http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angele...d-at-all-by-success-of-case-keenum-nick-foles
Wow!
Why Case Keenum and Nick Foles failed with the Rams
Jan 19, 2018
- Alden GonzalezESPN Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES -- Jeff Fisher has somehow emerged as a central figure in the buildup to the NFC Championship Game. Three of the quarterbacks who will be in uniform at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday have previously played for him. The two starters,
Case Keenum of the
Minnesota Vikings and
Nick Foles of the
Philadelphia Eagles, were employed by the same Fisher-led
Los Angeles Rams as recently as 18 months ago.
Fair or not, the success of Keenum and Foles -- much like
the triumph of first-year Rams head coach Sean McVay -- is yet another crushing indictment on Fisher, who during his tenure with the Rams could never do much with the two quarterbacks who now sit one win away from the Super Bowl.
Keenum went 7-7 with 13 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 37 Total QBR under Fisher, but has gone 14-11 with 34 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and a 61 Total QBR without him.
Foles went 4-7 with seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 29 Total QBR under Fisher, but has gone 19-11 with 56 touchdowns, 19 interceptions and a 57 Total QBR without him.
the exhilarating, unforgettable play that defeated the
New Orleans Saints with no time remaining in last Sunday's divisional round. Foles replaced an injured
Carson Wentz in Week 14 and has effectively managed games while helping the Eagles win three out of four, even while generally unspectacular.
Fisher, speaking on NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk on Wednesday, said he is "not surprised" by their success.
"Credit goes to both the organizations from the standpoint of realizing how important it is to have a quality backup quarterback," Fisher told host Mike Florio. "Both Nick and Case entered the same scenario -- at the start of the season, they were backups. They both are experienced, they've won games, they've played tough opponents, they've won games against good opponents. I'm not surprised at all."
On March 10, 2015, Fisher's then-St. Louis Rams added both of them. Keenum was reacquired from the
Houston Texans, while Foles came over from Philadephia in the trade that sent
Sam Bradford -- the former Vikings starter who now is serving as Keenum's backup -- to the Eagles.
Jared Goff's, mere footnotes in a dark time through Rams history.
Fisher complimented the work ethic of Keenum and Foles on Pro Football Talk, saying: "Both of these guys park at the parking lot at the facility and run into the building because they're so excited to come to work. There's energy, and they bring it. And that's why they're both playing in the championship game right now."
Some would say they're also playing in it because they're no longer shackled by the unimaginative offenses that Fisher had long overseen.