• March 29, 2024

Playoffs – A Must, NFC Champ Game – Good, Super Bowl – Great

First of all, let’s agree on the fact that if Donovan McNabb were quarterbacking the Eagles right now, the team would be expected to make the playoffs, win a game or two and go to the Super Bowl.

You know that would be the expectation, so how can “football experts” talk about how much better Kevin Kolb is than McNabb then predict that the team will win 7 game, 8 games or 9.

Comcast Sportsnet’s Ray Didinger was on the Morning Show with Angelo Cataldi on 610-WIP this morning and he said that Kolb should be held to the same standard as McNabb.¬†¬† He made a the solid point that the Eagles would not have traded Donovan McNabb if they didn‚Äôt think Kolb could run the offense as well as McNabb.

Kolb is also supposed to be a much better leader than McNabb.¬† If he’s a better quarterback and a better leader then this team should win more under his leadership than they did under McNabb.

Doesn’t that make sense?

I have been thinking about where I should set the bar for this football team.  What should their record be in this first year of the Kevin Kolb era?

Previously I had written that 8-8 would be okay, 9-7 would be good and 10-6 would be great but after reading and hearing how much better Kolb is than McNabb, I’m convinced that a playoff appearance is a must, a NFC Championship game appearance would be good and a Super Bowl title would be great.

It had been Super Bowl title or bust for McNabb for over half a decade, so how can one set lower expectations for a guy who is a better quarterback.

Seriously, Kolb is playing with a better group of receivers than McNabb ever had, so if he’s truly a better quarterback, then he should have better results.

What do you think?

GCOBB

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ozzman
ozzman
July 26, 2010 5:01 am

AAAAAMEN. G. finally …some sanity from a media person.

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
July 26, 2010 5:29 am

Sorry, G. I can’t fully agree with you on this one. It’s pretty difficult for any QB to start a full season for the first time in this league and experience “Super” results.

As I stated some months ago, the league will “develop a book” on Kolb, and as it does, he’ll need to adjust. I would anticipate early success, then by mid-season the league will better know his tendencies, strengths and weaknesses. By season’s end, we should have a pretty good read on the kid.

By next season, however, because Kolb enjoyed the luxury of being brought along slowly, I would hope for a playoff run.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
July 26, 2010 5:31 am

It’s Kolb’s 1st Year of Being a starter…
I think it’s just foolish and wishful thinking to expect a 1st Year Starter to come in and master the toughest position in Football in this type of offense and team to lead your team for a Super Bowl Run…
Lets take a look at a few QB’s recently who have led their teams to deep Playoff Runs and even to the Super Bowl. Big Ben w/Steelers, J Flacco w/Ravens and last year M Sanchez w/Jets..
To think that the Eagles Play Calling, Rushing Attack,Team Defense and overall Coaching is close to anywhere to where these 3 teams were, then you don’t know football..
These Teams ask their QB to throw 15-20 Times a game and rush the ball 40-50 times a game,
they all have some of the top Defenses and SPecial teams in the League and bottom line play a very conservative type of offense that empasized a physical offensive line who likes to pound the ball all game at the defense and then hit you with some play-actions once in a while.. This is not the Eagles offense and never will be under AR, he demands that his QB’s throw 35-45 times per game and tries to utilize the passing attack to soften up the D and then try to run it late. The Eagles O/Line are big but are pass-protectors first, not the smash-mouth, pound the ball straight-ahead type of running schemes..
I have high epxecations of Kolb to have a good season and a secessful career as the Starter for the Eagles for the next 8-10 years, what I am not so confident about, is this Eagle Defense,and the Coaching ability of D/C S McDermott and having a Defensive Secondary that on paper is one of the Weakest in the NFL going into 2010 Season in a pass happy league… Outside of A Samuel, does anyone think the remainder of Defensive Secondary (Mickell,Hobbs,Hanson,Patterson,Demps,Harris and the rookies)would be starters on any other playoff caliber NFL teams…I don’t, and think they are all role players. If the D/Line and LB’s really have a great season and bring the pressure,many looks,blitzes,solid tackling,create turnovers then I think this 2010 Season the Eagles will compete
for a playoff spot, If the Defense does not improve significantly, then I don’t care who is playing QB, for the Eagles will not make the 2010 playoffs…

