• May 2, 2024

McNabb’s Terminology Problems In D.C., Show Us Reid Was Covering For Him

It took Donovan McNabb going to Washington to expose him.  All of that talk about cardiovascular conditioning by Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan is garbage. He told the truth immediately after the game, now he’s trying to double back and cover it up.

There’s been talk coming out of Washington for a while now that McNabb has been having trouble learning the new terminology of the offense.  The Redskins run a similar west coast style offense as the Birds, but the terminology is completely different.

It’s now obvious that McNabb has problems with terminology and it was probably one of the reasons for the Eagles problems with the two-minute drill all these years.  Unfortunately for the Skins in the two-minute drill situation, Shanahan didn’t have another option at the quarterback position because Rex Grossman isn’t a real option.

This also exposes Andy Reid in a positive way, we’ve seen his reluctance to publicly go after his players and expose them, now we can see it on a very clear level.  It’s a fact that Reid protects his players and has been protecting McNabb all these years.

This doesn’t get Reid off the hook for his poor management of the clock.  This doesn’t explain why he’s been willing to play without quality wide receivers, or without a punt returner.

I’ve heard Marty Mornhinweg say recently that Kevin Kolb is good at running the two-minute drill and what is the key to running the two-minute drill.   You’ve got to be able to call two plays at a time.  The truth of the matter was that McNabb was bad at it.

We’ve known about McNabb’s accuracy problems for years now.  Add to that his difficulty with terminology and you see some of the shortcomings which have limited McNabb’s success. Still, he’s been more successful than any quarterback in Eagles history, which says something about McNabb as a competitor.

Anybody who has observed McNabb during his time here in Philadelphia can’t help but be aware of his shortcomings, but you also can’t help but see his strength, which is his ability to compete.  He’s not a natural thrower and he’s not quickest at reading defenses, but he will battle and that’s the reason for his success.

I’ve always looked at McNabb as an overachiever because he found ways to win without being the greatest quarterback and not having the most talented teammates.  He’s the kind of quarterback who can get sacked six, seven, eight and nine times, but he will resist throwing the ball up for grabs.  He’ll compete.

That’s the challenge which he has in front of him now. The spotlight is on him and he has to answer the bell.

It’s a challenge for McNabb, there’s no reason to feel sorry for him because this is what the NFL is all about.  You’re challenged physically, emotionally and mentally every time you put on your uniform and go onto the field.  Nobody cares about anything but production.

We’ll see if he comes out fighting.

GCOBB

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Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
November 2, 2010 8:37 am

Spot on G,
McNabb’s has been a good solid NFL QB over his career, but a Hall of Fame performer, absolutely not.
I wish him well, but without being able to use his legs that much anymore as he did when he was younger, he has simply become an average NFL QB at best.. The Eagles actually hung on to him a year too long in my opinion, but am gald they were able to get a couple of high picks for him as they did.. He still is the best QB the Eagles ever had, but he is not HOF material or an Elite QB…

BirdoBeamen
BirdoBeamen
November 2, 2010 8:38 am

My man GCOBB! Calling it like it is…..thank you for finally seeing the light G! It’s only what a lot of us have been saying for years!

grifft
grifft
November 2, 2010 8:44 am

So, does that mean that Reid was not only covering for him, but also enabling McNabb to not work past his “terminology” issues? I’d be concerned, then, if there’s a level of that same covering going on for Kolb. To me, one of the best reasons to go with Vick (other than the obvious athleticism) is that no one makes any excuses for him because of his past, so he’s forced to improve himself…

jakedog
jakedog
November 2, 2010 8:48 am

Not buying it. Can’t remember two plays? G, you write as though playing football requires extraordinary intelligence. Meanwhile, McNabb has managed his millions like Trump and should be seriously laughing about commentary like this

wilcher
wilcher
November 2, 2010 8:49 am

I agree and Disagree at the same time. You CAN question his ability NOW! WITH WASHINGTON!. The mistake and UNFAIR part is to judge his whole career based upon a 35 year old worn down QB, trying to learn a new system after 11 years of being in different one. You CANT say Andy Reid was covering for him all these years! He had plenty of sucess here! He was a damn MVP canidate a couple years. He KNEW the terminology here!…Thats just stupid to act like he didnt have command of the offense HERE! Does he have it in Washington?? No!!! But thats not an Indictment of his entire career in Philadelphia! One has nothing to do with the other!!! Did Trotter have sucess when he left and went to a different system? NO! It happens all the time! You see it every season with free agency!
To me, what it says is just what it is. Like my mom says “call a spade a spade”, He is done now. His carrer is winding down, he had 11 strong years, and thats more than most. Is he HOF material? i would say yes…but is he the same player now?…NO!..That DOES NOT MEAN Andy Reid was covering for him…thats just crazy.

