EAGLES: Cardinals Reportedly Interested in Kolb

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb has been a hot commodity around the NFL trade rumors as of recent. The Eagles backup, who head coach Andy Reid is listening to offers for, could be out of Philadelphia if the ‘Birds can get a first round draft pick.

According to reports from Comcast Sportsnet, the Arizona Cardinals are leading the charge for No. 4. The Cardinals reportedly contacted Reid and expressed interest in giving up a first round pick for the 27-year-old quarterback.

From CSN: According to Peter King of SI.com, one team is willing to offer a first-round pick for Kolb. A league source has told CSN’s Derrick Gunn that a number of teams have made significant offers for Kolb. The source wouldn’t confirm or deny whether a first-round pick was offered.”

Other teams that are in need of a quarterback are: Vikings, Redskins, Panthers, 49ers, Seahawks, Cardinals, Bills, Dolphins, Browns, Bengals, Broncos, Raiders, Jaguars, Titans. The problem? Most of these teams, like the Cardinals, have top ten picks that may be worth more than Kolb.

If the reports are true, this could be a heck of an opportunity for the Eagles. Arizona has the fifth overall pick in the draft. I doubt they’re willing to give a pick that high for Kolb, but one can always dream.

 

EAGLES: Vick franchised; What Does it Mean for Kolb?

To no surprise, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported today that the Eagles will franchise tag quarterback Michael Vick. Coming off a Pro-Bowl and MVP-caliber season, there’s no question that Vick is the right guy for the future of this team. Even though he slumped down the stretch, he brought the Eagles to another level and made them a serious contender in 2010.

The real news about the Eagles decision to franchise Vick is not only important to No. 7, but also to Kevin Kolb.

With Michael Vick being named the definitive started, the Eagles announced that they will entertain offers for Kolb. Considering the NFL lacks any significant depth at the quarterback position, Kolb could be a hot commodity for trade offers after the collective bargaining agreement is settled.

If the Eagles get a good enough offer, Kolb could be relocating next season

To many teams, it’s not only Kolb’s experience as a starter that is desirable, but also his contract.  He is signed through 2011 for $1.4 million, which would have many owners jumping to get the Eagles backup. Deservedly so, Kolb has been quite outspoken about being a starting quarterback in the NFL.

The biggest question facing the Eagles and Kevin Kolb is this: just how much can they get for No. 4? He has more experience than most backups in the NFL which makes him a viable option for teams looking for a starter. Even though he didn’t have the most impressive 2010 season, he still showed enough promise to be given a chance.

The following teams are in desperate need of a starting quarterback (or in my opinion, places that Kolb deserves to start)

Carolina Panthers- Jimmy Clausen, enough said.

Minnesota Vikings- Favre is done (I hope at least) and the organization clearly has no faith in Tavarius Jackson.

Arizona Cardinals- Matt Leinart is working his way towards one of the big-time draft busts in NFL quarterbacking history.

Washington Redskins- Seeing as they get rid of McNabb, which after this season seems likely

San Francisco 49ers- Depends on what they want to do with Alex Smith/ Troy Smith/David Carr combo under new head coach Jim Harbaugh

Miami Dolphins- Chad Henne- 15 touchdowns and 19 interceptions- doesn’t cut it in the NFL

Tennessee Titans- Although the front office chose Jeff Fisher over Vince Young; also depends if any team will trade for him instead of them releasing Young

If the Eagles can get a first round draft pick from any of these teams, then I think it is a done deal for the Philadelphia front office. The draft class is pretty solid, so I’m sure the Eagles would like something to happen before April 28^th (once again it depends on the collective bargaining agreement).

If they don’t get a first round draft pick, I don’t think the Eagles give up on Kolb. Seeing as Michael Vick tends to put himself in dangerous situations, Kolb could come into games if Vick goes down and not be a liability like most backups in the NFL. He knows the playbook and is comfortable with the players and coaching staff. However, if the offer presents itself, Kevin Kolb may get his wish as starting in another city sometime soon.

EAGLES: The Game That Means Absolutely Nothing

The Eagles enter Sunday’s game with nothing to play for but pride. They are a lock in the third seed for the NFC and have no reason to play their starters. Granted they are coming off the sloppiest game of the season and have a lot to work on, but the risk is not worth the reward.

How will Andy Reid prepare for this years finale?

