Kevin Kolb Struggled, But His Teammates Didn’t Give Him Much Help

This is a game which Kevin Kolb would just as soon forget, but he’d better not forget it because he’s need to learn from it.  Losing DeSean Jackson after the first play of the game, changed the offense which limited what the Birds were able to do the rest of the way.

Kolb played poorly but he wasn’t alone.  Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters had a couple of motion penalties which are becoming as consistent as the Eagles team colors.

One of the biggest disappointment in the game was the play of Jeremy Maclin.  Maclin needed to step up and be the go-to-guy for Kolb once Jackson went down, but instead of stepping up, he fell apart.  The second-year Pro did get interfered with on a pass route in the end zone, but he dropped a number of passes, the most costly of which would have been a fifty-yard gain and put the Eagles in position to score.

Kolb was 11 of 25 for 103 yards and one interception but it could have been much worse.  Kolb threw two other passes which should have been picked off.  The blitzing pressure from the Chiefs seemed to frustrate Kolb.

On one of the Eagles blitzes which Kolb got sacked by number 53 Demorrio Williams.  Fullback Leonard Weaver was in a one-back formation and lined up to Kolb’s right.  Weaver released on what looked like a hot route and Kolb failed to recognize the blitz.  The fullback was open in the flat but the young quarterback didn’t see him.  It was a first down play, which lets you know that the Chiefs were expecting the Eagles to throw the football.

On a first and ten in the first quarter, the Eagles ran a bootleg play, where Kolb faked a handoff to McCoy and rolled to his right looking for Jeremy Maclin on the sideline.  He threw the pass late, and Chiefs rookie safety Berry knocked the ball down with two hands, instead of picking it off and running it in for a score.

It was the worst decision Kolb made in the game because it should have been an interception for a touchdown if Berry had simply put his hands out to catch the ball, rather than knock it down.  One of the rules of quarterbacking is that you can’t throw out routes late.  You either throw it early, or on time but you never throw it late.  If you must throw it late, you don’t throw it at all.

Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg gave Kolb a talking to when he came to the sideline after that one.  He wasn’t smiling when he was talking.

Kolb did a good job on a third down in the first quarter when he escaped a near sack and ran for the first down near the red zone.  He also put a ball up to Maclin who was interfered with in the end zone but the blind referees didn’t make the call.

Kolb could have taken a split second longer to throw a screen pass to McCoy in the red zone.  The play was wide open and might have been a touchdown.  Holding could have been called on a Chiefs defensive lineman who grabbed McCoy and delayed his release.

In the second quarter, Kolb put one up to Maclin who was running a go route and it was a perfect throw.  Maclin had beaten Chiefs cornerback Brandon Carr and all he had to do was catch the football, but he let it go right through his hands.  Kolb couldn’t have handed the ball to him any better.

Kolb had pressure in his face and missed Avant with a throw in the dirt.  On the next play he was sacked and was unable to see a couple of receivers downfield, who were supposedly open.  He seemed hurried and uncomfortable in the pocket.

The youngster is going to have to learn to calm himself down in the pocket after a play in which the pass rush pressure gets to him.  He seems to get “happy feet” or wants to get out of the pocket after somebody gets to him with a hit.

The third quarter started with a drop by Maclin.  Kolb did a good job on the next play of coming off of Brent Celek who was covered and going to Jason Avant for a first down. He hit Avant again on an eight-yard gain.

When the Eagles got the ball the next time, Kolb was sacked on another blitz which the line didn’t pick up and he didn’t read.  He was then forced to throw the ball away on the next play when they forced him to roll to his left.

On the next series he threw the ball to one of the Kansas City linebackers but he dropped the ball.  He was trying to hit Avant on a crossing route.  On the next play he was pressured out of the pocket and he let it go deep to Maclin but the Chiefs safety came over and picked it off.

This is the kind of mistake which he can’t make.  It was a desperation throw and he’s got to learn to throw the ball away in low scoring games, especially when the defense is playing so well.  Punting the ball isn’t a problem.  He’s got to be patient in those situations.

On the next possession, Kolb was able to connect with Celek with a nice throw downfield on a corner route as the Eagles flooded the right side with three receivers.   He then got the ball to Mike Bell on a wide route.

He and Maclin finally connected on an intermediate route on a good read by Kolb.  The drive ended with Kolb throwing the ball away as he scrambled to his left.  It was a good decision by Kolb on third down because nobody was open and it allowed the Eagles to put three points on the board.

It’s a work in progress. Kolb and this offense must stay focused on getting better.  It’s still very early, so there’s no reason for them to get discouraged.