I’ve heard and read some criticism of the Philadelphia Eagles‘ third-round selection of former Arizona Wildcats quarterback Nick Foles in the 2012 NFL Draft, but I really like this pick.

For starters, the Eagles had already addressed some big defensive needs by the time they selected Foles at No. 88 overall, taking defensive tackle Fletcher Cox in the first round, and linebacker Mychal Kendricks and defensive end Vinny Curry in the second. Having used those three picks on three talented defenders, Philadelphia was looking for a value option in the third round at quarterback. And the Eagles got one.

I saw Foles play quite a bit in college, and this guy is a gunslinger who has the arm strength and the accuracy to make all the throws he’ll need to make in the NFL. It became popular for draft analysts to repeat that Foles’ decision-making and release were suspect, but I think those points have been overblown, and he’ll be a great developmental QB for Philly.

In addition to having a big arm, Foles is big and he’s tough. At 6-foot-5, 243 pounds, Foles certainly has the body of an NFL quarterback, standing tall in the pocket and hurling the ball downfield. And he showed his toughness often in college; the Wildcats’ protection wasn’t always the greatest, and Foles got rocked a bit during his time in Tucson after transferring from Michigan State. But he never backed down, and played injured quite a bit, on his way to becoming Arizona’s all-time leader in passing yardage, attempts, completions and total offense in just three seasons.

As a senior last season, he threw for a school-record 4,334 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Foles will step into the mix right away to be the backup to Michael Vick, vying with Mike Kafka and Trent Edwards. As Eagles fans know all too well, it’s important to have a capable No. 2 behind Vick, whose style of play makes him a constant injury risk. Whether Foles will be ready to back up Vick as a rookie remains to be seen; I tend to think he’ll need a year to get up to speed before he’s really ready to step in. He could be the eventual successor to Vick, but it’s also entirely plausible that the Eagles could groom him the way they did Kevin Kolb, then trade him away when the time is right.

Philadelphia’s third-round selection of Foles has been called “questionable,” but I think it makes perfect sense. The Seattle Seahawks had already tabbed former Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson earlier in the third round, and in a draft that wasn’t exactly deep at the quarterback position, Foles was available at No. 88 with a whole lot of upside.

Eagles coach Andy Reid has proven his ability to develop quarterbacks, so Foles is in good hands. And he comes to Philadelphia having accomplished a lot in college despite not always having a great deal of talent around him. That, of course, won’t be an issue on an Eagles team loaded with playmakers. In time, I see Nick Foles becoming one of them.

More Nick Foles:

Nick Foles on Gruden’s QB Camp

Sources:

Ex-Arizona Wildcats quarterback Nick Foles selected by Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles roster

—

Adam Sparks has followed the Philadelphia Eagles since Randall Cunningham was scrambling around Veterans Stadium, and he has written about the team as a freelancer since 2010.

Have you heard? The Philadelphia Eagles are having a great offseason. Yeah, again. They settled the DeSean Jackson contract mess, extended deals for a few key veterans, stole middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans from the Texans and, according to many analysts, may have had the best draft of any team in the league. If the season were starting today, I guarantee they’d be the most popular pick to win the NFC East, ahead of the Super Bowl champion Giants and everyone else.

But me, I’m not so sure. I need to see it from the quarterback.

Michael Vick will enter the 2012 season under more pressure than any other quarterback in the NFL. The Eagles have told anyone who’ll listen that they believe last year’s team was too talented to go 8-8, that it got better as the year went along and that the four-game winning streak that closed their season can have a carryover effect into 2012. But no matter how true any of those assertions turn out to be, it’s still going to be up to Vick to cash them in.

The defense took a lot of the heat for the Eagles’ 2011 disappointment, and early on it did struggle to come together. But it finished eighth in the league in fewest yards allowed and tied for the league lead in sacks. If the defense does that again, it’s going to be tough to blame whatever goes wrong on that side of the ball.

It was on the offensive side that Vick turned the ball over 14 times during last year’s 3-6 start, coughed up the Arizona game by playing with broken ribs and not telling anyone and then missed three games during which backup Vince Young threw enough interceptions to make Vick look like the world champion of darts. Vick was as responsible for the Eagles’ flop of a season as anyone else was, and it’s worth making a point of that as the Eagles look ahead to 2012 with high hopes. Because that word — “responsible” — is the one the Eagles would most like Vick to keep in mind.

