Nick: I expect to be back, expect to be the QB
Eagles coach Chip Kelly stiff-armed a question about how important it is to identify a franchise quarterback Monday, but Kelly spoke encouragingly of Nick Foles, saying Foles just needs to continue his improvement trajectory in the offseason.
Nick Foles spoke to reporters Monday for the first time since breaking his collarbone Nov. 2, and Foles left no doubt that he thinks he will quarterback the team in 2015.
"I expect to be here. I expect to be the quarterback," Foles said. He vowed to solve his problem with interceptions (10 in 7 1/4 games), and said: "I know how to make smart decisions."
Earlier, Eagles coach Chip Kelly stiff-armed a question about how important it is to identify a franchise quarterback, but Kelly spoke encouragingly of Foles, saying Foles just needs to continue his improvement trajectory in the offseason.
Though Kelly talked again of thoroughly reviewing the quarterback position, Foles would seem to be the most likely 2015 starter.
"They can bring in anybody they like," Foles said. "I'm going to compete."
"I don't look at it that way," Kelly said, when asked about finding a QB "you can hitch your wagon to."
"We're trying to indentify every single position we can hitch our wagon to," Kelly said. "Who's the outside linebacker we can hitch our wagon to? Who's the defensive lineman? Who's the free safety, who's the corner? .... We're going to evaluate every single position, we're going to evaluate everything we do schemewise and personnelwise, and see what we can do to improve this football team."
Kelly said Foles "just needs to continue to work. One thing I do not fault Nick (on) is (his) work ethic. He's been outstanding in that. I watched how he attacked his rehabilitation ... what he did every day. He's been outstanding from that standpoint. I think he's continuing to grow as a quarterback. I think that's part of the maturation process in this league ... you kind of almost need to do something, make that mistake and then learn from that mistake. That's the one thing I admire about Nick is, he processes things well, if he does make a mistake, rarely does he make the same mistake twice.
"I think he just needs to continue on the trajectory he's headed on right now."
Asked about the 2014 performance of Foles and Mark Sanchez, Kelly said: "I thought our quarterbacks, when you look at their rating, they played good football. At times, obviously, the turnover part of it hurt us ... I've never been on a team or coached a team that's had this many (36) turnovers."
Kelly endorsed defensive coordinator Bill Davis, after the Eagles led the NFL in pass plays surrendered of more than 20 yards: "I thought Billy did a really good job," he said. "I thought our defense improved in a lot of categories. There were things we needed to clean up," such as the X-plays, Kelly said, though he noted that the run defense improved dramatically.
Kelly seemed to indicate that while it's possible staffers will get offers for promotions elsewhere, he doesn't plan any staff changes."I really like our coaching staff. I think we get along really well. We've got a lot of good teachers here," Kelly said.
When asked about his relationship with general manager Howie Roseman, Kelly said: "Good." He said he wants wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and running back LeSean McCoy back, but "I don't know what's going to happen -- what if somebody gives us 17 first-round draft choices for LeSean?"
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