Nick Foles is not stupid. One can’t be in order to play the quarterback position at a high level. He knew his time in Jacksonville was over. So he had to find a way out. Looking at the Chicago Bears, it’s no surprise that he smelled an opportunity. They had a team that, on paper, looks ready-made for a playoff run. A top 5 defense. An excellent go-to receiver in Allen Robinson. Not to mention a scheme he’s quite familiar with and a quarterback job that is clearly up for grabs.
Foles is no stranger to competition. He battled Michael Vick for the Eagles job back in 2013. People may view him as a career backup, but don’t be fooled. This guy is a silent predator. If a starter shows any sign of weakness, he’ll be ready to pounce. He did it to Vick in Philadelphia and came so close to doing it to Carson Wentz too.
The question ahead is obvious. Can he overtake Mitch Trubisky when the helmets finally go on when training camp opens July 28th? Coaches have remained careful with their opinions on there being any favorite. Teammates certainly haven’t. Tarik Cohen and Ted Ginn Jr. both seem to think it’s Trubisky’s job to lose.
Here is why they will be proven wrong.
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Reasons Nick Foles will ultimately trot Trubisky to the bench
Experience
This cannot be understated. Not only has Foles played in more games overall than Trubisky, he’s also learned the value of adaptation. As a career journeyman, one art he’s mastered is being able to pick up an offense quickly. Something that is vital when changing teams. So this idea that it could take him a while to get up to speed on the Bears offense is a bit overblown. His familiarity with the system combined with a noted history of rapidly absorbing playbooks should help him.
Pocket prowess
This is something that cannot be understated. One thing a quarterback needs to have in Nagy’s style of offense is a measure of comfort inside the pocket. Nagy likes to throw the ball. A pass-first guy befitting his QB background. He tried to get Trubisky more comfortable in the pocket last year but it just didn’t work. The guy just can’t function consistently with so much mayhem around him. This isn’t an issue for Foles. He’s routinely shown he pays no attention to the footsteps. In fact, he’s often quite good at delivering accurate passes with guys in his face.
Leadership
Former defensive end Chris Long called Foles a “one-of-a-kind leader.” His teammates absolutely loved him. Nobody can find a bad thing to say about the guy. He is 100% total class. Unselfish and only concerned about the team. Not himself. His actions following the heartbreaking playoff loss to New Orleans in January 2019 spoke volumes. He quickly went to support Alshon Jeffery after he dropped the critical pass that ended the game. Even after winning the Super Bowl MVP award, he deflected all the credit to his teammates. Already there have been whispers of Foles making a big impression in virtual meetings. Odds are he won’t have a problem getting guys to buy what he’s selling.
Coaching connections
This is the one that people talk about the most. The Bears revamped their coaching staff this offseason, bringing in several new faces. Three of which worked with Foles at various points of his career. Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and offensive line coach Juan Castillo were with him between 2012 and 2013 in Philadelphia. Quarterback coach John DeFilippo was with him for his 2017 run to the Super Bowl and then again as offensive coordinator in Jacksonville last year. Matt Nagy also worked with him for a year in 2016 with the Chiefs.
It’s not a coincidence the Bears traded for Foles. These guys wanted him. They know what he’s capable of. If the scheme is executed properly, he wins football games. Period. This team gave up a 4th round pick and lots of guaranteed money to bring him to Chicago. They don’t do that for a guy they plan on being a backup. At least not by any sort of logic.
They expect Foles to eventually be the guy. The only way that doesn’t happen is if Trubisky shows them something they haven’t yet seen on film. Doing that against the Bears defense in training camp and a shortened preseason feels unlikely.