The Eagles don’t need Vick to be the dazzling, electrified, high-speed wonder he was in 2010. It’d be nice, but no one expects him to repeat that once-in-a-lifetime performance and no one ever did. What the Eagles wanted from Vick in 2011 was to evolve a bit as a top-level quarterback — to assume more responsibility for the offense, not to mention the ball and his own body. Vick has undeniable athletic talent of a sort no one else in the league could ever dream. But what he has yet to do is take that critical next step that transforms quarterback talent into quarterback success.

The quarterbacks who become great in the NFL are the ones who treat the position as a craft to be perpetually honed and refined. Vick had that opportunity in 2011 as a clear starter on a team that surrounded him with brilliant weapons. At the urging of new offensive line coach Howard Mudd, who prefers things to work this way, Vick was for the first time in his Eagles career given the responsibility of calling the protection at the line of scrimmage — of reading the defense before the snap and calling out the assignments for the linemen based on what he saw. At the beginning of the year, it caused confusion, as one might expect. But even as the year went on, Vick struggled to get in sync with his line.

Part of that is the style with which he plays — running around behind the line, determined to keep plays alive past a point at which most quarterbacks would have thrown the ball out of bounds. But that’s part of this responsibility theme, too. Part of Vick’s maturation as a quarterback needs to include knowing what he should and shouldn’t try — and when. If he becomes more responsible about knowing the right and wrong times to take chances, that’ll help his protection, his turnovers and his health.

And he has to take care of those last two things above all else. No team can afford to turn the ball over as much as the Eagles in did in 2011, and the Eagles can’t afford to play without Vick. As proud as they are of their draft, last year’s free agency and the depth of talent on their roster, they’re not a contender if Mike Kafka or Nick Foles or Trent Edwards is the guy taking the snaps for an extended period of time. Just as they weren’t a contender last year when Young was under center. The Eagles’ offense is built around Vick and must run through him or it’s not going to operate on the level required of a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

So the pressure on Vick isn’t just to win — it’s to be responsible. To think more carefully about his throws and his other on-field decisions. To keep the big picture in mind. If he can do this — if he can take these next critical steps in his development as a quarterback, even at the age of 32, Vick is good enough to cash in his opportunity. He’s good enough to pilot an offense that has Jackson and Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy to playoff glory. He’s good enough to come up with that signature game-winning fourth-quarter drive his résumé still lacks. He’s got the talent and he’s got everything in place around him to help him succeed. But once the curtain goes up on this 2012 season, it’s going to be on Vick himself to make sure he does. It may well be the best and last chance he ever gets.

The Philadelphia Eagles are looking to rebound from a disappointing season that saw them stumble out of the gates, then miss the NFL playoffs despite high expectations heading in.

They begin trying to atone for the mess that was their 2011 season when they kick off their 2012 campaign on the road, Sunday, September 9 against the Cleveland Browns.

The Eagles, who lost four of their first five games and finished 8-8 last season, are on Monday Night Football twice in 2012 — November 5 at the New Orleans Saints and November 26 at home against the Carolina Panthers.

Here’s a look at the Eagles’ entire 2012 schedule, beginning with their four preseason games in August and winding up with their final regular-season game, against the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants:

Philadelphia Eagles 2012 Preseason Schedule

Thursday, August 9: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, August 20: at New England Patriots, 8 p.m.

Friday, August 24: at Cleveland Browns, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 30: vs. New York Jets, TBD

Philadelphia Eagles 2012 Regular Season Schedule

Sunday, September 9: at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m.

Sunday, September 16: vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m.

Sunday, September 23: at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m.

Sunday, September 30: vs. New York Giants, 8:20 p.m.

Sunday, October 7: at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m.

Sunday, October 14: vs. Detroit Lions, 1 p.m.

Sunday, October 28: vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m.

Monday, November 5: at New Orleans Saints, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 11: vs. Dallas Cowboys, 4:15 p.m.

Sunday, November 18: at Washington Redskins, 1 p.m.

Monday, November 26: vs. Carolina Panthers, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 2: at Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m.

Sunday, December 9: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m.

Thursday, December 13: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m.

Sunday, December 23: vs. Washington Redskins, 1 p.m.

Sunday, December 30: at New York Giants, 1 p.m.

Sources:

NFL standings

Eagles announce 2012 schedule

—

Adam Sparks has followed the Philadelphia Eagles since Randall Cunningham was scrambling around Veterans Stadium, and he has written about the team as a freelancer since 2010.