phillywill
phillywill
July 26, 2010 5:42 am

Doesn’t that make sense?
it sure does G. makes perfect sense
ray didinger a very good source i agree with him as well
we made the move supposedly to get over the hump it wasnt a cost cutting move he’s not that old either where he is about to retire. the move was made because apparantly the o would be better with this guy
so in that respect we should be better
love the sarcasm too G i know u know what this is
but g its gonna be hard to sell this to ur readers tho kolb is sacred already and has a 2010 pass

phillywill
phillywill
July 26, 2010 5:43 am

dam pman woulda read what u have to say but im only here 8 hours

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
July 26, 2010 6:04 am

If it’s foolish to think a 1st year starter can take a team to the Super Bowl then all the “journalists” need to stop gushing about how much better Kolb is than McNabb. The correct thing to say is that Kolb has the potential to be better than McNabb in a couple years. Right now, he isn’t better. A people need to stop it with the leadership stuff. I want to see the leadership on the field and not in practice. The real leadership shows up when you are in the middle of a losing streak. Or losing by 14+ in November. I don’t care what people say about Kolb’s leadership in March, April, May, June, July and August. Everything needs to be shown on the field.

And G the answer to you’re question is…… Kolb isn’t going to be held to that same standard for 2 reasons:

1. He’s a first year starter and it doesn’t help that the defense isn’t that good.
2. He isn’t better than McNabb now.

Anyone gushing over how much better they think Kolb is than McNabb know about as much as we do about how good of a QB he will be.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
July 26, 2010 6:11 am

Paulman, I agree with you. But G’s point is why are all these people talking about Kolb being such a better QB when in reality he isn’t at this point in time. Because if he is truly a better QB it wouldn’t matter if it was his 1st year or 7th year, he shoud be expected to take the team further than McNabb. The point is, he isn’t better now. He may be a better fit for this offense in the long run but right now if McNabb was the QB we’d expect playoffs regardless of how bad the defense was or who the WRs are. The expectations are where they are because right now he isn’t a better QB and it would be foolish for anyone to say he is but then say he can’t lead them to the playoffs this year. Then that means he isn’t.

I hope Kolb is everything the coaches think he is and most of knew when they went to Kolb it was for the future and not for now because McNabb gave you the best chance to win NOW. If people think Kolb gives you the best chance to win now, would that mean they think he’s the better QB? Hence the question, why the low expection if he’s better. Easy answer: He isn’t.

Tech Triumph
Tech Triumph
July 26, 2010 6:26 am

I’m sorry Garry, from someone like you who has been championing that the QB is not the only factor in a team winning, you can’t have this opinion. You could say you expect the same results from the offense, but winning? The only positions the Eagles are better now than under McNabb’s tenure is WR and TE. They’re worse on D across the board, worse on OL and maybe equal at RB. If you’re going to give McNabb a pass saying the team wins and loses games, then this column you wrote is inconsistent with that philosophy.

phillywill
phillywill
July 26, 2010 6:39 am

yea g these expectations are only for when d5 was qb
maybe if u start vick we can have these expectaitons again cause right now every1 would be so dumb to think that a qb thats been groomed like 5yrs can win
o god he need like yrs be4 he can have same expectations we have been having over this past decade
give me a fing break
this is y g wrote the aritcle cause he’s sick of reading ur bs excuses
the article starts like this
“First of all, let‚Äôs agree on the fact that if Donovan McNabb were quarterbacking the Eagles right now, the team would be expected to make the playoffs, win a game or two and go to the Super Bowl.”
so if we dont expect kolb to do squat then we are officially admitting a huge downgrade at qb period
either that or kolb’s sacred already
if d5 was here regardless of this defense hogwash he’d be expected to win

