Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson said last month that he thinks the team’s quarterback competition is “kind of even.” But Jackson said today that if he has to predict, he thinks Michael Vick will beat out Nick Foles and be Philadelphia’s Week One starter.
Jackson said on ESPN First Take that he expects Vick to prove he’s the quarterback most prepared to help the Eagles win in Week One.
“In my opinion, honestly, I don’t want to be put on the spot,” Jackson said. “But Michael Vick’s got a lot of confidence in himself. He’s been there going on 12 years in the NFL, and I think he’ll get the job.”
Jackson added that “Nick Foles is a great, great talent,” and he acknowledged that he doesn’t know for sure what head coach Chip Kelly will do.
“I think Michael Vick will probably be the starter, but we still don’t know. I think Chip Kelly’s going to keep everybody honest,” Jackson said.
Jackson also suggested that Kelly will take advantage of what Vick does best, whereas Andy Reid’s offense limited Vick’s mobility.
“They tried to switch his playing skills up a little bit, try to sit back and just be a pocket passer,” Jackson said. “Michael Vick is a quarterback that uses his legs first and foremost. When things break down, that’s what he’s got to depend on. He can’t sit back there and just take hits. . . . To try to get a Michael Vick to stay in the pocket when things shut down, that’s hard to do.”
Kelly’s offense may prove to be the perfect fit for Vick.