Add Kolb to that list
INDIANAPOLIS - The beauty of Kevin Kolb's workout Sunday was in the eye of the beholder.
Kolb, who is trying to break out of a logjam and emerge as the third quarterback in the NFL draft behind JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn, didn't throw as well as some scouts would have liked, but he was pleased with his experience at the NFL combine.
"I think I did pretty well," Kolb said after his workout at the RCA Dome. "I got good feedback from coaches and scouts.
"I felt very confident going in. I did what I wanted to do, which was to be consistent with my throws. The one thing I didn't do today that I wanted to do was to throw a good deep ball.
"Overall, I was happy with what I accomplished here, including my tests and interviews. I just feel good about the entire experience."
Kolb worked out with the first group of quarterbacks. He wasn't as fast as some scouts thought he would be, considering how mobile he was at the University of Houston.
His best time in the 40-yard dash was 4.78 seconds. His velocity was 55.3 mph, which placed him sixth among quarterbacks.
Mixed reviews
Several scouts and coaches surveyed asked not to be identified. One described Kolb's workout as "mediocre." Another called it "average." Another said "above average."
An AFC head coach who watched Kolb said, "I didn't realize that kid was this good."
Unlike Russell and Quinn, Kolb didn't shy away from throwing in front of every coach, general manager and scout in the NFL.
"This is just another step in the evaluation process," said Tennessee's C.O. Brocato, who's in his 34th year of scouting players. "We take into consideration that a quarterback's working with receivers for the first time. And whether you believe it or not, it tells us something when the kid's not afraid to put it on the line here.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I like Kevin Kolb, and I still think he's going in the second round."
No matter what they do with David Carr, the Texans are expected to draft a quarterback, probably in the second or third round.
"Kolb didn't do anything to hurt himself," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "He can make every throw. I've been real impressed with the kid."
Before the combine, Kolb prepared with Jerry Rhome, who spent 33 years in the NFL as a quarterback, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. Part of Kolb's preparation with Rhome was learning the best way to explain to coaches exactly what he did in the Cougars' system. He aced that test with every team.
"I was very impressed in our interview with him," Texans general manager Rick Smith said. "He's very intelligent. He did a great job of explaining his scheme as it relates to a traditional pro scheme."
Kubiak has become a Kolb fan. The interview only reinforced Kubiak's evaluation.
"Our interview with Kolb was one of the best I've ever had," Kubiak said. "He's just such an impressive person. I really like him."
On Saturday, Kolb met with the Texans, Lions, Browns, Redskins, Saints, Eagles and Bills.
Comfortable with Texans
"I was happy with all my interviews," Kolb said. "But I thought I had an incredible interview with the Texans. We just seemed to click. I felt so comfortable with them. I think they were pleased, too.
"They asked me if I thought I could be the hometown guy? They asked me if I thought I could play if something happened to Carr? I told them yes and yes."
Kolb returned to Houston to continue his preparation for the draft. The next big event for him is March 23, the Cougars' pro day. Kolb will throw for the scouts on familiar turf with his receivers at UH.
john.mcclain@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4581104.html
