Nick Foles insists he's no different than the person who arrived at the NovaCare Complex two years ago as a 23-year-old rookie.
Foles is three months removed from a breakout season, one in which he led the league with the third-highest quarterback rating in NFL history. It was a campaign that resulted in an NFC East title for the Eagles and concluded with Foles earning Offensive MVP honors at the Pro Bowl.
But there is a difference in Foles. And it's more than the fact that he got married earlier this month to his college girlfriend, Tori. Foles enters this offseason as the unquestioned starter at the quarterback position and has assumed the role of one of the leaders in the locker room. There will be no battle with Michael Vick in this year's Training Camp, as Vick signed with the New York Jets knowing there wasn't a chance for him to start in Philadelphia. Foles is authentic in how he's remained grounded through his friends, his family and faith. Yet, Foles' words carry the weight of a man firmly in control and ready to help take the Eagles to the next level in 2014.
"I just feel like me. I feel like how I was last year when I was playing," Foles said on Wednesday. "I need to keep getting better. I've always felt there's never a time to relax in this game because there's always something to work on. That's how I feel inside. Every day is an opportunity to get better and you've got to make your teammates better.
"At the end of the day, the quarterback's got to be the best quarterback that gives the team success. That's why I have to keep working everyday to be that guy because if I'm not that guy somebody else will take it."
Even though Foles set the NFL record for highest passer rating in a single month (152.8 in November) and threw 27 touchdowns against only two interceptions all season, the third-year quarterback acknowledged that he has room to improve. In 16 career regular season starts, Foles has completed 62.5 percent of his pass attempts for 4,590 yards with 33 touchdowns vs. seven interceptions for a 101.0 rating. Now that there's tape on Foles, he is self-scouting himself. Does he use the same footwork on certain plays? Do his eyes give away where he's going with the football? Foles acknowledged that he wants to improve by getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers faster. Foles will benefit from playing in the same offense for the second straight year after having to learn Chip Kelly's scheme last offseason.
"Once you start understanding things more, you can get to routes faster," Foles said. "If you look at Peyton Manning, he gets the ball out really fast because he's done it for a long time."
Foles envisions the offense to function the same even after the release of wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Foles understands that Jackson will be a "hard guy to replace," but he has confidence that his teammates will fill the role. Foles welcomes back Jeremy Maclin, "a top-tier receiver" in the quarterback's eyes, as well as a new addition in running back Darren Sproles.
"I'm excited as the quarterback to get him the ball in space and let him do his thing," Foles said of Sproles. "He's one of the quickest guys I've ever seen. He's been a great addition in the locker room. I'm excited to see what we do with him this year."
In just over a week, the Eagles will begin to add more pieces in the NFL Draft. Just two years ago, Foles was waiting to see where he would begin his NFL career. Foles contends that he's the same person that he was then. It just so happens that he's now entrenched as the starting quarterback.
