Tag: Kevin Kolb (Page 10 of 13)

      Top 5 Storylines of Week 1 in the NFL

      September 10, 2010 /
      SAN DIEGO - JANUARY 17: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets stands on the field during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on January 17, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

      It’s Week 1 in the NFL, so you know there are going to be some juicy headlines heading into this weekend’s action. Here are my top 5…

      1. What will Rex Ryan and the Jets do for an encore?
      We’ll have to wait until Monday before we see “Hard Knocks” play out on the field, but Ryan’s squad is going to get a stiff test right off the bat. The Ravens are loaded offensively and some believe could challenge for a Super Bowl berth this season. Meanwhile, Darrelle Revis is back at practice after holding out for 36 days, but is he ready to play after missing all of training camp? How will his chemistry be with a defense that he hasn’t played a live game situation with in over seven months? Can the Jets live up to their own Super Bowl expectations? Something tells me we’re going to find out a lot about both of these teams in four nights.

      2. How will the new-look Redskins fair?
      The Redskins were a disaster under Jim Zorn last year, so owner Daniel Snyder hired Mike Shanahan to help restore order and then signed off on a trade for Donovan McNabb. Now questions remain not only about McNabb’s health, but about whether or not he has enough help around him. The O-line is still a major question mark, as are the running back and receiver positions. On the other side of the ball, Shanahan has been feuding with Albert Haynesworth for the better part of a decade and rumors have started to circulate that he could be traded to Tennessee (uh, Haynesworth – not Shanahan. That would be ridiculous.). Kind of a bad time to be playing on national television against a divisional rival that is expected to be a Super Bowl contender, huh?

      3. Kevin Kolb gets stiff opening test
      All eyes will be on Kolb this week in the first game of the McNabb-less era in Philly. He won’t have time to get acclimated to the situation for very long, because the Super Bowl-hopeful Packers are coming to town with their top ranked defense from a year ago. It’ll be interesting to see what the backfield combination of Kolb and Shady McCoy will produce in their first live run of 2010. The offensive line is good and Kolb has plenty of weapons in the passing game thanks to DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek and Jeremy Maclin, but if McCoy can’t find running room then the Packers will certainly amp up the pressure. This could wind up being the best matchup on the Week 1 schedule next to Ravens-Jets’ bout on Monday night.

      4. Mike Martz’s Windy City Debut
      If you’re like me, I’m waiting for one of two things to happen in Chicago this year: Jay Cutler becoming the second-coming of Jeff George in Martz’s offense…or Jay Cutler becoming the second-coming of Jeff George in Martz’s offense. George, if you remember, could zip the ball around a football field as well as any quarterback in the league. Too bad he also forced passes into small windows instead of throwing it out of bounds or take sacks. He was also a pistol when it came to dealing with teammates and coaches, which is not unlike Cutler. It stands to reason that given Cutler’s skill set, he could wind up having a great season under Martz. But considering his offensive line still isn’t that good and he’ll be throwing the ball even more than he did last year, he could also wind up breaking the NFL record for interceptions in a single season. Either way, it should be fun.

      5. Welcome to the NFL, Sam Bradford
      Unlike some people, I don’t mind when teams start rookies at quarterback. The best way to learn the game is to play and while young signal callers are going to make plenty of mistakes, they’re also going to gain valuable experience as well. Bradford needs a better set of receivers than what the Rams currently have on their roster, but it’s not like the team is sending him into a firefight with a water gun and a shank. The offensive line is improving and having Steven Jackson in the same backfield will help take some of the pressure off of the rookie’s shoulders. He’s going to make some dumb mistakes and chances are, he’s also going to make some plays that make you say, “Hmm, nice throw kid.” Either way, Week 1 isn’t going to make or beak his future. It’ll be fun to see how he does in his first NFL test though.

      Just missing the cut…

      6. Is Maurice Jones-Drew healthy?
      7. Brady and Welker sans car accidents and knee injuries
      8. T.O. and Ocho Act I
      9. Can the Texans finally get the Colts monkey off their backs?
      10. How will the Ben Roethlisberger-less Steelers fair with Dennis Dixon under center?
      11. Pete Carroll makes his debut in Seattle
      12. Will we actually see Brandon Jacobs’ head explode if Bradshaw gets more opportunities in the Giants’ offense?

