When the Philadelphia Eagles restructured Michael Vick's contract on Monday some believed it was a sign that Vick would be the Eagles' starting quarterback next season. Eagles head coach Chip Kelly instead said Vick and second-year quarterback Nick Foles would compete for the starting job.
Chip Kelly: Michael Vick, Nick Foles to compete for starting job
The Eagles restructured Michael Vick’s contract to keep him in Philadelphia next season, but Chip Kelly said Vick will compete with Nick Foles for the starting job.
Justin K. Aller
At a press conference to introduce the Eagles new coaching staff, Kelly said he wouldn’t pick a starting quarterback until he is able to watch Foles and Vick compete during minicamps, training camp and preseason games. Kelly said both players know there will be an open competition. he also said in the NFL you need two quarterbacks.
“I’m excited about the two of them. They’re both going to compete. Who the starting quarteback is will be won on the practice field,” Kelly said, via Pro Football Talk.
Kelly said when he and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur evaluated Vick on film, they focused on his skill set. Instead of being concerned with reads, or the call at the line of scrimmage, Kelly and Shurmur focused on the fact Vick still has a quick release, a strong arm and can make plays with his feet.
As SB Nation’s Philadelphia Eagles blog Bleeding Green Nation wrote, utilizing Vick in a way that maximizes his skill set is a refreshing approach to the past where the Eagles were “trying to stuff a square peg into a round hole.”
Vick and Foles have different skill sets, but that doesn’t mean the Eagles will run two different offensive systems. Instead, Kelly said the Eagles will be an “equal opportunity scoring operation.” Kelly said in the NFL, you have to be built for anything.
“The game of football has evolved and I think we as coaches have to evolve with it,” Kelly said.
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