schiller
schiller
July 26, 2010 6:55 am

Foolish foolish thinking. Ever hear ‘live in the moment”? There’s a reason that it’s suppossed to be a better way of viewing things. We get it from every angle in american and sports culture – take one step at a time, one game at a time, don’t get ahead of yourself, assumptions make an….. Predicting now is utilizing assumptions to try to make sense…. SENSE… out of FOOTBALL. Out of the NFL! When was the last time that an NFL season made SENSE!? If that was the case, the sport would be played by Roseman types in an office. It’s not CHESS. It’s football. Training camp hasn’t started, I can still say that cause it’s 10:30 (almost) when I post this. It is dumb to predict the greenbay game at this point. Let alone week 2. Forget about the playoffs and superbowl. It’s not even labor day. What do ‘setting expectations’ accomlish? A basis for the media to create meaningless banter. If the Eagles meet (whatever exectations one sets), then so be it.If not, so be it. But the joy, excitment, dissaointment or anger felt when they do or don’t make these expectations will be because of what happens on the field during games. Not about what any one of you or me says or ‘expects’ now. Hell, it’s silly to even predict the World Series at this point in the baseball season. Think about the comparison. Let’s watch and see what happens for god’s sake.

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
July 26, 2010 6:56 am

Tech….you’re correct, bow cn you answer why?
Why is the team weak on “OL” “D” etc.?
Why? Was it Mcnabb’s fault the FO traded Sheldon Brown? Didn’t draft a high level Offensive lineman since Andrews? Let “Bdawk” go for absolutely nothing? Let the best upcoming D coordinator within the organization go the the Giants while ‘JJ’s” health was declining, leaving the team a green inexperienced protoge’ to take a legends place? Was it Mcnabb’s fault he was not given the appropriate w eapons the majority of his career? They had a DT playing fullback!!! They had Reno Mahe returning kicks on a teams ready for contention.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
July 26, 2010 7:00 am

I don’t live in the Philly area any more, and am not sure “Who” are all these poeple stating the Kolb is better than McNabb, or that McNabb wasn’t a good QB…
Anyone who compares what McNabb has done over the last 10-12 years with Kolb who has 2 Starts under his belt is ludricrous (and not the reap-singer either) at this stage of his career. McNabb is the best QB in the Philadelphia Eagle Franchise, Now it was time for him to move on and a new era to begin. Kolb has the ability,work ethic, familiarity with the same system and coaches, mental toughness and the talent around him to be successful. but he has to play the game and prove it on the field and this will only occur as time goes on.. meanwhile the Eagles have many other areas of need for the team to improve but for anyone to claim that Kolb is a better QB today than McNabb doesn know what their talking about and know much about football and goes back to how divisive of a relationship McNabb has always had in Philadelphia with some in the media and some of the fans since being drafted years ago…
Let the man go in peace and show a little respect for what he accomplished for the Eagles,
He’s able to turn a new chapter in his career, so let’s move on and support the players we have..

phillywill
phillywill
July 26, 2010 7:07 am

schill like what u say is fine thats in a perfect world
but in real world it dont make sense
y tf would we watch sports if we arent gonna have an opinion of it i mean im quite sure be4 every season each yr u have some type of expectation
i mean u can look at a team and come away with expectations
while we in sixerland would like to just maybe make the playoffs and show improvement those in miami expect to be playing for the chip
thats just the way it is and if any1 knows that its u because with a top 5 qb we were expected to win every yr we were expected to make playoffs every yr we were expected to do these things
no1 here is prediciting any records this is a good article
it just states the truth backed by some pretty good sources in the game ray didi and g cobb both feel expectations shouldnt be lowered
no1 is predicitng anything just saying we should win and how can u argue that based on our roster
u cant

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
July 26, 2010 7:16 am

Paul, how do you know Kolb has the ability,work ethic? Because the Eagles brass tells you he do?
When these D lineman in the NFL smacks you around that changes everything. Will he stand hit after hit like Mcnabb? There’s more reason to believe he will not…The percentages do not lie and he will more so become Become Kyle Orton before Mcnabb.

See how he responds afer he’s smacked around then make the statements and not before then.

Right now he’s a big question mark…..nothing more, nothing less. We traded the best QB in franchise history for an unknown. I know people want to believe but reality must be posted for temperance sake. We can only hope Kolb can play…..That’s a big gamble this franhcise have taken with Reid accepting because he knows Kolb is his final lifeline.

schiller
schiller
July 26, 2010 7:18 am

pw – to your specific question ‘Why (tf) would we watch sports if we aren’t gonna have an opinion of it’ – that’s a fair question. I’m not saying we should (or don’t) have opinions when we watch sports – I ABSOLUTELY think we do and should. But we’re not ‘watching’ anything at all right now. We’re sitting here at the beginning of the commercials before the previews at a movie discussing different secnarios about the end. We’re talking what if’s and comparing them to other ‘what ifs’ and then arguing over which ‘what if – thought’ is more correct or in tune to reality! ‘my what if is better than yours’ or ‘this what if is better than that’ – it’s foolish. I’m not upset or calling anyone out, I’m just saying this whole conversation is silly and foolish.

schiller
schiller
July 26, 2010 7:22 am

Songs – you are indeed correct about this being a huge risk. That’s sports – you have to take risks and Banner, for one, has acknowledged that it’s a big risk. (i’m not defending anyone or anything, just stating facts there). So man up and let’s see how this plays out. You seem to want to hold the organization accountable for ‘taking risks’ as if you expect every move/decision to be based on sure things – not in this world and this sport buddy. You make it sound like keeing Donny as the starter would have been a sure thing to win the SB. I know that’s not what you would say, but your thinking implies that.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
July 26, 2010 7:36 am

Beacuse every report I have read about Kolb since his High School days thru College years and now his time with the Eagles states that Kolbs has a high work ethic,a high Football IQ and highly competitive mindset to be successful at the NFL level from many sources like past coaches,past teammates & competiitors and now from the Eagles and other teams scouts that cover the Eagles. Does this mean anything, does this translate to success on the field .. absolutely not, but I much rather read and hear about these attributes than the usual “questionable work ethic, immature, self-absorbed, hard to coach ” etc,etc, that we all read too often about many of the Professional athletes of today.. Kolb has worked hard by all accounts and obviously has picked up the system which is tailor made for his skills and deserves his opportunity, let’s wait and see how he does on the field before making him an All-Pro or a Bust…

phillywill
phillywill
July 26, 2010 7:36 am

these convo’s happen every yr
the problem is its not as annoying as it was for u the past yrs when they r beating up d5
the prob is its now maybe annoying u cause u dont wanna hear about kolb o well
clearly i was annoyed every off season the past 10 yrs so what ur annoyed 1 o well
and im going to say it songs dont have to
if u gave d5 his 4yr ext and kept these weapons i think the question is could he win 2

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
July 26, 2010 7:46 am

McNabb has his 10-11 years of opportunity PW, he worked hard and gave it his best shot which just wasn’t good enough.Now I am not a big Joe Banner fan, but one statement that he made 2 years ago of “Doing the same thing year after year and expecting a different result is insanity” I do believe in…
It was simply time for #05 and the Eagles Franchise to move on and look forward and now they both have so let’s see what happens on the field … I expect a very good year for McNabb in Washington but I also expect a very good year by Kolb… will either of the Redskins or Eagles teams be in the Super Bowl for 2010 to represent the NFC, it’s highly unlikely. The Saints,Vikings,Cowboys & Packers are all better teams right now across the board.. but that doesn’t mean anything and which is why they play the games…

EagleBeliever
EagleBeliever
July 26, 2010 7:54 am

You don’t need to type a paragraph to answer this question…it’s this simple…

McNabb had 11 years – when you are with a team for 11 years and don’t win ONE superbowl, every season becomes superbowl or bust – it’s been that way since we lost to NE

Kolb hasn’t even had 1 year – therefore he gets the benefit of the doubt – REGARDLESS if he is better or worse – better or worse is a mute point for a guy who hasn’t started a full season.