      External Sports, NFL

      2010 NFL Preview: NFC East Predictions

      September 2, 2010 /
      MINNEAPOLIS - JANUARY 17: Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys yells to call a play during the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on January 17, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

      2010 NFL Division Previews & Predictions: AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West | 2010 Question Marks Series

      Much like its counterpart in the AFC, the NFC East is extremely difficult to predict this year. Three of the top four teams are legitimate playoff contenders and the Redskins have improved after going 4-12 last season.

      It’s going to be a battle in this division this year, much like it is every season.

      Here’s how I see things shaking out in the NFC East in 2010. Be sure to check out the link entitled “2010 Question Mark” under each team’s preview, which is a breakdown of one or two potential weaknesses that could derail that squad’s hopes this season.

      1. Cowboys

      What to Like: The ‘Boys already had quite the offensive core in Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Marion Barber, Jason Witten and Felix Jones. But then they had Dez Bryant fall to them in the first round last April, which gives the offense yet another playmaker that defenses have to deal with every Sunday. After finishing sixth last year in total offense and 14th in scoring, I don’t see any reason why Dallas shouldn’t light up the scoreboard again this season. Defensively, DeMarcus Ware returns as a pass-rushing terror from his outside linebacker position and the unit is littered with underrated players like Jay Ratliff and Igor Olshansky.
      What Not to Like: The biggest two question marks surround the free safety and left tackle positions. Alan Ball is an intriguing prospect, but he’s only a rookie and no matter how well he plays, he’s going to make some mistakes. At left tackle, the ‘Boys dumped long-time veteran Flozell Adams and replaced him with the inexperienced Doug Free, who played well on the right side last year but he has never been counted on to protect a quarterback’s blindside. The good thing is that if Free struggles, the team added Alex Barron this offseason as insurance. The other concern when it comes to the Cowboys is that they have a habit of fading down the stretch, with last year being the exception. I put that on coaching more than anything and with Wade Phillips (good coach, but he doesn’t come without his criticisms) still roaming the sidelines in Dallas, that means a late-season free fall isn’t out of the question.
      Keep Your Eye On: Dez Bryant, WR
      The Cowboys’ first round pick has already turned heads this offseason (both for his play on the field and his decision not to carry Roy Williams’ shoulder pads after practice) and if he can recover from an ankle injury that has sidelined him for the preseason, he’s going to have opportunities to make plays out of the team’s three receiver set.
      The Final Word: This is the most talented team in the division and they’re pretty deep at most positions. The problem is that the Cowboys usually get in their own way down the stretch and late season collapses are nothing new to this franchise. That said, they got the playoff monkey off their back last year by advancing to the second round and as long as Phillips can keep this squad motivated, the ‘Boys should win the East for the second straight year. Their offense will be tough to stop and their defense will put pressure on the quarterback. The talent is there, now let’s see if the execution follows.

      Dallas Cowboys 2010 Question Mark: Free Safety

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      External Sports, NFL

      Do the Eagles have enough depth in the secondary?

      August 29, 2010 /
      PHILADELPHIA - DECEMBER 15: Asante Samuel #22 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with Quintin Mikell #27 and Trent Cole #58 after an interception for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2008 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

      Merry preseason, everyone. It’s been a long offseason, but football is finally gearing up again and to celebrate I’m rolling out a new series on TSR entitled “2010 NFL Question Marks,” where I discuss one or two of the biggest concerns that teams have heading into the new season. Granted, some teams have more issues than others, but I’ll primarily be focusing on the biggest problem areas. Today I’ll be discussing the lack of depth the Eagles have in their secondary.

      Truth be told, the Eagles are in pretty good shape entering the season. The question on everyone’s mind is whether or not Kevin Kolb can replace Donovan McNabb, but I wouldn’t necessarily deem the quarterback position a weakness.

      Nor would I say secondary is a weakness either. I like the starting four of Asante Samuel, Ellis Hobbs, Quintin Mikell and highly intriguing rookie Nate Allen. But after trading Sheldon Brown to the Browns in the offseason, the depth behind those players is now where the concern lies.