The Philadelphia Eagles had an impressive draft in 2012. In what figures to be a pressure-filled season for Andy Reid, the team got a good mix of immediate contributors as well as prospects that could develop into solid players down the road. As a fan, it is fun to look at all of the draft picks and think about how intriguing each one is. When you factor in the quality of the player along with when the Eagles selected them, it is easy to see how well the team did. Here is how I would grade each of the draft picks based on factors such as talent, potential, and selection order.

Fletcher Cox: A

There is nothing negative to say about this pick. The Eagles needed a defensive tackle and they got the best one available. Philadelphia had to move up three spots to take Cox but it was worth it. He is athletic enough to play on the end and should be excellent against the run and the pass. He will be a Pro Bowl player before long.

Mychal Kendricks: A

This might not be a household name, but Kendricks is the kind of player the Eagles need at linebacker. He is a tackling machine and boasts incredible speed. Kendricks is good enough to start on the outside from the opening game. He should complement DeMeco Ryans nicely and ensure that the linebacker position is strong for the first time in a long time. This was a steal for the Eagles in the second round.

Brandon Boykin: A

Based on talent and draft selection, Boykin is an incredibly solid draft choice. You could argue that he is one of the top three cornerback prospects in the draft and the Eagles nabbed him in the fourth round. Boykin is another great athlete that should thrive in nickel packages. He is a little small but is great in coverage and knows how to tackle.

Bryce Brown: A-

Brown was a big college recruit but saw his college career impacted by character issues. He has great talent and could become a star with the right coaching. He should be able to back up LeSean McCoy, which is something the Eagles really need. For a seventh round pick, Brown has great potential with little risk.

Vinny Curry: B

Curry is a little raw but does fit a need for the Eagles. He is a solid pass rushing defensive end and should help the team in 2012. For a second round pick, Curry might have been a reach. However, Reid has had success with second round picks in the past. Curry could end up being a great player.

Marvin McNutt: B

McNutt is a little known receiver that the team got in the sixth round. His size and hands will give Michael Vick the big target that he needs. That should guarantee that McNutt sees the field in 2012. Again, this was a bargain based on where the team found him.

Nick Foles: B-

The third round might have been a little high for the Eagles to take a quarterback. After all, other positions carried more importance. However, Foles is a solid player that could be a star one day. He has an NFL arm and should develop well with this coaching staff. We won’t see any results for a while but this could wind up being a great pick.

Dennis Kelly and Brandon Washington: C

These late round picks give the Eagles a little depth on the offensive line. Kelly is a tackle that will take some time to develop. Meanwhile, Washington could steal some playing time at guard. Both are raw but have the chance to become solid players under Howard Mudd. There’s nothing exciting about either pick but there’s nothing bad either.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and lifelong Eagles fan.

The 2012 NFL Draft is only two days away and it gives us a clearer look at what teams like the Philadelphia Eagles are thinking of doing on Thursday.

The Eagles possess the 15^th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft after going 8-8 last season. The Eagles have a few holes that they need to fill on the roster, especially on the defensive side. The Eagles are well-equipped on offense with quarterback Michael Vick, Lesean McCoy, Desean Jackson, and Jeremy Maclin, but won’t be able to compete with the ultra-competitive NFC East unless they improve on defense.

Don’t be surprised to see the Eagles take after the defending Super Bowl champion, the New York Giants, and load up on defensive linemen, according to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King. The Giants cruised through the playoffs with a dominating defensive line presence of Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora, and others on the way to defeating the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

“I think the way that NFL teams are playing today is to play waves of defensive linemen,” King said on a view preview of the Eagles’ draft preparations. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Eagles go defensive end to try to get a good rotation, maybe a Quinton Coples in the first round. “Someone to give Cole and Babbitt some help in a much needed blow.”

Coples, a huge 6-foot-6 defensive end/tackle hybrid, could be one of the most talented defensive players in the draft, but there are some questions surrounding him. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock said he “could be an All-Pro but he’s got bust potential written all over him.”

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Burke called him “without a doubt one of the best players in the draft,” but said that there are questions about his motivation and drive. King has the Eagles taking Coples with the 15^th pick, but others may have jumped ahead of him on the Eagles’ draft board.

One player who has jumped up the board is Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones, according to Philly.com’s Sheil Kapadia. Kapadia reported on Tuesday that Jones was the top rated defensive end for the Eagles and that the team prefers him to Coples, Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe, and LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers.

If not Coples, Jones, Poe, or Brockers, the Eagles could go after one of these players:

Fletcher Cox, defensive tackle, Mississippi State

Cox, a 6-foot-4, 295-pound junior, could be just what the Eagles are looking for on their defensive line, but will they even get a chance to draft him? By most accounts Cox is a Top 10 pick, but the Eagles might be willing to move up in the draft, according to DraftInsider’s Tony Pauline. Pauline reported that there’s buzz around Philly that the Eagles could try to make a move up for Cox, who would be “perfect for the Eagles wide nine/nine technique.”

