Quick links: Scout's take on Kolb
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Quick links: Scout's take on Kolb
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Today was supposed to be Victor Abiamiri's season in review, but I was a little more swamped than I expected and never got around to reviewing my notes on him.
That will come Wednesday. I promise. No sleep until we post on Abiamiri.
In the mean time, some quick nuggets below to hold you over.
Oh, and you can now become a fan of MTC on Facebook. I'll post updates over there also.
* By now, you've undoubtedly heard Kevin Kolb's radio comments where he refuted a report that he and the Eagles were talking contract extension. If the Eagles trade Donovan McNabb, an extension for Kolb would make sense. But until that happens, not sure why they'd approach the subject.
* Speaking of Kolb, Matt Williamson of Scouts, Inc. offered a report on him on ESPN.com:
"I think he can make every throw. He's a quick decision-maker, and he's a good enough athlete. Kolb has everything you want physically, and the ball comes out of his hand really nice. He has an awful lot of upside, almost like a Matt Schaub when he was in Atlanta or Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay [waiting] behind Brett Favre. Kolb just needs to get a crack at it. I kind of feel like he's the next guy to be breaking out, either with his present team or with a new team. Considering what some of the teams are starting in this league, I would start Kolb today, still being more of an unknown, over 10 or 12 starting quarterbacks for sure."
* ESPN loves all things McNabb/Kolb. Every day, they have an analyst talking about the Eagles' quarterback situation. And yesterday, when I logged on to ESPN.com's NFL page, they had a picture of McNabb to go along with a piece on the NFC South. Why? Blogger Pat Yasinskas was asked in a mailbag about the possibility of McNabb somehow landing in Carolina. His response:
If the Panthers tag [Julius] Peppers and the Eagles made McNabb available in a trade, I think that’s something the Panthers would have to consider. But it’s sounding more and more like the Panthers just might let Peppers walk. If that happens, I don’t know that will instantly free up $20 million. I think the Panthers, like a lot of teams, are going to be conservative this year because of the labor situation. Still, somehow, I’d like to see them get a quality quarterback. I think Matt Moore is an option, but he certainly isn’t a sure thing. John Fox needs a sure thing at quarterback.
* For whatever it's worth, Vic Carucci of NFL.com writes that the Eagles "are being mentioned as having possible interest" in Peppers.
* Jason La Canfora of NFL.com has the Eagles fifth in his 2010 rankings. The Saints and Packers are the only NFC teams ahead of them:
The Eagles need to solidify offensive line, but love the Dick Jauron hire. Great depth at quarterback.
* Adrian Hasenmayer of FoxSports.com has the Eagles ninth in his 2010 power rankings:
One of the season's bigger frauds was exposed when Philly got blasted by Dallas in back-to-back weekends in January. This team has more lingering questions than most contenders -- QB, RB, O-line and defense.
Can't wait till this kid takes over and shows people what this offense is supposed to look like with a 'quick decision maker' who can 'make all the throws' and 'has everything you want physically'... Hopefully one day soon enough, a lot of folks around here will get to see that the sky won't fall down just because 5 isn't under center here- Hey Sheil, If the Eagles are evaluating their options at QB, don't you think it would make sense that they would approach Kolb about an extension? That way, they know what it would take to sign Kolb, which will in turn help them with their decision. If they haven't approached him about an extension, I would assume that they are not thinking extension, and are planning on keeping McNabb for at least this year.— mikeyhigs
- stick, you are so correct.......it can't happen soon enough.....just think of all the groundskeepers who'll be out of work at the Linc not having all those divots to replace after each game.....all those throws rifled right into the turf really tear it up!— Mark1npt
- McNabb finished the 2009 season with a 60% accuracy grade. This got him to 20th position in the NFL...20th position...20th position. Super Bowl QB Drew Brees was first with a 70% grade. Does anyone really think McNabb deserves to stay with this type of production? Does anyone really think McNabb is getting better each season? Does anyone really think that Kolb can do worse in a half of a playoff game like the 2 for 5 and 5 yards gained that McNabb produced? How could Kolb do any worse? Lose to Dallas three times, play the air guitar, have terrible accuracy and still be the number one QB with Kolb on the bench? Only in Philadelphia!!!!!— Mr. M
- The last two losses to the Cowboys were EMBARRASSING and Don McNabb was a part of this. This is a veteran QB, not a young QB still cutting his teeth. Durability is definitely a factor and the Eagles have certainly shown a tendency to move players in their early 30s just prior to skill deterioration. This approach has served the Eagles well. McNabb has value and it is just a matter of receiving an acceptable offer from a team willing to roll the dice.— Beck
Comment removed.