As expected, Michael Vick is going to sit against the Cowboy’s. Kevin Kolb, the once starter and “future” of the organization, will find himself running out of the tunnel at Lincoln Financial Field. He hasn’t seen the field since he threw one pass against the Redskins in week 10 and hasn’t started a football game since week 7 against Tennessee. With how big Philadelphia is on Michael Vick right now, there’s a lot of pressure on Kolb to succeed. Even though the game means nothing, it’s important for him to prove that he can mentally handle what he’s been through this season and be a viable backup to Vick.

For the third consecutive year, the Eagles will finish the season against divisional foe Dallas. In 2008, Philadelphia dismantled the Cowboys and snuck in to the NFC Wildcard. Led by Donovan McNabb’s three touchdowns and two defensive touchdowns in the second half, the Eagles won 44-6. After the emotional turnaround, quarterback Tony Romo allegedly collapsed in the locker room. With the loss, the Cowboys missed the playoffs. The Eagles went on to beat the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants before falling to the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game.

Last season was a bit of a different story when these two teams. Philadelphia and Dallas were battling for the NFC East title, but little did they know they would meet again a week later in the wildcard round. The Eagles were completely embarrassed at Cowboys stadium and were shutout, 24-0. The Cowboys controlled the ball for over 40 minutes due to Felix Jones and Marion Barber combining for 181 yards on the ground. Donovan McNabb had a passer rating of 74.2 and the Eagles rushed for a mere 37 yards. It was one of the most disappointing games of the season, but it would only get worse the following week when the Eagles flopped again. They lost 34-14 and many Eagles fans were left speechless by the lack of preparation and how badly Andy Reid was outcoached.

Back to back seasons, the Eagles and Cowboys were responsible for each other’s playoff fate. This year, the game has no meaning. Dallas is 5-10 and is playing for nothing more than revenge from their 30-27 loss in week 14. Here are some previews from ESPN and Philly.com. We will see you in the playoffs.

 

EAGLES: Remember that guy Brent Celek?

You remember the game “Where’s Waldo?” where you have to look for Waldo amongst a crowd of people? Well on the football field there isn’t a crowd of people, but instead 22 players battling on the gridiron. However, throughout the entire Eagles season I have found myself playing a Philadelphia Eagles version of “Where’s Waldo?” to the tune of “Where’s Brent Celek?”

It was last season that Eagles fans watched Brent Celek break out of his shell and emerge as one of the most dominant tight ends in the game. He is a blue-collar player that prides himself on hard work and determination. He isn’t the biggest or the strongest at his position. He isn’t the fastest and doesn’t have the best hands. However, he will outwork and outhustle players in order to better his team. Those are the qualities that Eagles fans saw in Celek during his breakout Pro-Bowl caliber season in 2009.

As we sit here 11 weeks into the season, we have yet to see the Brent Celek that we were all so hopeful to watch this season. Many hoped that he was going to add a new dimension to the Eagles receiving core after last season and solidify himself as one of the top five tight ends in football. Instead, Celek has a mere 23 receptions for 237 yards and two touchdowns through 11 games. These numbers pale in comparison to 2009.

Which Brent Celek will we see in the closing weeks?

Last year, Celek had 22 receptions through the first three games. In those games he also recorded 245 receiving, which is 8 more yards than he has during the 2010 campaign. Through 11 games last season, his numbers were exponentially better than this year, as he had 54 receptions for 601 yards and five touchdowns. He eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark three times in 2009 and the 50-yard mark eight times. This season, his most yards in a game came against San Francisco when he finished with 47. In 2009, he had 80 receptions and had at least two catches in every game. In 2010, he is on pace for only 37 receptions and has been held without a catch in two games (Giants last week and Colts three weeks ago).

What has led to this sudden slump for Celek? Is he underperforming? Does a change of quarterbacks make that much of a difference? I believe it is a combination of both.

The different styles between Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick could definitely play a role in the lack of production by Celek. When Michael Vick is the starting quarterback, Celek has 9 receptions for 77 yards whereas when Kevin Kolb is the starting quarterback, he has 14 receptions for 160 yards (Not including the Packers game and the Washington Redskins game because they split time due to injuries). With Vick’s big-play style of offense that revolves largely around his legs, Celek becomes less of an option. Kolb, who runs more of a west coast style of offense with quick, short passes, often looks to Celek more over the middle. Much like Donovan McNabb, Kolb enjoys going to the tight end when in trouble and facing pressure. Vick on the other hand uses his legs to overcome pressure and does a better job finding his wide receivers on the run.