Mark Barron, safety, Alabama

Barron had an impressive career as a part of the national champion Crimson Tide. The 6-foot-1, 213-pounder is rated by many as the top-ranked safety in this year’s draft and is known for his excellent run-stopping ability. The issue for the Eagles is that the Dallas Cowboys, picking at No. 14, are believed to covet Barron and are “locked in” to drafting him, according to Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks. If the Cowboys pass up on Barron, it might be hard for the Eagles to do the same.

Luke Kuechly, linebacker, Boston College

Kuechly, the all-time leading tackler in ACC history, is the smart, decisive linebacker that the Eagles need. The 6-foot-3, 237-pounder is known for great instincts and could play a major role for a team right off the bat. The problem, as with most of the Eagles’ targets, is that there’s a good chance he is off the board before the Eagles pick. Both King and Banks have the Chiefs taking Kuechly at No. 11.

To report problems or to leave feedback about this article, e-mail:
To contact the editor, e-mail:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) The calendar says Howie Roseman will preside over his third NFL draft as general manager of the Philadelphia Eagles.

It’s the first one he can really put his stamp on.

Roseman replaced Tom Heckert in January 2010, just a few months before the draft – when most of the scouting and grading of players already was complete. Last year, the lockout changed much of the landscape, and free agency came after the draft.

”You want to put your own spin on it and you want to bring in some of your own people and the people that share your philosophy,” Roseman said. ”And I think that takes time.”

With three of the top 51 picks in this draft, and nine picks overall, one thing is clear.

The time is now.

”There’s an evolution of trying to get guys, guys who have contracts, bring them into the building and if you’re changing things, certainly in the first year, you can’t do that right away because you’re coming in in January, the scouting’s going on and then you have a draft right there,” Roseman said. ”And the second year, last year was a unique situation. No excuses, but it was a unique situation in terms of the timing of the draft and free agency.”

There’s more pressure on Roseman this time around because the Eagles are coming off a disappointing season that began with tons of hype and Super Bowl expectations. They finished 8-8, which earned them the No. 15 pick on Thursday night.

”You feel like this is the first year that really the playing field is level and it is what it was supposed to be,” Roseman said. ”I’m really excited about that. I’m excited about our football team that we have now, excited to add to that, and excited about the future.”

The Eagles need to bolster a defense that struggled badly before a season-ending, four-game winning streak. A pass rusher and a playmaking safety are tops of Philadelphia‘s list of needs. Safety Mark Barron (Alabama), tackles Fletcher Cox (Mississippi State), Michael Brockers (LSU) and Jerel Worthy (Michigan State) or ends Quinton Coples (North Carolina) and Nick Perry (USC) could be the choice with the 15th pick.

Of course, Roseman insists the Eagles will follow the popular pre-draft cliche, and take the ”best player available.”

”I think when we go back and look back at our drafts, sometimes we have probably drafted based on need, based on some circumstances,” he said, ”and we’re trying to make sure that we’re taking the best player available now, going forward.”

He may have been referring to trading up and taking defensive end Jerome McDougle at No. 15 in 2003. Or choosing wide receiver Freddie Mitchell at No. 25 in 2001. Roseman wasn’t the GM for either of those drafts, but he was part of the organization. McDougle and Mitchell are the two biggest busts during Andy Reid’s tenure as coach.

”We always look at the draft as a long-term decision for our franchise,” Roseman said. ”If that best player happens to be at a position where someone’s already starting but we think this guy has a chance to be a really great player for the Philadelphia Eagles, we’re still going to take him because we’re trying to take the best player; we’re not trying to take the best player at specific position.

”I think that’s important.”

Maybe that’s why there’s been some speculation the Eagles will move into the top 10 and take quarterback Ryan Tannehill, even though they have Michael Vick. Despite making just 19 starts under center at Texas A&M, Tannehill is expected to be the third quarterback taken in the draft behind Stanford’s Andrew Luck and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III of Baylor.

It would be a stunner if he came to Philadelphia.

”We have so much confidence in Michael Vick leading our team,” Roseman said. ”The way that he works, and the determination he has, we’re all in with Michael. Michael is still a young quarterback. He looks great to me. He’s healthy and he’s determined. We feel very lucky to have him as our franchise quarterback.”

