Is Kolb 'close enough' to deal McNabb?
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Is Kolb 'close enough' to deal McNabb?
Daily News staff
We usually don't recap radio interviews here on Eagletarian, but we thought the conversation that WIP's Glen Macnow and Anthony Gargano had with NBC's super analyst, Cris Collinsworth, this week, regarding Donovan McNabb was worthy of some attention.
Collinsworth is among the best analysts out there, despite his candor often rubbing some fans the wrong way.
Collinsworth was asked about McNabb's future and the possibility of the Eagles' turning over the offense to Kevin Kolb. He pointed out that Kolb's most impressive performance actually might have been the much-criticized appearance last year against Baltimore when McNabb was benched for the second half. Collinsworth said Kolb went on the road, against a great defense, with no practice reps and took the offense down the field in a "West Coast, Bill-Walsh style."
"I’m not questioning the talent of Donovan McNabb, I really am not," Collinsworth said. "That guy has done tremendous things in Philadelphia. The question is could Kevin Kolb come in and be close enough to what Donovan is that we can make a deal, with Donovan still in the prime of his career, where we could come up with two No. 1 draft picks.
"Is Kevin Kolb now after 2-3 years in a position to run a true West Coast offense, which they really have not run under Andy Reid yet? I got to think Andy somewhere in the back of his head is thinking what if we really did this West Coast with Kevin Kolb."
Collinsworth said tight end Brent Celek, fullback Leonard Weaver and a more developed LeSean McCoy could be cornerstones of a West Coast system with the Eagles. He said the wide receivers don't exactly fit the mold because of their size.
But, would a team give you two No. 1s for McNabb?
"I think it’s really feasible. I really do," Collinsworth said. "It would take a blockbuster deal, a couple of No. 1s to think about it. [You could get that] I think from certain teams, and I think the Buffalo Bills are right at the top of my list because they are in desperation mode. They have to have something to sell tickets."
However, Collinsworth cautioned, "The easiest thing to do is fall in love with a backup quarterback. You need to be careful about thinking ths grass is greener. The debate is how ready is Kevin Kolb."
Collinsworth called the Eagles' playoff loss to Dallas. He got some attention for a sarcastic jab at the Eagles' unwillingness to run during the broadcast.
"They have to do so much to help their pass protection," he told WIP. "Clearly to me that was the difference in the ballgame. They were running a lot of two-man routes essentially to get Jackson and Maclin down the field. If they ran it a little bit more, I think [that would relieve] some of the pass pressure that is on their protection schemes a little bit because they don’t run it too badly … I don’t know against a great defense like that, if you can get away with playing like that."
NO LONDON FOR EAGLES
Despite all the rumors about the Eagles playing the San Francisco 49ers in London this season, you can forget about making your reservations. Instead, the NFL announced today that the Denver Broncos will face the Niners at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 31. As expected, the game is technically a San Francisco "home game."
If we are still in a "can KK play?" mode after 3 years of riding the pine why even consider trading DM? The coaching staff has been watching this guy in practice [for what the staff is worth and for what practice is worth] but if questions still remain he was a bust of a pick to begin with. At this point they should know for sure, one way or the other if he can play. BTW, Collinsworth is usually dead on, never understood the dislike unless the truth hurts.— tpizza
Collinsworth is not the only analyst who has commented on the Eagles being one dimensional,therefore predictable,offensively.— homer2811- Were the Chargers ready to part with Drew Brees after a Pro Bowl year and to Phillip Rivers? Were the Packers ready to walk away from a legend in team history, to go to Aaron Rodgers? Probably not, but both of those teams took the chance and made the move. I'm not sayiing that Kolb would be like either of those QB's, but when you draft a guy that high, you have so see what you have. Even if you could only get one first round pick for Donovan, I'd still do the deal. I can't understand why people would question a team for keeping one player over another. If Dawkins was expendable, so is McNabb...— KingHoser
Comment removed.- What is Collinsworth smoking? No GM in his right mind is giving up ONE #1 draft pick for a 33 year-old QB let alone two.— Enough_Excuses
