And Sammy Boy wants traded

[Rey]

Zero chance of Bradford being beaten out by the rook. Anyone even considering that possibility must be high. After only 25 (?) starts against FCS competition, he simply isn't ready. By all accounts, Bradford has looked good during ota's, sometimes really good, while Wentz has been inconsistent.

I'm not saying start the kid as of 5/25/16 ... but if after the pre-season he outshines Bradford (which I agree is a longshot) then I wouldn't be scared to throw him out there. Hell, the Broncos may start Paxton Lynch who doesn't even know how to huddle or run play action. Joe Flacco came out of Delaware and started off the bat ... it wouldn't be unprecedented.

 

[Rey]

2016 NFL Draft: Joe Flacco on Carson Wentz, adjusting to the NFL

 

[Iggloo]

My sense from reading the reports on OTAs is Wentz has little shot of playing this year. He is a project. A good project, but still a project. So Sammy Boy will get his shot to show everyone how deeply under-appreciated he is. Most of us know he will either get hurt or look mediocre, and then be cut in a year. But that's OK.

 

[sooner4life130]

My sense from reading the reports on OTAs is Wentz has little shot of playing this year. He is a project. A good project, but still a project. So Sammy Boy will get his shot to show everyone how deeply under-appreciated he is. Most of us know he will either get hurt or look mediocre, and then be cut in a year. But that's OK.

Maybe, we'll see. I personally hope he shines. He's my favorite Sooner of all time and truly hope he plays consistently good throughout the season. In my opinion, Philly made big improvements on the line and adding Rueben Randle.

 

[eaglesnut]

Wentz would have to severely over play Bradford to get the nod week 1 ... that being said, I wouldn't be afraid to throw him out there if he is "clearly" our best option at the end of the pre-season. Wentz is a high IQ guy with tremendous work ethic ... it wouldn't be the craziest thing in the world.

So is Ryan Fitzpatrick. But he's average because after the snap and pre-throw he doesn't always make a great decision with the football. It's easy to be smart on a whiteboard just regurgitating concepts. This game will be way too fast for Wentz. His timing was often not even quick enough for the low level competition he faced. A live NFL defense will embarrass him. If Bradford and Daniel get hurt early they will use a very basic playbook with half field reads to cover for Wentz.

 

[Rey]

So is Ryan Fitzpatrick. But he's average because after the snap and pre-throw he doesn't always make a great decision with the football. It's easy to be smart on a whiteboard just regurgitating concepts. This game will be way too fast for Wentz. His timing was often not even quick enough for the low level competition he faced. A live NFL defense will embarrass him. If Bradford and Daniel get hurt early they will use a very basic playbook with half field reads to cover for Wentz.

Again, I'm not saying that Wentz is ready right now and until training camp kicks off we don't know what will happen or how he will look. All I'm saying is that "if" he comes out and looks much better than Bradford (which I agree is a long shot) that I would not be afraid to put him in. Ryan Fitzpatrick was never the prospect Wentz is ... dude wasn't even drafted. Much smaller and nowhere near the arm. Fitz is a nickel and dimer while Wentz is a Blue Chipper. Tools-wise Joe Flacco is the best comparison.

 

[PhillyGreen]

If Wentz can't get on the field this year replacing a career 25-37-1 record QB (Bradford), I'd be concerned as a Eagles fan.

You can't be serious! To expect that is just flat ridiculous. Bradford is a pretty good QB imo. He is not great that is for sure but it is stupid to expect a rookie QB to win a starting job in the NFL.

 

[PhillyGreen]

If Wentz can't get on the field this year replacing a career 25-37-1 record QB (Bradford), I'd be concerned as a Eagles fan.

However.....it appears the Eagles coaching staff is backtracking a little now as well.

Eagles coordinator Reich says QB order not set

 

[eaglesnut]

Again, I'm not saying that Wentz is ready right now and until training camp kicks off we don't know what will happen or how he will look. All I'm saying is that "if" he comes out and looks much better than Bradford (which I agree is a long shot) that I would not be afraid to put him in. Ryan Fitzpatrick was never the prospect Wentz is ... dude wasn't even drafted. Much smaller and nowhere near the arm. Fitz is a nickel and dimer while Wentz is a Blue Chipper. Tools-wise Joe Flacco is the best comparison.

My point with Ryan Fitzpatrick is it doesn't matter if you are smart before the snap, if you are dumb after it. That's the Wentz that we see on tape. Anything unexpected he can't handle, and his physical traits won't bail him out at this level. Work ethic and physical traits are not all there is to being an elite QB in this league. He has a long way to go.

 

[Rey]

My point with Ryan Fitzpatrick is it doesn't matter if you are smart before the snap, if you are dumb after it. That's the Wentz that we see on tape. Anything unexpected he can't handle, and his physical traits won't bail him out at this level. Work ethic and physical traits are not all there is to being an elite QB in this league. He has a long way to go.

I don't think he's dumb or slow after the snap at all. You can pick out certain plays here and there with all prospects, but if that were really an issue there is no way he would have been a top 5 prospect.