Roseman’s first two drafts are still being graded.

In 2010, the Eagles traded up to No. 13 to draft defensive end Brandon Graham. He’s been limited to just 16 games because of injuries and has three sacks in two seasons. Jason Pierre-Paul went to the New York Giants two picks after Graham. Pierre-Paul had 16 1/2 sacks last season and played a key role in helping the Giants win the Super Bowl.

Clearly, that didn’t pan out for Roseman and the Eagles.

Last year, the Eagles stayed put at No. 23 and selected guard Danny Watkins, a 26-year-old former firefighter who hadn’t played football until college. Watkins had a solid rookie season.

The Eagles found another starter for the offensive line in last year’s draft when they took center Jason Kelce in the sixth round. Kelce was the only player chosen in the final two rounds that started 16 games. Linebacker Brian Rolle was second with 13 starts, and he also did it for the Eagles.

”We clearly want to come out of this with a player that we feel really good about and get someone who can make a difference,” Roseman said. ”That’s what we’re looking for as we go into the draft.”

The NFL Draft is a mere seven days away, and the Philadelphia Eagles have undoubtedly spent countless hours analyzing who to pick with the 15^th pick.

The Eagles went 8-8 in 2011 and could use some help to compete in the ultracompetitive NFC East, which houses the defending Super Bowl champion, the New York Giants. Philadelphia struggled with injuries all season, notably to quarterback Michael Vick, but certainly have the talent to compete in the NFC.

The Eagles have an incredibly explosive offense with Vick, Lesean McCoy, Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, but have holes throughout their defense. Who the Eagles decide on with the 15^th pick will likely depend on who falls to them, but it will likely be a defensive player.

The Eagles have needs all over the place, but a defensive tackle could be the choice for the Eagles on draft day. Here are some names that have been mentioned with the Eagles:

Quinton Coples, defensive tackle, UNC:

Couples, a huge 6-foot-6 defensive end/tackle hybrid, could be one of the most talented defensive players in the draft, but there are some questions surrounding him. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock said he “could be an All-Pro but he’s got bust potential written all over him.”

The potential bust factor to Couples has created a bit of a variance on where experts expect him to land. The latest CBS Sports mock drafts have him going in the Top 10, while Sports Illustrated’s Peter King has the Eagles taking him at 15. King said one coach described Couples as “gifted” but “sporadic,” which could cause the drop out of the Top 10. The Eagles would likely jump at nabbing Couples at 15, but it he might not be available, especially with the Jaguars picking at No. 7.

Dontari Poe, defensive tackle, Memphis

Poe had only one sack last season for Memphis, but absolutely dazzled at the NFL Combine in February. The 6-foot-3, 346-pounder bench-pressed 225 pounds 44 times and ran the 40-yard dash in an impressive 4.98 sounds. The effort vaulted Poe into a potential Top-15 pick, but the potential bust question marks surround him. Sporting News’ Russ Lande has the Eagles taking Poe, but he is another player that could creep into the Top 10 depending on specific team needs.

Fletcher Cox, defensive tackle, Mississippi State

Cox, a 6-foot-4, 295-pound junior, could be just what the Eagles are looking for on their defensive line, but will they even get a chance to draft him? By most accounts Cox is a Top 10 pick, but the Eagles might be willing to move up in the draft, according to DraftInsider’s Tony Pauline. Pauline reported that there’s buzz around Philly that the Eagles could try to make a move up for Cox, who would be “perfect for the Eagles wide nine/nine technique.”

Mark Barron, safety, Alabama

Barron had an impressive career as a part of the national champion Crimson Tide. The 6-foot-1, 213-pounder is rated by many as the top-ranked safety in this year’s draft and is known for his excellent run-stopping ability. The issue for the Eagles is that the Dallas Cowboys, picking at No. 14, are believed to covet Barron and are “locked in” to drafting him, according to Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks. If the Cowboys pass up on Barron, it might be hard for the Eagles to do the same.

Luke Kuechly, linebacker, Boston College

Kuechly, the all-time leading tackler in ACC history, is the smart, decisive linebacker that the Eagles need. The 6-foot-3, 237-pounder is known for great instincts and could play a major role for a team right off the bat. The problem, as with most of the Eagles’ targets, is that there’s a good chance he is off the board before the Eagles pick. Both King and Banks have the Chiefs taking Kuechly at No. 11.

Some others mentioned: South Carolina cornerback Stephen Gilmore, Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd, LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers, Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw.  

To report problems or to leave feedback about this article, e-mail:
To contact the editor, e-mail: