Kolb's Not Going Anywhere

[ASUCHRIS]

Easier said then done.

Miami has gone through some 18 starters since Marino retired 17 years ago.

Yep...having bad qb's is like not having a star in the NBA, they're really hard to get, and you really have no chance of being a legitimate contender without them.

Sucks to be one of the have nots.

 

[Darkside]

Winning big, yes. Winning period? Not necessarily. I think that the Falcons have had three playoff seasons in a row while executing a run-first offense with some pretty awful to mediocre defenses. The Eagles made the playoffs for a decade with a strong running game and a... limited quarterback in Donovan McNabb.

I just don't see the upside in continuing to pass at a 55% completion rate and hoping that your defense doesn't start to break down before you can sneak out of the stadium. I guess you could argue that passing even if it's not successful loosens up the defense, but I don't think that's true.

Great point (bolded). The Falcons record when Turner has less than 15 carries is abysmal. It's not even necessarily the yards he gains, it's the # of times he's running. I forget the #'s but they posted them last year, and they can barely stay in games when he doesn't handle the rock. With him as the focal point they win games.

 

[Darkside]

When Kolb went down in this preseason game Mainstreet, I became really concerned because I thought it was another concussion and if so I was saying to myself that I hope his loved ones and even coach Whis would tell him to retire. Kolb is a good guy and let's forget about the aspects of being our QB but look at Kolb being able to have a life, that guy is endangering his life playing a sport he is simply not built to endure. It is not a knock on him personally for being fragile because your average person could not take these hits either but he cannot have the constitution of a regular guy to play this position and expect to survive...he is NFL fragile. I do not question the guy's toughness, I question the severe damage his body is going to take if he keeps playing.

Totally agree. Well said.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

That is such a great post. Wonder if the Cardinals could approach him with a settlement offer. Is that feasible?

Nothing to settle. If they cut him they save this season's salary.

 

[Phrazbit]

Winning big, yes. Winning period? Not necessarily. I think that the Falcons have had three playoff seasons in a row while executing a run-first offense with some pretty awful to mediocre defenses. The Eagles made the playoffs for a decade with a strong running game and a... limited quarterback in Donovan McNabb.

I just don't see the upside in continuing to pass at a 55% completion rate and hoping that your defense doesn't start to break down before you can sneak out of the stadium. I guess you could argue that passing even if it's not successful loosens up the defense, but I don't think that's true.

Not to say we shouldnt run more, but the Eagles have been the opposite for the majority of the last decade. Reid is one of the most pass happy coaches in the NFL.

 

[WildBB]

Nothing to settle. If they cut him they save this season's salary.

One Mill. That's it. And have to eat next yr's 6m bonus in cap space now.

 

[Darkside]

Not to say we shouldnt run more, but the Eagles have been the opposite for the majority of the last decade. Reid is one of the most pass happy coaches in the NFL.

Eagles were/are an anomaly though. They had all those swing passes and dump-offs to Brian Westbrook for a decade. They designed whole gameplans around the dude and they were nothing more than 2 yard passes, if that, which he could take to the house. Then Michael Vick, who's his own runner. When we pass, everyone's out for medium-to-long routes, there's no dump-off option at all, for the most part. Without being able to run a screen game of any kind, without any swing passes, without chip-and-run routes, we're kind of screwed if we don't run the ball effectively. Problem is, it's so obvious when we're running, even my wife was calling out the runs last night. It's irritating.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

One Mill. That's it. And have to eat next yr's 6m bonus in cap space now.

Yup! And that's one of the reasons why he's part of QB mix in 2012.

 

[JeffGollin]

I'll have to watch it again but Bridges man didn't hit him unless Bridges was blocking Ellis...It's Snyder's man Ellis that hits ...

Rewatching tape, it looked as though LSH failed to handle Ellis - which, if so, raises the question: How and why did a little guy like LSH wind up having to block a big guy like Ellis?

Did someone blow an assignment thereby forcing LSH to try in vain to make a saving block?

 

[Phrazbit]

Eagles were/are an anomaly though. They had all those swing passes and dump-offs to Brian Westbrook for a decade. They designed whole gameplans around the dude and they were nothing more than 2 yard passes, if that, which he could take to the house. Then Michael Vick, who's his own runner. When we pass, everyone's out for medium-to-long routes, there's no dump-off option at all, for the most part. Without being able to run a screen game of any kind, without any swing passes, without chip-and-run routes, we're kind of screwed if we don't run the ball effectively. Problem is, it's so obvious when we're running, even my wife was calling out the runs last night. It's irritating.

