Carson Wentz: 5 Reasons Starting Rookie is Answer for Philadelphia Eagles
Carson Wentz will be starting for the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. And that’s the exact move that the team should be making for 2016 and beyond
As if the Philadelphia Eagles weren’t already in the headlines enough, they’re at it again. Just days after trading Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings, the Eagles announced their starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns. No, it’s not the veteran backup Chase Daniel getting the nod. Instead, it’s rookie and No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz that will be under-center for Doug Pederson’s first game.
This move isn’t all that shocking by Pederson and the Eagles. After the Bradford trade, there was word that Wentz would be the starter as soon as he was healthy. Well, apparently his ribs are ready to roll because he’s being handed the keys.
Obviously Carson Wentz is believed to be the quarterback for the future in Philadelphia. The Eagles wouldn’t have mortgaged a bevy of draft picks to trade up to No. 2 if that wasn’t the case. However, there are still going to be those saying that it’s too soon to start Wentz. Given his struggles in his limited preseason action, that’s a viable opinion.
However, it’s also a wrong opinion. Starting Wentz is the right move for the Eagles to make as they head into this new season. Any other option would have been misguided in whatever they attempted to do. Here are five reasons as to why Carson Wentz being given the reins is the right move for Philadelphia.
Sep 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson during the first quarter against the New York Jets at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
5. Doug Pederson’s Offense
Before Wentz getting the starting job ultimately became inevitable, there was plenty of chatter about Daniel as the Eagles starter. One of the things that was widely discussed was his familiarity with Pederson’s system as they were together in Kansas City. Most people viewed that as a positive for his prospects as the Eagles starter.
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While the rookie obviously doesn’t have the same familiarity as Daniel, he’ll still benefit greatly from playing in Pederson’s offense. If you harken back to his time working with the Chiefs’ offense, Alex Smith wasn’t exactly looking like Brett Favre in the offense. No, he was the polar opposite of a gunslinger. Pederson never asked Smith to play outside himself or try to do too much. When you translate that approach to a rookie, it’s more than favorable.
Yes, Wentz struggled in numerous situations during his first ever taste of NFL action in the preseason. However, Pederson’s offense isn’t going to put him in any hairy situations. He’s going to cater to the rookie’s strengths and never ask him to get in over his head. While there will still certainly be growing pains, you have to put in the player with more upside in Wentz over the relatively known commodity in Daniel.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 11: Carson Wentz
4. Time To Build a Rapport
There’s no mistaking the fact that the Chip Kelly era in Philadelphia left their roster in a poor position. Kelly’s free wheeling and dealing that was ultimately unsuccessful now has the Eagles scrambling to make their depth chart at skill positions look presentable. That being said, there are still a handful of impressive young players that Wentz will be throwing to. Thus, him starting now is great for his relationship on the field moving forward with these young teammates.
When you look at guys like tight end Zach Ertz or wide receivers Jordan Matthews and Dorial Green-Beckham, the talent is evident in an obvious way. Ertz has proven he can be an effective target in any area of the field. Matthews, when healthy, has shown that he can be a reliable option. Then there’s Green-Beckham who has seemingly limitless potential if developed properly. So to then imagine a rookie quarterback being able to come into the league and develop with these guys is quite enticing for an Eagles fan.
Sure, the jury is still out on what any of those three receiving options will look like a couple years down the road. However, it’s exceedingly positive for the organization that this trio of options will have the opportunity to grow alongside the believed future of the offense.
Aug 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) attempts a pass to tight end Zach Ertz (86) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
3. Challenged With Adversity
Regardless of if the Eagles held onto Sam Bradford or started Daniel, this offense likely wasn’t going to be very good. Saying their running game is suspect is putting it kindly while their offensive line leaves a lot to be desired—particularly with Lane Johnson out of the mix due to his suspension. Therefore, it’s reasonable to believe that there’s going to be a fair amount of adversity to come up against for the Philadelphia offense.
So the fact that Carson Wentz is going to be thrust into a role where he must handle that kind of hardship is fantastic. Players can have all of the tools and mechanics in the world, but that doesn’t matter if he can’t handle the mental pressures of the NFL. Thus, the Eagles will be giving themselves a front row seat into what Wentz’s mental makeup is. From the coaches to the front office, they’ll be able to see how he handles this type of struggle and if he responds like a leader or crumbles under the weight of the situation.
Again, Wentz having bad moments or game isn’t him crumbling. For the most part, that’s really just him adjusting physically to the NFL and what it takes to be successful in that regard. It’s going to be how he deals with those struggles and responds both on the field and to the press that really defines who is in this league right out of the gate. And really, it’s better to find that out sooner rather than later.
Aug 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Chase Daniel (10) drops back to pass during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
2. Chase Daniel is Inconsequential at This Point
Though the Eagles may have signed him to a surprisingly sizeable contract this offseason, Chase Daniel was never going to be the answer in a post-Sam Bradford era in Philadelphia. After years in this league as a backup at a couple of stops, there’s a reason why he’s never been given the chance by another team. He’s a good hand to have on deck in case of emergency. That doesn’t mean he’s the player to start over a No. 2 overall pick.
Sure, there’s a good chance that Daniel would have put up better numbers in 2016 than Wentz ultimately will. Based on his veteran experience as a backup alone, that makes complete sense. However, this isn’t about statistical output or how many games the Eagles win this season. Starting either Daniel or Wentz, this team isn’t going to be bringing the Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia after Super Bowl 51.
What this is about, though, is how each quarterback starting moves the needle for the franchise. With Daniel, you’re starting a player with limited upside that likely isn’t going to factor into the future of the organization. Contrarily, Wentz essentially is the future of the organization with how much faith they showed in drafting him. Thus, it’s much more reasonable to make Wentz the present as well to help more adequately prepare for the future.
Aug 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) breaks the tackle of Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Kourtnei Brown (90) during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 17-9. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
1. The Primary Argument Against It Is Flawed
When it comes to starting rookie quarterbacks, the chief argument against it is always the success-rate of guys developing as a backup before taking control of the position and team. Critics of what the Eagles are doing will point to player like Aaron Rodgers and talk about how much he benefitted from playing behind Brett Favre until his time finally came. However, that argument is intrinsically flawed.
It’s almost a logical fallacy to look at quarterback development in that manner. Just because there are examples of that method working doesn’t mean that it’s 100 percent effective or that there aren’t quarterbacks who have started right away and been successful. It all depends on the particular situation. And when you look at Philadelphia and Wentz, their situation dictated starting Wentz being the best option.
What benefit would it truly be to Wentz moving forward to spend a year (or more) playing behind a quarterback he has far more upside than on a bad team? He’s not in need of physical maturation. The flaws in Wentz’s game are those that will only be remedied by experience and coaching. Thus, the best way for him to get that will be for him to be the starter for the Eagles.
There are going to be those that oppose this move vehemently still. While they may feel validated if Wentz struggles throughout his rookie year as a starter, I’ll still stand on this hill. Starting the North Dakota State product is the right move for this team and this player.