Carson Wentz Is The Most Underrated Quarterback Entering 2017
By Matt Giraldi
Carson Wentz vs. Jared Goff.
The Los Angeles Rams chose wrong. The proof could come as early as this season even though many pundits are still on the fence about Wentz.
As Carson Wentz begins preparation for season number two, he faces an uphill climb to impress his skeptics. While Jared Goff did not fare too well with the Rams, much of the misalignment there fell on Jeff Fisher‘s head. As for Wentz, people will find a way to be critical. Whether it’s his mechanics, their disdain for the Philadelphia Eagles in general or his 0-1 record against division rival, and fellow sophomore, Dak Prescott, people find a way to be unimpressed with Wentz. He appears to be making a strident effort to get better though. The rest of the league should be on the look out.
In Donovan McNabb‘s first full season as a starter, Chad Lewis was his most targeted “receiver.” The following year it was James Thrash. Wentz on the other hand goes from Jordan Matthews to Alshon Jeffery. All the shiny toys that Wentz received in the offseason will be put to use as well. Only Drew Brees, Joe Flacco, Blake Bortles and Aaron Rodgers had more passing attempts than Wentz last season.
When Wentz did throw, and it was often, his mechanics were the subject of immense criticism. From my understanding, Rome was not built in a day. What is interesting is that criticism has now apparently come from the team itself. That’s right. The Eagles reportedly showed displeasure that Wentz wanted to improve outside the confines of the team.
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Let’s clear a few things up:
The title of the article appears to make the situation much more dire than it actually is however. Alas, no one said being quarterback of the Eagles would be easy. The funniest aspect of the situation is that a team would be upset at a player seeking improvement.
Initial reports out of OTA’s were that Wentz has in fact shown improvement in his delivery. Suffice to say, those reports appear to be pretty accurate. Albeit a limited amount of video, the tape appears to show a much cleaner delivery compared to last season.
The players and journalists have taken notice. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer specifically noted Wentz’s spirals being tighter. Remember how I mentioned those new toys the Eagles got this offseason? Improved mechanics and footwork from Wentz would help immensely towards making those new acquisitions perform their best.
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Entering the 2017 season, it doesn’t appear that there’s an overabundance of confidence in Wentz ascending up the quarterback ranks. Not everyone shares the same optimism as Eliot Shorr-Parks unfortunately. Apparently Peter King feels negatively about the Eagles as well.
In my opinion that’s a good thing. Let the Eagles and Wentz earn their respect. A re-tooled offense and an improved defense should help Wentz take the next step in his maturation as an NFL quarterback. Being under the radar will only help fuel the young signal caller’s motivation. In the event everything clicks in year two, Wentz could deliver a playoff berth to Philadelphia for the first time since 2013. Of course, anything short of a Super Bowl win likely means the topic of Wentz being underrated could be a recurring theme for years to come.