Notes on Nick: Foles concerning in SNF blowout of Giants
By Tim Kelly
Despite getting a blowout 27-0 win on a national stage, more alarming trends from Nick Foles continue to outshine the Eagles’ 5-1 record. Here are my in-game notes from Foles’ performance against the Giants.
While they didn’t end up scoring a touchdown on the first drive, Foles was 4/5 for 31 yards and the Eagles moved the ball extremely efficiently. Amazing what happens to the passing game when Shady has a nice drive.
The first time the Eagles lined up in a two tight-end set and threw the ball, Brent Celek had a 24 yard catch. No one would be opposed to seeing more sets like that, because the Eagles can throw to Ertz or Celek, or use them as decoys to run or go to another receiver.
The next drive, after a nice run from Shady, Foles hit a wide-open James Casey en route to his second touchdown pass of the night. The running game got opened up early tonight, and when Chip finds a way to use all three tight-ends, this offense is scary.
On third and five, Foles wasn’t able to run for the first down, but it was the right move for him to tuck it and try to run. The pocket collapsed, he had a hole and Jason Pierre-Paul made a great tackle. Also a nice job from Foles to brace from the contact to the ground and avoid a repeat of last week’s costly fumble.
Notice a trend on Foles interceptions? Bad footwork, and the pocket collapsing. His second quarter pick was a case of him looking down the receiver and making it easy for Antrel Rolle. Sometimes he needs to learn to not try to get out of the pocket or make something where there isn’t anything, and just fall down the way that Peyton Manning does.
While the offense stalling in the redzone on a Foles pick and then doing nothing with another chance to get the ball back before half kind of killed my vibe, Foles probably played his best first-half of the year today. He was 14/22 with 177 yards and two touchdowns. Obviously, he did throw one pick.
It’s funny, I think Foles is better off just tacking sacks now, rather than trying to extend the play. By taking sacks, I don’t mean getting what I call “lava feet” and dropping back 10 yards before taking a sack. I mean falling down and living to see another play rather than extending it and throwing interceptions. Last year and early this year, I wanted him to be able to extend it to the right a little bit and either make a play or throw it away. It turns out, that might lead to more turnovers.
Foles wasn’t gunshy on the drive immediately after his second interception, but the Giants also looked defeated after Cruz’s injury.
The fourth quarter was kind of a blur because of the Sproles injury and because of how badly the Eagles were blowing the Giants out. What is worth noting is that after tonight, Foles leads the NFL in turnovers with 10, seven of which are picks. We all knew Foles wasn’t going to be flawless how he was last year, and even wanted him to take some more downfield shots, but he has been far too inconsistent thus far. He needs to find some middle ground.
Foles finished the night 21/34 with 248 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. After a fast start, those numbers aren’t exactly mind-blowing for Nicky Franchise. That said, the offensive line gelling and McCoy getting going probably means good things to come for the offense as a whole. Hopefully, Foles can regroup during the bye-week and get hot in the “second-half” of the year and into the playoffs.
Stay tuned as more post-game reactions pour in…..