Notes From the Reid Presser

Nick Foles has struggled a bit with the deep ball in his first five starts. Per Stats, Inc., the rookie signal-caller has gone 4-of-23 on attempts over 20 yards. Thanks to Sheil’s tracking, we know Foles was 2-of-8 on throws of 16 yards or more against Cincinnati last week. After a badly underthrown ball in the direction of Jeremy Maclin Thursday night, more questions began to bubble to the surface.

Andy Reid said on Friday that critics had similar concerns about Donovan McNabb‘s ability to long toss.

“They doubted his deep ball. He wasn’t real accurate with his deep ball,” said Reid. “You see that with some of these young quarterbacks where they put it up into coverage and sometimes guys make plays and sometimes they don’t.

“It’s footwork. It’s your footwork. Just getting used to the drops and then the pass rush lanes and all that. It’s a mixture of things; the secondary and the different coverages you are going to see, and getting yourself situated.”

Most coaches and analysts agree that arm strength is not the issue at all. It could just be part of the learning curve.

Other highlights from Reid’s presser:

— The head coach was asked about Danny Watkins‘ down year.

“Danny started off with an injury. You let another guy in, you learn a lesson there. He’ll have another opportunity to get in and get himself back in playing. He’s a good football player. It’s just with that group you want all five of them dancing the same dance and if somebody steps in and does a pretty good job with it and it works, you go with it.”

— Stanley Havili is out and Chris Polk is doubtful for Sunday. Emil Igwenagu will play fullback, meaning the newly-signed Evan Moore could get some snaps at tight end.

“He actually looks good. He did a nice job in the pass game and what we asked him to do in the run game, he was good with,” said Reid. “He understands the offense. He’s been there. He was with [Cleveland head coach] Pat [Shurmur] in Cleveland for three seasons and then in Seattle. He understands the terminology.”

— On what Foles learned from his first game against Washington:

“They got us with a little 22-man that first game and it was kind of his first shot at 22-man and they won on that. So, you go back and you learn from it,” Reid said. “That’s what he does. He’s diligent about that. He’s going to try to better himself and then we’ll try to make sure we give him the routes that he needs to go be successful against those certain coverages.”

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