      Hobbs, who keep in mind is coming off neck surgery, is expected to return kickoffs once the regular season starts. If he were to go down with an injury, it would leave the Eagles with Macho Harris, Joselio Hanson or fourth-round pick Trevard Lindley at the cornerback position opposite Samuel. And none of them have proven that they can be starters at this level. (Although to be fair, Lindley is only a rookie.)

      And what if Allen struggles as a first-year starter? All indications are that he’s a stud in the making, but the regular season hasn’t started yet and thus, he hasn’t officially been tested. After losing his job to Harris last season and battling injuries throughout the year, can the Eagles get by with Quintin Demps if Allen can’t produce as a rookie?

      Of course, most of this is hypothetical, which is why I’ll reiterate that I don’t think the Eagles have any predominant weaknesses. Again, I think their starters are solid and Allen has a legitimate chance of winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year award if he can live up to expectations.

      That said, this is still a thin secondary and Andy Reid better hope that this unit can stay healthy throughout the year. An injury to a starter could derail Philly’s chances of returning to the postseason.

      External Sports, NFL

      Kevin Kolb impresses in preseason opener

      August 14, 2010 /
      PHILADELPHIA - AUGUST 13: Kevin Kolb of the Philadelphia Eagles stands on the sideline against the Jacksonville Jaguars during their preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 13, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

      As Donovan McNabb made headlines in Washington last night for throwing his first touchdown pass as a Redskin, the Kevin Kolb era also started in Philadelphia against Jacksonville.

      And it started off well.

      On his first pass attempt of the preseason, Kolb threw a short pass to receiver DeSean Jackson, who promptly took it 21 yards for a first down. Kolb then engineered a 9-play, 65-yard drive that took 3:41 off the clock and ended with a 29-yard David Akers field goal.

      An offense stalling in the red zone will never be considered a positive outcome, but considering it was Kolb’s first chance to impress in what will be a critical year for the youngster, I’m sure the Philly faithful will take the three points. The Eagles eventually went on to beat the Jaguars, 28-27.

      Relatively speaking, Kolb was sharp. He completed 6-of-11 passes for 95 yards and also rushed for 15 yards, which included a nice first down pickup. He would have had a touchdown pass had Brent Celek made the catch on a red zone play in the first half, but a Jaguar defender knocked the ball out of his hands before the tight end could secure it.

      On a whole, Kolb was satisfied with his performance (from the Philadelphia Daily News):

      “With the talent that we have, we feel like we can execute and be consistent, and I’m not even saying I was consistent,” Kolb said. “We feel like we can put up a lot of points. Like I said, there were some mistakes, but I thought it was a good start overall.”

      Michael Vick’s performance in this game was also note-worthy, as he completed 11-of-17 passes for 118 yards and no interceptions. He also rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown on five carries, showing some of the speed that made him so popular earlier in his career.

      Of course, he also showed some of that trademark carelessness by fumbling twice and coughing the ball up once.

      External Sports, NFL

      Donovan McNabb traded to Redskins for two draft picks

      April 4, 2010 /

      In a deal that will not only shake up the dynamics in the NFC East but also this month’s draft, ESPN is reporting that the Eagles have traded quarterback Donovan McNabb to the Redskins in exchange for Washington’s second round pick this year and either a third or fourth round pick in 2011.

      It’s unclear at this point whether the Redskins are working on extending McNabb’s contract, which expires at the end of the 2010 season. If he were traded, McNabb said that he wanted to play for a contender and considering he’s familiar with the NFC East, he might be comfortable finishing his career in Washington. He may also relish playing the Eagles twice a year, too.

      It’s a little perplexing why the Eagles would trade him within the division – especially given the importance of McNabb’s position. There’s an unwritten rule that states that teams shouldn’t trade within their division because it could wind up haunting them in the long run. But maybe this was the best deal Philadelphia was offered and they jumped on it before the opportunity passed them by.

      Now that the Redskins have their starting quarterback, what happens to Jason Campbell? The Skins will likely try to trade him, but they might not find many suitors considering other teams now know Washington doesn’t need him. Still, if they can get a mid round pick for Campbell, it would be better than releasing him and getting nothing in return. (Or keeping an unhappy Campbell on the roster.)

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