subject: Philadelphia Eagles Tickets - The Kevin Kolb Era Begins [print this page] For many years, Philadelphia faithful have watched Donovan McNabb lead their team to one of the best overall records since the Eagles drafted him in 1999. While many teams have had considerable turnover at quarterback, the Eagles have had one of the most stable franchises in the league. Now the Eagles turn the keys to their franchise over to Kevin Kolb, a relatively inexperienced quarterback with plenty of talent to go with plenty of skeptics. Now it's up to Kolb to pull it together and lead the Eagles into the next era with the city of Philadelphia holding its breath in the process.
Since he was drafted by the Eagles in the second round in 2007, Kolb has been on the radar of general managers around the league. When it seemed that the Eagles were finally in a position in which they would have to trade either McNabb or Kolb, Kolb generated much interest, even despite his lack of starts in the NFL. Kolb has been renowned for his poise so far as the backup to McNabb, but it's unclear whether this can translate into wins at the pro level.
If 2009 was any indicator, however, the answer seems to be yes. Though Kolb only had one statistically great start last season, he still won two of the three games that he started when McNabb began the season on the bench with an injury. The only loss in his three 2009 starts was to the eventual Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. But after the week two loss to Drew Brees and company, Kolb rebounded nicely by throwing for 327 yards and two touchdowns against the Chiefs before turning the offense back over to McNabb. In the three total starts, Kolb put up a very respectable 88.9 rating despite his inexperience, and an impressive 64.6% completion percentage to boot.
Kolb will also be inheriting a very talented team, which is likely the only reason the Eagles felt comfortable in trading McNabb to the Redskins. Last year, wideout DeSean Jackson had a breakout season and was among the most electrifying players in the entire league. Not only does he sell loads of Philadelphia Eagles tickets but he also can stretch the field, making it easier for Kolb and the rest of the receiving corps to operate underneath. Tight end Brent Celek is also among the better pass-catching tight ends in the league, giving Kolb a nice safety valve.
At running back, the Eagles have a potentially rising star in LeSean McCoy, who has fresh legs as he enters just his second NFL season. McCoy will be running behind a very talented offensive line anchored by left tackle Jason Peters, a starter in last year's Pro Bowl and one of the top offensive linemen in the league. If Kolb can grasp the offense that he has been a part of as a backup for three seasons, the Eagles should be able to provide the balance and protection that can help make him a success.
Still, the Eagles will have plenty of doubters, which is inevitable after trading a franchise quarterback like McNabb and replacing him with a signal caller who has only a handful of starts to his name. But backed by a very strong defensive unit that ranked in the top 10 in rush defense last year, Kolb also shouldn't have to do too much in the beginning. His number one wideout, Jackson, is also better after the catch, which should allow the Eagles to move the ball fairly well with short routes and misdirection plays. It's unclear how well Kolb will take to his first full season of starting in the NFL, but he has the poise, the surrounding talent and knowledge of the offense to make the Eagles a contender in 2010.
