You're A GM. You NEED A Quarterback. Who You Got? Kolb/Young

[Senator Palmer]

I just saw this coming up on First Take and it got me to thinking. If I'm a GM, say of Arizona, a team that was in the Super Bowl two seasons ago, and I've got a pretty solid team in place, in a winnable division and all I need is a trigger man to put me back into contention; who do I put the fortunes of my franchise on? The sample size is really small on one, yet tantalizing. The other's sample size is large enough to form an opinion, but an opinion that may not be totally accurate or fair.

Just going beyond the raw numbers of passing yards and record, who passes the eyeball test to be your next franchise quarterback?

VINCE YOUNG - will be 28 at the start of next season.

Strengths: Top tier athleticism for the position. Great broken field runner. Great physical strength, ability to break tackles in the pocket and escape. Good arm strength - not a cannon, but more than enough to make every NFL throw. He has improved his footwork in the pocket and is more patient in looking down field before escaping. He's never been a rhythm passer, but he looked more polished in reading coverages this season. Nice touch and accuracy on intermediate throws and a better downfield passer than you might think.

Weaknesses: Does have an injury history. Has never started a full 16 game season. His accuracy on short throws and throws out to the sidelines could be better. Physically he's got everything you look for, but the emotional and mental makeup still has to be questioned. While he has shown a penchant for 4th quarterbacks, there are times when he looks sloppy and rattled against better defenses, displaying questionable ball security. He looks so poised in some situations, but in others he seems to wilt. Has never been a student of the game. They're stories of him calling wrong plays in the huddle, etc.


Kevin Kolb - will be 27 at the start of next season.

Strengths: Good arm strength to make every NFL throw. Can press the ball down the field better than you'd think. Very, very good accuracy. Puts great velocity on throws into the middle of the field, between defenders. Good feet in the pocket. Quick set up, keeps his shoulders down field and is always in position to deliver the ball. Good play-action passer. Extends the ball well to freeze the defense, turns his back then pops around in control to deliver. Moves around better from pressure than you would think. No one's going to mistake him for Vick, but he is not a sitting duck. His best attribute is his ability to read coverages. He gets through his progressions really fast and does not hold onto the ball.

Weaknesses - the concussion against Green Bay might scare me. He looked rattle in that first game of the season. He did come on and put up a strong of really good performances when Vick went down, but the images from first game of the season is a little tough to shake. He's proven that he can come in in spot duty, but does he have the mentality to be THE guy week in and week out? The sample is too small and that's the scariest part about him... the unknown.



With all that being said, which quarterback do you hand a new deal to? Has Vince Young reached his ceiling? Is this what he is, or does he just need a change of scenery. Kolb, I think has a very high ceiling. I think he has the ability to be a Pro Bowl quarterback, but it's guesswork at this point. That's part of the job, now which one is worth the gamble?

Vince Young - game winning drive Cardinals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1afGNVkIGPQ

Kevin Kolb - Falcons game
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-h...olb-highlights

[Hooe]

Given the specific example of the Cardinals, I think that Kolb and his physical skill set at the quarterback position would be a better fit for the offensive system and thus that's who I would go with.

Not overly enthused with either choice, however.

[JB32]

I'd take Vince Young because of what he COULD be, if he put the time and effort into becoming a student of the game. I'd take the chance that getting him into a new environment would wake him up and he'd become more mature and study film and want to become a great QB. In my opinion he just has that superstar potential that you can't pass us.

It's a definite high risk/high reward type of situation, but I'd still have to go with Vince.

[SPTO]

How about neither?

I wouldn't touch Young with a ten foot pole. Not only is there a question of his dedication and work ethic but there's the whole issue of having to change your entire offense to fit his skill set. That'd be a HUGE risk to take in changing your offense and then he bombs.

As for Kolb, the Eagles are going to hold out until they get a 1st round pick for him. If i'm a team that needs a QB that badly odds are my team is picking pretty high in the draft. I'll just wait a year until Kolb is a free agent.

[Hova57]

Kolb will be a good choice , if he can understand to be calm and not rattled at pressure in his face. That concusion got him playing scared instead of focused. But he could be a good qb with a running game.

vince is a no because of his head case tendancies

[CW McGraw]

I can't help but see a lot of AJ Feely in Kolb. Andy Reid has a way of maximizing his QBs' abilities. McNabb, Vick, Garcia, Feely, and Kolb have all looked productive under him, with Vick, McNabb, and Feely looking better under Reid than they have anywhere else.

[Dice]

Vince Young all day. He's got much more physical talent than Kolb. YEAH, Young is a head case. BUT you can't teach talent.

[SPTO]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dice

Vince Young all day. He's got much more physical talent than Kolb. YEAH, Young is a head case. BUT you can't teach talent.

A lot of people got burned thinking the same thing about Jeff George.

Just sayin'