Eagles have quarterback controversy
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Eagles have quarterback controversy
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Andy Reid may want to avoid it -- indeed, it is he that controls it most -- but the coach has himself a quarterback controversy after Michael Vick replaced an injured Kevin Kolb and nearly guided the Eagles past Green Bay Sunday.
It is probably silly to suggest that the Eagles bench Kolb this early in his tenure as the starter. The Eagles changed the course of their history when they boldly traded away franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb and promoted Kolb in April. So it's unlikely to think Reid will abandon this path just because Kolb struggled in one half of play.
The 26-year-old Kolb also has two years left on his contract, while the 30-year-old Vick has one.
But Vick will likely get his opportunity to show that he's still a starter in this league when the Eagles play at Detroit next week and possibly the following week at Jacksonville. Kolb suffered a concussion in the second quarter, came back for one series and was pulled at the half. He will definitely sit out at least next week.
Vick, by the way, believes he's still a starter and raised some eyebrows with this quote he gave from the post-game podium seat Kolb was supposed to be sitting at:
"I still feel like I can play at a high level. I feel like if I had been out there for four quarters maybe we would have had a chance to win the game," Vick said. "But it's all hindsight now."
Reid, for the record, said Kolb is still his starter. But the young quarterback may test the coach's patience. He looked very tentative in the pocket. He completed just 5 of 10 passes for 24 yards with each completed pass coming underneath. When he did throw downfield he was nearly picked off three times. After the concussion he came back in and eyeballed DeSean Jackson for too long and was nearly intercepted by Clay Matthews.
"I'm going to take the responsibility for this," Reid said of Kolb's performance. "There were a few different things going on there. It wasn't just the quarterback or the offensive line. It was a combination of things. I'll make sure I go back and fix that."
Vick, on the other hand, was far from perfect. But he injected some energy into the sluggish offense with his dazzling runs, and he was fairly efficient passing the ball completing 16 of 24 passes.
"Honestly, I felt good when I was out there," Vick said. "I felt like I could play three or four more quarters. So that's a good thing. My legs [weren't] tired. I felt like I'm in shape, in great shape. I felt like I'm battling and that I fought and that I had the instinct and desire to win."
Love or hate him, discount him abilities as a quarterback or not, Vick was a long-time starter in this league. He knows how to the play the position.
The question for Reid, though, is whether he's willing to sacrifice a chance at winning to develop Kolb, and how long is he willing to stick with the young lad?
Like Kolb did a year ago when McNabb broke a rib in the first game of the season, Vick will likely have a one- or two-game audition. Will it be for the Eagles or for some other team looking for a starting quarterback next season?
Buckle your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
Cant judge a QB by 1 bad half.... if that was the case Mcnabb would have never started here.... he had plenty of them.... all 1st year QBs with a few exceptions, Mcnabb NOT being one of them have struggled, Manning(s) have, Elway did, Aikman Etc. Etc.— kramer65- I like Kolb, but also remember Bobby Hoying being touted as a franchise QB. Need I say I'm concerned right now??? I also like Vick but think if we have to depend on him as a starter we're in trouble. Once teams start game planning for him, his effectivness decrease alot. Either way, we may be alot of trouble ....— RocketC
Comment removed.- Have to admit Vick played well and I was in Kolbs corner. There is a difference however coming into a game when it looks like its out of hand. The defense thats ahead plays different, they allow more throws underneath, but I'm not taking anything away from him. BUT - what was that last play. I know not his fault, Reid made a terrible call, cementing his reputation in Philadelphia as a bad game day coach. That call was unbelievable.— watsonmr
There is no controversary because Reid was very clear in his statement that Kolb is the starter if healthy. Regardless of that, Vick should be in there. Kolb has shown no ability whatsoever to play the position. I'm not talking about first-year starter jitters or growings pains - those issues are understandable and acceptable. But he cannot make the throws that an NFL quarterback needs to make to be successful. That throw to Celek downt he seem in the 4th quarter - if Kolb is in the game he throws an intercpetion in that spot. Vick will struggle more as teams have time to prepare for him being the QB, as was not the case with the Packers, but even with that the Eagles are so much more better off because Kolb is not an NFL quarterback, its that simple.— CosmoK- Most first-year quarterbacks stuggle - true - but those guys show flashes at least. Watching Sam Bradford yesterday - he was absolutely dreadful - BUT he showed flashes, making crisp and good throws occassionally, but making bad decisions at times that cost his team the game. I can tolerate that stuff with Kolb as we go through the growth process, but he has not shown any flashes of talent that lead anyone to believe he is a player. Vick is NOT the answer, but for now he has to be the quarterback if this team is going to win any games this year.— CosmoK
- There's no real future with Vick. Just look at his career stats. He's a runner who can throw a bit. The fact that he was better yesterday was more about his overall experience. Kolb has shown he can throw so he has to be given a realistic shot, not half a game. Kolb may sit next week due to the concussion but he'll be starting again week 3. One good thing about getting Vick some playing time is it increases his trade value. Kolb really looked awful though. If he shows nothing better than that by game 4 or 5 then this would appear to be one of the biggest mistakes the Eagles have made. I suspect he'll turn it around. Anyone expecting a shot at the playoffs this year is delusional. This is all about getting a young team some experience and a young QB some reps.— s
- WATSONMR wrote: "Have to admit Vick played well and I was in Kolbs corner. There is a difference however coming into a game when it looks like its out of hand. The defense thats ahead plays different, they allow more throws underneath." Unfortunately, then you have to discount Kolb entirely because that is exactly the type of game where he had those 300 yard days last year.— jimmyj
- Comment removed.
