McNabb, case study-coaching or talent at qb?

[Alvin Walton]

Take A Stab At McNabb

that didnt work

Suck For Luck

I hope we dont try that either.

[Monkeydad]

McNabb looks very much like QB in decline - NFL - Yahoo! Sports




I believe the system DID help him a lot in Philly. Yes, he had athletic talent earlier in his career. He could run well and had a strong arm on long throws. Accuracy never impressed anyone and it appears that last year exposed his inability to adapt or learn...unless it was a case of a lack of effort.

Minnesota is supposed to be a system that fits his skills. Week 1 was a disaster but I won't judge his whole season on one horrible week. However, I do think that he's done. Injuries have really taken a toll on him and his lack of accuracy is really showing now that his arm and scrambling ability are declining.

Many mediocre QBs have done adequate jobs in Reid's offense. This is why I am not buying into Kolb. He didn't impress me in Philly and I don't expect him to excel anywhere else.

Koy Detmer, Jeff Garcia, Ty Detmer, AJ Feeley...all have looked at least serviceable in Philly.

[SBprimetime]

It is definitely the brilliant coaching staff and scheme that the Eagles have had throughout the years. McNabb, AJ Feeley, Jeff Garcia, Kolb, Vick, all were clearly beneficiaries of playing under Reid. What's even more remarkable is how NFL talent evaluators were too ignorant to realize that, and the Eagles front office capitolized.

2nd for Feeley (quite certain he was out of the NFL within a couple of years.)
We know what they got for McNabb.
Kolb for a top 10 2nd round pick (Cardinals are awful) and a young, proven pro bowl cornerback.
That trade was a tragedy. Don't you think the Cardinals could've used Rodgers- Cromartie on Sunday?

[kali3]

McNabb was always over rated IMHO.

TO was right about him.

[SirClintonPortis]

Being benched TWICE in your starting career is embarassing.
Being traded to a division rival is embarassing.
Being owned by Rex Grossman is embarassing. Whether or not this should be the case is a seperate matter, but w/e.

Mc39inwaistline's TQBR
2008: 51.9
2009: 57.3
2010: 41.0

[skinsfaninok]

Mcnabb is done might as well start ponder

[Ruhskins]

I think McNabb had talent, but also was helped tremendously by a system that helped him succeed. When it seemed that McNabb was on his way out, the best situation for him was to go to a team that had all the pieces there, except for a QB. Going to a team like ours or this year's Vikings is not a good situation for him. This sort of reminds me of Favre's stint with the Jets and then with the Vikes. The Jets were rebuilding when Favre got traded there, and he wasn't that successful. Yet when he went to the Vikes the following year, he had a good o-line, great running game (AP), very good WR (Rice), and a top defense.

McNabb's talent + Reid's system for many years resulted in McNabb being a top caliber QB. His declining abilities were not good enough to carry a rebuilding team last year, and it will certainly not carry this year's Vikes. I still think the McNabb trade was terrible and may have set the franchise bakc for a year. I'm glad he's gone.

[NC_Skins]

I also want to mention exactly why McNabb has diminished. His whole career, his ability to run has kept him afloat at the top of the QB list in the NFC. As the years passed and injuries mounted, his ability to run has all but vanished which is why he's struggling as a QB now. He never had the skills to be a top flight QB to begin with (accuracy, pocket presence, intelligence, quick release) that the others have. (Manning, Rivers, Brady, Brees) It's not McNabb's age (34) that is making his decline show. Look no further than the 39-40 year old Brett Farve almost pulling out a MVP to debunk that notion. If your whole game relied on your wheels, expect a lower shelf life for those types of QBs. This is why I'm so dead set against the "run first" kind of QBs that come into the league. That might get you far in the NCAA and win you some games in the NFL, but to really progress and prolong your career, you need to win games from the pocket with the abilities I mention prior.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

I also want to mention exactly why McNabb has diminished. His whole career, his ability to run has kept him afloat at the top of the QB list in the NFC. As the years passed and injuries mounted, his ability to run has all but vanished which is why he's struggling as a QB now. He never had the skills to be a top flight QB to begin with (accuracy, pocket presence, intelligence, quick release) that the others have. (Manning, Rivers, Brady, Brees) It's not McNabb's age (34) that is making his decline show. Look no further than the 39-40 year old Brett Farve almost pulling out a MVP to debunk that notion. If your whole game relied on your wheels, expect a lower shelf life for those types of QBs. This is why I'm so dead set against the "run first" kind of QBs that come into the league. That might get you far in the NCAA and win you some games in the NFL, but to really progress and prolong your career, you need to win games from the pocket with the abilities I mention prior.

