Miami Dolphins: Why Kevin Kolb Isn't a Fit in South Florida.
As enthusiastic as new Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Brian Daboll appeared to be in his introductory press conference on Wednesday afternoon, it's no secret that his success will be directly tied to his ability to find and mentor a successful quarterback for a franchise that has not had one since ol' Danny Boy Marino.
One option that continually seems to pop up is to work out a trade for Philadelphia Eagles back-up quarterback Kevin Kolb.
This is one of those ideas that immediately concerned me. Then I did some thinking and research and became convinced that it was an even worse idea than I originally thought.
During the next several slides I'll share a plethora of reasons why the possibility of trading for Kevin Kolb should be discarded more quickly than a class on sportsmanship taught by Rex Ryan.
1. Kolb Hasn't Proven To Be a Good NFL Starting Quarterback
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The biggest reason for Miami not to pursue Kevin Kolb is that he just isn't all that good or at least hasn't proved to be so far. In 2010, Kolb played in seven games and started five. He threw just seven touchdowns and had just as many interceptions. Kolb was sacked 15 times and showed very limited mobility. His passer rating was a pedestrian 76.1.
Far more importantly, the Eagles were only 2-3 in the games he started and 2-4 in games where he saw significant action.
In 2009, Kolb had two standout performances. In a 48-22 rout by the soon to be Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints, Kolb padded his statistics because the Eagles were playing catchup the entire game.
He attempted 51 passes in this game and while he threw for 391 yards, he also threw three interceptions. In his next game, he led the Eagles to a 34-14 victory against a putrid Kansas City Chief defense that allowed an average of more than 300 yards passing per game.
Finally, in watching Kolb, one can see that he can throw some short and intermediate pass routes. When he is in rhythm, the slant pass can be particularly effective (of course, it doesn't hurt to have "run after the catch dynamos" like DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin either). His arm strength and more importantly his accuracy on deep routes is a huge question mark however.
2. Kolb Won't Be Worth the Draft Compensation.
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The Eagles at one point suggested that it would take two first round draft picks to land Kolb. People either laughed or got very quickly insulted at the ludicrous price tag.
The thinking now is that the Eagles are willing to take a first round draft pick. There are teams out there who might bite, but I still have to believe the league, (excluding the Raiders), isn't quite that insane.
Regardless, I think if the Eagles deal Kolb it will be for a second or third round pick. That's his value right now only because of a desperate market. The problem of course is that Miami doesn't have a second round pick and their third rounder probably wouldn't beat out other suitors around the league.
3. Miami Can Not Afford to Part With Premium Draft Picks
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The Dolphins are already missing a second round pick in the 2011 draft; they don't need to create another void in their arsenal for re-stocking the roster with young talent.
Miami has plenty of other holes other than quarterback, including running back, the interior offensive line, tightend, linebacker, and safety just for starters.
Admittedly, I am not a fan of Alabama running back Mark Ingram (who draftniks constantly link Miami to selecting at 15), or any other running back as a first round selection. In fact, there are not a lot of first round draft options that excite me right now.
But its not hard to see the value in going the free-agent route for a quarterback (Seneca Wallace, Matt Flynn) to compete with Chad Henne while being able to add another component to your team in the draft.
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5. The Curse of A.J. Feeley
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If you didn't live through the larceny that the Eagles pulled off when they traded this back-up to Miami in March of 2004 for a second-round pick then you don't know the football equivalent of the term desperation.
Feeley's stint in South Florida was nothing short of embarrassing. He played in eleven games, threw more interceptions (15) than touchdowns (11) and had a passer rating of 61.7.
The deal was also a prime example of the Philly brain trust demanding way too much in return for one of their players. Of course, the Eagles can get away with this because teams are desperate enough to pay a premium. It doesn't mean the Dolphins should be one of these teams.
No doubt Kolb and Feeley are different players but the other parallels between the situations are eerily similar.
Now, you know that if the Dolphins follow up a deal to get Kolb with a mind numbing deal for a below average running back (Remember that the Dolphins also gift-wrapped a third round pick to the St. Louis Rams for the immortally bad Lamar Gordon in 2004) then we are officially back in the Dave Wannstedt era.
4. Kolb Will Want a Multi-Million Dollar Contract
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In 2011 Kolb's contact figure is reportedly a very palatable 1.4 Million Dollars. But, have no illusions of him playing at that figure for a new team. The former Houston University Cougar is a free agent in 2012 and he'll turn 28 before that season starts.
This could be Kolb's only shot to get a multi-million dollar long-term contract.
If Miami doesn't give it to him, then figure he would be one and done in South Beach with the Dolphins having wasted draft picks in a trade again.
6. Kolb's Transition From The West Coast Offense Will Be Difficult
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Make no mistake, the hiring of Brian Daboll clearly means that Miami won't be running the west coast offense, which is all about short throws, passing to set up the run, and stretching the field horizontally. Daboll and Sparano clearly prefer a run-first, more dynamic vertical passing attack.
So Kolb will have to make an adjustment from a rhythm based offense with shorter throws to a downfield game that will expose the aforementioned lack of arm strength and deep route accuracy.
Even it the Dolphins were to sign an older veteran like Matt Hasselback or Donovan McNabb (if he is released as anticipated), who are still west coast quarterbacks, Miami at least gets a signal-caller who has been around long enough to know what he can and cannot do.
No one has any idea if Kolb can function in the NFL out of the only system he has played in.
7. The Eagles Will Possibly Be Best Served By Keeping Kolb
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Michael Vick's ability as a dual run-pass threat has a downside. He takes a pounding. He missed four games last season (three due to an early season chest injury that he suffered after being sandwiched on a mad dash toward the goal line).
Vick was clearly worn down by the end of the season and spent his last two games limping around the field on several occasions.
He will also be 31 before next season. The point being is that I'd bet against him lasting a 16-game or possibly an 18-game regular season if the owners get their wish in a new collective bargaining agreement.
It's hard to believe that the Eagles would be comfortable turning the starting job over to second-year player Mike Kafka in the event of a Vick injury.
Certainly, the Eagles would look to add a veteran back-up if they dealt Kolb but his salary is so manageable that they might be best served just by keeping him.
Kolb clearly wants to start somewhere and I recently heard someone in the media suggest that best case upside for Kolb is that he might turn into Jake Delhomme for a new team.
It's possible (if that's even good enough), although I don't see it. Far more importantly, it won't happen in South Florida. Bank on it.
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