Nick Piccone
Aptitude [noun]: 1. capability; ability; innate or acquired capacity for something; talent. 2. readiness or quickness in learning; intelligence. 3. the state or quality of being apt; special fitness.
Sounds about right.
Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich was on SiriusXM NFL Radio’s Movin’ The Chains Monday, and talked glowingly about Carson Wentz. Reich was quick to sing the praises of the guy who many are starting to doubt will be the third string quarterback on this team this coming season.
Reich wants competition between his quarterbacks. Doug Pederson, not so much. Pederson has gone on record a few times saying that Sam Bradford was his starting quarterback, no ifs, ands, or buts. That isn’t conducive to a quarterback competition at all.
Maybe that’s why Reich praised Wentz so highly. He knew the Philly media would hear it. He’s being honest, we assume. And it sounds like he really, really likes Wentz, maybe moreso than his two other quarterbacks.
His aptitude is off the charts. I’m not sure I’ve been around a guy that has as high an aptitude as him at this age. It’s really, really good and he has the work ethic to go along with it. He also has a maturity and a class about him to understand his role and understand he’s gotta earn his stripes. He’s doing that. He’s got a great attitude about it.”
Reich added that Wentz is “a dominant athlete” for the quarterback position, so the Eagles definitely sound pleased with the player they traded up to acquire in April. That may not speed Wentz’s rise to the first team if Bradford is successful this season, but any other outcome could find things moving more quickly.
Do you think Wentz and Bradford [and maybe Chase Daniel] should have a true quarterback competition? Or now that Bradford is back in the fold, leave things the way Pederson wants?
Listen to the audio of Reich below:
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