EagleBeliever
EagleBeliever
July 26, 2010 7:57 am

Just like everything else there are two sides….

the people who are excited to see Kolb produce in this offense
and the people who are weary that we dumped our franchise player for a guy named Kolb

either way the kid is the QB in 2010…you can analyze the way he plays all you want and say he better or worse all you want….the fact of the matter is that this is the NFL…it’s unpredictable..crazy things happen year in and year out….so give the kid the support of a fan and root for your team…and maybe one day he’ll deliver what we all want and have been waiting for….case closed

phillywill
phillywill
July 26, 2010 7:59 am

or i could be pissed at fo cause unlike u i think they made a huge mistake and just classless move
and i could just treat kolb how most treated d5 and i can just root for the skins until reid is removed along with joe ban
also i can come on gcobb and piss most of u off the same way i was pissed bout ur d5 unjust criticisms
when the d gives up like a 12 min drive for us to lose another game im gonna come on here and rip kolb lmao
and pman great call on phils gettin swept by the rockies just a great call there

schiller
schiller
July 26, 2010 7:59 am

pw – see that amazes me. I totally understand, you being a STAUNCH Donovan guy – and for the record I loved what he did here, think it’s unmatched and amazing. But I’m OK with the change. But for you to suggest that it’s easy, predictable or ‘safe’ to assume a SB if the Eagles had kept him is utterly ridiculous. Look at the patriots going 16-0 w/ Moss and all the fixin’s…. it doesn’t work that way in the NFL and you know better. You’re just using the opportunity in this converstaion (it’s relevant – I’ll give you that) – to make your INCREDIBLY REDUNDANT AND FUTILE point again. But don’t tell me that McNabb would have easily one a SB had he’d stayed.

EagleBeliever
EagleBeliever
July 26, 2010 8:10 am

PW – but what if he wins and the birds win….then what do you do? Stay a redskin fan? Blame it on luck? Say the defense got lucky?

Because just like D5 was treated….that treatment started to diminish when he started to win football games.

BTW – just throwing this out there…it’ll be years before Joe Banner is gone…so you mine as well just stay a skins fan

phillywill
phillywill
July 26, 2010 8:14 am

funny thing is i was not a big d5 fan ever
i was annoyed by horrible throws or just completely awful games i cant even explain (ie. raiders bengals ravens to name a few)
guitar dance. hugging like giants after we lose to them was just disgusting
smiling when we were down 30 even worse just putrid
my biggest problem with him is when he decided he didnt want to run anymore just sickening
but im a philly guy he was here 10 yrs im a loyal dude like most philly guys im not a rat like nyers or dudes from boston im a loyal philadelphian and i just hated 2 see d5 wear the the brunt of the blame for last season and the past 10 yrs
now should he get some yes but should have AR recieved way more hell yes
so what do u do extend AR trade d5

and thus my resentment began

EagleBeliever
EagleBeliever
July 26, 2010 8:15 am

what you talk about doesn’t piss anyone off….they way you talk about it…that’s what pisses people off

an argument has two sides to it…no matter what it is about…a good debate (which most people get into on here) is one that offers logical assessments of both sides of the argument…a good debater listens to what the other side says and responds with an educated rebuttal…not a bunch of gibberish that is unfounded and ridiculous

many of us have had serious debates about McNabb, Kolb and the FO…that doesn’t bother anyone…but when you are constantly talking the way you do…that’s what pisses people off because you are like that kid on the playground who knows EVERYTHING no matter how ridiculous you sound…it’s annoying really…just enjoy the conversation…and let others do the same

EagleBeliever
EagleBeliever
July 26, 2010 8:17 am

PhillyWill – I retract my last statement….because the post above that is the type of discussion i’m looking for from you.

Thank you

schiller
schiller
July 26, 2010 8:20 am

pw – those fans you speak of who blamed D5 for everything aren’t the ones you’re talking to now. They were incredibly stupid for saying that. But F em! Those comments are more history than Donny’s tenure in Philly. So realize though, that trying to put all the blame on Reid is just as dumb as putting it all on Donny. WE WERE CHEATED ON IN THE SUPERBOWL? REMEMBER? So if that pats hadn’t cheated, maybe we have a ‘chip’ – as you call it – and then it’s all different. Forget those dumb fans who over blamed 5. Don’t let them – or their comments from years ago F w/ your head so much that your Eagles fandom is robbed and you go blaming Reid like he killed JJ, injured Stew, Cheated agains the Eagles in the SB, created comlications that make winning a SB ridiculsously hard and requiring luck. Own your fandom, don’t let some dumb over emotional fans who said stupid sh*t years ago control you.