Aint nothing wrong with Kolb or Bradley,just got knocked a little silly,boxer get knock silly all the time,Kolb got all week to recuperate,make no excuses,dude aint ready,he's been here how long,sanchez started his first year,bradford starting and Mcnabb aint got nothing to do with this,kolb aint no rookie— dmac6419- If they continue to put Kolb behind this line, his goose will be cooked. He has, as Vince McMahon's theme song goes, "No Chance!!!". Kolb was a mistake, and if Reid really cared about him, he'd sit him until he HAS no other choice but to play him. What Vick did yesterday and his comments after the game was "Michael being Michael". When you're THAT GOOD, it's okay to be yourself at all times.— XmarksTheSpot
- Thankfully, I've watched other new QBs and Andy Reid teams in years past. I'll go out on a limb and say that Kolb wasn't as bad as he appeared in this game. Same goes for the offense. And we can be sure to be saying that they aren't as good as they appear at some point later this season. They have lots of talent. They will play better and Kolb's learning curve should be shorter than a typical rookie because of all his preparation over the years. We don't have to worry about him getting the offense. He doesn't have experience and he got lots of it yesterday. What the team and the city needs to do is rally around him. I don't see any value in changing QBs at any point this season. If we keep losing, play Kafka some. He'll be the back up next year and could use some experience. Vick is gone after this year for sure. Running backs: Please continue to work on your blocking and picking up the blitz. It's a huge problem that must be fixed.— MikeP
- McNabb was not dreadful in the skins game. If you idiots saw the game you would see that he had 2 passes dropped in the end enzone and a nice bomb dropped by his best receiver. Don't forget that the skins Oline was equally dreadful when #5 dropped back, but he was able to make positive plays and avoided mistakes. Oh, and yes, he did not play in the last 2 Skins pre-season games and the offense is new to him. The MCNABB TRADE WAS A DISGRACE AND A SLAP IN THE FACES OF EAGLES FANS!!!! IF WE HAD #5 WE WOULD HAVE BEEN 1-0 AFTER LAST NIGHT. The Eagles made a huge blunder in the McNabb trade. Where were the bombs to DeJack??— Bigbadrookie
- McNabb was not dreadful in the skins game. If you idiots saw the game you would see that he had 2 passes dropped in the end enzone and a nice bomb dropped by his best receiver. Don't forget that the skins Oline was equally dreadful when #5 dropped back, but he was able to make positive plays and avoided mistakes. Oh, and yes, he did not play in the last 2 Skins pre-season games and the offense is new to him. The MCNABB TRADE WAS A DISGRACE AND A SLAP IN THE FACES OF EAGLES FANS!!!! IF WE HAD #5 WE WOULD HAVE BEEN 1-0 AFTER LAST NIGHT. The Eagles made a huge blunder in the McNabb trade. Where were the bombs to DeJack??— Bigbadrookie
- McNabb was not dreadful in the skins game. If you idiots saw the game you would see that he had 2 passes dropped in the end enzone and a nice bomb dropped by his best receiver. Don't forget that the skins Oline was equally dreadful when #5 dropped back, but he was able to make positive plays and avoided mistakes. Oh, and yes, he did not play in the last 2 Skins pre-season games and the offense is new to him. The MCNABB TRADE WAS A DISGRACE AND A SLAP IN THE FACES OF EAGLES FANS!!!! IF WE HAD #5 WE WOULD HAVE BEEN 1-0 AFTER LAST NIGHT. The Eagles made a huge blunder in the McNabb trade. Where were the bombs to DeJack??— Bigbadrookie
