Draft picks are all the rage around this time of year. While coaches figure out how their new additions can help the team in the near or immediate future, fans are surfing the internet trying to learn more and analyzing their college statistics.
For most rookies, the attention begins to fade as they end their first season and a new class of bright-eyed draft picks walk through the door. The media flock to these fresh faces like a child to a shiny toy, leaving in their wake a trail of second-year players.
At this time, one notable observation is the lack of attention that second-year quarterback Kevin Kolb is receiving relative to last year. The Eagles' first pick in 2007, Kolb took snaps with the second-team offense during the first mini-camp and still, very little has been made of it.
"Obviously you want to progress up the ladder because I want to be a starter in this league," Kolb said. "The reason it really means a lot to me is because it seems that I get more reps. The more reps I get, the better I feel that I'm going to get. I need a lot of them as a young quarterback."
Kolb went about his rookie season with very little fanfare. He did nothing but impress the coaching staff with his work in the preseason, completing 70 of 106 passes for 617 yards (66.0 completion percentage), two touchdowns and an 87.7 passer rating.
He watched, studied and learned the nuances of the pro game, and said all the right things when questions were raised regarding Donovan McNabb's play last season and No. 5's future in Philadelphia.
McNabb has missed parts of the last three seasons but appeared in good health at the post-draft camp. That said, Kolb knows he must continue to wait in the wings for his opportunities.
Kolb says the biggest difference between last year and this year is muscle memory.
"I go back there in a drop, play-action, whatever, and it just feels comfortable. When that happens, then obviously the other things start to slow down and you can start focusing on details. And that's what makes you a better player."
Selected in the second round with the 36th overall pick, Kolb ran a spread offense in Houston. He threw for 3,809 yards and 30 touchdowns in his senior year with the Cougars, earning Conference USA offensive player of the year honors.
In his first NFL season, Kolb proved he was physically and mentally ready to play, but just needed to pick up on the nuances of the game and earn the trust of his teammates.
Right now, Kolb's career is an exercise in patience. At some point, he will get a chance to prove he is an NFL quarterback. Now running the second-team offense, he appears to be one step closer.
He may not be the center of attention as he was at this time last year, but it is worthy to note that he is progressing nicely into his sophomore yearLINK TO ARTICLE
