Andy Reid must stop treating Donovan McNabb with kid gloves. I''m convinced that he should challenge McNabb to improve his game and to be great.
I commend Reid on his success which he's enjoyed so far in this league, but he must step up his game and demand that McNabb step up his.
Reid does a great job of gaining the confidence of his players and protecting them publicly, but I'm convinced that he and his staff haven't been coaching McNabb for the last five years.
I've had too many of McNabb teammates complain that he's not treated like everybody else. Reid has been treating McNabb in much the same way that all the assistant coaches in Green Bay treated Brett Favre.
They treated Favre like a spoiled brat.
I listen to Steve Mariucci, who was Favre's quarterback coach before Reid, on the NFL Network and he's still protecting Favre on everything. Those offensive assistants in Green Bay reverenced Favre because they knew he was the franchise and all their futures and paychecks were riding on him. They never chewed him out or called him on the carpet.
The only guy who demanded greatness of Favre and challenged him was Mike Holmgren. The recently retired Holmgren chewed Favre's butt when he threw a stupid interception or was careless with the football. He demanded that Favre play at his highest level.
Reid's job as the quarterback coach was to cuddle Favre and reassure him after Holmgren ripped him. it was a good situation until Holmgren took the job in Seattle.
Favre's game fell apart when Holmgren left because none of the other coaches had the gutts to coach him. I am very familiar with how Favre got Ray Rhodes fired by throwing the ball up for grabs. What about the punt he threw that was picked off by Brian Dawkins to end that 4th and 26 playoff game?
Favre could and should have been able to lay claim to being the league's greatest quarterback, but he let his game fell off because he wasn't coached and was constantly careless with the football.
I give current Packers coach Mike McCarthy credit because he refused to baby Favre and demanded that he take care of the football. Favre's final year in Green Bay was a good one because he had somebody coaching him.
Reid and his staff need to start coaching McNabb. They should demand that he work on throwing a more catchable ball on his short throws. He needs to improve his throwing mechanics.
There are certain parts of his game that he hasn't improved because he's not challenged to improve. I think he's capable of improving if he's challenged to do it. Coaching is helping your players to be their very best.
Settling for very good isn't good enough with McNabb.
Reid needs to begin by challenging McNabb to be the leader which he is capable of being. That should start with a chewing out for pointing his finger at the defense for being the reason they lost the NFC Championship game.
Part of the work with McNabb must be convincing him that he must disregard all of the media talk. Non of that matters any more. It will all be solved with a championship. His most ardent critics will be silenced with a championship. Nothing else will satisfy.
Let me emphasize that the Eagles have a lot more problems than McNabb but I think he can be much better if he's coached properly and challenged to be he game's very best.
