Skip to content
Eagles
Link copied to clipboard

Eagles win but Kolb struggles

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kevin Kolb had one of those games that everyone seemed to say the first-year starting quarterback was going to have.

"That wasn't quite as sharp as we would have liked it, for sure," Kevin Kolb said of the offense. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
"That wasn't quite as sharp as we would have liked it, for sure," Kevin Kolb said of the offense. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kevin Kolb had one of those games that everyone seemed to say the first-year starting quarterback was going to have.

And yet, after two solid outings in his first two preseason games, Kolb's performance in the Eagles' ugly 20-17 win over the Chiefs on Friday night at Arrowhead Stadium seemed much worse than just a hiccup.

True, it was only an exhibition and, yes, the Eagles quarterback was without his No. 1 wide receiver after DeSean Jackson left with a neck injury. But Kolb could do almost nothing right, and neither could his pass-blocking offensive line or his best remaining receiver.

Coach Andy Reid had his own opinion.

"I think this was great work for him," Reid said. "I think there were some positive situations. He did some good things early, and we just got to keep it rolling and give him opportunities. Everybody had a little piece of that pie."

Kolb was not happy.

"That wasn't quite as sharp as we would have liked it, for sure," Kolb said. "There are a lot of details we have to clean up. There needs to be some special attention to it, starting with myself. The shining light of the whole thing is that it's 0-0 come here in two weeks, and we start fresh."

If there was a saving grace for the starting offense it was that the running game, seemingly buoyed by the return of left guard Todd Herremans, showed a pulse. LeSean McCoy ran for 28 yards on five carries, the bulk of those yards coming on an 18-yard touchdown burst that gave the Eagles a first-quarter 7-0 lead.

"The fullback and linemen made a nice crease and some great down low blocks. I just hit it," McCoy said.

Fullback Leonard Weaver trudged 12 yards on three tries, and Mike Bell finally got his first game action of the preseason. The running back, set back by hamstring and calf injuries, managed just 17 yards on eight carries. But his return was a welcome addition in light of the run game's recent struggles.

The rest was a mess, until backup quarterback Mike Kafka hit Riley Cooper with a touchdown pass for the win in the final minute.

In the first two preseason games, the Eagles failed to score a touchdown the three times they reached the red zone. McCoy's scamper was the first six-pointer from inside the 20-yard line. But the drive started after a Kansas City fumble on its own 22. And Kolb wasn't even under center when McCoy scored.

Michael Vick, who did not quarterback the second team, replaced Kolb and handed off to the second-year tailback. Vick saw his most action with the first team this preseason, entering six times. The results were mixed.

Whether Vick's part-time duty affected his rhythm, Kolb wasn't sharp. He completed just 11 of 25 passes for 103 yards and threw his first interception of the preseason. Kolb has yet to throw a touchdown pass in a little more than six quarters of preseason play, and two more trips inside the red zone netted a pair of David Akers field goals.

It was a decidedly different Kolb from the one who led the Eagles to a 34-14 victory over the Chiefs last year in his second career start.

Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin didn't help matters with several drops. And neither did a porous line that had Kolb running for his health. He was sacked four times in a little more than three quarters, although one of the losses was of his own doing when he held the ball too long.

The Eagles' first-team defense fared much better - causing two first-half turnovers - although it was far from perfect. The first turnover, a fumble, wasn't forced. But when quarterback Matt Cassel threw behind his intended receiver later in the first quarter, rookie cornerback Trevard Lindley tipped the ball into his own hands for his first career interception.

The Chiefs managed only one first down on their first five drives. Some of it had to with their own ineptitude and some had to do with the Eagles' defense, especially their front four.

Tackle Brodrick Bunkley recorded a sack. Brandon Graham, in his first start at end, hurried Cassel into throwing into the paws of Trent Cole. The rookie finished with four tackles in the first half. Cole was a menace until he left with an ankle sprain.

Kansas City did, however, put together a long, clock-eating drive before the half that resulted in its first touchdown. The 16-play drive covered 63 yards and gobbled up 7 minutes, 24 seconds.