Kevin Kolb may not have the immediate impact Arizona Cardinals fans expect
Jul 20, 2011, 3:17 PM | Updated: 4:29 pm
Many think the acquisition of a serviceable quarterback will all but guarantee the Arizona Cardinals the NFC West crown.
However, as NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks writes, that may not be the case.
Although Kolb has shown potential he only has seven career NFL starts and has thrown more interceptions, 14, than touchdowns, 11.
Upon coming to Arizona, the Philadelphia backup will likely experience a learning curve which has the potential to impede his progress, especially during a shortened offseason.
Of, course those are only minor impediments if Kolb possesses the talent to play at an elite level. Based on his small body of work, he certainly appears to have the skill set to succeed. He shows above-average arm strength and throws the ball with zip. Kolb is lauded for his high football IQ, and his awareness is apparent. He quickly works through his progression to deliver timely throws from a clean pocket.
The promise Kolb has shown in his four years as an Eagle is often seen as a positive, yet Brooks tells Arizona fans to view his success with a bit of skepticism.
“It is not out of the realm of possibility that Kolb is the byproduct of their quarterback-friendly system,” Brooks writes. “Former Eagles quarterbacks A.J. Feeley and Donovan McNabb struggled outside of the scheme, and that should cause Cardinals’ fans to worry about Kolb’s transition into Whisenhunt’s system.”
Although the success of the 2011 Cardinals may appear to hinge on Kolb, the NFC West is not the best division in football and the Cardinals may be able to sneak up on people regardless of the quarterback’s transition.