yea I spent an hour comparing QB's last night and I struggled to find five starting QB's in the league that McNabb is better then, now in his 12th season. The only guys he is more accurate then are Jamarcus Russel, Vince Young, Alex Smith, and like Matt Cassel and 1 other guy. He is statistically about as good as Jake Delhome, David gerrard, and Jason Campbell, and they are all more accurate. If you simiulate what thier numbers would be with 12 years as a starter almost every QB in the league would have more yards, touchdowns, higher ypc, higher passing % etc., and hes not even close to the top 10. Rivers, Manning, Favre, Brees, rogers, Schaub, Brady, Ryan, KOLB, Roethlisberger, Flacco...all cleary better and more accurate the McNabb. And most do not have injury problems. Then throw in the 5 or so rookies and they all have had better seasons then McNabb did in his first year or two at that point in his career, so projected they will continue to be better then him as they continue to play. Thats Henne, Sanchez, Stafford..all better then McNabb at this point. Maybe Josh freeman is about as accurate as him. and Matt Hassebeck, who also went to one SB and lost. I would put McNabb about 25th of all QB's right now, between his accuracy and injury problems. PLus his leadership, vomiting, throwing young guys under the bus etc., I wouldnt want him on my team. Oh yea and hes been sacked 357 times which is more then every other guy, which is why he is a play away from going down again. Hes on his last legs as a starter in this league. Other people that just watch the highlights of him beating crappy teams still think hes good though so we can get some value. He will never win a SB.- McNabb may not be the only problem but he certainly isn't the only answer...get trade value while there is value to get.— Joe Funk
- Kolb may end up being Aaron Rodgers; I doubt it, but I can't prove he won't be very good. I wish him well. But, I love how people pick up on one stat, and just run with it with no insight whatsoever. Regardless of completion %, McNabb led a team with a porous, revolving O line, no Westbrook for all intents and purposes, two new running backs, a new receiver (who missed most of training camp and a few games as well), a second year WR (who also missed a game or two), etc., and led them to an 11-5 record (10-4 as the starter), and the 5th most points in the NFL. Clueless people: the Eagles actually outscored the mighty Colts, and McNabb had a higher YPA than the lordly Peyton. Yes, the Dallas games showed that the team was not ready to take the big step in the playoffs this year - in any department - but have some appreciation of what you viewed this year.— MG44
- I Saw him beat some crappy teams, big deal. Kolb could have done that with a higher completion percentage. I saw him go 0-4 to winning teams. Kolb probably would have won some of those games. and if not, they defeintely would have been closer to winning with him. I am thankful for 01-04. thats it. McNabb WAS a top 10 QB then and used his legs to make up for his deficencies. A slew of better, younger QB's have since invaded the league and he is no longer the elite scrambling QB he once was. His time is done.
- MG44 you're the one who is clueless. Granted I loved what McNabb did for the Eagles over his career. I liked the guy as a player, but in saying that he has run his course here in Philly and needs to go. If you want to compare him to Manning your a freakin moron. Manning's YPA was lower because he is a smarter QB than McNabb. Manning calls his own plays and when the defense only gives him short throws, he's going to make the short throws and not force the ball down field. McNabb on the other hand has the plays called for him, and Marty the OC calls for a deep pass play McNabb does what a good boy does and listens to his coach. The other reason McNabb had a higher YPA is because of the speed he has at receiver. Jackson, Maclin, et al, have the speed to burn past defenders and catch up to McNabbs throws. The Eagles run the West Coast Offense. Which is short to intermediate passes to move the ball down field. Reid knows McNabb has accuracy issues so he tailors the game plan to make up for his deficiencies, like making down field throws and hope the WR's can run to the ball and out run the defender. If you acctually watch the Dallas games, Dallas' defense took away everything downfield, that forced McNabb to acctually run the West Coast Offense, which he did terribly.— engineeringagr8tdrive
- Comment removed.