I agree that McNabb's running ability made him successful. But like running backs, the more running he did the more it took a toll on his body which made him less effective as a runner. It also made him less effective as a passer because he no longer was able to extend passing plays like he was when he was younger. There seems to be a correlation with increasing age and decreasing skills, but it's only because USUALLY (older) age means more mileage and wear and tear.

[htownskinfan]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

I also want to mention exactly why McNabb has diminished. His whole career, his ability to run has kept him afloat at the top of the QB list in the NFC. As the years passed and injuries mounted, his ability to run has all but vanished which is why he's struggling as a QB now. He never had the skills to be a top flight QB to begin with (accuracy, pocket presence, intelligence, quick release) that the others have. (Manning, Rivers, Brady, Brees) It's not McNabb's age (34) that is making his decline show. Look no further than the 39-40 year old Brett Farve almost pulling out a MVP to debunk that notion. If your whole game relied on your wheels, expect a lower shelf life for those types of QBs. This is why I'm so dead set against the "run first" kind of QBs that come into the league. That might get you far in the NCAA and win you some games in the NFL, but to really progress and prolong your career, you need to win games from the pocket with the abilities I mention prior.

Didnt see the game,only highlights and as I was watching the highlights I thought to myself that Mcnabb looked like his old self when he was scrambling.I thought he looked better then last yr{as far as his scrambling is concerned} Im going to rewatch the highlights and see if I change my mind

[Swarley]

Ask yourselves what top QB doesnt benefit from the system he's in.

McNabb has just lost it in my opinion. I'm sure he probably has one or two big games left that'll make people think he's still a viable starting QB but that's it.

[redsk1]

First off let's reserve judgement after a few games or more.

I will say that DM has been a great QB in a great system for a long time. Hes not the most accurate of passers but he makes up for it w/ incredible athletic ability. Shiftiness. The ability to slide out of trouble, buy time, run, step up and hit receivers downfield. That's his game. Of course the Andy Reid system is excellent and put him in positions to succeed too.

I still think in the right system he can be a top notch QB. He's not old. He's still mobile. I don't know enough about Minn's system to offer an opinion on it.

The guy didn't fit in our system. Bad trade but at least we admitted as much and moved on.

[warriorzpath]

Also that's why some college qbs are able to rely on their running ability to be successful. Because obviously, those qbs aren't as beat up and have "young legs".

[Ruhskins]

I am trying to think which QBs have successfully transitioned from one team to another. Drew Brees comes to mind, going from San Diego to becoming an elite QB in New Orleans (I don't know if there was much of a difference between the two systems). Favre one-year stint in Minny could be one...but that was only a year. I guess maybe Brad Johnson's move to Tampa could be considered. Can anybody else think of other examples?

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

I am trying to think which QBs have successfully transitioned from one team to another. Drew Brees comes to mind, going from San Diego to becoming an elite QB in New Orleans (I don't know if there was much of a difference between the two systems). Favre one-year stint in Minny could be one...but that was only a year. I guess maybe Brad Johnson's move to Tampa could be considered. Can anybody else think of other examples?

Jake Plummer comes to mind most recently. I think if you go way back, Jim Plunkett had a successful stint with the Raiders after leaving the Patriots and Doug Williams lit it up for one year with the Skins after leaving Tampa Bay. So it does and can happen. However, I think the older the quarterback the more he must rely on the new system to be successful.

But who would thought just one year ago, we'd be talking about Rex Grossman being better than Donovan McNabb. What a difference a year makes.