Reid: Backup QB competition open
It was one preseason game and only one quarter of play for each quarterback, but Nick Foles had a stronger 2012 debut than Mike Kafka.
Reid: Backup QB competition open
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
It was one preseason game and only one quarter of play for each quarterback, but Nick Foles had a stronger 2012 debut than Mike Kafka.
Kafka was facing the Steelers' second team defense and Foles their third stringers, so the compare the two reserve quarterbacks may not be an entirely fair enterprise. But, again, Foles looked stronger than Kafka, who could have a tenuous grip on the backup job to Michael Vick.
"Everything's open," Eagles coach Andy Reid said, repeating a mantra he's said many times before. "I keep it wide open at all positions. Whoever's playing the best is going to play. Keep it nice and simple that way."
Kafka completed 5 of 9 passes for 31 yards in a little less than a quarter of play. He tossed one dreadful interception when a pass rusher forced him to throw right into the arms of Steelers defensive end Al Woods, who ran 53 yards the other way.
"I've got to look at the tape and we'll see what we can do there for him," Reid said. "See where the mistakes were."
Kafka, entering his third season, opened training camp as the No. 2 quarterback. He may get bumped up briefly to the top spot after Michael Vick suffered a thumb contusion in the second quarter. Vick underwent an X-ray on the thumb but it came back negative, the Eagles said. Reid said that Vick could hold a football by the end of the game and the quarterback said he would be back by Saturday.
If not, Kafka could be running with the first team when the Eagles resume camp at Lehigh.
Eagles fans already took to Twitter to suggest that Foles supplant Kafka. The rookie out of Arizona had a fine debut. He completed 6 of 10 passes for 144 yard and threw two touchdown passes -- a 70-yarder to Damaris Johnson and a 44-yarder to Mardy Gilyard.
"I thought he did a pretty good job," Reid said. "The first couple of throws he got them out a little bit slow. He was a little bit hesitant. And then he picked it up and just went from there."
On the touchdown pass to Johnson, Foles bought time and found the receiver alone downfield.
"Keeping his eyes down the field on the one to Damaris -- that was a big-time play there," Reid said. "He got flushed to right and maintained his eyes downfield. That's something you're always trying to teach quarterbacks to do. Looked like it was very natural to him."
Trent Edwards, who took over for Foles in the fourth quarter, led the Eagles to their 24-23 comeback victory. He completed 12 of 20 passes for 106 yards and a score. Edwards, though, could be released soon with practice and game repetitions shrinking with each day.
"Kafka was facing the Steelers' third team defense and Foles their third stringers" Is that the same thing?— GreenWing- What ever happened to editing? Just hit the spell checker and send it off~~~~ — Beagle Fan
- Reid should have brought in another veteran besides Edwards. Giving Kafka the #2 was never going to work. You saw why again tonight.— SeenGreen
If we're gonna go down in flames with a backup. Let's do it with the Rookie who looks to have an arm to get the ball downfield.— Hazy- I "Everythings open," Why not give Edwards more of a shot. Kafka didn't show anything, and at least Edwards started in this league. You need a more vetern QB to backup Vick.— watsonmr
- Edwards is better than Kafka so is Foles. Foles is too green to start so move up Edwards and cut Kafka. Seriously, he couldn't even beat out Vince Young, who is TERRIBLE.
- i titally agree. i didnt like kafka last year and i dont think he is worthy of the #2 spot. Foles did spectacular last night even though it was against the 3rd stringers. make foles #2, edwards #3 and cut kafka or trade him for some draft pics.
- They'll keep Kafka, but at number two is a stretch. Foles gets more interesting as camp goes on. Maybe they can get Kolb back when he gets cut from Arizona.— bbohannon
- get rid of kafka id keep foles and edwards and let them battle it out to see who will be number 2. foles is the future though— defroe
- I'd say it's a bit early to hop on the Foles bandwagon. He did look good and Kafka didn't though. Keep the competition wide open (really, not just say it's wide open) and give Edwards more of a shot. I have a feeling though Edwards is out unless Kafka completely falls on his face. Foles is here to stay will likely be the #2 next year and #1 the following year - assuming he continues to improve. I don't think they have much invested in Kafka (except for the time he's been here), so cutting him lose if it comes to it wouldn't be a big deal. Maybe Arizona will trade with us again!
Have to watch the re-run today on the NFL Network to see how they looked. Watched it online last night on the NFL Pre-Season subscription (I'm out of town) and really missed the DVR rewind! Not to mention the choppy streaming!— gdibig - Kafka is toast. Depth chart will soon read: Vick, Foles, Edwards.— cletisvandam
- Foles should at the very least be given the opportunity to work with the second team Offense at camp. He's earned that with his game performance. Take the muzzle off of the kid. I was impressed he worked from under center instead of out of the shot gun, and he kept his eyes down field.
I'm interested in seeing him work with more confident receivers in camp instead of dopes who eventually will be cut.— Dexter - Just because this idiot writer says they will get rid of Edwards does not make it a done deal. Edwards looked good, Kafka did not. It really is as simple as that. If that trend continues, of course they will cut Kafka. What has he ever shown that would make them keep him?— Paul SoTX
Foles has height and arm strength, plus a nice touch. He's the Eagles QB in 2014.— Leegles- Foles looked good, but let's remember who he was throwing against -- a lot of guys who won't be on an active roster a month from now. If he repeats the performance against NE's twos next week, then I'll be impressed.— JBirks
