By now, you've heard that the Philadelphia Eagles have won games decisively with two QBs. The first QB to win a game for them was former Falcon great, Michael Vick. After spending almost two years in federal prison on dogfighting charges, Vick, his illustrious running ability, and strong arm were signed by the Eagles in August 2009. After serving one year as a backup to starting QB Donovan McNabb, he came into the 2010 offseason focused on starting again because that's what he did before he went to jail.
The second QB in this story is Kevin Kolb, whom the Eagles actually drafted with a second-round pick in 2007. He was a four-year starter at the University of Houston. He does not have the running ability that Vick, nor the pedigree. He is mobile, but not as fast as Vick. The Eagles have all along touted his accuracy in the short-to-midrange passing game. He was groomed for three years behind starter Donovan McNabb and waited until this year to get his chance to run an NFL offense.
All throughout the summer of 2010, Kolb was the proclaimed starter by head coach Andy Reid. Despite the notion that Kolb was not doing well in the preseason,
he was the starter for the Week One game vs. the Green Bay Packers. Kolb started 5 for 10 for 24 yards, then suffered a concussion in the second quarter with the Eagles down 10-3. Vick would come in and try to lead the Eagles to the comeback win after Green Bay took a 20-3 lead. The comeback fell short after a failed 4 and 1 conversion by Vick and the Eagles lose 23-20.After this series of events, all hell breaks loose. Vick does make some good throws and escapes some poor o-line play in the second half of the Green Bay game and everyone seems excited for the next game in Detroit vs. the Lions.
Vick gets the Eagles rolling with a crisp slant to DeSean Jackson for a touchdown. There was no looking back. The Eagles beat the Lions 35-32 after a furious Detroit comeback fell short. A couple of things that stick out in this game is that Detroit defensive scheme was bad, and Vick did make some dazzling plays. Their defense is near the bottom of the league. Nevertheless, Vick's stat line was 21 for 34, 284 yards and 2 touchdowns, but was sacked five times. Coach Reid names Vick the starter for the rest of the year, despite the fact that Reid preaches that a starter cannot lose his job to injury..
Kolb had been cleared to play in Detroit, but was only cleared on Fri. of game week, and it wouldn't be prudent to try and 'shoehorn' Kolb into the game plan.
The next week in Jacksonville saw the Eagles dominate a poorly prepared Jaguars team. Shoddy defensive back play helped Vick throw 3 touchdowns on route to 28-3 win. Vick's stat line was 17 for 31, 291 yards and 3 touchdowns, no interceptions. Vick, again, was flashy by eluding would-be tacklers, but as with the Detroit game, his accuracy does not stay with him through the whole game. He only completed 55% of his passes and was sacked 6 times.
Vick starts the next week against the Washington Redskins and gets sidelined late in the first quarter by a rib injury when he gets tackled by two Washington defenders near the goal line. With the Eagles already down 14-0, Kolb's comeback attempt fails short after his Hail Mary dropped and intercepted in the end zone. The Eagles lose 17-12. Kolb's stat line is 22 for 35, 201 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. (Vick was not picked off in his two and a half games.) Kolb is criticized afterward for only throwing short, safe passes to LeSean McCoy and not airing it to WRs DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Kolb did overthrow Jackson on a corner route in the fourth quarter.
Vick would be sidelined with the rib injury for the game in San Francisco last week, however Andy reiterated that Vick is still the starter. In San Francisco, against the winless 49ers, Kolb was very sharp for most of the first half, committing few incompletions. The offense turned quiet as San Francisco's defense forced the Eagles into 3 and outs. A defensive touchdown almost puts the game out of reach, but the 49ers comeback falls short and the Eagles win 27-24. Kolb's stat line is 21 for 31, 253 yards, 1 touchdown, and a lost fumble which led to 49er field goal. He had only two incompletions in the first half. Kolb is sacked three times, the consensus culprit being a new left tackle King Dunlap and his relative rustiness.
Kolb gets the start vs. the Atlanta Falcons after Vick does not practice much during the week. Against the 4-1 Falcons, Kolb (and the entire team) played his best game of the year, dismantling the Falcons 31-17. The much-maligned offensive line of the Eagles only gives up one sack with Dunlap playing admirably in his first start. Kolb's stat line is 23 for 29, 326 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception.
Having been through all that reading, the main point seems to be that despite Vick's running ability, he has still sacked numerous times a game, totaling 11 in two games. Kolb, who isn't as fast, is only sacked four times. My reason for why this is happening because is Kolb will get the ball out faster than Vick. On top of that, Vick may wait to try and be the hero. The play in which is injured his ribs could be argued that that was one of those times. The main point here is I don't think it's a concidence that sack totals are down and completion rating is up because Kolb is playing.
Based on those criteria, why would the Eagles go back to Vick?
