Marty Says Nick's a Rookie No More
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Marty Says Nick's a Rookie No More
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Nick Foles has three starts behind him, and Eagles coach Andy Reid made it clear this week that Foles has at least four more starts ahead of him -- Reid announcing Foles will complete the season as the No. 1 QB, regardless of how Michael Vick's concussion recovery goes.
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said Thursday he expects, in the wake of Foles' strong performance last week at Dallas, steady progress.
Mornhinweg noted that the Bucs are tops in the NFL against the run, and they play a lot of man-to-man, bump-and-run pass coverage. They rank last against the pass. This might put more of a premium on Foles being able to connect downfield than in any of his previous starts.
"All this 'progressing' and all that, it's over now. No more 'rookies.' That's done. I expect him to play at a high level consistently," Mornhinweg said.
"He sure does some things just naturally. These are some great positives he's got. There are some details ... that we get those taken care of through hard work and preparation, that we'll be in great shape, and he'll be off and running."
An example of such a detail was a second-quarter bomb to Jeremy Maclin that didn't connect in Dallas.
"There was a few plays that all of our young guys, if we get 'em five more reps at those things, they're not going to miss 'em," Mornhinweg said. "That's where we're at there, with some things."
Mornhinweg said Foles " has done an outstanding job with managing the game, with recognition, presnap and postsnap."
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Special teams coordinator Bobby April said the 98-yard touchdown punt return late in Sunday's game by Damaris Johnson actually was a block attempt by the Eagles. The pressure led to a long, low punt, and Johnson was able to split two pairs of defenders and find a seam down the sideline.
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Marty Mornhinweg praised center Dallas Reynolds for playing well in Dallas despite an ankle injury that Mornhinweg had felt during the week would keep Reynolds out of the game.
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Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles said that dismissed defensive line coach Jim Washburn "was never a problem for me."
Bowles said he "found out when everybody else found out. I didn't have any input in that."
MM, Don't let the door hit you in the behind at the end of the season. Good Riddance. Maybe you can go back to Detroit.— usedtobefromphilly- Why is Foles NOT a rookie after just three games....Vick still plays like one and he is 32 yrs old?
— RealizticFan - I can't believe the offensive and defensive coordinators. They act like the Eagles haven't had an eight game losing streak and that the Eagles problems are not their fault anyway. In my view, both coordinators and the head coach are to blame for the lost season and they should all be fired.— BobSG
- Don't like what Marty said...here comes the sacks.— camasbud
- Good heavens! PLEASE don't let him try to coach this kid. Get rid of him before he ruins everything. How'd you like the first play of the Dallas game with Celek one on one with Ware?! Lucky Foles got up.
Freakin' IDIOTS. They're gonna get somebody killed. STOP THEM NOW!— drenner - Marty's statement was a rookie statement— Mortimer G Fingenfinderstein III
- Agree w/ camas. They are going to start throwing 50 times again. Enough is Enough! Why would Lurie let them risk that. Getting a really bad vibe he's not gonna fire Reid.— drenner
- drenner, don't sweat it. Philly.com idiots just dropped that"maybe Reid's staying" article because they only know how to sensationalize BS... that's easier then going out and finding something real to write about. Fat Andy is eating hoagies elsewhere next year. — Gray Areas
- I was basing my comment on the events of the last few weeks, not on any specific article. What's the point of all these firings but not MM if Reid is gone? Hope you are correct but it's the Eagles ya know? — drenner
- Morningweg is a dope....keep him far away from the rookie Foles...— jim35
- Agreed totally, Jim. — cm3737
- Foles will be fortunate when Marty leaves and he gets coached by a real coach....Marty is a joke...and a yes man for AR....— nuggett
Hey Marty, that is BS. He is a rookie still! It takes a full season and more. Stop with putting this pressure on him.— Kioto- Is there any bigger moron in pro football than Marty? So, when Foles throws and interception or makes a bad read, Marty can't come out and say it was a rookie mistake?
Andy should be fired just for having this guy on his coaching staff.
— Pat c - Foles is a rookie and Eagles need to treat him like one and deveolpe him otherwise he'll end up like Kolb. "Brain Damaged and gun shy"— Bruddah
