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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Quite a haul. It would be even better if we had upgraded our QB position. At least we didn't lose anything for Vick.— ej610- Vick is the worst QB in the NFC East....Eli Manning, Tony Romo and now RG3 are better than the overhyped Vick...also Tom Brady,Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Dree Brees and Big Ben all are better and have won SUPER BOWLS....Vick has been Eagles QB with all this Dream Team talent, and Vick has not even won a stinkin' playoff game...LOL.— phil500
- You aren't serious are u.............Really............I didn't think so. — charmaine
- Why don't you animal activist get some comprehension skills nowhere in this article is Vick's name mention, but here you losers are. I guess you have skills? LOL for a trailer park game. Get lost losers! — Blessed8251
- this is the year for Vick though, if he doesnt produce he doesnt have a guarantee so we could move on. Move on to what though? rebuilding with Foles, Kafka another FA qb or another later round pick in the draft. For all the Vick bashing, he does give the eagles the best chance to win these past few seasons and ahead. It could be rough seasons ahead rebuilding with new qb and prob coach which then becomes a complete overhaul per coaches bringing in their own staff. Lets hope the D can win us some games this yr. I agree Matthews still has time to develop as do a lot of these young dbs and lbs. I put more stock into Graham being successful over Curry.— peteike
Comment removed.- @ - Phil500
That's because Vick is not a QB! he never was. Simply a strong armed sprinter/punt returner. Sadly our team decided we needed a "novelty" act like him and not a "pocket passer" who knows how to step up in the pocket as opposed to running in circles behind it!
— osi is hurt boohoo - Well if you don't think he's a qb why the hell would you be a fan of a team that doesn't have a qb, not very bright are you. — charmaine
- did you really just write that? wow!!! well,, considering i was a fan before Vick was brought in might have something to do with that! and another thing - if i could control what the FO did it sure as heck would not have been to bring Vick in. now on to you. you're not very smart,, stick to the books with big pictures and small words. idiot! — osi is hurt boohoo
- Who cares about how long you have been a fan.....NOBODY, I certainly don't. Understand there is a legitimate reason why you can't and don't control the FO, they don't allow idiots, dummies and folks that aren't smart. Now go get your coloring book and crayons! — charmaine
- ask yourself, would you rather have Vick or Kolb running the show. Vick based on that first yr of course, its a no brainer unless of course you thought VY was the answer or Kafka.— peteike
- Vick is EXTREMELY overrated! Fantasy football people and teens buying his jersey make up the majority of the contingent that think he's "upper echelon". He and DJax are nowhere near the hype they receive...
How is it that Big Red and Marty get tons of praise bestowed on them for being QB "witchdoctors", when KK and Vick are so average? We can aslo add Feeley to that mix.
If anything they are good at finding suckers dumb enough to trade for marginal players, that were thought to be "coached up". Kudos to them for that!— somertonspartan - Foles= future 2nd round pick— jdld610
- Hey Boo Hoo
You have now posted essentially the same comment after nearly every Eagles article column and blog post. We get it. You hate Vick. Go back to the basement and your mom will bring you your chicken nuggets.— Section 730 - phil500 - Talk about overhyped, you include RG3 who hasn't even thrown a pass in the NFL! Keep up the dumb posts.— rickm
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