you come into this league, everyone has the dream of playing 12, 15 years — whatever it is — with the club that brought you into the league,” he said.
“But if it’s not in St. Louis, I think this is the one place a quarterback would want to be. This is where I want to be, I’m an Eagle, and I can’t wait to start this journey.”
Instead of characterizing Tuesday’s trade for fellow quarterback Nick Foles as a matter of the Rams giving up on him, Bradford said he looked at it as a case of the Eagles wanting him.
(Wanting him badly enough to give up Foles, a fourth-round pick this year, and a second-round pick in 2016. The Eagles get Bradford and a 2015 fifth-round pick from the Rams. Philly could get an additional third- or fourth-round pick from St. Louis in 2016 depending on Bradford’s health and playing time this coming season.)
“I think what happened kinda is the Eagles wanted me, they pursued me, and they got me in this building,” Bradford said. “I’m happy to be an Eagle and I’m ready to get to work.’
Bradford said he first realized a trade might be a possibility three or four weeks ago, or just around the time of the NFL Scouting Combine. It was there that Rams coach Jeff Fisher called trade rumors involving Bradford “inaccurate.”
Fisher also said then: “We’ve talked about what our plans are. … We’re counting on (Bradford). I’m betting on him.”
It appeared that a tipping point might have been the Rams’ insistence that Bradford take a pay cut. And the refusal by Bradford and agent Tom Condon to do so.
At that point if you’re Bradford, why take a pay cut and risk the possibility of still getting traded? Bradford wanted to stay in St. Louis, and in theory by agreeing to a pay cut it might have made him easier to trade.
In a separate media session Wednesday, Kelly made it very clear how much he wanted Bradford.
“I think he’s got an outstanding skill-set,” Kelly told Philadelphia reporters. “He’s a big, tall, strong, physical quarterback. … He’s smart. He’s intelligent. He’s one of the most accurate throwers when you see him throw the football. I think he’s wired right.
“We got some inside information, because Pat Shurmur had the opportunity to coach the kid for a year. So he knows what he’s like in the meeting room. He knows what he’s like on a daily basis. He knows the consistency that comes with him. He understands his work ethic.”
Shurmur, the Eagles’ offensive coordinator, had the same position with the Rams in 2010 when Bradford was named the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year.
“When Pat was in St. Louis we had a great relationship,” Bradford said. “It was great to see him here (Wednesday). You know I look forward to continuing that relationship with Pat.”
Kelly said the Eagles did their due diligence in terms of Bradford’s injury history, which include a pair of season-ending knee injuries in 2013 and 2014, and came away convinced that pursuing Bradford was worth the risk.
“There were times when we didn’t think there was ever gonna be anything done at all (as far as the trade),” Kelly said. “But we wouldn’t have traded for him if we didn’t think he had a tremendous upside at quarterback.’
Kelly then volunteered: “I was offered a first-round pick for him this morning. From another team.”
Maybe that unnamed teams should’ve been the squad the Rams talked to about trading Bradford.
Except for prepared statements from Fisher and owner Stan Kroenke (who hasn’t actually talked to the St. Louis media in more than three years), the Rams have yet to comment on the Bradford trade.
That should change Friday, at least in terms of Fisher, when the Rams have scheduled an 11 a.m. introductory news conference for Foles.
RAM-BLINGS
The Rams’ re-signing of tight end Lance Kendricks is official. His four-year, $18.5 million contract includes $6.5 million of guaranteed money. Up to $10 million total can be guaranteed as the contract progresses.
• The trade for Houston quarterback Case Keenum, a player the Rams’ cut last season, also has been finalized. The Rams give Houston a seventh-round draft pick in 2016.
• The Rams are getting closer to re-signing wide receiver Kenny Britt, but as of Wednesday night there was no deal.
znModeratorMike Garafolo @MikeGarafolo
C Stefen Wisniewski headed to Seattle for a visit. Seahawks dealt Max Unger yesterday as part of a trade. You might’ve heard about it.
znModeratorfrom off the net
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shovelpass
I’ve heard some refer to Kendricks as a “backup.” He started 15 games & played 60.6% of snaps. Jared Cook 67.0%, Cory Harkey 33.3%. And in some games he played more snaps than any TE, 75% against Washington.