EagleBeliever
EagleBeliever
July 26, 2010 8:23 am

And I agree to some extent….I think D5 took most of the blame, wasn’t fully a scapegoat but he got the brunt end of a the deal. The reason being in my eyes is that Andy Reid was responsible for more than just the quarterback. He took every aspect of this team and built it into a winner. Hiring a guy like JJ, getting good defense guys for JJ to work with and then filling in the pieces with offense. He drafted McNabb and played to his strengths.

While McNabb was an amazing athlete in this city…no one questions that…he also couldn’t be that one person to deliver when the time was there for him to do so. But like I said before, it wasn’t fully his fault.

However, when 11 years goes by without the results of a superbowl with the same head coach and same QB, something needs to change. Unfortunately, a QB has a shelf life, a coach a little less of a shelf life. The coach becomes more valuable because of all the other things he did for the team. Therefore he gets the benefit of the doubt, and the QB gets the brunt end of the deal. As good of a guy as McNabb was for this city, it’s a shame to see it happen….but that is the nature of the game I guess. We can hate the front office all we want, but in the end, if the team wins….everyone forgets.

Iggles
Iggles
July 26, 2010 8:42 am

First, I’d NEVER expect McNabb to take this team to a SB. Second, any new QB will have growing pains plus the schedule is tougher this year and the defense is still a question mark. Kolb’s overall passing & WCO skills are certainly as good, maybe better than McNabb’s BUT he still has to get used to game conditions under pressure from some first-rate defenses this year… I’m not sure McNab ever faced as many strong defenses in one season as Kolb will this year. And McNab had many years behind an excellent OLine; this vote is still out on this one.

phillywill
phillywill
July 26, 2010 9:00 am

Kolb’s overall passing & WCO skills are certainly as good, maybe better than McNabb’s histerical
I’m not sure McNab ever faced as many strong defenses in one season as Kolb will this year. o really so should kolb stink it up we should point to these factors huh truly histercial

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
July 26, 2010 9:05 am

I will say this, regardless of who the QB is I will be disappointed if we don’t make the playoffs. And that is because this league has proven time and time again that your QB doesn’t have to be the greatest for your team to at least make the playoffs. So that means the other parts of your team must be good. If we don’t make the playoffs it will mostly be because of some growing pains (which is to be expected) and the defense not being good enough. I think it was unfair in the past for the teams success to be solely on McNabb and I think it’s unfair to do the same for Kolb. Having said that, I expect playoffs because we are the Gold standard and the other parts of the team have to carry it with a young QB. If we don’t then that means the other parts stink.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
July 26, 2010 9:09 am

As the Franchise QB for over 10 years for a team with very passionate fans,
McNabb has always received way too much blame for when they lost and sometimes too much credit for when they won.. It’s part of the territory and it’s whay he was paid the big bucks to be able
to stay in the kictchen when it get’s hot… He was compesnated extremely well for his talents,playmaking and leadership (Over $120 million over his Eagle Career).
So please, let’s stops the sobbing on how McNabb was mis-treated here by the Eagles.. It was some of the Media and some of the Fans who have always been hard on McNabb, but I think the Organization took pretty good care of him in retrospect..
He could have ended up traded to a team that has no chance of success, now with the Redskins, he joins a team with a rich tradition, a rabid fan base and a head coach who is offensive minded and has had success (winning a SB) in the NFL.. I would say as a 12 year 34 year QB, he landed pretty well and pluds the Redskins is one of the very few teams that will extend his deal for more $$$$
(Not many other teams in the NLF to day are willing to do that) so He made out pretty ok in my book…

EagleBeliever
EagleBeliever
July 26, 2010 9:10 am

First off, you can’t rate defenses in July. Some defenses projected to be good may be weak. Some projected to be weak may be good. You don’t know until the season rolls around. So you can’t make blind projections based on rankings in July.

Second, Kolb’s WCO offense skills are certainly as good? What skills are you talking about, specifically? The two QB’s are not going to be the same and one may do something better than the other. But again, until September rolls around, we can only project that Kolb’s quick throwing motion will be better than McNabbs.