- Gaudy stats aside, McNabb will start in 2010 because he wins - ugly, but consistently. Not my choice but good for business. Kolb should start because he can make all the throws in the WC offense. But Reid is reluctant to tamper with the formula that’s kept him employed for 11+ years and made him a millionaire, even though he jumped the shark in 2004. Reid will stay the course with McNabb for another unspectacular but winning regular season. Lurie knows how to manipulate the long-suffering Eagles fans, by raising expectations enough that they renew season tickets, and buy posters, hats and jerseys, while keeping them low enough to expect a playoff exit. When Joe Banner said that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing, expecting a different result, he was talking about the fans, not management. They marvel at how they get fans to keep the cash register ringing while teams like the Saints pass them by on the way to the Super Bowl. These carpet bagging New Englanders are good. They have figured it out. Lurie and Banner could sell a farmer a milking machine while taking his cows for collateral.— trainrdt
- For the past decade there have been two types of QB's who prospered in this league. We saw a lot of QB's who had good arms and were able to run with the ball when they got in trouble. (McNabb, Vick, Culpepper, McNair, Leftwich). There were also the "pocket passers" who would sit in the pocket and get rid of the ball with a quick release (Manning, Brady, Warner, Brees etc.) All of these QB's were good, the problem is that the first group of QB's all go older and their running game was no longer an option. They had to try to rely on their arm and become more of a pocket passer. This is tought to do. One of the reasons why McNabb is really the only good QB still playing out of that list. However, McNabb is not a pocket passer. This offense the way it is built needs someone who can drop back and get rid of the ball. We have 2 explosive WR's, a breakout TE and an up and coming RB. Not many offenses can claim that. The QB doesn't have to be the star here, he simply needs to make the throw and let these other guys move the ball. IMO, you can't keep McNabb and hope that we will get lucky enough to win a super bowl. That is wishful thinking. With every day that passes, McNabb gets that much older. He isn't Favre so he won't play till he is 40. If this was anyone but #5 we would be dumping him for the younger guy. It should make no difference who the player is...the time is now. Everything is in line for this decision to happen, it simply just needs to be approved. Kolb will have a learning curve, but he has the right guys around him to make that curve less devestating that it has to be.— EagleBeliever
- Eaglebeliever, The guys that Kolb has around him work to his detriment. What most of you have failed to realize is that while the Eagles like to say this offense is a west coast offense it isn't built that way. Our WR are speed, down the field, big play guys which isn't typical of the West Coast offense and don't mesh well with a QB with a weak arm who doesn't throw a good deep ball. The short intermediate passing and quick releases would have been helpful with guys like Thrash and Pinkston, but if you guys havent noticed the Eagles were second in the league in plays over 20 yards or more and DJax lead the league in big plays. That isn't done with short drops and intermediate routes. The only possession type receivers we have on the roster are Avant and Brown. And for all you who are gauging Kolb's potential off of his starts against KC and the Saints and think he is the next Aaron Rodgers I have a few names for you, Matt Cassell, Rob Johnson, Tommy Maddox, and AJ Feely...Even guys who were a little more successful Matt Hasselback and Mark Brunell. Both guys were somewhat successful in the league neither of which are better than McNabb, won a SB, or success level would be welcomed and appreciated here. These names are the more likely scenario. People forget Aaron Rodgers at one point had a chance to be the first player taken in the draft. He wasn't rated that high for no reason. Kolb had a fourth round grade by most teams and his success curve will be alot greater. ("Kolb has enough upside to warrant consideration late on Day 1 or early on Day 2". from ESPN Scouts Inc.)— datbo215
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