That's it, tpizza...the truth hurts some around here. Give it tom me straight, Doc....that's how I roll. Donovan was a good QB in the time that he was here. No Trophy but a good QB. HOF? Doubt it. Here's the biggest problem with keeping McNabb: His primary weapons go at a very high, youthful speed. McNabb is much slower. If anything, Kevin Kolb is more of contemporary in relation to Jackso, Maclin, McCoy, Celek, et al. It's time to give Kolb a full season as the number 1. Sign a FA backup QB and draft another QB in the later rounds. Trade McNabb and release Vick. I want Kolb. Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound like a racist...give me a friggin break.- tpizza, I am with you (yet again). Great minds DO think alike. I love Collinsworth, always have, he's not afraid to make an outrageous statement when it is dead on and accurate, as opposed to the Irvin's and Emmitt's of the world who make outrageous statements for the sake of making an outrageous statement. We, and by "we" I mean Piggy and his piglets in the FO, should know by now if Kolb can produce. I think he can and will, but to strap SB expectations to this guy right away is premature. Also, not sure if we can get 2 1st round picks for 5. If we can get 2, then we should be speaking with StL about that overall #1— The Reddgie
- KingHoser: The reason you would question it is if you went with Kolb and went 5-11, that probably wouldn't be a qood thing.— snakeman
- From what I saw in the pre season and the few times he was in. I don't think so. Collinsworth was so happy go luck over the Dallas win it was sickening, I wouldn't take anything he says as the gold standard, Madden, yeah not Collinsworth, I don't like him and I don't like his commentary, along with a few others on the Fox network (Bias, Bias, Bias). There should be rule when these guys retire and move on to broadcasting that they aren't allowed to broacast for their former teams. There are enough teams ancd enough games that they do not need to be the play by play guys for their former teams. Someone, please explain why everyone is so fixated on McKnabb and a super bowl win, look at his overall record it's just as good if not better then some of the other QB's in the league. Every time this comes up my answer is Dan Murino, I rest my case. Also need I say Jerry Jones has deep pockets, Jeffrey Lurie has his sewn closed.— annec
- Comment removed.
- Keep Kevin, trade Donnie. But, for 2 No. 1's?? Hope and change?? I would take just a No. 1 period if it were high enough to really aid the team for next season. Or 2, No. 2's. Two choices who could really be support staff could really help this team regain some D and O cred.— KGKoons
- Obviously there are still questions about whether Kolb can be a successful QB over the course of a season. He hasn't done it yet. Until he actually does it, then it's still an unknown. Duh. You can't guarantee how someone will perform until they have the chance. Is there anything else to report about the Eagles? Needs for the draft? Status of injured players? Anything? It's barely been a week since the loss to Dallas, the next round of the playoffs haven't even been played yet, and we've already had dozens of "should the Eagles trade McNabb" articles. Geez, pace yourselves. Not to mention, it's the same recycled stuff that we get every off-season and usually a few times during the season. Find a new topic to write about already.— JimG
- If you can get even one 1st round pick for McNabb I would make the deal. I like McNabb, but there are no guarantees that McNabb stays with the Eagles once his contract is up. Might as well get something for him now and move on with Kolb. Adding a 1st round pick would give the Eagles an excellent shot at getting a top defensive playmaker. Eric Berry would look great in green!— Philly Dom
- How can he ever be considered to be ready until he gets a chance on the field??? This is a rediculous argument. I dont know if he'll be a bust or not, but Ive seen many well known "great" quarterbacks do worse than him in their 1st 2 starts. What happened to the days when a quarterback was allowed to have some growing pains before stepping forward as a quarterback? Now they have to be drafted and be Dan Marino right out of the gate. We're such a short-sighted and simple-minded society anymore. We have zero patience. Most fans under 35 probably dont remember the days when a drafted quarterback carried a clipboard for 2 years no matter what before his 1st chance. The bottom line is that even if the eagles regresss as far as wins with Kolb in there, its a natural circumstance where you take a step backward before 2 steps forward. We shouldnt trade donovan because he cant win. We should trade him because Andy Reid refuses to put in a system built around donovan mcnabb. He insists on keeping a system built for steve young. Andy isnt going anywhere so you might as well move mcnabb. He has too much of an uphill battle to overcome his own deficiencies that are highlighted in an offensive system built for a different type of qb.— sjmatt99
- Kolb is a better pocket passer than Donovan and that is the truth. Now that Donovan doesn't run that often, he is less of a dynamic & effective QB. He lacks the accuracy and touch to be a pure pocket passer. Kolb is the future.— RealFan10