Some things we already know….McNabb has a cannon, McNabb was able to run better than Kolb (for most of his career). McNabb extended plays.

Kolb has a quick release and looks to be more of an accurate thrower (but his accuracy hasn’t been over a full season yet, so it’s still a projection)

schiller
schiller
July 26, 2010 9:12 am

I actually think it’s fair for every fan of every NFL team to be disapointed if/when their team doesn’t make the playoffs – wouldn’t anything else be absurd? If they don’t make the playoffs this year, we should be disapointed as fans, not because of donny, kob, Reid, the FO, injuries or anything else – we’re fans, and that would be the appropriate emotional reaction. Period.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
July 26, 2010 9:24 am

G and other posters, not to change the subject..
Does anyone else think the LB E Sims could be a Strong Safety
They list him at 6’0 but he’s really about 5’10 1/2″ and about 220 and can run as quick as anyone…
A sure tackler who would lots of practice reps in coverage skills and proper technique..
But he would look good “in The Box” on running siutations and then could lock up with TE’s in passing situations while the other Safety (Mickell and eventually Allen would be the deep cover Safety) With the Eagles having some quality depth at OLB position spot for now and lack of Quality Depth at the Safety position, I wonder if SIms has the ability to play back there… He’s a fast as most the Eagle players that they have in the Seconday.. He would bring a physical presence to the back end of the defense that the Eagles still lack … Any thoughts…

schiller
schiller
July 26, 2010 9:40 am

NOPE NOPE and, wait…. NOPE. He’s got a significant weakness – coverage. And he’s too small – TEs would block him with their pinkie nail. He’s a WLB. Pure and simple. Allen is not gonna cover TEs – that’s not what the FS does. TE’s will be covered by Bradley, Fokou (or I hope Clayton soon) and Mikell. You really want your FS coming accross the field to cover a TE on the strong side leaving NO help for our weak (both in terms of ‘will’ football terminology and our ‘weaker’ side of CB position) CB?! Run support wasn’t an issue for the SAM position anyway.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
July 26, 2010 9:43 am

@ schiller, amen to your last comment. That’s exactly right. I’m not lowering my expectations.

And listening to some of the players and the coaches it seems they feel they haven’t lost anything with McNabb gone. And while they are supposed to feel that way don’t go feeding people the company line and then be surprised when fans are outraged if you don’t succeed. First of all, you told them that the team was still going to be good and believe it or not some fans actually take what the FO guys, media and players say to heart and get their hopes up.

I’m not lowering my expectations for anyone especially when they claim we aren’t rebuilding. if they expect to win then I expect it to.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
July 26, 2010 9:45 am

No Paulman. He can’t cover. Can’t just convert him because of his size. That’s the problem with this team anyway, keep trying to convert people. Let him play the position he knows how to play. You want him to be Roy Williams back there?….. can knock you into next week IF if he can catch you.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
July 26, 2010 9:50 am

I don’t know about anyone else but our secondary scares me to death. With Hobbs as your starter now and Asante “don’t wanna tackle” Samuel back there, it could be tough. Hopefully Nate Allen comes a long but he is a rookie. He can’t do much worst than Macho Harris, but he is a rookie. And Mikell needs to bounce back because he didn’t have a good year either. If that pass rush isn’t there then we gotta pray hard for the entire secondary.

Butch007
Butch007
July 26, 2010 9:51 am

“Addition by Subtraction”…

All of these reports are a cover up for the fact that the reporters writing the “Wax Poetic on Kolb” articles didn’t/don’t like McNabb personally for any variety of reasons…which I won’t speculate about because they’ve all been discussed at length and are tired at this point. They don’t love Kolb they just love the fact that McNabb isn’t here. They saw all of the interceptions the guy threw in such a short period of time and they saw how much the WRs inflated his stats in the games he played, especially against the worse team in the league at the time. The Eagles could have traded for Matt Leinart or Trent Edwards before the McNabb trade and these same reporters would be writing the same type of “He’s great, but don’t expect too much the first season…” articles.

