FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Leave it to Darnell Dockett to capture Kevin Kolb's immediate impact on the quarterback position for the Arizona Cardinals.
"It's like night and day from last year," Dockett said following practice Friday afternoon at Northern Arizona University. "I don't want to disrespect nobody, but I mean, he's good."
No disrespect taken. It's not like he mentioned Derek Anderson by name.
Kolb, acquired by trade from Philadelphia eight days ago, completed his second full day practicing with his new team and had his moments. He connected with Larry Fitzgerald on a deep pass that was in the air for a couple seconds before Fitzgerald turned to catch it. Fans lining the practice fields responded appropriately.
Kolb also entertained the crowd with a scramble around the corner and up the left sideline. One or more of the defenders chasing him seemingly could have taken out Kolb's legs from behind if this had been a game, but no matter.
The Cardinals and their fans are still going through Kurt Warner withdrawals. They'll embrace every sign of quarterback competence they can find. Kolb has provided a few during the first two days since ratification of a new labor agreement allowed newly signed players to practice with their teams.
"He's the leader, goes out there and gets the job done," Dockett said. "You can tell the last couple days when he wasn't practicing, he was just so anxious to get out here. That is what you want from a quarterback. You want a true leader that is going to get the ball there and lead the offense down the field, no matter what pressure -- just go ahead and get the job done."
Kolb and his receivers are still getting acquainted.
Kolb leaned over and pounded the grass following one missed opportunity on a pass over the middle. He was also working through the snap and cadence issues cropping up at camps around the league as players pick up where they left off before the lockout intervened five months ago. Teams are just now experiencing for the first time plays and situations they normally would have drilled repeatedly through minicamps.
Kolb has known for some time Arizona was a likely destination for him. He met with Larry Fitzgerald at the Super Bowl and discussed the possibilities, but Kolb said he couldn't realistically learn the offense before the trade.
"Im a believer that the offseason is more for the physical," Kolb said. "Until you get in here and are put in a pressure situation, a two-minute drill and youre trying to make calls, you cant emulate that in offseason workouts. I didnt stress myself with it too much. I knew once I got here Id just work hard and catch up."
The next step comes Saturday when Kolb leads the offense in the Cardinals' annual camp scrimmage.
"I have been impressed with how he has handled himself, his demeanor," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "I think he'll quickly adapt and get better as we go, and that is exciting. He has the right makeup mentally and physically to be successful."
Note: That's it for me from Flagstaff. The trip was different this year in so many way. Key players weren't practicing til Thursday. Free agency overshadowed camp on some of my days here. I'm heading back to Phoenix shortly and flying to Seattle. Then it's off to see the San Francisco 49ers next week. My Cardinals "Camp Confidential" piece runs Monday.
