Recently, on many different forums, people have been discussing the need for the Arizona Cardinals to trade for quarterback Kevin Kolb of the Philadelphia Eagles. While that should be an option, it should not be the only one being talked about. In fact, Kolb should be a last resort for Arizona in the event that they don't get any other quarterbacks in this column and still feel the need to add one. I hope you open your minds and jump off the Kolb bandwagon. Don't get hurt, it's a long way down.
I've heard all the talk about how he did tremendously well in his handful of starts. And how he's only 26, and can be "the guy" for the next decade. I couldn't disagree more. There are a couple of main reasons as to why he performed so sufficiently in the starts he made.
First off, he was the backup to Donovan McNabb for four seasons, and knew the offense very well. Head Coach Andy Reid has run the same system in Philly since McNabb became the starter early in his rookie campaign in 1999.
In some of his best games, he had to play catch up most of the time, having to throw down field to keep his team in the game. For instance, in week 2 of the 2009 season, Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints lit up the Eagle defense, forcing Kolb to throw 51 times (31-51 for 391 with 2tds and 3ints -most importantly, the last one coming inside the red zone late in the 4th that went 97yds for six).
His career numbers are not impressive for someone who is reportedly worth a first round pick in next year's draft. In order to be profitable in a new offense, he needs to be able to study plays and work with his new receivers, and will have needed to be on the roster already. Before Kolb can be traded to anyone though, the lockout needs to be lifted, as no deals can be made while it is in place. The longer the lockout lasts, the less of a chance he has to succeed in any new system.
Kolb did earn the starting job to begin the 2010 season, but went down with a concussion in the first game of the year. Michael Vick stepped in and proceeded to silence all critics in leading the Eagles to the playoffs in the first year A.D. (After Donovan). And even after Vick went down with the rib injury, he could not gain the starting role again. When Vick came back it was his job once again. Much can be said about that as well.
A better option would be Kyle Orton from the Denver Broncos. He is less than two years older than Kolb, and has proven he can move the ball over a full NFL season without too many costly interceptions (only two ints in the red zone in two seasons with Denver). The lockout situation would still hurt his early performance, as it would for any new quarterback, but his ability would take over and not be much of a problem throughout the season -unlike the aforementioned Kolb.
It has also been said that John Elway wants Tim Tebow to be the future of the Denver Broncos organization at QB, not Orton. He has even said that Brady Quinn has a chance to win the starting role this season. If that's the case and Elway wants Orton out of the Mile High City, then Arizona would most likely have a chance to get him at a much cheaper rate than that of Kolb.
Arizona can't ask for a better reason to pull the proverbial trigger on the Orton deal than that. If they can get him for a third rounder in next year's draft (hypothetically), then they need do that as soon as possible.
Another option for the Cardinals is Carson Palmer from the Cincinnati Bengals. This would mean more for the future of the quarterback position in the desert than any other deal they could make. Carson is 31, and assumedly has but a few years left in the league, especially with the injuries he has had in the past. This may not make sense right now, so read on, minions.
John Skelton, to me, is a future star in this league. He does need some work, however. And what better way to train him than to bring in a veteran who is virtually identical in size and stature, who can lead the offense on the playing field and mentor the youngster on -and off- the practice field?
Palmer wants out of Cincinnati so badly that he's already found a buyer for his mansion in Indian Hills, roughly 14 miles northeast of Paul Brown Stadium. He has even threatened to retire from the game completely if they refuse to trade him.
The Cardinals would most likely have to give up a first round pick to get him. But in this instance it would be worth it, because the real obligation of Cardinal ownership should be to develop young talent and stop letting them go elsewhere to turn into all pro players (see Thomas Jones and Kyle Vanden Bosch). I believe Skelton will be such a player.
If Arizona does this right, they will go get either Orton or Palmer, and help mold Skelton into a true professional. And for the record, coaxing Kurt Warner out of retirement to be the QB for a season, then become the quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator wouldn't hurt, either. But that's more of the fan in me speaking than anything. Have a good day, everyone.
Nice work but there are a few things i disagree with. Once Vick went down Kolb in fact did play well against SF and ATL even though Jackson was knocked out early, those were both victories. He then had a rough game against the titans without Jackson i believe. He was 2-1 in the 3 games when Vick was out as the Wash. game he did not start. So in that 4 game stretch he had 6td's and 4int's with a compl% well over 60 with and over 1,000 yards. I could care less what his overall stats are due to the fact some were accrued in mop up duties and against Dallas when none of the starters played a down. I like Skelton but he is no way near the level of Kevin Kolb and is not even remotely close to being a starter which was indicative in a meaningless last game of the year when he looked completely lost.
ReplyDeletealso, Kolb's int against the redskins was at the very end of the game where the ball bounced out of Avants hands and was picked off. He played well in that game.
ReplyDeletehere is a little run down of that game
Kolb threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Brent Celek to get the Eagles within 17-12 with 4:10 left. The 2-point conversion failed when Kolb's pass fell incomplete.
On Washington's next possession, McNabb scrambled 18 yards on third-and-4 to keep the drive going and allow the Redskins to run the clock down a little more. The Eagles got the ball back at their own 26 with 1:07 left and no timeouts. Kolb's first throw should've been intercepted, but it was dropped by Carlos Rogers.
Kolb then drove Philadelphia to the Redskins 32, a double-lateral after a short pass got the Eagles there. But Kolb's desperation heave into the end zone on the final play bounced out of Jason Avant's hands and was intercepted by DeAngelo Hall.