APIn his first national-stage appearance as the coach of the Eagles, Chip Kelly offered a warm endorsement of quarterback Nick Foles, but was something closer to tepid when asked about cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
Kelly’s glib, rapid-fire style (which included a Wedding Crashers reference) revealed no more than the more experienced coaches did. But he did say nothing faster than the old guard, a more efficient delivery of the stuff all these guys were dishing out.
Asked specifically if Foles could run the offense Kelly had at Oregon, the coach replied: “Yep.”
But as it pertains to last year’s second-round pick, Kelly defended the possibility of making him work, even though he might be more of a round peg going into a square hole. They brought back Michael Vick, as well as one of Kelly’s old Oregon guys Dennis Dixon, and Foles’ skills are not the same as those two.
“I want to coach Nick,” Kelly said. “I want to get a chance to spend time with him. I’ve said before, I’m a big fan of his, the way he plays the game, his toughness, his ability to throw the ball, very accurate. I want a chance to hopefully get him out on the practice field.”
When the conversation turned to the $15.5 million cornerback, Kelly’s terseness became more pronounced, after he declared he was more interested in what he saw on tape rather than the salary numbers.
“I think Nnamdi has a skillset, that can play football,” he said.
As testimonials go, it wasn’t quite like he was talking about Chazz Reinhold.
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And you were expecting him to slam Foles? Even if they don’t think he ‘works’ in their offense, why on earth would he kill any trade value he might have by saying it?
Kelly would be wise to at least take Foles into camp, as Foles is the best QB on the Eagles roster right now. I know, that’s not saying much.
Chip certainly isn’t riding the Straight Talk Express is he?
Foles was a third rounder. This was a story 3 days ago
Nick was a third round pick. We took lb Kendricks with our 2nd.
Damn, I have a skillset, that can play football and I’m commenting on profootballtalk. Nnamdi might as well retire and start his post football career after that endorsement.
I think he meant he had a skill-set, past tense.
3rd round*
Foles was last year’s 3rd round pick.
Except Foles was a third-rounder.
Just cut Nnamdi NOW, he is gawd awful!!
Foles was a third round pick
All these people who are campaigning in the comments section for their team to sign Nnamdi obviously haven’t seen him play the past 2 years. He’s 32 in July, he’s lost 2 steps & can’t run w/ receivers, and he whiffs on so many tackles you can’t even convert him to safety.
I hope he does go to Washington.
dccowboy says: Feb 22, 2013 8:25 AM
And you were expecting him to slam Foles? Even if they don’t think he ‘works’ in their offense, why on earth would he kill any trade value he might have by saying it?
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Exactly, Nick Foles has been a Kansas City Chief for the last month and a half, he just doesn’t know it yet. That’s one of the reasons Kelly took the job, he knew he had a a landing spot for Foles, who fits in his system like a right foot in a left shoe, filled with barbed wire.
“I think Nnamdi has a skillset, that can play football,”
“You shut your mouth sir, Nnamdi Asomugha is not a kook. He is a brave and decent man. He’s a pioneer!”
Foles will be the starting QB for the Eagles in 2013. Every real eagles fan knows this. If you think otherwise 1. you are not a fan of the eagles 2. you dont know anything about the QB position. Foles will dominate the QB competition the only thing he may have a problem with is obviously mobility and read option plays. I highly doubt Kelly will bench Foles lol.
I hope the Eagles do serve up Foles at QB but I can’t see how in the world he fits into that Oregon college offense.
Kelly had his opportunity to call out Asomugha for the underachieving, over paid player that he is but instead whiffed on the question like Asomugha on a tackle.
Add another qb to the mix take manuel in the 2nd..
How could we possibly know how good Foles is until he plays with a real off. line. Rookie QB comes in and plays with less than 3rd stringers. Come on, let’s be fair!
Kelly played Foles I’m college he knows he is a BUMMM but he’s a smart man he’s not going to say it publicly he wants value for him.
Foles is a statue and behind that line he’s IR bound and with a system like Chips he’s IR Bound or riding the pine. He is gone this year or next.
Not saying they run Oregons offense but a variation of the hurry up pistol read pass offense. He is ingenious at offensive schemes period he will find a way to make it work. Just don’t know if his Def can.