Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles fell back to Earth somewhat this season - a year after throwing 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions, setting the NFL record for touchdown-interception ratio and leading Philly to the postseason - before being injured in a game against the Houston Texans and watching the remainder of the fizzling Philly campaign from the bench.
After the Eagles once-promising season ended with a whimper this past weekend, both head coach Chip Kelly and team owner Jeffery Lurie offered partial, lukewarm endorsements of the 26-year-old Foles as the future of the franchise at the quarterback position.
Luckily for Foles, he has the backing of several players on the team, one of whom played with current Indianapolis Colts quarterback and former first overall pick, Andrew Luck, in college, and sees many of the same traits in Foles that he saw in Luck.
"I've played with one of the most special guys in the league in Andrew Luck, and I don't think Nick is necessarily on that level yet but I think with his work ethic that he can be one day," said tight end Zach Ertz, according to Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com.
Foles completed less than 60 percent of his passes and turned the ball over 13 times in eight games of work this season. He was also working with a depleted offensive line and a limited running game.
Still, the former third-round pick believes that he will be "the guy" going into next season.
"I expect to be back here. I expect to be the quarterback," Foles said, according to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News. "I love my teammates and I expect to be back out there, leading them and winning some games . . . I'm excited to come back better than I ever have been."
When asked how he thought Foles could get to Luck's level, Ertz pointed to his hard-working, focused nature.
"Just his work ethic. He tries very hard and he has all the intangibles as well that Andrew kind of has: that big, strong arm, he can make every throw; he moves well in the pocket. Nick can make all the throws and he's a great leader as well."
Lurie and Kelly may be hesitant to dub Foles as a franchise quarterback, but Ertz, who has developed a close relationship with the signal-caller, has no such qualms.
"I think we know what we have in Nick, I think management knows what they have in Nick, and we think he's a franchise quarterback."
