Jaguars QB Nick Foles is not the team’s most overrated player
By David Levin
Nick Foles, the Jaguars new starting quarterback, is being called an overrated player in recent MSN story.
There may be reasons to doubt if Nick Foles can duplicate the success he had in Philadelphia, but saying he is the Jaguars most overrated player is way off. There is some truth in the notion that the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback still has plenty to prove as the new starter.
In Seth Trachtman’s most recent story on MSN.com, he picks one player from each team he deems as overrated this coming season. The man who signed a four-year, $88-million deal in Jacksonville made the list. It’s also true that Foles comes into a situation where if the defense is as good as it was two seasons ago, and injuries do not destroy the offense, there is a good chance Jacksonville can become a playoff contender.
“Can be” is the phrase we should all watch closely in my opinion.
Trachman believes there is still a lot for the former playoff signal-caller to prove not only to the Jaguars but the rest of the NFL.
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"“Foles has shown flashes of brilliance for the Eagles over the last two seasons, including a Cinderella Super Bowl run in which he won Super Bowl MVP,” Trachtman writes. “However, Foles’ stats are less than stellar, with only 6.6 yards per attempt during the regular season over the last two years despite a great supporting cast in Philadelphia.”"
Foles cannot be expected to come in and pick up where he left off two seasons ago, replacing Carson Wentz and leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl title. That would be too much to ask. What we can ask for is that a newly acquired quarterback who throws a beautiful deep ball and has command of the huddle as we have already seen, be able to lead the Jaguars to a better record than the 5-11 showing of last season.
No quarterback is infallible and Foles has had his ups and downs as a quarterback in the NFL. The Jaguars are counting on a mature and more accurate quarterback is better than the players at the position on the roster in 2018.
"“We also shouldn’t forget how poorly Foles played against New Orleans in his final game with the Eagles, throwing for only 201 yards with two picks in the playoffs,” Trachtman adds. “While Foles should be a big improvement over Blake Bortles for the Jags, it’s much too early to pencil them in as a playoff team due to their new quarterback.”"
Maybe not pencil them in to make the postseason, but be a better team and a more competitive team in the AFC South. The Jaguars managed just one win last season against division opponents but won four games the previous season. The Jaguars also lost six games last season by six points or less.
Better quarterback play could have been the difference in a turbulent season and one where the Jacksonville made the playoffs for a second consecutive season.