His blocking is such an asset. He was matched up against Von Miller after he gave Barks fits and shut him down. He also an effective receiver, not a threat like Cook, but a solid option. He led the team in TD receptions, 5, not a milestone, but still no one else could top it. (note: 13% of his targets resulted in TDs, higher than any other Ram. With Cook it was 3.5%.)
I think his salary is a fair deal for us, and I expect him to continue to get better.
znModeratorfrom off the net
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PaddysPub
Wisniewski left TB without a contract. Set to visit Rams per this guy on twitter
Roy Cummings
@RCummingsTBO
will he visit St Louis? I believe that’s the next stop. Rams are interestedhe is the beat writer for the Bucs
znModeratorSam Bradford takes no shots at Rams on way out
By Nick Wagoner | ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Quarterback Sam Bradford took his first crack at handling the Philadelphia media as the Eagles introduced him at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
Bradford has never been much for media attention and in his time with the St. Louis Rams often avoided doing any more than the NFL media policy would dictate. And, of course, the media attention and scrutiny in St. Louis is far different from what he’ll now face. But, at least in his first try, Bradford handled everything about as well as could be expected.
In the 15 minutes or so he was on the dais (which can be seen here), Bradford fielded plenty of questions about his twice-torn left anterior cruciate ligament. He also fielded a few questions about how things in St. Louis ended.
It should come as no surprise that Bradford, who always carried himself as the consummate professional in St. Louis, had nothing bad to say about the organization that made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2010.
Asked if he felt like a lack of talent around him was the reason it didn’t work out in St. Louis, Bradford said that wasn’t the case.
“I’m not going to sit here and make excuses for the way things are,” Bradford said. “I’m just excited to be here. I look at the opportunity ahead of me and I think it’s a great one. I’m looking forward to the fresh start.”
Bradford was also asked if he felt like the Rams “gave up” on him.
“No, not at all,” Bradford said. “The way I look at it is the Eagles wanted me, they pursued me and they got me in this building. I’m happy to be an Eagle and I’m ready to get to work.”
Bradford did, however, offer some clarity on how long the trade had been in the works and where he stands from a health standpoint. Bradford said that he learned of a possible trade three or four weeks ago and that along the way multiple teams expressed interest.
That timeline would mostly match up with February’s NFL scouting combine, where news of the Rams shopping Bradford first came up. At the time, Rams general manager Les Snead and coach Jeff Fisher vehemently denied the rumors. Though it was clear the Rams might make a move if the right offer came along, they obviously were more eager to make something happen than they let on.
“This has been in the works for a while,” Bradford said. “So it didn’t catch me totally by surprise when it happened yesterday. I think any quarterback in this league would love to play for Chip in this offense.”
Around that same time, it also had become clear that taking a pay cut for the season was growing into a bigger point of contention between the two sides, though Bradford was not asked about that Wednesday.
Bradford didn’t reveal much else that anyone would consider revelatory in his time on the podium. He did express happiness that he’ll be reunited with offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur in Philadelphia.
In discussing the need for stability, Bradford said that’s one of the few things the Rams didn’t have in his five years. Right now, that’s also not something overly abundant with the Eagles unless you’re a former Oregon Duck.
“I think the key to any successful organization is stability, whether that’s professional sports, business, whatever it is,” Bradford said. “That’s something we didn’t have a lot of in St. Louis. But I think there’s a lot of other reasons that things have gone the way they have.”
Namely, his two consecutive ACL injuries. Bradford said he began a throwing program in St. Louis a few weeks ago and reiterated that he plans to be ready for training camp and he’s willing to compete for the starting job with Mark Sanchez.
Such is Bradford’s new lot in life. After a career in St. Louis that once held so much promise, Bradford said he can’t afford to spend time looking back on his time with the Rams.
“I wouldn’t say regret,” Bradford said of his time in St. Louis. “I think any player when you come into this league, everyone has the dream of playing 12, 15, whatever it is, that many years with the club that brought you into the league. But like I said, I think this is a great opportunity. If it’s not in St. Louis, I think this is the one place that a quarterback would want to be and this is where I want to be. I’m an Eagle now and I can’t wait to start this journey.”
znModeratorNote: X found this
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Oct 1, 2014
Fisher: Foles Has All Of The Tools
Rams head coach Jeff Fisher discussed the state of the Eagles’ run game, his team’s quarterback situation and what he’s seen this season from the Eagles’ quarterback Nick Foles …
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