We used to see a lot more plays like that with Warner. I dont know if our current QBs dont look to the RB or if we have such little faith in our QBs to make a timely decision that our RBs are almost always blocking on passing downs.

Also Beanie cant catch. Its scary to even run a toss play with him.

Hopefully we will see a lot more screens and wheel routes with Ryan Williams and Hyphen this year.

 

[JeffGollin]

I just watched the first 4 seconds of that clip about 20 times. It all boils down to one thing: Snyder. If he does his job, the pocket is fine. The left side did a great job, Colledge and Sendelien stoned their guys, Levi did a great job disengaging his man and leaving him for LSH (which is stupid btw, LaRod is just too small to be asked to do that). Bridges does a decent job, but Snyder is beaten too badly. He just got obliterated. Pitiful.

That's pretty much what I saw (except that I didn't track Snyder - what I mainly saw was LSH whiffing on Ellis).

 

[Russ Smith]

Rewatching tape, it looked as though LSH failed to handle Ellis - which, if so, raises the question: How and why did a little guy like LSH wind up having to block a big guy like Ellis?

Did someone blow an assignment thereby forcing LSH to try in vain to make a saving block?

LSH was blocking Will Smith who came free from the other side. Someone else said Brown let Smith go to pick up someone else.

Same old thing people do a stunt and our OL seems totally baffled on who blocks who. 3 guys were essentially free, LSH picked up one, Kolb made one miss but in the process ran right into the path of Ellis who clocked him.

 

[Darkside]

Rewatching tape, it looked as though LSH failed to handle Ellis - which, if so, raises the question: How and why did a little guy like LSH wind up having to block a big guy like Ellis?

Did someone blow an assignment thereby forcing LSH to try in vain to make a saving block?

Looks to me like LSH picked up the wrong guy. He should have shifted and picked up Ellis (who made the tackle that hurt Kolb). LSH hesitates just a fraction too long and tried to pick up the guy who was beating Levi at LT. He should have picked up Ellis on the right.

Watch the replay again (I've watched it like 20 times). Heap is wide open to the left, at the top of the screen. Fitz takes both defenders with him and Heap is wide open on the sideline. If LSH picks up Ellis with a chip, Kolb can step up and throw to Heap (because Levi's guy is coming wide).

And yes, it's ridic to have a guy like Howling blocking in any situation near our own goal line.

 

[kerouac9]

Not to say we shouldnt run more, but the Eagles have been the opposite for the majority of the last decade. Reid is one of the most pass happy coaches in the NFL.

Duce Staley got a lot of carries early in McNabb's career, and obviously LeRon McCoy has been getting a lot of action. That West Coast offense was really interesting when they had three or four guys getting 60, 70 catches per year. But even they've matured into a different kind of offense these days.

 

[az jam]

Lot's of good analysis and discussion on this thread. He are a couple of my observations:

1. Kolb has regressed. I went to the evening scrimmage last Wednesday in Flagstaff and Kolb looked just like he did yesterday. He was very skittish. This was against the Cardinal defense with restrictions on even touching the qb. I think the concussions suffered last year may have a major mental effect on him.

2. I agree that Cardinal management will do whatever they can to give Kolb the opportunity to be the starter. I agree with this as they gave up a lot for him and also are paying a lot for him.

3. The team has played better around Skelton. However, I just don't know if he really can be a quality starter. He has an accuracy problem. Can that be fixed? I don't know.

4. It will be competition all year Skelton vs Kolb. If the Cards really tank; Kolb will be cut in the off season and the Cards will be spending their 1st round pick on a qb.

 

[CardLogic]

Coach was asked what he wants in a quarterback, and he said, "First downs." What does he do when neither quarterback is capable of consistently delivering these? I'm guessing he'd go with the guy who delivers more first downs, and I'm thinking that's Kolb.

Not last night it wasn't.

 

[Matt L]

Looks to me like LSH picked up the wrong guy. He should have shifted and picked up Ellis (who made the tackle that hurt Kolb). LSH hesitates just a fraction too long and tried to pick up the guy who was beating Levi at LT. He should have picked up Ellis on the right.