Another explanation for his low numbers could be the inconsistent play from the offensive line. Celek may not be targeted as often because he is forced to spend more time blocking and protecting the quarterback. When he releases after the initial block, his route is sometimes useless because Vick has already taken off running or Kolb was too quick to release the ball.

Looking at the positive, Celek’s lack of production has resulted in an increase in production from the Eagles wide receivers. DeSean Jackson is on pace to his first Pro-Bowl as a wide receiver, Jeremy Maclin has established himself as one of the most consistent young receivers in the league, and Jason Avant is getting a more expanded role in the slot.

Clearly the Eagles passing offense hasn’t been struggling this year, especially under Michael Vick. However, I believe the offense could be even more explosive if Celek can get more involved. The combination of getting more looks and Celek taking advantage of those looks will add an entirely new dimension to the already dominant Eagles offense. Can he rebound down the stretch or will Celek continue to be nonexistent on the stat line? Let’s hope it’s the former.

EAGLES: A Franchise-Changing Win Over the Redskins

There was a day when I, Stephen Watson, wrote an in depth article about why Kevin Kolb should be the starting quarterback for the Eagles over Michael Vick. I argued that Kolb is a better fit for the offense and would run the west coast offense more effectively than Vick. Just like Kevin Kolb feels right now, I admit my defeat.

What Michael Vick did on Monday night was the most impressive performance I have ever seen from a quarterback during the regular season. He was not human. He was faster than ever. He was throwing the ball better than ever. And most importantly, the rest of the team responded very well to No. 7 as the captain of the offense.

Who would have thought that after two years in prison, after the Eagles shockingly signed him, and after Kevin Kolb was deemed the future of the franchise that Michael Vick would change the future of a single franchise? It was this Michael Vick that critics have been waiting to see after he was the top overall pick coming out of Virginia Tech. It was this Michael Vick that Atlanta fans were planning their future around before he went to prison, but are instead now crying that he is in green and white. Now it all is becoming quite clear why Andy Reid decided to give Vick a second chance. To be honest, it might go down as his biggest off-season acquisition since being the head coach of the Eagles.

Honestly, who is this guy? Vick, the same quarterback that couldn’t hit his targets and could only run, has not thrown an interception this season. He finished the game 20 of 28 for 333 yards and four touchdown passes. O yeah, don’t forget that he also rushed for 80 yards and two touchdowns. He made passes that very few to no quarterbacks can make in the National Football League.

The first quarter was unlike anything I have ever seen before as a sports fan. Considering it was against a divisional opponent and on the road, the Eagles looked as if they were playing the Washington Pee-Wee’s. Outside of Michael Vick, everyone seemed to be clicking on all cylinders. Donovan McNabb, who had just earned a hefty paycheck coming into the game, looked like a deer in headlights trying to comprehend the beat down taking place at Fed-Ex field.

The second quarter was where I had a few problems with the Eagles, primarily on defense. McNabb, who we can all agree is a very talented quarterback, set the record for most passing yards in a single quarter. He completed three passes over fifty yards and to watch the secondary crumble after such a strong start to the game was a bit of a concern. Like most of his career in Philadelphia, McNabb does not have many special receivers to throw to, so to see the defense get beat by Anthony Armstrong and Fred Davis is something that cannot happen in the future.

Nevertheless, the Eagles led at the half by a score of 45-14. The second half was not so much different, as Philadelphia improved to 6-3 with a 59-28 record.

Grades:

Welcome the future of the Eagles franchise

Quarterback: A++++++++++++++++++++++

I think I have added my two cents about this. I’m just praying he doesn’t ask for too much money for next season, but whatever it is, the Eagles need to pay him. Secondly, I’m sorry to all of you that bought Kevin Kolb jerseys…they will be $5 dollars before you know it.

Running backs: A –

That run by Jerome Harrison was the most impressive Eagles run of the season. The fact that the Eagles were able to swap Mike Bell for Harrison is a joke, and I think that single rush proved why. Isn’t it nice to have someone who can pick up the slack if McCoy has a bad outing?