rcp1936
rcp1936
November 2, 2010 8:53 am

That was my first thought _Reid was getting blamed for McNabb’s shortcoming in the last 2 minutes
I posted that on the previous thread

Explains why McNabb threw up at the Super Bowl

It is a shame since he has all the physical tools

But that answering the phone in the Giants playoff game and strumming the guitar at last years Cowboys’ playoff game showed how uptight he gets

Not his fault –you are either born with leadership DNA or you are not I don’t believe you can acquire it and it shows up in your childhood –You probably can remember the guys in grade school who you looked up to

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
November 2, 2010 8:55 am

Maybe this is why McNabb struggled so bad in the Pro-Bowl Game last year when he was flat out terrible. My sources in MIami, told me the NFC Offensive Coordinators and NFC Offense only had a total of 5 different pass plays/formations for the entire game and McNabb struggled remembering on what to do on 3/4 of his snaps.. good grief…

phillywill
phillywill
November 2, 2010 9:00 am

i saw a stat yesterday mcnabb has the 3rd worse rating in the nfl in the last 2 min of a half a 44 rating

guess who was #1
thats right bum ass kevein kolb in the last 2 min of every half he has a 22 passer rating
please we made a trade and had a bum 2 be named starter vick bailed andy out i dont wanna hear no more about d5 unless we gonna talk bum ass kolb

phillywill
phillywill
November 2, 2010 9:03 am

how the hell did we hang on to him a yr to long
did we have another qb here
the answer is fuck no
bum ass kolb aint no franchise qb he a franchise backup so stfu
we almost got rid of him a yr to early but eagles lucked up cause vick saved them
check out kolb 22 2min drill rating
is it cardiovascular or is he just a fuckin bum i’d say the latter

phillywill
phillywill
November 2, 2010 9:05 am

hey pman what r u sorces telling u about kolb and his 2min drill rating the worse in the nfl worse than max hall and jake delhome
r u sources telling cause he a fuckin bum
if not they aint good sources
lmao my sources telling me hahahahahahahahaha

jakedog
jakedog
November 2, 2010 9:09 am

Mancini, are you a scout, bird dog or something with your “sources”. What are your credentials to write with such self-righteous authority. Besides, the suggestion that Reid covered up for McNabb’s lack of intelligence is laughable. The man played here for eleven years and there has never, never been the slightest suggestion, until now, that McNabb is not bright enough to adequately play the position. Reid would have to be a a cover artiist.

Maybe Shanahan’s system is flawed, maybe McNabb is not comfortable with the system or is having difficulty executing it but this intelligence argument is wrong

phillywill
phillywill
November 2, 2010 9:11 am

hey rcp u know how u like to dig up play by play shit give us the break downs of kolb play by plays in the last 2 min of every half he has played
i would love to see this

phillywill
phillywill
November 2, 2010 9:12 am

like i just dont want eagles fans to get it twisted
u wanna laugh at d5 blah blah blah
but if vick aint here im quite sure we wouldnt be lauging at shit 1st off we’d be like 2-5 with this fuckin bum at the helm woulda lost by 80 to detroit

wilcher
wilcher
November 2, 2010 9:15 am

@ Paul man…are you dumb, or just a plain old idiot??? I guess the other FIVE pro bowls he played in were the same then too??? Did he struggle in those also??? YOU HAVE to be more intellegent than that! So you are to stupid to see what THE END OF A CAREER looks like?? You are going to bang your drum about how his ENTIRE CAREER, is what we are seeing now at 35?? PLEASE, PLEASE tell me you are smarter than that buddy! Was Bruce Smith NOT one of the best D Lineman of all time, cause he went to Washington and stunk? What about Jerry Rice in Seattle??? You know what? I knew Jerry Rice was a product of the coaching he was getting!!! He could never get separation, he was just a product of the play design and the coaches covering for him. You guys are jackasses! What about Jordan in Washington??….that guy stunk, it was Phil Jackson the whole time. Get a LIFE!