 

[eaglesnut]

Poor anticipation, pocket presence, and locking on to targets are 3 main negatives that show up in a lot of places - 1st hand tape review, other people's reviews, etc. All three issues are related to his general feel for the game after the snap. Getting by at that level is a whole nother thing than getting by at this level without those traits. They largely aren't teachable things either. They are just the way a guy feels the game. Maybe fixing his footwork can help with all three. God I hope so.

 

[Iggloo]

However.....it appears the Eagles coaching staff is backtracking a little now as well.

Eagles coordinator Reich says QB order not set

I think they are trying to light a fire under Bradford a little bit. The reports out of OTAs suggest Bradford is definitely the best QB right now. Of course though reporters only see one practice a week though and we don't know how the others looked the rest of the time--or what progress Wentz is making learning the playbook, etc. For all we know, they are impressed with his progression.

 

[Rey]

Poor anticipation, pocket presence, and locking on to targets are 3 main negatives that show up in a lot of places - 1st hand tape review, other people's reviews, etc. All three issues are related to his general feel for the game after the snap. Getting by at that level is a whole nother thing than getting by at this level without those traits. They largely aren't teachable things either. They are just the way a guy feels the game. Maybe fixing his footwork can help with all three. God I hope so.

It all depends on what reviews you choose to look at ... if you look at enough opinions on players you will find differing opinions. I can post many articles which praise him and don't see those issues as big deals as Wentz didn't have as many college reps as other prospects. QB's are also dependent on their WR's ... if they are late beating their man or don't run great routes it can throw off the QB's timing as well. I'm not saying that there aren't times where Wentz didn't show poor pocket presence or anticipation, but if it were that big of an issue he would have been a much later pick ... yet he was universally considered a top 5 pick by just about everybody. Time will eventually tell.

 

[I miss Dawkins]

Anyone thinking Bradford will net us a 1st round pick, no matter how well he does this year, is truly drunk in kool aid, imho. Even if we won the SB with Bradford this year (which would not be because it was all on his shoulders, just like DEN didn't win on Peyton's shoulders), no way he garners a 1st round pick. We would be lucky to get a 3rd or 4th for him. We overpaid to get him, and most teams know we are going to drop him soon. A 2nd rounder is dreaming, a 1st rounder is just pure reality detachment, imho.

 

[WIZ]

If Bradford stays healthy, throws for 4k and we win 9 or 10 he could easily net a first.

 

[old duke]

Anyone thinking Bradford will net us a 1st round pick, no matter how well he does this year, is truly drunk in kool aid, imho. Even if we won the SB with Bradford this year (which would not be because it was all on his shoulders, just like DEN didn't win on Peyton's shoulders), no way he garners a 1st round pick. We would be lucky to get a 3rd or 4th for him. We overpaid to get him, and most teams know we are going to drop him soon. A 2nd rounder is dreaming, a 1st rounder is just pure reality detachment, imho.

Well, I think you are badly mistaken. If Bradford plays lights out, he certainly would garner a 1st round pick. we see him as a broken down QB, but he got healthy last year, and played very well later on. With an improved OL this year, and an upgraded WR corps, he very well could get us into the playoffs, and then who knows what could happen from there. Good QBs are very valuable - the most important position in sports, I believe.

 

[eaglesnut]

It all depends on what reviews you choose to look at ... if you look at enough opinions on players you will find differing opinions. I can post many articles which praise him and don't see those issues as big deals as Wentz didn't have as many college reps as other prospects. QB's are also dependent on their WR's ... if they are late beating their man or don't run great routes it can throw off the QB's timing as well. I'm not saying that there aren't times where Wentz didn't show poor pocket presence or anticipation, but if it were that big of an issue he would have been a much later pick ... yet he was universally considered a top 5 pick by just about everybody. Time will eventually tell.

Lots and lots of QBs with poor anticipation have been drafted in the first round. The 2004 qbs are the most successful class because they all had that trait. It's also generally over looked by the scouting community who focus more on the arm itself. I care more about how the arm, the feet and the mind are connected. Those are the successful guys.

 

[PhillyGreen]

If Bradford stays healthy, throws for 4k and we win 9 or 10 he could easily net a first.

No team will give up a first round pick for Bradford unless he agrees to a long term deal and he tends to overvalue himself. To be honest he is not worth a first round IMO no matter what he does this year. 4000 yards does not have the power it once did, 15 Qb's threw for 3900 or more yards last year. I throw the 3900 number out there because it would give it a little more perspective. The actual number of 4k passing was 12 (13 if you add Derek Carr's 3987 since he was so close)

To be honest Bradford will need to do more than throw 4k......like stay healthy. If he would have played in all 16 games last year he would have easily surpassed 4k because he threw for 3700 in 14 games.

 

[Rey]

The problem with a Bradford trade after the season is that nobody expects the Eagles to keep him. They can just wait for him to be released. If a team absolutely "has" to have him then I can see maybe a 3rd rounder ... but due to the circumstance I would highly doubt the Eagles have any shot of getting back a 1st in trade.

 

[old duke]

Good points Rey, however, I think Howie is very adept at maximizing trades. It all depends upon what the market is, and Howie can play his cards (i.e. creating competition for Bradford) correctly. you may be surprised what he can get for a bona fide starting QB. I think he can get it done, IMO. He can bluff that he will keep him as insurance for Wentz.