Wide Receivers: A+

You would think that the Redskins would not let DeSean Jackson catch a ball over the top of the secondary. Jackson hesitated in the middle of the route and still managed to outrun the secondary and open the game on an 80-yard touchdown (his longest as an Eagle). Jeremy Maclin also posted one of his best games of the season. His 48 yard touchdown catch was arguably the most impressive catch by any Eagle this season. It was also great to see Jason Avant get in the mix on Monday night (5 receptions for 76 yards and a TD).

Offensive Line: A –

Only one sack and three quarterback hits allowed by the Eagles offensive line. Michael Vick truly makes every other player on offense look better. This is especially the case with the offensive line considering how many tackles Vick avoided while scrambling around the pocket.

Kurt Coleman celebrates after his first career interception

Defensive Line/Linebackers: B+

The defensive line did a great job in the beginning of the game getting pressure on McNabb and stopping the run. However, they did make third string running back Keiland Williams look like a prime-time tailback in the second half. Williams finished with three touchdowns and 140 all purpose yards against the ‘Birds.

Secondary: A-/ B+

Aside from the second quarter hiccup, the secondary played very well against the Redskins. Dmitri Patterson is quickly becoming a fan favorite and is playing like the best cornerback on the team. He had two interceptions, including a pick six in the second half. Rookie Kurt Coleman did a great job filling in for Nate Allen, as he recorded his first interception of the season.

Special Teams: B

I’m really starting to get concerned with Jorrick Calvin as the Eagles kick and punt returner. He started off great for the Eagles and made a couple of nice returns, but since then has made more mistakes than plays. He recovered his own fumble after a punt return before quarterback Michael Vick got on his case. Calvin also only averaged 16.5 yards per return, which certainly needs to improve. Also, it was another good effort by Akers and Rocca.

Coming off a win against the Colts, Monday night’s beat down makes the Eagles the team to beat in the NFC East and potentially in the NFC. Michael Vick has changed this season from a “rebuilding year” to a Superbowl-contending season. Next up, another divisional date with the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football. Maybe they will come more prepared to take on Michael Vick’s Eagles.

For some laughs, you need to check out one of the longest and most intense rants about a sports team I’ve ever heard in my entire life. Enjoy Redskins sports talk host Chad Dukes’ rant after the game.

EAGLES: Vick and Kolb

Just wanted to post a story I read earlier today on ESPN by Elizabeth Merrill. It addresses the Michael Vick vs. Kevin Kolb debate on a completely different angle that I think every Eagles fan should read and understand. It’s important to realize that these two are not enemies on and off the field like the media likes to try and create, but rather close friends that want to help each other and watch each other succeed.

Michael Vick, Kevin Kolb find Harmony

EAGLES: What We Have Learned from the Eagles This Season

A lot has happened in the first seven weeks of the Eagles season. Between the transition of the franchise from the Donovan McNabb era and 13 draft picks in April, the Eagles have had to deal with a lot of changes in their young roster.

Philadelphia is 4-3 on the year and sits one game behind the New York Giants in the NFC East. Luckily for the Eagles, they play in the NFC East which has been one of the biggest divisional busts of the season. Many believe that the Eagles are lucky to even be in the hunt at this point in the season, considering how inconsistent the team has been and how much drama has surrounded them on and off the field.

We have learned a lot about the Eagles through the first seven weeks. Anyone that follows the Eagles knew coming into the season that it was going to be a year full of questions. Many have coined this year’s team as a “rebuilding process”, whereas others still believe that the Eagles can contend with any team in the NFL. Heading into the second half of the season (and the hardest part of the season), the Eagles have a lot to improve on if they want to be taken seriously in the very up-in-the-air NFC.

So what exactly have we learned this season?

1) The Eagles have two very capable quarterbacks

Andy Reid got his wish. Much to the dislike of fans and the media, Reid has flip-flopped between starters Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick all season. They have both proven that they can lead the team to wins, but it’s their dissimilarities that make this an interesting core. They have very different styles (which I have argued in previous posts is not beneficial to the future of the organization) and have accounted for two wins each on the season. Vick played hero at the beginning of the season, but took a brutal hit on the goal line, sending Kevin Kolb back to the starting role. Kolb answered back in dramatic fashion, leading the ‘Birds in back to back wins over the 49ers and Falcons. They have combined to one of the best passer ratings in the league and I think any Eagles fan can feel comfortable with Vick or Kolb as the starter.

