McNabb, Kolb trades shape 'D'
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McNabb, Kolb trades shape 'D'
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
The Eagles' last playoff win came on January 11, 2009 against the New York Giants.
Donovan McNabb was the starting quarterback for 16 regular-season and three playoff games that season as the Birds snuck into the playoffs with a 9-6-1 record, advanced to the NFC championship game and eventually fell to the Arizona Cardinals.
McNabb's backup was Kevin Kolb, a second-year player who had attempted 34 passes and had to wait until the following season to make his first NFL start.
Now, a little more than three years later, McNabb is reportedly working with Warren Moon to make himself attractive to NFL teams. But retirement may be near for the 35 year old.
Kolb started only nine games in his first season with the Cardinals last year and is looking to prove that Arizona made a wise move in trading for him.
The Eagles, meanwhile, are counting on a number of players from the McNabb and Kolb trades to make an impact on this year's defense.
Let's start with the McNabb swap. The Eagles sent him to the Redskins on Easter Sunday in 2010 for a second-round pick in that year's draft, along with a conditional third- or fourth-rounder in 2011. With the second-round pick (37th overall), the Eagles selected safety Nate Allen. Allen's first two years have been marred by injuries and inconsistent play with flashes of production. He's slated to be a starter in 2012, but the Birds need him to put everything together in his third season.
The other pick ended up being a fourth-rounder (No. 104 overall) in 2011. But the Eagles traded that selection to the Bucs (who took Tennessee tight end Luke Stocker). In exchange, the Birds moved down 12 spots and selected linebacker Casey Matthews. They also received a fourth-round draft choice in 2012 from Tampa.
However, the Eagles didn't make the 2012 pick they got from the Bucs. Instead, they used it as the primary compensation to acquire middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans from the Texans earlier this offseason. The two teams swapped third-round picks as well (Nos. 76 andd 88 overall).
So overall, for McNabb, the Eagles got Allen, Matthews and to a degree, Ryans. I mentioned expectations for Allen above. Matthews will get a chance to compete at WILL and nickel linebacker, while the Eagles are counting on Ryans to solidify the middle, which has been a constant problem.
As for Kolb, the Birds dealt him to the Cardinals in July of last year for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round pick. Rodgers-Cromartie struggled in the slot last year and will move back outside in 2012, which is the final year of his contract.
The second-round pick was No. 51 overall, but the Eagles traded back eight spots to No. 59 and took defensive end Vinny Curry. They also got a fourth-rounder from the Packers in the deal (No. 123 overall) and picked Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin. Boykin will get a chance right away to replace Joselio Hanson as the nickelback and be the team's kickoff returner. Curry will likely be a rotational pass rusher, who will have a chance to start in the future if he produces.
So overall, for Kolb, the Eagles got Rodgers-Cromartie, Curry and Boykin.
And for both quarterbacks, here's the total: Allen, Rodgers-Cromartie, Matthews, Curry, Boykin and to some degree, Ryans.
There have been other moves on defense along the way. Most notably, the signings of Nnamdi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins and Jason Babin, along with several draft picks. But in many ways, the players the Eagles received for Kolb and McNabb project to have a significant impact on the success of this defense in 2012.
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I would rather have young guns Cam Newton or RG3, then the old proven loser Vick.— phil500- And I'd rather have a car that flies, a six digit salary, and a comment section void of your nonsense...one problem, neither your scenario nor my scenario is possible, so move on. Bottom line, Vick is a second tier QB. He isn't Rodgers/Brady, agreed, but he isn't Vince Young or Colt McCoy either. He's the best we can do right now. Here's to hoping that this season is more like 2010 than 2011 for Vick. I'm routing for Vick because he is our QB, and I want him and the Eagles to succeed. Simple as that. — JTR
- This is the year we find out whether Nate Allen can play (and stay healthy).— p-diddy
- The Eagles know how to deal and trade...actually they're darn good at it...although not every change works out,they deserve credit for the ongoing effort to improve the roster...something tells me this year will be a treat with the new additions...McNabb and Kolb were both traded at the right time but Dawkins should have stayed and the front office knows it...there will be more roster changes before the season begins...count on it...no coincidence that Banner has been taken out of the public eye and Roseman/Reid do the talking now...smart move.— greenbloodVAEagle
- Hindsight, if you are going to use stats at least use accurate ones...
Stik, if you are around, what is your take on Foles? Any chance he can play or just trade fodder in two years?— tpizza - Big arm, nailed to the ground. If they can work on his foot movement, at least enough to buy a second or two at this level, I'm sure they can flip him in a couple years. Doubtful they were looking for any kind of future franchise QB in the 3rd round. Maybe he'll be here backing up Brees 2013-16..
- tpizza if you are going to nitpick at least come up with something new. Its called estimation. If you look up the actual stats they will be within 90% accurate of what I just posted off the top of my head lol...good one. The point stands whether he threw like 7 or 8 td's in year 3, I DONT EVEN NEED TO LOOK IT UP BECAUSE I KNOW THEY ARE WITHIN THE RANGE OR TERRIBBLE. QUOTE ME THE EXACT NUMBERS AND TELL ME I AM WRONG. I DARE YOU.
- Kolb is a horses arse— Astro Jones
- Any QB with qualifications to join the Klan will do. Philly racists should take up a collection to pay off Vick's contract and send him on his way. Terry Bradshaw won 4 SBs, so get rid of Vick and hire him. Klansmen are always unable to hate Vick's white teammates. I support the total Philadelphia Eagles team regardless of their color but, oh yeah, I would never live in the haters paradise called Philadelphia! Dan Marino and other QBs in the HOF that never won a SB are laughing at the biased idiots in Philly!— allworld2
- Right on...Kolb is a horses arse. — Astro Jones
- Of course they were good moves! D-Mac,and Kolb have done nothing since leaving Philly. If Allen didn't get hurt, he probably be a Pro Bowl player or close to it by now. Look for him to play a lot better this season. DRC had a down season because he wasn't cut out for the slot. That just shows the importance of selecting the proper players for position and system. The end of last season he showed us what he could do on the outside. I fully expect him to have a big year,since he'll be playing for a new contract. Whammy!— Eaglecheesehead
phil500 -- Vick is clearly the 2nd best in our division. Only manning is better. Vick has won more games than Romo who is a choke artist and RG3 hasnt thrown a ball yet so to say he is better already just shows your vick hate. Im not saying Vick is the best qb at all, but he is by far a better player than kolb and that is all that matters because it was between having KOlb or Vick. And to say Kolb is better is down right laughable.- Good post Sheil. Eagles most certainly ended up with the better end of both deals. The off season additions/resignings, the draft, and the idea that last year's signings should perform better with a full off season and more experience with the team/system, has me more excited for this season than I have been in a while. Way too early to talk super bowl, but I definitely think we are in for some good football this season.— JTR
- How did this become a Vick thread? But since you all took me there, I can't wait to see the comments (or lack thereof) when the Eagles win the Super Bowl this year. All the Vick haters will be stuck with their foot in their mouth....— MrMiles1
- Looking at it now the choice of Kolb was a horrible one and the players the Eagles got 5 years later doesn't change that. We were lucky to swindle DC and the Cards so at least NOW there is some benefit. I don't have that much of an issue with the pick of a QB at that time though. McN was coming back from an injury and the Eagles needed insurance if he failed to rebound [no jokes required]. It was the particular player they chose, not the QB itself that was awful. If KK had lived up to the billing we wouldn't be having this discussion...but if he had we wouldn't have Curry, Boykin or DRC. either.— tpizza
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