Carson Wentz Is Proving Everyone Wrong, and Doing It Easily

Early August feels like a foggy, distant memory now when looking at Philadelphia Eagles rookie quarterback Carson Wentz. An undefeated start after Week 3 will have that effect, with Wentz's latest afternoon of brilliance coming in a 34-3 trouncing of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But flash back for a moment to early in training camp.

Those were less than optimistic times for the Eagles amid the sweltering summer heat. They appeared to be rebuilding, and Wentz would be the first piece of a new foundation.

He wasn't ready yet, though, and needed to be developed after starring at a lower college football tier.

The Eagles knew Wentz had the talent and physical attributes to eventually thrive as an NFL quarterback. But the game speed was much slower at North Dakota State, and the defenders he faced weren't remotely close to NFL-caliber.

He would need coaching and lots of film study away from the bright lights of NFL Sundays. Most of all, he would need time.

There's no right or wrong way to develop a quarterback, and the Eagles seemed intent on taking a road less traveled while being patient. That felt especially certain after Wentz suffered a rib injury during Week 1 of the preseason.

Then the Eagles jumped on an opportunity to capitalize on Sam Bradford's trade value. Just like that, the guy who was set to keep a seat cushion nice and toasty for Wentz was gone. And just like that, a rookie who took all of 38 preseason snaps was pushed into the starting quarterback fire.

Hilarity had to follow, right? Learning to play quarterback at the NFL level is the hardest adjustment in football. Heck, it might be the most difficult learning curve in sports. And yet there was Wentz in Week 1 taking on a starting job fresh out of North Dakota State with only slightly more than zero snaps to his name.

But three weeks later, no one is laughing.

It's difficult to put together words in real time while watching Wentz. Instead, the rookie elicits garbled screams and stunned silence as he makes the position look remarkably easy.

And in that awestruck state, we're taking in history, as ESPN Stats & Info noted:

Ball security is typically one of the primary concerns for any rookie quarterback with a background similar to Wentz's. Mistakes in the form of interceptions and fumbles aren't just tolerated. They're expected as part of the learning process.

When a young quarterback makes the jump to a far greater level of competition, he's usually granted that opportunity because of a belief that his physical skills are superior to most others'. But it's difficult, if not impossible, to gauge his ability to mentally process the game at a higher rate.

Wentz hasn't shown any weakness in that regard. Instead, he's shining during chaotic moments. Like when he sidestepped pressure from the Steelers and navigated his way through a collapsing pocket before floating the perfect touch pass to running back Darren Sproles.

Sproles then did the rest for a 73-yard touchdown.

That was one of Wentz's two touchdown passes on Sunday, which made the win over Pittsburgh his second game with more than one score. Overall, the 23-year-old has thrown five TDs without an interception.

The Eagles aren't easing him in or softening his NFL landing, either. Prior to Week 3, Wentz had attempted 14 passes that traveled 20-plus yards through the air. He had a completion percentage of 57.1 (sixth) on those throws, according to Pro Football Focus.

He's been able to deliver with confidence and accuracy to any area of the field, often doing it under duress. Wentz is a versatile passer in that sense, which led to 301 passing yards on Sunday at an average of 9.7 yards per attempt.

After three games, his per-attempt average rests at 7.5 yards, and he's completed 64.7 percent of his throws. Put it all together, and Wentz's start sounds more than solid.

It's been spectacularly rare, as NFL director of football communications Randall Liu observed:

There may be a temptation to look at Wentz's three-game stretch for the undefeated Eagles with a skeptical eye because of the opponents he's faced. Two of the three defenses he's thrown against so far are likely to be bottom-dwellers once the season is over (Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears).

But this can't be emphasized or repeated enough: That matters very little given where Wentz went to college and how much his rib injury cut short his preparation in August.

There was a widespread belief that he wouldn't be ready for any NFL defense. Now he's displaying something not often seen from rookie quarterbacks: a constant sense of calm.

The second overall pick in 2016 attributed his success to the guidance of Eagles first-year head coach Doug Pederson.

"Coach Pederson, for me, the communication we have is clear and it's an open line," Wentz said after thrashing Pittsburgh, per Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com. "He really respects my opinion on plays. If I'm feeling something ... he instills a lot of confidence in me. That is huge."

Wentz has pushed the Eagles to more than an unblemished record. They've been perfect in dominant fashion and are quickly looking like NFC East title contenders during what was supposed to be a season that featured one rebuilding step back, followed by many leaps forward in 2017.

The Eagles are the 11th team under the current playoff format to win each of their first three games by 14-plus points, per ESPN Stats & Info. The previous 10 teams made the playoffs, and four won the Super Bowl.

History is on Philadelphia's side moving forward. That's a nice position to be in, especially when your rookie quarterback is busy making history of his own.