2) The offensive line is a joke

Much of the Eagles success on offense relies on the offensive line. They are one of the most inconsistent units in franchise history. Barred by injuries to Jamaal Jackson and Jason Peters, the Eagles have had to rely on young players such as King Dunlap and Mike McGlynn to carry the weight on the line. They are tied for second in the league for sacks allowed per game (3) and rank high in QB hits allowed. There have been flashes of potential, but week in and week out the offensive line finds a way to keep the opposing defense in the game.

3) Brent Celek hangover

Can Brent Celek re-establish himself as a go-to receiver?

For the most part, the Eagles receiving core has been pretty impressive. DeSean Jackson took one of the biggest hits of the season that has put him out for a couple of weeks. Until this past week against the Titans, Jeremy Maclin has been the most impressive receiver for the Eagles. He leads the ‘Birds with 30 receptions for 458 yards and six touchdowns and has done a sufficient job as the top receiver (with the exception of the Titans game).

More importantly for the success of the Eagles has been the lack of production from tight end Brent Celek. Coming off a Pro-Bowl caliber season, Celek was expected to be one of the best in the league at his position. He only has 21 receptions for 229 yards and two scores on a pass-happy offense that loves to go to the tight end. In the last couple of weeks he has faced problems with dropping balls in crucial moments and is losing his reputation for being a big play tight end. With DeSean Jackson now on the concussion watch list, Celek is going to need to fill in as a go-to receiver.

4) LeSean McCoy has established himself as a No. 1 running back

Without McCoy, the Eagles would probably have a losing record. He has played with cracked ribs the last couple of weeks but continues to carry the workload for the running game. He is averaging 4.5 yards per carry and more impressively he leads the ‘Birds in receptions. One of the biggest questions for the second half of the season is whether or not McCoy can handle the heavy workload during the long season. The Eagles lack a sufficient backup that can compliment McCoy. Hopefully Jerome Harrison can make more of an impact than Mike Bell.

5) Vulnerability of the secondary

Since the Brian Dawkins era, the Eagles secondary has primarily been a big-play unit. They like to take risks with the hopes of not giving up too many big plays. The problem this season is that they have given up too many of those plays. A case point would be last week’s performance by Kenny Britt, who torched the Eagles for 225 yards and three touchdowns in three quarters of play. Ellis Hobbs has been a cancer at cornerback and Asante Samuel has been relatively quiet this year. Despite recording three interceptions in the first three weeks, Nate Allen still has a lot of growing up to do. Quintin Mikell leads the team in tackles, but has been vulnerable to the long ball and tends to get beaten over the top. The Eagles defense is allowing over 22 points per game, ranking them 19^th in the league. Sean McDermott is on the hot seat now and improving the secondary is the first thing he needs to do to improve his image.

Where is the Stewart Bradley of old?

6) Where is Stewart Bradley?

Two years ago, Stewart Bradley seemed like he was going to the future of the Eagles defense. Since Eagles Flight Night in 2009 when Bradley suffered a season ending ACL tear, he has not provided the same presence in the middle as he did in 2008. He is fifth on the team in tackles and has yet to create a turnover this season. At least the Eagles have Trent Cole to pick up his slack.

7) The schedule is only going to get harder

The biggest concern for the Eagles moving forward has been their inconsistency against mediocre and subpar teams. Three of their four wins have come against teams with losing records, but more importantly their losses have been ugly. All three of their losses have come to teams that are .500 or better. This is a big concern for Eagles fans considering that seven out of the next nine opponents have even or winning records. It also doesn’t help that the Eagles face the Colts coming out of the bye, a team that Andy Reid has yet to beat in his tenure.

Philadelphia has a lot to work on if they want to continue to compete in the division. They face five more NFC East games, including two against the Giants and Cowboys. Let’s see what this young team’s got.

Happy Halloween and more importantly happy Phillies World Series Parade day as it was two years ago today that Broad Street was flooded with red.

EAGLES: ‘Birds Meltdown on the Road Against the Titans

What a difference one play can make.

The Eagles needed three yards, just three yards, to most likely improve to 5-2 heading into the bye week. LeSean McCoy fumbled on the Titans three yard line in the third quarter and the Titans never looked back. They went on to score 30 points after that play and outperform the Eagles in practically every statistical category.

