Quarterback Nick Foles knows that he's not winning the starting job away from Michael Vick, but that doesn't mean the rookie third-round pick is shying away from competition at the Organized Team Activities.
The 6-6, 243-pound Foles was on center stage for the rookie camp earlier this month. He may have taken a back seat to established Eagles veterans Vick and Mike Kafka at the OTAs, but he's embraced the opportunity to watch how the veterans operate.
"It's neat for me to see how these guys work," Foles said. "It's really how you get better watching the guys before you, what they've done and how they approach it. It's been a great experience seeing the speed come to life."
The coaches want to get Vick ready for the season, but also understand the importance of cultivating Foles' talent. They've been hard on the rookie and it's something that the former Arizona quarterback is thankful for. One aspect of Foles' game that is undergoing a significant transformation is his footwork. Working primarily out of the spread offense at Arizona, Foles could cheat with his footwork knowing he would get the ball out of the shotgun. Coming from under center, however, Foles has to properly set his feet in order to drive his throws.
"That's the one thing they're nailing in me every day and I want them to continue to get after me because if I keep getting that better and helping improve my accuracy and the most important thing is getting the playmakers the ball and letting them do their thing," Foles said.
So far, it appears Foles has been a good pupil.
"He's completing balls and his completion percentage is way up there," head coach Andy Reid said. "He's doing a good job with that and knowing the limited amount that he knows right now. He's a smart kid and we're throwing a ton at him right now. We really like his attitude."
Foles might not be in the position of other quarterbacks from his draft class who are expected to immediately take over a franchise. He's maximizing every rep he gets, cherishing the opportunity to sit back and learn while still showing the coaches what he can do at these OTAs.
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