You could make the argument that a young QB has never been more prepared to take their reigns as the starter than Kevin Kolb has to this point. Drafted at the top of the second round of the 2007 draft. Since that time, he’s spent three seasons on the bench watching the best QB in Eagles history, Donovan McNabb. He’s also been under the tutelage of Andy Reid & Mornhinweg, who have collectively coached McNabb, Brett Favre, Steve Young, Jeff Garcia (both here and in San Francisco), & Matt Hasselbeck.
Kolb takes over an Eagles offense with arguably the best set of weapons in the Andy Reid era. DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant, & Brent Celek are light years beyond the days when the likes of James Thrash, Todd Pinkston, & L.J. Smith were starters for this team.
There’s certainly some questions on the offensive line, but for the most part there’s literally nothing more the Eagles could have done to prepare Kevin Kolb. He has the weapons, the training, & the time to learn. It’s all up to him now, and his first test is today against the Packers. This certainly won’t be the game that defines his career, but it is a chance to lay down a statement of intent. It’s a game that will have a national audience, he’s facing one of the best QBs in football, and he could really show the NFL that he’s arrived.
More importantly though, Kolb has the chance to repay the faith and the effort that the Eagles organization has put into him.