The complete and utter destruction that came in the second half was contrary to how the Eagles played in the first half. The defense stepped up and made plays in the first half, especially when it came to stopping the most dynamic runner in the NFL in Chris Johnson. The offense could have extended the score, but still controlled the possession for most of the first half. In the second half, the Eagles didn’t seem to have anything going. Aside from the fumble on the three-yard line, the defense could not contain a mediocre wide receiver at best in Kenny Britt. He torched the Eagles with seven receptions for 225 yards and a touchdown (159 in the fourth quarter alone) … and he didn’t even play the first quarter. This marked the most receiving yards the Eagles have EVER given up.

It was a loss the Eagles could not afford to have heading into the bye week. They were riding a two-game winning streak, but the team proved that they still have a lot of weaknesses and loopholes in their talent to really be considered one of the top teams in the NFC.

Grades:

Quarterback: C+

After back-to-back passer ratings above 100, Kevin Kolb looked far from efficient on Sunday. He completed just 26 of 48 passes for 231 yards, had one touchdown, but also tossed two interceptions. The first interception was a panic-pass that Kolb just aimlessly threw into the air. He made a number of good passes, but they were overshadowed by his lack of play-making ability. It was a setback in Kolb’s effort to prove himself as the future of the Eagles organization.

But it’s not like Kolb is playing for anything because Andy Reid already named Michael Vick the starter for the Colts game in two weeks.

Running back: C+

LeSean McCoy had probably his worst outing of the season against the Titans. They stopped him a number of times at the line of scrimmage and didn’t seem to get anything going outside of the hash marks. For the second straight game he was held to just three yards per carry, and he finished with 48 yards total. On a positive note, McCoy did have six receptions for 54 yards.

Wide Receiver: B –

Riley Cooper proved to be a threat against Tennessee

Despite a solid outing by Jason Avant (6 receptions for 60 yards), this game proved just how important DeSean Jackson is to the Eagles offense. He creates an entirely different matchup for opposing defenses and in turn improves the production of the other receivers. Jeremy Maclin was shut down by the Tennessee secondary and showed that he is still far away from being able to handle the top job. The most exciting aspect of the receiving game came from rookie Riley Cooper. He recorded his first touchdown in an Eagle uniform and averaged 17 yards per catch.

Offensive Line: C

Just when the offensive line finally looked like they were coming together, they went back to their old ways. They only allowed one sack, but Kevin Kolb got hit seven times during the game. They failed to open up good holes for McCoy as he was stopped multiple times behind the line of scrimmage. On pass defense, the Titans recorded six pass deflections which had a lot to do with the space they created from the Eagles offensive line.

Defensive Line: B

The Eagles front seven actually had a solid outing on Sunday afternoon. Trent Cole, Quintin Mikell, and Antonio Dixon all sacked Kerry Collins. More impressively, the Eagles completely shut down the running game Chris Johnson. He only had 66 yards on the ground and averaged a mere 2.8 yards per carry.

Further, the linebackers finally shut down an opposing tight end. Bo Scaife only had one reception for seven yards, which is the worst production by a tight end against the Eagles all season.

Secondary: D –

Kerry Collins, really?

The complete collapse by the Eagles was mostly due to the secondary. Any time that a 50+ year old quarterback throws for three touchdowns in the second half (after coming into the half with a 40.7 passer rating), there are serious problems. Rookie Nate Allen and veteran Quintin Mikell provided no help over the top against Kenny Britt. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott tried to put Asante Samuel on Britt, but not even he could stop the Titans receiver.

The Eagles defense as a whole was penalized 10 times for 100 yards. It was a tale of two different Eagles defenses. In the first half they shut down the Titans in every aspect of the game, and in the second half they watched the game slip away in one quarter.

Special Teams: C

The collapse was capped off by the punt return fumble by Jorrick Calvin. He was relatively productive all year for the Eagles but committed a turnover in the worst possible moment for the Eagles to try and amount a comeback late in the fourth quarter.

Aside from that game-changing play by Calvin, the Eagles special teams did a good job against the Titans. David Akers was four-for-four on field goals, Sav Rocca had a 63-yard punt, and Calvin averaged over 31 yards on his kick returns.

This was not exactly the way the Eagles saw themselves entering the bye week. They beat themselves against the Titans and have to rely on the rest of the NFC East to help them out. After the bye week, Philadelphia takes on the Indianapolis Colts and their schedule doesn’t get much easier after that. They have to play five more divisional games and almost every other game is against a team that is .500 or better. Let the Michael Vick show continue once again.

