Arizona's Nick Foles proving to be NFL-caliber quarterback
by Dan Kadar on Sep 20, 2010 1:56 PM EDT
in 2011 NFL Draft
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This season, the buzz about quarterbacks eligible for the 2011 NFL Draft has been thus:
- Washington's Jake Locker has been disappointing but full of upside.
- Florida State's Christian Ponder is steady but may not have a top-10 ceiling.
- Arkansas' Ryan Mallett is loaded with talent but lacks some technique.
- Stanford's Andrew Luck has a lot of intrigue and technical prowess, but has been spotty.
Then, there's Arizona junior quarterback Nick Foles. Leading up to the Wildcats' Saturday night matchup with Iowa, the buzz on Foles this season was minimal after playing lowly Toledo and the Citadel.
After dismantling Iowa with 303 yards passing and two touchdowns, the buzz on Foles is that of an angry swarm of bees.
Foles' career wasn't always this hot. He was a three-star recruit in high school before verbally committing to Arizona State. Eventually ending up at Michigan State, Foles transferred to Arizona following his freshman season and redshirted in 2008.
He started the final 10 games of the 2009 season for Arizona, leading the team to an 8-5 record and an appearance in the Holiday Bowl. On the year, he had 2,486 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
This season, Foles is second in the nation in completion percentage at 78.5. In regard to player analysis, though, stats can be wildly deceiving.
As a prospect, the first thing you notice about Foles is his size. It's an impressive 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds. Then there's his arm strength. He showed last season – and against Iowa – that he can fit the ball into tight windows and complete passes outside the hash. His throwing motion is a quick, over-the-ear snap.
One big issue on Foles is that he comes from a spread offense. It may take him some extra coaching to learn his drops while reading a defense. Foles' footwork is also still developing. He needs to do better transitioning his weight as he throws the ball.
He also has to consistently get his feet pointing to where he's throwing the ball. It's improved this year, but not as good as it needs to be. The footwork issues also lead to balance issues in the past. Balance issues ultimately lead to accuracy issues and interceptions – of which Foles has three this season.
The biggest drawback on Foles remains the footwork. It looked markedly improved in the Iowa game. Should it continue to be sound, there's no reason not to include Foles' name when talking about the top quarterbacks eligible for the 2011 NFL Draft.
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he looked good
They ran a good amount of plays from under center which will only help when he is evaluated!
Jon Dove, www.nflmocks.com
You know
I loves me some Foles. His decision making is getting really strong.
You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.
I was pimping Foles hard coming into that game
I’m glad he didn’t disappoint.
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
It's a good feeling
Plus who wants to be wrong on the internet. lol
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
Sadly, I’m wrong here on an almost daily basis. You get used to it!
Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.
Man
I’ve been wrong more than I care to remember. I was convinced Orapko was to soft. Just a recent one that jumps out at me.
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
I didn't enjoy that game
though that had a lot more to do with the Iowa STs than Foles.
Choke/Clutch is the fetishization of the small sample size.
"People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." -Isaac Asimov
by shake n bake on Sep 22, 2010 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
The end of that game was all Foles though.
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
that was a great drive
but they wouldn’t have been facing a game winning drive if they hadn’t gotten a punt blocked, allowed a return TD and had a pass bounce of a WRs hands right into a CBs for a pick6.
..was my point.
Choke/Clutch is the fetishization of the small sample size.
"People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." -Isaac Asimov
by shake n bake on Sep 22, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree with you
It’s just I feel Foles had a good night, and was absolutely money when it counted.
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
I thinks he's got talent
I dunno how successful he’ll be as a top pick.
He reminds me a bit of Matt Schaub. If Foles gets drafted not in round one, gets to sit around for a few years and then gets a starting job, he’ll be pretty good.
Or maybe a less hyped Kerry Collins coming out of college.
Toney Douglas
pretty much athleticism and size, and career path that I think he'll take.
bout it.
Toney Douglas
by FreeBradshaw on Sep 21, 2010 7:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Idk about your comparisons like Dan said but I will say I don't really have confidence he is good enough that he will be
more than a project QB or at least have to sit behind someone first.
Also I know he has eye sight issues but does anyone know how bad those are?
Lead organizer of the annual 7-round live mock draft at MtD and Moderator of MtD, AnaheimCalling, and Coltzilla.
I have stopped actively participating at Stampede Blue as a big section of their articles have regressed, and much of the overall community environment has also gone way down (if you have questions for me you can email me at colts.faithful@yahoo.com).
Many of us Colts fans are now at BRB, where we have a series of AFC South threads running throughout the season for fans of the Colts, Texans, Titans, and Jags. You can discuss those teams and almost anything else you want.
by TheAngelsColts on Sep 21, 2010 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions
For Collins
Tall, BIg armed QB who will never be great but a solid starter the more he gets a chance.
For Schaub, big tall strong armed QB who is well down the totem pole of QBs in his class, around a 3rd round pick, but shows that he’s better then that when he gets his chances.
I dunno peoples…did I compare them to Michael VIck? Marino? Montana? I dunno how this is such a reach.
Wasn’t meant to be a mirror image comparison, no QB is like any other QB.
Toney Douglas
by FreeBradshaw on Sep 21, 2010 7:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Well you didn't answer my question but maybe you just don't know which is fine.
Lead organizer of the annual 7-round live mock draft at MtD and Moderator of MtD, AnaheimCalling, and Coltzilla.
I have stopped actively participating at Stampede Blue as a big section of their articles have regressed, and much of the overall community environment has also gone way down (if you have questions for me you can email me at colts.faithful@yahoo.com).
Many of us Colts fans are now at BRB, where we have a series of AFC South threads running throughout the season for fans of the Colts, Texans, Titans, and Jags. You can discuss those teams and almost anything else you want.
by TheAngelsColts on Sep 21, 2010 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Foles
He does have arm strength but his deep ball is usually wobbly. I wouldnt draft him in the first 3 rounds and he seems destined for backup to 3rd stringer. Good college QB but seems like a nothing in the pros. Just my opinion.
Lightning quick release
above average accuracy, and amazing poise, and Pocket presence don’t count anymore?
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
I find it a huge surprise that Dan Persa hasn't been mentioned yet.
Guy’s been tearing it up so far and is said to be even better than Kafka. I wonder why he isn’t put in the same boat as Locker and Foles.
Proud supporter of a New York baseball team and a Boston football team. Yeah, deal with it!
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