2012 NFL Draft-QB Prospects (Chapter 5)

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by EARTHQUAKE2689

GTripp, I would like your analysis of Foles along with video if you don't mind.

I'll go with two Foles tapes: the game that everyone who hates Foles goes to for evidence he can't play, plus a couple of slightly more glowing ones.

Nick Foles vs. Oklahoma State



Foles had his worst game of the season. But the only thing really notable about this game for Foles was how quickly the OSU scoreboard keeps ascending. Foles made a number of key throws in this game to keep Arizona in it until the fourth quarter, but he simply couldn't compete with a nationally ranked team.

Arizona's left and right tackles are awful football players and I don't think their receivers get much separation.

Foles gets caught guessing based on a presnap look about 3 or 4 times in the first half, leading to a negative play. He does this far less as the season progresses, but this is a tendency he showed in 2009 and 2010. I thought the OSU defense disguised their stuff pretty well, and was able to go blow for blow with Nick Foles (not that they needed to, with their offense).

Nick Foles vs. Arizona State



There's an argument to be had (based on this tape and Senior Bowl work) that Foles simply needs to work faster. He processes information quickly, but if he's going to fail in the NFL it is because he doesn't get the ball out quickly enough snap to release to help his receivers.

Foles throws a lot of guys open. He has to. There is no alternative. These is not only a weak supporting cast, but a lot of these receivers he throws to are just soft football players.

To me, Nick Foles handles speed deficiencies really well. Oregon vs. Arizona and USC vs. Arizona should have been total mismatches on paper, but Foles can speed himself up or slow himself down even when the defense can play much faster than his offense. He couldn't have completed 70% of his passes against a Pac-12 schedule otherwise.

Draft Breakdown — Assessing Nick Foles