EAGLES: Back to Square One with Kolb and Vick

It’s now six weeks into the regular season and the Eagles are back to square one when it comes to who their starting quarterback is this year. At the start of the season it was Kevin Kolb. After the end of the second quarter against Green Bay it was Michael Vick. Now we are back to where we started, with Kevin Kolb getting the nod this weekend against the Tennessee Titans.

The relationship looks fun, but the Eagles need to make a decision

Based on the latest with Andy Reid, it’s pretty certain that Michael Vick will remain the Eagles starting quarterback once he is healthy. It is being reported that Vick is back to full strength, but Reid still named Kolb the starter on Sunday. This decision begs a number of questions: Has Kolb received the job? No one knows. Are the Eagles being precautionary about Vick’s injury and holding him out until after the bye week? Probably so. But what if there is a motive behind this decision to start Kolb against the Titans? What if Andy Reid has finally made a decision?

Well for one thing, if history has taught us anything, you never know what’s going to be around the next corner with Andy Reid. His reputation for making unexpected decisions was further justified with how he has handled the starting quarterback position.

If anything, Reid is living the coaching dream right now. He has two quarterbacks who have proven that they can be effective starters in the National Football League. While he has voiced this argument many times, the Eagles cannot continue to flourish with a revolving door at the most important position on the offense. If the season continues, Reid is going to be faced with a very tough decision at the end of the year: resign Vick to a long term deal or trade Kolb.

In the past two weeks, Kevin Kolb has practically waved his middle finger in the air at Reid and the doubters in Philadelphia. He has a passer rating of 115 and has thrown four touchdowns and one interception. He controlled the game against one of the hottest teams in football, the Atlanta Falcons, and made some unbelievable throws. On the other hand, Michael Vick may have saved the season for the Eagles and has been playing some of the best football of his career. He creates an entirely new dynamic to an offense with what he can do with his legs and he has filled his role well on the team.

The parody in this entire situation is that both quarterbacks have played well when the other gets injured. It’s almost like a boxing fight where they are continuing to throw punches when the other one is down and defenseless. But the real question is this: who really is a better fit to start?

I have spent a lot of time thinking about this and continuously changing my mind. On one end the “future” of the franchise, Kolb, is finally evolving into what the Eagles want from him. On the other hand, the Eagles have one of the most exciting players in football that has been playing like an MVP when healthy. The fact that I’m complaining about making this decision is semi-embarrassing and I’m sure any non-Eagles fan that reads this will want to punch me in the face. The fact that there is no way of knowing who will start is a serious problem for this team moving forward. There can be detrimental effects such as a lack of continuity with receivers a lack of confidence while sitting on the bench.

The fact that they both keep getting injured is almost as if someone is doing this on purpose. They both deserve to start, but only one will get the job. My question is this: what more does Kevin Kolb need to do to prove himself?

Looking at the future of the franchise and how Kolb has improved with every start, I think he has to be to guy moving forward. You cannot bench the “future” after he has proven that he can be a winner now. Vick is exciting to watch and is playing extremely good football, but he is also four years older than Kolb. If Vick is named the starter after the bye week, I won’t be disappointed, but I will be fearful of the effect it could have on Kolb’s future (whether that be as an Eagle or as a starter in the NFL). The Eagles have groomed Kolb to be the prime candidate for the job and he continues to prove it as weeks go by. Winning is fun, but at some point you need to look towards the future. In my eyes, the future is with Kevin Kolb.

EAGLES: Eagles Dominate Falcons in Best Game of the Year

I don’t know if I have ever been more impressed with a regular season game (taking into account all the Eagles have been through in 2010) since the 2004 season when the Eagles were one of the most dynamic teams in football. The score doesn’t justify just how good the Eagles looked on Sunday. It reads 31-17 in favor of the ‘Birds, but the Falcons were outplayed the entire game.

More drastically for the Eagles, the win was a statement game. Kevin Kolb, who has been turned inside and out all season long with the quarterback shenanigans, pretty much just said screw you to all of the doubters. He played brilliantly the entire game and without a question played the best game of his short career. After DeSean Jackson got absolutely obliterated on a defenseless hit, Jeremy Maclin stepped up and gave the best performance of his short career as well. The defense shut down Matt Ryan and Michael Turner and held the Falcons to just 293 yards of total offense.