Watch the replay again (I've watched it like 20 times). Heap is wide open to the left, at the top of the screen. Fitz takes both defenders with him and Heap is wide open on the sideline. If LSH picks up Ellis with a chip, Kolb can step up and throw to Heap (because Levi's guy is coming wide).

And yes, it's ridic to have a guy like Howling blocking in any situation near our own goal line.

There were four down lineman and 2 guys bringing pressure from Kolb's left. That is 6 guys blitzing with 5 linemen and LSH to block. Probably not the best defense to run a play-action pass.

 

[Darkside]

There were four down lineman and 2 guys bringing pressure from Kolb's left. That is 6 guys blitzing with 5 linemen and LSH to block. Probably not the best defense to run a play-action pass.

Agree, it's ridic anyway to run play action near our own goal line unless we've already established the run, which we hadn't. It's just dumb football.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Rewatching tape, it looked as though LSH failed to handle Ellis - which, if so, raises the question: How and why did a little guy like LSH wind up having to block a big guy like Ellis?

Did someone blow an assignment thereby forcing LSH to try in vain to make a saving block?

Ellis is the interior right side lineman. Larod went after Levi's man who is on the left side.

 

[JC_AZ]

Strange coincidence that last year when there was so much talk about how the line was improving in the last half of the season...Beanie's biggest games came then, and Skelton learned to rally the rest of the O after his bad starts...Leadership breeds improvement and demands respect...Last night, after KK got hurt AGAIN, Skelton came in, running game picked up a bit, which opened up the passing game...maybe not a coincidence who the rest of the guys are playing for...just a thought

 

[Krangodnzr]

I have to say, and this is really an evolving opinion and I reserve the right to change it...

Chopper is right on the money, Kolb is the better QB but Skelton might be a better fit.

I also see things like Kerouac that Skelton is more likely to have a lower floor (7-9) while Kolb is more likely to have a higher ceiling (9-7). I also think all of you are making WAY to big a deal of Kolb's performance.

Outside of the really dumb, inexcusable pick, the guy was rightfully (on his part) running for his life. The offensive line settled down and played better, not because Skelton was in there, but because the settled down and played better!

And besides, what we can hope for is the Cards to win enough this year NOT to embarass us and for us to be able to trade up and get Wilson or Barkley.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

I have to say, and this is really an evolving opinion and I reserve the right to change it...

Chopper is right on the money, Kolb is the better QB but Skelton might be a better fit.

I also see things like Kerouac that Skelton is more likely to have a lower floor (7-9) while Kolb is more likely to have a higher ceiling (9-7). I also think all of you are making WAY to big a deal of Kolb's performance.

Outside of the really dumb, inexcusable pick, the guy was rightfully (on his part) running for his life. The offensive line settled down and played better, not because Skelton was in there, but because the settled down and played better!

And besides, what we can hope for is the Cards to win enough this year NOT to embarass us and for us to be able to trade up and get Wilson or Barkley.

Did the offensive line tighten up after Kolb left? Because that's when the Benny Hill theme song in my head stopped playing.

Face it, Kolb has no pocket awareness at all, and makes a bad O-line look even worse.

 

[Stout]

Wow. And the excuses continue. 'Well, Kolb is the better QB, but Skelton is the better FIT for our team'. Baloney. If Skelton is better for our team than Kolb (and you guys are the ones saying it), then Skelton is the better QB of the two.

 

[Phrazbit]

The line looks better for Skelton because they are better when he is on the field. When linemen are getting beat they shove their man deep into the backfield, when Skelton is there they know he will typically move forward into the space. When Kolb is on the field you cant flush guys into the backfield because odds are Kolb is already there. Our linemen are under a ton of pressure to completely stuff rushers when blocking for Kolb because there is no where for them to attempt to force their man if they are getting beat.

 

[cardpa]

After watching the video it appears that Levi's guy (#91) brings the initial pressure after beating Levi with an inside move and its the first guy Kolb sees when he looks back to his left. It appears that LSH is trying to chip him or at least impede him. Had Kolb stayed in the pocket he would have been flattened by #91. After that it all falls apart as no one holds their blocks.

Now what makes me wonder is does Kolb have a total lack of confidence in his OL and Levi in particular because that is the first place he looked and here comes old #91 barreling down on him.

I think Kolb expects some measure of protection from his line which I think one should expect since it's their job to block.