Kolb's practice demeanor
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Kolb's practice demeanor
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
It happens at least once a practice: Kevin Kolb will drop back to pass, go through his reads and fire a dyslexic incomplete pass. The Eagles quarterback will then smack the side of his thigh or shake his head or slap his hands together or mutter something out loud that clearly demonstrates his unhappiness.
It hasn't been a common occurrance during team workouts at the NovaCare Complex, although Kolb hasn't had much help from the assortment of rookie and just-trying-to-make-the-team wide receivers he's had to pass to this week. But Kolb's practice demeanor as the starter has been notable for a few reasons.
For one, it stands polar to the way Donovan McNabb conducted himself on the Eagles practice field for over a decade. McNabb was loosey goosey. He smiled a lot. Liked to joke around with his teammates. If he was errant on a pass he would react and motion and yell, but he did it all with a laugh and a grin. Kolb just grits his teeth and stares.
Much could made of this, especially considering how McNabb was often criticized for his mannerisms. The point here isn't to say that one way is better than the other. It's just an observation. McNabb and Kolb have, in many ways, completely different personalities -- both on the field and off.
Interestingly enough, Kolb has already faced some nit-picking about his displays. From his own coach. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg often teaches his quarterbacks to keep their emotions in check and their body language impassive. Kolb, though, isn't apologizing for his ways. (Sound like anyone else?)
“I’ve been that way since the day I was born,” Kolb said earlier this week. “Marty tries to pull me back on that sometimes. But sometimes I think it’s good. He gets me to not show it, but sometimes I think guys in certain times need to see their quarterback get angry and go look, ‘Let’s flip the switch here and get going.’”
Earlier this month at minicamp, coach Andy Reid didn't seem too concerned about Kolb's effusive practice behavior.
"He forgets the last play but he's going to beat himself up over [mistakes]," Reid said. "That's okay, that'll make him good. He's got drive. He is put in a position with great expectations. As long as your expectations are greater than those around you, that's a good thing. He puts pressure on himself and there's nothing wrong with that. You need to be able to do that at that position."
I can see the comments now: "Kolb's a leader! He'll get in the players' faces on the sidelines! All McNabb used to do was sit on the bench with a towel over his head!"
Of course, this theory could gain traction when the team president says something that could be taken as a slight against a certain former Eagles quarterback. On occasion, Joe Banner is interviewed by the team's Web site for a video feature called "From the President's Desk." In the latest offering, the subject of leadership was broached in light of the fact that the Eagles have lost some valuable pieces in that regard over the last two years.
Banner's response: "I think we're at a stronger position, as far as leadership, as we've been. And we've had great leadership here."
Brian Dawkins. Brian Westbrook. Uh, McNabb?
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The Eagles added Daniel Jeremiah to their college scouting department. A former scout for the Browns and Ravens, Jeremiah most recently wrote the blog, "Move The Sticks."
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I could care less about his or McNabb's demeanor. He could tap dance in a tutu for all I care as long as they're WINNING! Winning is what I care most about with the Eagles & they did quite a bit of it with McNabb. There's a new starting QB now. If he can't do the job with 3 years under his belt & arguably the best O talent positions in a decade, bring in someone who can. Chumps are already making excuses for why they'll lose games this year. This QB needs to be held to the same standard. If the Eagles aren't even close to making the playoffs I would consider Kolb a bust with the talent around him & his 3 years in the system to learn.— Mabus
Intereception -- Do you remember the 2006 run?? Was that McNabb or Jeff Garcia? I don't recall... Help me out, bud. You know it's a team game? Didn't you say in one of your idiotic posts that he carried the team to being an "ANNUAL CONTENDER"? Come on... So... AGAIN, you want to give him all of the credit for the wins, and absolve him from responsibility for the losses. Whereas, reasonable fans (tornadoh) realize that the blame and credit falls on the TEAM. McNabb deserves credit AND blame.— dgreills
dgreills, Plenty of blame for the coaches too. My biggest complaint over the last 11 years is that McNabb was not a good fit for Reid's west coast offense and yet he refused to bend even a little to take advantage of McNabb's strengths and mitigate his weaknesses when that reality became apparent to anyone with half a brain (you know who I'm talking about). That and his dopey, predictable playcalling.— tornadoh- Comment removed.
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- kOBB said the Eagles are thinking Super Bowl this year! kOBBs been interning for the Eagles for 3 years now with the most offensive weapons the Eagles have had in 30 years. The kOBB gets red faced and fiery when he throws pick 6's in PRACTICE! The kOBB has a arm that can take the wings off a fly! With pin point precision passing and the quick reads he'll make, I just bought my Dom on ice for the Super Bowl 2011 ! ..this is Booduh endorsing BABYARM and I approve this message.LOL— BooDuhBud
- tornadoh - Absolutely. I was including the coaching staff when I referred to the team. The playcalling was balanced during the aforementioned "Garcia run". Reid loved putting his scheme and McNabb's arm on display. Dual blame there - Reid LOVES (obviously) throwing the ball (BYU) and McNabb didn't want to be known as a running QB. McNabb should do well in Shanahan's offense, and I wish him well. As you know, he's NOT a WC QB. That's an indictment of the coaching staff more than it is of McNabb. Reid is very stubborn in thinking his offensive "system" is so great that he can "plug and play" any personnel and it'll work; hence the ignorant belief that Torrance Small, Charles Johnson, Na Brown, Todd Pinkston, Reggie Brown and James Thrash could get the job done. The fact remains that McNabb didn't play well on the biggest stage. The coaching staff, the QB, the O-Line, the defense, and the special teams have ALL earned responsibility for their biggest losses. The common threads in the past decade: Reid AND McNabb. I hope the O-Line and defense take a big step forward to give Kolb some support.— dgreills
- Intereception - No, I don't remember that McNabb was 5-5 that season, while Garcia was 6-2; including consecutive victories in Washington, in New York, and in Dallas. Keep quoting stats.— dgreills
- Hey dgreills, It's really not fair to have a battle of wits with someone who is unarmed.— tornadoh
- Haha. It's too entertaining... 9-7 this year. Flyers in 6. Sixers back in the playoffs at the 7 or 8 seed. I'm done.— dgreills
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- dgreills, IMO AR stifled the growth and complete ability of this team. Bad picks of WRs, misuse of the biggest Oline in the NFL at that time, poor playcalling and time management, etc. The team could have been one of the best if run correctly but as you mention AR is to stubborn to change. For me the majority of the blame lies with him and the FO who were too stubborn to give him the ax but stupid enough to keep paying him for the same insanity year after year. The problem of leadership didn't fall on the QB (as we shall see) but on AR and FO.— realtruth
- aint banner the one said we had the best roster last year . I'm startn' to think he the one need to be replaced cause I see he don't no jack---- about football— bigALtheone
