[NU Sports] Kafkaesque

[Roy S. Lamberton]

Living down here close to Iggle country (some might think I am in the middle of that awful
place), the QB situation is covered with all the detail that one can stomach...coming from
a Giant Fan background....

During my time here in Lower Slower I have adopted the Purple Clad Ravens as a #2 team,
but have to live with sons who became Redskin fans.... with that background:

Kafka is in a really good situation with the Iggles right now.

They dumped their long time starter for a backup, and damaged goods as his backup. Many
questions were asked of Andy Reid when they sent McNabb to DC. Those questions are still
unanswered, but Kafka has to come into camp, apply the well documented NU study habits
(like Basanez did in Charlotte) and make himself the solid #3 at the end of camp.

He does that, and when the starter (whoever that winds up being) goes down, he just might
be in a similar position to Joe Flacco of the Ravens - he was the last man standing after
camp and he's never given the ball back to that dOSU Heisman guy.

Kafka lost his starting job to CJ because CJ was always going to be the starter - he knew
the offense better, and at the time was the better passer. (CJ also was a class ahead too)
He's going to face something similar in Philadelphia. The projected starter, Kolb, is
young, with just 4 years of experience.

Mike learned that he had to really know the O to impress the coordinators, AND get the
WR's to run the routes AND win the starting job. We can second guess the bowl, but his
last appearance at the Senior (?) bowl was nothing short of spectacular as he ran the drop
back style offense just fine, and got the win in the last seconds.

That Poise will serve him well on a team that likes to beat each other up in the summer. 

The official Iggle Web site take on Mr. Kafka:
	He has a chance to learn from Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick, and at the same time
Kafka has to come in and make all the throws because the Eagles are likely to 	add a
fourth quarterback in the post-draft period. Kafka is in a good situation as the No. 3
quarterback. He will get some reps in practice and then in training camp 	and in the
preseason.

	Next year is when Kafka must be advanced enough to convince the coaches that he
can back up Kolb, because Vick is likely to leave for more playing time after 	2010 if
all goes according to plan.

	Kafka is a developmental quarterback. Let's see how far quarterbacks coach James
Urban brings Kafka in a year's time.  

To the official line is that Kafka will have to really impress early because the Iggles
are still in the hunt for experience and will probably look at every other QB cut during
the summer, for the next few years.

I'll keep an eye out for stories on our man in Philly. 

BTW - J.A. Happ - pitching for the Phillies - is on the 15 day DL due to "discomfort" in
his forearm. - an MRI showed "very mild pronator muscle strain."

He's 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA - too bad I don't like the Phillies either.

rsl

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate & Unix Guru.
Computer Applications & Support Associates
-------------------- Also ----------------------
"Commissioner" Delaware American Legion Baseball
Retired Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician [R]
Northwestern University - Speech 1974 - 
Chi Phi: Pi 1974, KD 1968
Publisher Emeritus: Purple Reign (Fox Sports)
==========  Go Cats -  Beat 'em All  ===========

"...Then I get on my knees and pray,
WE DON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN!" -- Pete Townsend

Don't re-elect nobody, not even yo mama! - Franc White

================================================

-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of
neonrye at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2010 11:40 PM
To: nwu-sports at romaine.tssi.com
Subject: [NU Sports] Kafkaesque


Read online that Mike was the 5th QB selected in the draft--behind Bradford, Tebow,
Clausen and McCoy--pretty good company, to say the least.  It is incredible to think how
far he has come from his first start 3 years ago, when he looked so unsettled in the
pocket, throwing the ball everywhere but to our receivers,  and was ultimately replaced by
Bacher as the starter.  He ended up as a back-up, worked hard, was a team-first guy, had
his coming out at Minny in 2008 when C.J. was injured, and then became The Man last
season.  He deserves this good fortune; he worked hard for it.  I only wish Fitz had put
the ball in his hands on 3rd down near the end of regulation in Tampa.  We needed to move
another 5-7 yards closer for the FG attempt.  Yes, I know he had thrown 5 picks, but he
also had an incredible day.  I would rather have put the game on the line with our best
player taking his best shot than a run into the line, especially given the weakness of our
rushing attack.  As much as I love Fitz as HC, I said it at the time, we needed to get
that first down and to keep the final drive going.    Let's hope Mr. Persa can step up
just like Kafka did, and show the world that NU can develop top quality QBs, and then take
us to that elusive bowl win.

Paul Levinson


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