Now for the fun part—report card:

Quarterback: A+

Kevin Kolb was on point all game Sunday

What else is there to say about Kevin Kolb? He finished with 326 yards and three touchdowns. I never once found myself questioning his throws. On top of his numbers he completed 79.3 percent of his passes and earned himself a 133.6 passer rating. The first touchdown pass to DeSean Jackson was thrown perfectly between three defenders and in stride to Jackson in the end zone. Kolb, who is mostly criticized for rarely taking risks on long passes, completed a beautifully drawn up play action pass to Jeremy Maclin that went for a 83 yard touchdown.

What does this performance mean in the long run? Check back later this week for an article about the ongoing quarterback controversy in Philly.

Running back: B

With the passing game in sync, there was really no need for LeSean McCoy against the Falcons. The only Eagles rushing touchdown came on a 31-yard end around to DeSean Jackson in the first quarter. McCoy finished with 64 yards on 21 carries, which is not his best effort, but he also complimented the passing game with four catches for 21 yards. Also important to note Eldra Buckley’s success on third down carries. From what I saw, it looked like he converted on each of his attempts.

Wide Receivers: A

Jeremy Maclin took control of this game with seven receptions for 159 yards and two scores. He is really coming into his own this season and actually has been more productive than Jackson, who has faced injuries for a lot of the season. Maclin now has six touchdown receptions, which ties him for second in the NFL, and is on pace for over 15 on the season. As noted in training camp, he is clearly Kevin Kolb’s go-to target considering they were roommates together at camp and have a good relationship off the field. He has established himself to be a viable top receiver and one of the best No. 2 receivers in the NFL.

Thoughts and prayers to DeSean Jackson. I felt my heart skip a beat after that hit. I hope Dunta Robinson gets fined for hitting Jackson so high up.

Offensive Line: A –

Can you believe it? The offensive line is getting their first true taste of an A-caliber ranking! Much of Kevin Kolb’s success had to do with the offensive lines pass protection. They only allowed one sack and Kolb barely got touched the entire game. Hats off the King Dunlap after deciding to wake up and realizing that he’s not playing at Auburn anymore. He completely shut down John Abraham, who is regarded as one of the toughest defensive linemen in the game.

Trent Cole was the most dominant player defensively for the Eagles

Defensive Line/Linebackers: A –

Isn’t it fun to watch Trent Cole do his thing? He was an absolute beast on Sunday and made a fool out of left tackle Sam Baker. Cole recorded two sacks and five tackles, but pressured Ryan on almost every play. Linebacker Stewart Bradley led all tacklers on the afternoon and notched his first sack of the season. He was also a catalyst in stopping Falcon’s running back Michael Turner all game, as he only had 45 yards and averaged three yards per carry.

The only thing that hurt the linebacker core was the lack of coverage of Tony Gonzalez in the red zone. I’m really getting tired writing about the success of opposing tight ends every week. Gonzalez has made a career out of his red zone production, but the Eagles failed to mark him well on either score.

Secondary: B

As always, the Eagles secondary relied on the big play against Atlanta. They were able to create one interception that Asante Samuel grabbed. However, they let up a couple of big plays to the Falcons, including a 42 yard reception by Michael Jenkins and 25 yard pass to Roddy White. Jenkins finished with 99 yards and White with 83. Nate Allen made a bad play on one of Tony Gonzalez’s touchdown catches. He was playing over the top but was a few seconds late in reacting to Matt Ryan’s floating pass over the linebackers where Allen should have stepped up to make a play. Luckily the big plays didn’t cost them too much.

Special Teams: B –

What happened on Sunday to David Akers? He missed three of his four field goals, which is something I can’t ever recall seeing from the longest tenured Eagle. He seemed to have a hard time judging the wind and pushed all three of his misses wide left. Hopefully this is just a one-game hiccup for Akers.

Jorrick Calvin did a great job filling in for the injured DeSean Jackson. Calvin had a monster punt return that went for 44 yards and led to an Eagles touchdown. Defensively, the ‘Birds special teams improved from past weeks and didn’t allow anything big against the Falcons.

 

The Eagles head to Tennessee to close out the first part of their schedule before hitting the bye week. This would be a huge win for Philadelphia heading into the bye week considering the Titans are a very talented team. The Eagles will most likely be without DeSean Jackson after the hit he took, so look to Maclin to fill in again for the second straight week. Also, it has been reported today that Kevin Kolb will be the starter. Is this a move by Reid to let Vick rest another week because of the bye week ahead? Or is Andy starting to realize that maybe Kolb is the answer for the Eagles future? We will have to see…