The St. Louis Rams are without question capable of making a big step forward in the 2015 season, and a big part of their success or lack thereof will hinge on the play of quarterback Nick Foles. He was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles this past offseason, and he is expected to give them a major upgrade under center.
Jeff Fisher had to work with Austin Davis and Shaun Hill as his quarterbacks last season, and there is no question that Foles will be a major upgrade over those two players. They have put together a very talented offense around him, and there is no reason why he shouldn’t dominate in 2015. He was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL during the 2013 season, and is hoping to get back to that form this season.
What can the Rams and their fan base realistically expect to see from Foles during the upcoming season?
Foles is going to put up huge numbers with the talent that has been put around him. He has an excellent running game with Todd Gurley and Tre Mason, and the receiving corps that he will have to work with is filled with talent as well.
At just 26 years old, Foles is just entering the prime of his career and is without question capable of being the missing quarterback that the Rams have been searching for. He has a very strong arm and has a lot of physical tools that can’t be taught. There were some obvious areas of concern last season before he went down with a broken collarbone, but nothing that his coaching staff in St. Louis can’t work with and help improve.
If he can get back the maturity and decision making that he had during his 2013 campaign, there is no reason why he can’t get back to being one of the league’s top quarterbacks. Having wide receivers like Tavon Austin, Brian Quick and Kenny Britt to work with will help, and Jared Cook is a very dangerous tight end for him to have as well.
Predicting statistics is never easy for any player, but it would be reasonable to expect Foles to throw for at least 4,000 yards, 28 touchdowns and only around 10 interceptions. He is more likely to be better than those numbers than worse, but it all depends on his health and the team around him. Foles definitely has the talent to be a big piece in turning the Rams back into a playoff contender, and there hasn’t been this much excitement in St. Louis for awhile.
Expect to see Foles come through with a big season, and be the difference maker that the Rams thought he could be. He certainly needed a fresh start after last season, and the Rams will be very happy that they were willing to give him that fresh start.