The point is, yes it is strange for people to say Kolb is better than the greatest Eagle QB of all time and in the same sentence utter that lowered team expectations are reasonable. It’s strange enough to warrant opening the Pandorra’s Box on discovering the background of the reporters in question and discovering the “Whys” behind the article.

Butch007
Butch007
July 26, 2010 10:08 am

My only hope for the safety position honestly is that Quinton Demps comes in and mops the turf with the competition. Short of that happening it’s delusional to expect any kind of consistently good play from that position.

(…back to the Kolb debacle)
With Kolb being and all around “Better QB” than the best Eagles QB of all time getting into the playoffs and at least reaching the NFC Championship game should be fairly simple. LOL

schiller
schiller
July 26, 2010 10:12 am

Scorp – that’s where the D line comes in – if – and I know that’s a big IF – the D line can have significant imrovement in getting pressure over last year, hobs and Asante – the CB tandem that was on winning Pats SB teams.. can be OK. BUT – I never liked Hobbs at CB at all personally and I’m hoping Lindley steps up. I’m also much more OK w/ Hanson than many are. Same goes for Macho – I see no reason to be pessimistic about him at CB – his woes at S don’t translate. I think the past shows that the ‘starter’ on day 1 of training camp doesn’t mean much. Demps was suppossed to be our starting FS. McD also changed Fokou over Gocong, took out Mays, played Dixon over Laws….etc – he’s shown that he’s fine with changing starters. I don’t put any stock in Hobbs being the starting RCB v. Green Bay week 1. Training camp/preaseason could easily change that.

Butch007
Butch007
July 26, 2010 10:13 am

Just think Jake Locker or Ryan Mallett ladies and gentleman…

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
July 26, 2010 10:14 am

After moving up 11 spots, Eagles should have Drafted Safety Eric Thomas at the 13th spot,
then they still could have added a CB with that 2nd Rd Pick Selection and still add another Safety in the 4th/5th Rd. Take the DT’s/OLB in the 3rd/4th Rds for there were many to select from this year…
I think E Thomas is an All-Pro type of player who will be great for the next 10-12 years,, while Graham and Allen I think will be good,solid all-around players.. I am not sure they will be great players which this defense needs to add a couple more of… Time will tell …

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
July 26, 2010 10:15 am

Butch I do agree with you that many of the “reporters” and “journalists” are puffing up Kolb because he isn’t McNabb. Many of them just couldn’t stand McNabb so the guy that follows him is definitely going to get hyped up because of their disdain for McNabb. To hear “he’s better than McNabb, but don’t expect too much” is contradictory. That’s because right now, he isn’t better but they would like him to be because of their agenda but they also don’t want people to be disappointed if the season is a failure because they want people to take it easy on the guy not named McNabb.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
July 26, 2010 10:34 am

Yeah schiller I agree that it will depend on the D line pressure. We gotta see what those guys will do but the Dline won’t get pressure every play so we will still need good and solid play out of the CB spots. I’m not sure who they can cover and we are facing some of the top QBs in the league this year. Our secondary is a big play waiting to happen right now. And I do agree about Macho. I think he’s a better CB than safety but still don’t know if he can be a solid player for a season. Hanson is ok to me, I just don’t like his size. He’s decent though. Asante obviously is the playmaker of the group but will will occasionally leave a man wide open and leave the safeties in a bad spot which makes it even more tough for the secondary when you have cover your assignment and then keep an eye out for a guy looking to jump a route. I’m fine with the linebackers right now. No gripes there. But that secondary scares me and our d-line is still undersized. Getting pressure in Sept is easier than getting it in Nov and Dec.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
July 26, 2010 10:35 am

I only want Demps returning kickoffs and gunner on Special teams. No coverage for him.

phillywill
phillywill
July 26, 2010 10:37 am

clearly i could go on but im just reading post today
very funny

schiller
schiller
July 26, 2010 10:42 am

scorps – I hear ya on Demps – but what if – just what if – he turns ‘justice’ on us – then he can replace Mkell in a year and tandem with Allen. I doubt that McD would hand him the reings unless he believed that he’s a different S now than last time. This is where having Jauron aboard is key.