• March 28, 2024

Does A System QB Like Kolb Get Anything Out Of Learning Sessions With Rookies?

For a brief moment yesterday Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb got the chance to get into a rhythm with three quality accurate darts in a row, but that hasn’t been the case very much during these workouts and you can see his discontent with it after the incompletions.

Kolb said he wanted to get some work in during these OTA’s after a subpar performance during the team’s mini camp.¬† I don’t know if he knew what he was getting into with these rookie practices.

“I have a lot of things I have to work on. Mini-camp didn’t go¬†as smooth as I¬†would have¬†liked, so I¬†just want to get completions, continue to work on my fundamentals and get better,” said Kolb. “When¬†I¬†leave here, I¬†want to¬†say, ‘All right, just¬†stay where you’re at.’ That way, when I¬†get into training camp, I’m ready¬†to roll and I’ll feel confident going into the season.”

I really wonder how much he’s getting out of being out here with these rookies.¬† Kolb is at his best when he’s throwing those quick darts on short and intermediate routes, but he and the offense can’t get into a rhythm because of mistakes here and there by these rookies.

What does a system and timing quarterback get out of this?  I guess he is able to work on his mental preparation but I wonder.  It seems more frustrating for Kolb than anything else.

He’s seen slapping his side, shaking his head or thrusting his arm in air after another incompletion. The Birds new starter doesn’t get crazy but he let’s everybody know that he’s not happy with a throw or the result of a play.

His displays of emotion should play better here in Philly as long as the team is winning and he’s playing well, but if the team and he aren’t performing well, the displays of anger will be criticized just like Donovan McNabb’s¬† smiles.

The heat and multitude of plays which the Eagles coaching are putting in, got to the youngsters yesterday and the practice got ugly.¬† Some of these workouts can be described best with one word, “sloppy”.

For instance, they had a blitz drill yesterday that went first play – Kolb pass tipped by Darryl Tapp and nearly intercepted; second play – Kolb sacked and ball taken from him, third play – ball snapped over Kolb’s head in shotgun formation.

Michael Vick is able to get back there and scramble, but I don’t like to see Kolb out there scrambling because I don’t think he’s going to be running away from many NFL defensive players.

I’d much rather see him throw the ball away

GCOBB

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drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
May 27, 2010 5:29 am

I believe that it was McNabb’s scrambling ability that best served Andy Reid. With defenses primed to rush McNabb (because of lopsided, predictable play calling) his “escapability” extended many plays.

It is projected that Kolb will get the ball out quicker and with more accuracy. That will certainly help. My only reservation, however, lies in the fact that many times, the defense was in our backfield as soon as the ball arrived.

I recall McNabb “playing with toys,” out in the Arizona desert to increase his reactive time and ability to elude pass rushers. At the time, I though it a little silly, but I think it really helped him.

One doesn’t have to be a fast or even quick to buy time. Elusiveness can be achieved by stepping up in the pocket or to the side. Nowadays, QBs even slide backward, which was once a no-no. Hopefully, Kolb has the instincts to extend plays, because I think he’ll need it.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
May 27, 2010 5:40 am

Kolb getting as many reps as possible even with WR who won’t make the squad can’t hurt,
the more he’s out there and playing and getting respect from his teammates and coached will only
help his leadership skills as the “Veterans” return to camp and of course, he’ll be in great shape..

truth2power
truth2power
May 27, 2010 9:39 am

I agree I thnk mcnabb elusiveness made an average o line look good over the years.. It was a given mcnabb would turn a certain sack into a positive play… Kolb has no elusiveness he is not buying time so what’s gonna when the defense blitzes jams the recievers and sit on short routes… When add suspect arm strength and that decreases when he is throwing on run that worries me..specially with our o line… While kolb can gain respect he can also lose it…most young players on this team have idolized vick for years and kolb has to show he is better than vick
Gcobb only place talked abt kolb throwing ints in training camp I think he said stupid passes lol that was classic…….Andy can risk losing the team if the team can clearly see kolb is not the best qb on team…I wonder what maclin and djack say about our qbs behind closed doors

