There's been a lot of talk at ESPN and elsewhere regarding the Philadelphia Eagles and who their starting quarterback is going to be heading into the coming season. I've read columns making a case for Michael Vick, Nick Foles, and Matt Barkley. Dennis Dixon hasn't even been ruled out in some of these articles. Well, I'll announce Chip Kelly's decision right here and now - barring an injury, Michael Vick is going to be the starting quarterback heading into the season.
This is Vick's last chance with the Eagles. He was signed for one year and nearly $8 million. Former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly and his spread-option offense came to Philly so the team could experiment, take a different path, and also to see what he could do with the explosive, yet risky Vick. If the veteran Pro-Bowl quarterback doesn't produce and the team isn't contending for a playoff spot toward the middle to latter portion of the season, expect 2nd-year quarterback Nick Foles and rookie Matt Barkley to receive some reps, with Dennis Dixon perhaps coming in for spread-option plays.
Vick may not be starting for the team at the end of the season, but I'd be hard-pressed to think, unless he's injured, that he and his $8 million contract won't be starting heading into it. Dixon has been a backup his entire career. He is capable coming off the bench, but is the likely 4th stringer in my mind. Barkley, being a rookie, probably won't be the starter either. If he impresses coaches pre-season, he could see some playing time later in the season, but it's highly unlikely he'll be the starter either. So, in the end, I think it comes down to Vick and Foles, and while Foles may have shown some potential last year, Vick is a much more ideal quarterback for Kelly's system and I have a hunch the coaches are placing more hope in Barkley being the team's quarterback of the future than Foles. But while Foles and Barkley may be disappointed by the coach's decision, they'll need to be prepared each and every game. While Vick has improved some since coming to Philly on avoiding contact when running, it'll likely be difficult for him to avoid some big hits running the spread-option with any regularity, and the odds of him coming out with at least a brief injury early in the season are at about 1 : 2.
This is Vick's last chance with the Eagles. He was signed for one year and nearly $8 million. Former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly and his spread-option offense came to Philly so the team could experiment, take a different path, and also to see what he could do with the explosive, yet risky Vick. If the veteran Pro-Bowl quarterback doesn't produce and the team isn't contending for a playoff spot toward the middle to latter portion of the season, expect 2nd-year quarterback Nick Foles and rookie Matt Barkley to receive some reps, with Dennis Dixon perhaps coming in for spread-option plays.
Vick may not be starting for the team at the end of the season, but I'd be hard-pressed to think, unless he's injured, that he and his $8 million contract won't be starting heading into it. Dixon has been a backup his entire career. He is capable coming off the bench, but is the likely 4th stringer in my mind. Barkley, being a rookie, probably won't be the starter either. If he impresses coaches pre-season, he could see some playing time later in the season, but it's highly unlikely he'll be the starter either. So, in the end, I think it comes down to Vick and Foles, and while Foles may have shown some potential last year, Vick is a much more ideal quarterback for Kelly's system and I have a hunch the coaches are placing more hope in Barkley being the team's quarterback of the future than Foles. But while Foles and Barkley may be disappointed by the coach's decision, they'll need to be prepared each and every game. While Vick has improved some since coming to Philly on avoiding contact when running, it'll likely be difficult for him to avoid some big hits running the spread-option with any regularity, and the odds of him coming out with at least a brief injury early in the season are at about 1 : 2.
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