It was an interesting 2010 for Eagles QB Kevin Kolb. On Easter Sunday he was informed that the Eagles had traded Donovan McNabb to the Redskins and that he would be the team’s new starting QB. He spent all of training camp and preseason as the starter and he took the field in week one as the starting QB. He was injured in the first half of that game and his tenure as a starter was over. Michael Vick played well in relief that game and then superbly the following week in Detroit and Andy Reid made the decision to go with Vick.
Kolb would get another shot when Vick was injured against the Redskins. He played fantastic in a blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons, played pretty well in a win against the 49ers, but was poor in a loss to the Titans. Vick came back after the bye week and Kolb went back to the bench.
Now Kolb gets to make his fifth start of the season, but he’ll likely be doing so without a number of the Eagles offensive starters. This week, Kolb met the media to talk about his year and this afternoon’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
On how he felt getting the reps with the first team offense today:
“It feels good. The more reps you get, the more comfortable you feel, especially for a guy like me who hasn’t played in a while. Now, it’s getting on the field and putting in the production.”
On whether he has studied as much film as he would if he were the starter:
“I’m probably studying more film this year than I’ve ever studied before, because I’ve figured out how important it is. And we all know that [QB Michael Vick] runs around a lot. So I want to make sure I’m totally ready if and when that time comes.”
On reflecting on the year 2010:
“It’s been a strange year obviously for myself personally, but it’s been a great year for the team. And I’ve had a lot of fun, as well. I think people understand how tough it’s been on me, but they don’t realize how much fun I’m having with this team and with Mike, and our coaching staff. We have a great coaching staff here, so we have a good thing going. We have to make sure that we’re right for the playoffs and it starts with us as backups doing the right thing on Sunday.”
On what he expects to see from the Cowboys on Sunday since they’ve been eliminated from playoff contention:
“Yeah, I mean, when you’re not playing for the playoffs, usually you’re out there playing for a job a lot of times. So, that’s the mentality of a NFL player, and I think all professional sports. They’re going to give it all they’ve got. They’re going to bring what they would normally bring on any Sunday, so we’ll have to be sharp in order to execute against their defense.”
On whether he expects to see a lot of blitzes against the Cowboys, like how the Vikings blitzed Vick last week:
“Yeah, that may be what they do. I think we’ll just have to get in the game and find out what their package is, what they’ve been working on, and hopefully figure out an answer and go score some points.”
On how he is been able to stay positive and not gripe despite being the number two quarterback this season:
“Well, I’m just not that kind of person. Whatever situation is dealt, God’s got a plan for me. And I have a lot of confidence in the future of my career. There’s many more years to go for me and I know that this could be a special one right here. We can go win a Super Bowl, me as a starter or not. So, I want to do whatever I can to make sure that I’m helping out when and where I can, and not [be] a distraction. I think if you start to act like that, then things are going to turn on you pretty fast.”
On the importance of this upcoming game for him to get ready for the playoffs:
“Yeah, that’s a good point. When I first heard the news, I was obviously very excited to get back on the field, but also to make sure I’m totally prepared if something did happen. So, that was the first thing that clicked in my head. Mike takes some shots and like you said, everything’s amped up in the playoffs the further and further you go. And hopefully, we go all the way to the Super Bowl, and I want to make sure I’m as prepared as possible for my team.”
On whether he agrees with the idea that this is a showcase game for him:
“I think every time you step on the field, every time you handle yourself in the media, any time you’re in a meeting room with your fellow teammates—it’s a showcase. Things are always being said, hopefully it’s a body of work, but I plan to go out there and rock and roll as good as ever. So, if that’s what it takes, if that’s what everybody’s saying, then that’s what it’ll be.”