Philadelphia Eagles: Who Starts At Quarterback?

Who starts at quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles? Sanchez and Bradford are battling it out, but only one can win the competition. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Check out more of the brothers in Seesaw Sports Debate on BuzzChomp. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.

TODD:

Is it really the foregone conclusion everyone thinks that Sam Bradford is going to be the Philadelphia Eagles’ starting quarterback in Week 1 vs. the Atlanta Falcons?

Yes, they traded away Nick Foles and draft picks to acquire Bradford from St. Louis, but…okay, that’s a pretty big factor here. Nevertheless, I’m not convinced Bradford has this job all sewn up just yet.

His main competition is the former Sanchize, Mark Sanchez. Now Sanchez wasn’t anything special last year during his time as the starter, but he wasn’t actually any worse than Foles was. In fact, he was arguably the better player.

So with eight starts in Chip Kelly’s offense already under his belt and those being pretty good reps at that, why can’t Sanchez be the superior option to Bradford? Furthermore, Bradford was available in a trade for a reason (besides there being one more year due on his astronomical contract). He is coming off of an entire missed year due to injury.

Bradford could be a good fit for the Eagles offense if he’s healthy and upright in the pocket, but what if Sanchez is already just as good of an option without those major questions?

Coach Kelly came out and said there would be a competition for the starting quarterback position, but that’s just something coaches have to say. I didn’t necessarily believe him. He couldn’t come out directly and give the job to Bradford, especially if the latter isn’t 100 percent. But now I’m starting to think Kelly lucked into that headline anyway because the job should be an open competition.

Revitalize the Sanchize!

May 28, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford (7) loosens up during OTA

DAN:

I rooted for Mark Sanchez for several successful season in New York, and several highly forgettable affairs. He’s a smart player that needs his head coach’s 100% backing to ride through a season. Sanchez can lead a team, do it well, and come out with lots of victories. Does that make him the better player or best option for the Eagles?

Looking at both quarterbacks’ ESPN profiles is a little scary. Their photos look eerily similar, as do their recent stat lines. Sanchez appeared in nine games last season to Bradford’s seven. Each threw fourteen touchdowns with over 60% completion. It truly needs to be an open competition.

Put a boring, yet consistent, quarterback on the Eagles and there is no debate. That player gets the starting job. Philadelphia’s offense is potent, with a bevy of options rushing and passing the football. The problem currently is that both Sanchez and Bradford have matched flashes of greatness with moments of purely awful play.

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