A projected top 10 pick had he entered the 2012 draft QB Matt Barkley now likes a Round 2 selection.(Photo Robert Hanashiro USA TODAY Sports)
PHILADELPHIA Chip Kelly said all along he could build an offensive system around Michael Vick or Nick Foles and that a mobile quarterback wasn't a necessity for him.
The Philadelphia Eagles' coach and the team's front office backed up those words Saturday by trading ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs to grab Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley with the first pick of the fourth round.
Surprise
Or not to those in the know.
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I wouldn't say surprised Barkley said on a conference call with reporters. I knew they had been interested in me from how their coaching staff expressed it in Indianapolis at the (NFL scouting) combine and then with their visits out to USC for the workouts.
It doesn't come as a complete surprise but it was a good wake up call this morning.
And a wake up call for those who assumed only a quarterback like Vick could run Kelly's offense because Barkley and his minus 113 career rushing yards (sacks included) in college are on their way to Philly.
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We are an equal opportunity scoring offense Kelly said echoing a refrain he's said since his introductory press conference in January. If we can wing it we'll wing it. If we can run it we'll run it. There will be a lot of balls thrown over the next couple months.
In an odd way the selection of Barkley is a good development for Foles last year's third round pick in whom the team has expressed plenty of confidence publicly and privately by nudging away any possibly suitors. The fact the Eagles are interested in Barkley validates Kelly's statement he would be fine having a traditional pocket passer as his quarterback.
So it's good news for Foles provided he can beat out Barkley and Vick.
You know I don't even know exactly what direction we're moving in right now. All I know is I'll be wearing an Eagles uniform and looking to help that team Barkley said. From what I hear it's not going to look exactly the same as it did at Oregon. The team is different the personnel is different than what (Kelly) had last year. They have a pro style coaching staff. If they stick to that I'll work in it I'll be a part of that offense.
It doesn't matter what we run. I'm going to give it my all.
Barkley was a little on edge Saturday morning after being passed over in the first three rounds and getting a few prank calls from blocked numbers Friday night. He went for a walk with his fianc e and prayed for the best he said. Meanwhile he'd gotten word he wouldn't be on the board long. In fact he'd been told the Chiefs and former Eagles coach Andy Reid were interested in grabbing him.There were reports to the contrary but Barkley believes Kansas City wanted him.
But the Eagles beat them to it Barkley said. So that's that.
For now. Over the next few months it's going to get really interesting with Vick Foles and Barkley competing in OTAs minicamp and training camp. Barkley said a separated shoulder which affected his draft stock is good to go. Kelly said it's more about accuracy than arm strength for Barkley.
To play at the level of college football that we were at or to play in the NFL you need to have a quarterback that's accurate and can deliver the football and protect it not turn it over and do all those things Kelly said. The fact that they have the ability to run I believe that's an added bonus. But that's not the precursor to what we do.
Barkley completed 64 percent of his passes in four seasons with the Trojans.
Added Kelly I'm going to steal a quote from (ex Browns coach) Sam Rutigliano who used to say 'With a quarterback it's like a tea bag. You don't know what you have till you put it in hot water.' And the first time I saw Matt Barkley he was a true freshman and he came into Autsen Stadium which is one of the toughest places to play in the world and it didn't phase him a bit.
Matt Barkley was never a freshman. There was just a poise about him. There was a calm about him. Those intangible qualities that you really look for and it's tough to quantify there's not a test for it but over the course of time when you watched him play he played through all sorts of different scenarios at USC. And when you meet him interviewed him at the combine there were a couple kids at the combine who were just off the charts when we interviewed them.
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