Eagles Wake-Up Call: Chip’s Need For Two QBs

Today’s question comes from reader Nick, via Twitter:

@SheilKapadia Is Chip’s idea that you need two QB’s to compete a college notion? I’m of the belief that if you have 2 QBs, you have 0 QBs.

— Nick Field (@nick_field90) July 13, 2015

I don’t think it’s a college notion, and I hear what you’re saying Nick, but Chip Kelly is talking strictly about injury when he says he needs two quarterbacks. And it’s not a controversial opinion. Coaches around the league would agree.

When you look at Kelly specifically, he lost Michael Vick in Year 1 to injury, then lost Nick Foles and had to play a rookie in Matt Barkley. Last year, Kelly lost Foles and had to go to his backup again. Now he’s rolling the dice on Sam Bradford, so he better have a capable backup.

In 2013, Kelly held a true QB competition between Vick and Foles. In Year 2, though, Kelly was clear that Foles would start and Sanchez would back him up. He may have paid lip service to the whole “competition” notion, but Kelly had his starter before training camp had opened. Foles had earned that with his performance in 2013. It’s not like he was going into the season anticipating both QBs playing.

What about this year?

When you give up what the Eagles gave up for Bradford, you’re expecting him to start. However, as we’ve noted multiple times in this space, Sanchez has a shot. If Sanchez clearly outplays Bradford in the preseason, and it’s obvious to everyone, Sanchez will start. Everyone might not believe that, but having been around Kelly for the past two and a half years, I certainly do.

Kelly’s entire operation is based on competition. He likes to say that the depth chart is written in the sand. He grows agitated each spring when reporters ask about the first team, second team and third team. Because he is so emphatic about running a meritocracy where playing time is earned, Kelly can’t just hand Bradford the job.

In 2013, Vick clearly earned the job, and Kelly admitted at the time that it would have been impossible to explain to the other 52 guys on the team that Foles was the guy. He would have lost all credibility when preaching competition. I think the same principle applies here.

Now, if I were a betting man, I’d say that Bradford (assuming health) outplays Sanchez in August and is the starter Week 1. But Kelly’s decision won’t be all that complicated. Whichever guy plays better in August will start against the Falcons.

WHAT YOU MISSED

A look at the idea that the league is trying to catch up to Kelly.

“It’s clear that Kelly is gunning for the playoffs, and the Cowboys should be worried.” What they’re saying about the Eagles and the NFC East.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

From Dez Bryant himself:  

As much as I love football…on my beautiful babies.. I apologize #cowboynation but I will not be there if no deal #fact

— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) July 13, 2015

Jimmy Kempski of the Philly Voice with an interesting note on Eagles rookie CB JaCorey Shepherd:

On the “position specifics” front, evidence would clearly indicate that the Eagles prioritize defensive backs who get their hands on the ball. I aggregated the number of pass breakups that each of the 31 cornerbacks that were selected in the 2015 NFL Draft had in 2013 and 2014. The three corners the Eagles drafted all landed among the top six players in that category, including the #1 overall player, sixth round pick JaCorey Shepherd

COMING UP

We’ll bring you three Eagles numbers that matter.