Familiarity between Kolb, line will take time
The good news is Kevin Kolb has attemped 28 passes in the preseason without being sacked. The bad news is he was under constant pressure in Friday night's preseason game against the Bengals.
Familiarity between Kolb, line will take time
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
The good news is Kevin Kolb has attemped 28 passes in the preseason without being sacked.
The bad news is he was under constant pressure in Friday night's preseason game against the Bengals. And there were plays when Kolb didn't help his line by moving out of the pocket earlier than necessary.
"He got hit the first play," right tackle Winston Justice said yesterday. "So when that happens the first play, it's kind of like you don't know where that actual pocket is, and so it's something that comes with experience."
It will work both ways - Kolb learning when the pressure is real, and the linemen realizing where Kolb is when he extends plays.
"It's kind of hard to sense it because it's behind you," Justice said. "But once you feel a guy moving this way, there's a reason he's going that way, so you try to stick with a guy as best you can and block him."
Of course, it hasn't helped that the line Kolb has been working with has a different look than the one that will be protecting him in the regular season. Getting Todd Herremans back against the Chiefs should help a little in that respect.
Other thoughts:
* I understand Sean McDermott and Andy Reid defending Ernie Sims' play against the Bengals. McDermott talked about Sims setting the tone. There was a play where he took a shot at Terrell Owens, who was running over the middle within the 5-yard window. And as I mentioned in Man Up, Sims blitzed with Nate Allen on the Eagles' first interception. He was picked up, allowing Allen to rush freely.
The plays where Sims didn't look good were the ones where linemen were able to get to him, like the tight-end screen and a few running plays. It's clear the coaches like Sims and expect him to be a difference-maker. The Eagles will just have to find a way to give him space to move more freely in the regular season. Don't want to base too much off one half in a preseason game.
* I agree that Dimitri Patterson played well Friday. But I don't think he's a threat to Joselio Hanson for the nickel cornerback job.
* The biggest bright spot through the first two preseason games has been the Eagles' tackling. McDermott said when training camp started that tackling would be a major focus, and so far, it looks like the Eagles can expect a major improvement this season.
* I can't figure out how these two situations will be resolved: center and backup tight end. How far along will Jamaal Jackson be by the time the season starts? How serious is Nick Cole's injury? And will he get first-team reps when he returns?
The backup tight end situation is less concerning. Only two teams ran fewer two tight-end sets than the Eagles last season, according to Football Outsiders. I don't see this offense morphing into a smash-mouth, physical unit in 2010. But I will concede that it'd be nice to have a backup who was a capable blocker.
* I noticed in the comments section of my Kolb post over the weekend that I was called both a Kolb hater and a Kolb apologist. I guess that means I offered up a pretty fair evaluation?
Just to be clear, I don't claim to know more than NFL coaches or scouts. I re-watch the games because it's difficult to pick up on things the first time, and I write what I observe with no agenda. Are there things that I miss? Sure. But overall, I am able to gain a much better understanding of what's happening the second time around.
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Sheil-no need to apologize. Your insight and analysis are much appreciated. Don't let the haters get to you. I think you're on right path with this one. Kolb and the line will take some time, but in the end I expect this to be a pretty successful season. I like what I've seen from him so far. On another topic, Celek has had a VERY quiet preseason. I had hoped he'd have a bust out year (and I still think he will) but this pre-season he's all but vanished. Although that catch-and-run in the Bengals game was nice to watch. Maybe the "brain trust" is keeping the good plays under lock and key. Who knows. GO BIRDS!
Comment removed.
Your analysis of the Eagles has been simultaneously terrible and fantastic, or terrastic for short.— pete317- "I understand Sean McDermott and Andy Reid defending Ernie Sims' play against the Bengals. McDermott talked about Sims setting the tone. There was a play where he took a shot at Terrell Owens, who was running over the middle within the 5-yard window. And as I mentioned in Man Up, Sims blitzed with Nate Allen on the Eagles' first interception. He was picked up, allowing Allen to rush freely." He better not do that too often, since Owens is a bigger man than Sims. Of course he blitzed and didn't get there. As we discussed in the off-season the Eagles LB's are completely ineffective at the blitz and have been all throughout the Reid era. Look for a very effective performance against the Chiefs, as they are both a bad team and a bad offense. This is where the Eagles D alwyays pad out their stats. Expect Sims to make some tackles and they will probably get 2 or 3 sacks. Then McDermott can pretend he knew it all along until the first game against the Pack and Aaron Rodgers.— jimmyj
- or fantible.— andimike
- The O-Line has got to start run blocking. Maybe Herremans will be the difference, but as of today, any back with the Eagles will be lucky to get 50 yards a game with the way they are run blocking. IT'S AWFUL!! And if it continues, Andy will never call any running plays. Why is this so hard for them to do?— craig123
- I have just published my first NFL prognosticater magazine. My secret is to measure preseason statistics precisely, then extrapolate for a full 16 game season. Makes sense, doesn't it? One snippet: Brent Celek will have 9 catches for 81 yds and 1.5 TD for the year. Wish me luck.— tommy_the_k
- Always enjoy your analysis, Sheil. It consisently gives me more insight than any other. Again, it appears the defense is built to accept some of the nickel and dime stuff and try to pressure teams into turnovers. For all the hand-wringing over Sims and the general Eagles lack of size on D, the only score the Bengals had was set up by a long pass. The Bengals have a pretty physical offense and they couldn't sustain a drive. It wasn't like the Eagles offense was helping the D out by having any sustained drives of their own. Good stuff, tommy_the_k.
- Tacklers must swarm to the ball...gang tackle!!! A few more run-ins for Nate Allen and he'll be out of football.— ItalianSausage
- Sheil, you and Kate Fagan are the best writers on philly.com. keep up the good work. on a side note, i think kolb will have a pretty good year, but our young D (and poor O-line) will probably keep us at around 9 to 10 wins.— Fire Andy Reid
- If the line blocks, Kolb will be fine. Hansen is "toast" anytime he is matched against a physical taller receiver down field.— jss31
- If the line "blocks" like is has so far, Kolb will surely get familiar with the backs of their jerseys.— joe$
- I loved the tackling, it looked like gang tackling a lot of the time. I didnt think Kolb ever stepped up into a pocket, he sensed pressure and would back peddle right away, leading to a throw off his back foot or incomplete. Thats troubling, he needs to learn to side step or step up into the pocket. Brady is a master at that. Sims will be ok Im sure, have his moments but nothing special. And why cant Dimitri beat out Hanson, I see no reason and this kid is playing great, hope he keeps it up— peteike
- they are the best young team in the NFL,with kevin's quick release and great football IQ he will avoid alot of hits and sacks that have hurt the birds the last season especially against the cowboys.....wolf.— wolf 4
- Watching a game for the second time with pause can be an eye opener. As a writer you make it interesting although sometimes like all of us you get too opinionated. Thanks for your work. Can't agree with you on Hansen. Patterson is playing above average and has experience. Hansen has been a let down since his suspension. Not the same player as before getting caught. Why can't you and the other writers following this team see that McGlynn is the starting center. The guy has a reputation as being tough with an attitude when at U. of Pitt., is a high draft choice and Reid has been playing him since the O.T.A.'s. This is a major change that is happening. Jackson was very good but injuries to 30 year old lineman change situations. He is activated but logically won't be playing until after October. Nick Cole if healthy is a very good guard. Reid has said that over and over and Cole never got the exchange right with Kolb. Last years two Dallas games at the end of the year proved Cole is not the center.— JACK V
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