navyeaglefan
navyeaglefan
May 27, 2010 11:09 am

T2P – your stament about Kolb and McNabb and elusiveness is not fair or accurate. Peyton manning has feet of stone, but rarely gets sacked, he has the ability to move just two or three steps to elude rushers, or he simply throws the ball away. Kolb is much more the move two or three steps and throw. McNabb frequently took sacks thinking he could escape, and rarely just threw the ball away. I don’t think it was a given he could do the things he did, but in our ESPN re show the highlight 10 times world, everyone would see the one or two magical escapes and forget the 4 or 5 sacks when he had 4 seconds to stand in the pocket and started getting fidgety. McNabb also frequently moved forward, which prevented his OTs especially from holding blocks, as he often would move up to the LOS and then slow for one last look. I don’t know what reports you read about Kolb coming out of college that would suspect his arm strength (J Russel formely of Oakland has great arm strength), and Kolb is outstadnign at throwing on the run. GCobb comments were when Kolb was running the scout team – and if you ever coached defense, the scout QB throws the route you tell him to throw too – last thing I want my scout O Qb doing was throwing check down routes. You need to do a little reserach and update your knowledge, and get a much better understanding of what happens during a practice. Now you start reading about INTs when he is running the #1s, worry –

WellWellWell
WellWellWell
May 27, 2010 1:39 pm

It’s practice people, and he’s playing with rookies. I don’t care if he throws 10 passes in a row and all are incomplete as long as the ball is where it’s supposed to be. You get rooks dropping balls out there because they’ve never had to endure football at this level yet and these are still their first tastes of life in the NFL world. I think the whole side slapping and arm’s in the air is encouragement through criticizm (sic) go tell the kid “you should’ve had that one” followed by “come back and get this one”. Don’t make mountains out of mole hills guys…it’s only practice. And a point about elusiveness, some QB’s have it and some don’t and I’ll take NavyEaglesFan’s comment a bit further with a Peyton vs McNabb comparison. Peyton is more liable to take a dive than a sack, before last years SB the NFL network did a entire segment about the NO pass rush vs Peyton. Time and time again they showed Manning would rather take a dive,and protect the ball in doing so, rather than take a sack or try and avoid one and possibly lose the ball in the process. It’s a calculated risk and he has no qualms about hitting the turf to avoid an injury/lost fumble, etc. McNabb on the other hand believes (in my opnion) that he is athletic enough and has that “I can make this play” attitude that he would rather try and force a throw/run and sometimes loses that gamble when the OLine protection finally breaks down 9after 8, 9, 10 seconds) and he’s stripped sacked from behind. McNabb has had some great success with that gamble too, 14 seconds ring a bell to any Eagle fans out there???…so the point is, some got it some don’t and some got…well…some of “it”. I would expect to count on my OLine for 100% protection for 5 seconds which is forever in football time, any longer and I’m thinking about the gamble..go for it or live for the next play (if there is one).

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
May 28, 2010 1:20 am

People what’s the deal with this Peyton Manning comparison? Are you guys for real? Look at Peyton’s offensive line and supporting cast. He’s very tall and can see over lines, and there’s not too many mannings in the league. This guy Kolb will be lucky if he’s no different from Kyle Orton, or A.J. Feely.

So, please bring this thing down a little.

greenfan
greenfan
May 28, 2010 4:37 am

navy…to your point about the differences between #5 and KK and their delivery and evasive moves, I am hoping that the play of the O-line this year will be better because of these differences and healthier Peters and Andrews. The center position is still a major concern, especially with how badly the Cowboys abused the center of the line, but I would have to believe that they have a plan to address the problem.

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
May 28, 2010 9:10 pm

navy, would you rather have a QB that holds the ball but have the best TD to INT ratio in NFL history. or someone that gets the ball out quick and throw interceptions?

They called Mcnabb – D5

Kolb will be called – Pick6

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
May 29, 2010 3:08 am

This Bum Kolb needs every rep he can get…Been with the team 4 years yet is forced into action with the rookies…I’ve learned it’s not what the eagles say…it’s what they do. Based on this I take it this team is not totally sure this kolb guy is the answer. They keep Vick and make their number “1” run with rooks. This may unfold for the better, sooner than we think.

schiller
schiller
May 29, 2010 6:03 am

Wow song, that is just plain priceless – you read into a team keeping a veteran quaterback to backup the starter, hmm… I can think of 31 other teams this year, and 32 every other year that do that. REAL significant observation. And then, in a ROOKIE OTA MINICAMP, where the QB comes in for a bit to give them a taste of quality #! QB work, and where any QB, down to the camp body kid behind Kafka would only have the possibility to ‘run with rooks’. Dude if you’re kidding, let us know, otherwise, no disrespect to you as a person, but you need to learn a bit about football – you know the ball has stitches on it and the players wear helmets right? Question, how long are the bats and how big are the gloves the Eagles use?