phillywill
phillywill
November 2, 2010 9:16 am

very well put jakedog
i know like his source aint some fat dude he know thats sits on a couch watching games on tv in miami lmao

phillywill
phillywill
November 2, 2010 9:20 am

hey birdobrain what r u thoughts on kolb
cause u know what alot of us have been saying for yrs

wilcher
wilcher
November 2, 2010 9:21 am

@ BIRDDOG…LMAO! Exactly…lmao…”my sources in miami telll me.”..lmao,,,GTFOH!…Who are your sources? Your weed connect? Cause thats some powerful stuff your smoking at your place…lmao
Get Peter King 2.0 out of here with “my sources”…psssh

phillywill
phillywill
November 2, 2010 9:34 am

clearly his connect wilcher lol

swktke
swktke
November 2, 2010 9:35 am

G,

This is an incredible post. No one understands McNabb better than you. Let’s not forget this kid threw 4 touchdowns on a broken leg. I think Andy spoiled him…

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
November 2, 2010 9:49 am

My sources in Southern Florida stated that he never heard of QB K Kolb and that he only has followed
McNabb’s career because he is a recovering “Chunky Soup Addict ” and blames McNabb and McNabb’s Mom for all his shortcomings in life…

KTDawk
KTDawk
November 2, 2010 9:56 am

Kolb has an 85 passer rating to McNabb’s 76. What does that mean PW. Please don’t come back with that I’m a f’ing idiot and that you’re lmao. Honestly do you think McNabb would be doing as well as Kolb if he was in Philly? I could see that argument but McNabb is a career 85 passer rating as well. You have this undying allegiance to McNabb but at this point in his career he is no better than Kolb and the stats are consistent with that statement. It’s not my opinion it is a fact. So you can laugh your ass off and call everyone on here an idiot but take a long look in the mirror before you start saying stuff like that.

jddcp
jddcp
November 2, 2010 9:57 am

G- If McNabb has ALWAYS had this problem explain this… on ESPN they just reported that McNabb has more 4th quarter comebacks than Tom Brady in his career. He has 25+ 4th quarter comebacks! Only 4 active QBs have more than he does. So how can he not run the 2 minute drill if he is top 5 in the league in 4th quarter comebacks?

greenfan
greenfan
November 2, 2010 10:00 am

PW…did Kolb steal your girlfriend or something? He is the backup now, do you feel the only way you can defend #5 is to call Kolb a bunch of lame names?

Most fans believed that we held onto McNabb too long. He was able to achieve a level of success here, but Shanahan is learning first hand what we watched for years. He is what he is, and he is too old to change.

wilcher
wilcher
November 2, 2010 10:03 am

@ KTDawk…”at this point in his career” is the key phrase! How many Qb’s have been in and out of the Nfl since the merger? Hundreds if not thousands, and i will tell you as far as acomplishments McNabb is in the top 10 percent of those QB’s. PERIOD. The problem is people are using what is happening now as an old McNabb to justify whatever personal agenda they had with him, his entire career, even when he was elite!…Thats BS!..I can se when someones career is winding down, but you cant then pull out the “see i told you so” nonsense when the man is 35 years old and his career is 12 year in and almost done!..i mean DAMN!! You haters waited a loooong time. like Biggie’s song..”they pray and pray for my downfall!”

rcp1936
rcp1936
November 2, 2010 10:07 am

Hey Philly Willy

We are discussing McNabb –in case you don’t remember he played here for 11 years

And in his FIRST year he had a 49% completion rate and a QB rating of 60–8TDs– 7 INTs–8 fumbles/6 lost –played in 12 games and started 6

BTW your constant use of vulgarity shows what your intellect is like

KTDawk
KTDawk
November 2, 2010 10:09 am

I don’t care what happened in the past. I am looking at the now and we got rid of McNabb and he is under-performing. I believe the trade to be a great decision. He was a great QB, was is past tense.

wilcher
wilcher
November 2, 2010 10:14 am

@ rcp…dont throw numbers out there because he was DYNAMIC in his first year and a half here. You have to use the eyeball test!…First off he didnt have Desean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Brent Celek, hell he didnt even have Riley Cooper or Jason Avant!!! It was McNabb the o-line, Duece, and Chad Lewis and thats it!!! No disrespect to Duece who was a good all around runner, but he was no Marshall Faulk, and Chad sure as hell wasent Antonio Gates! First half year, McNabb..3-13, next year PLAYOFFS!, NEXT FOUR YEAR AT LEAST NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!…LMAO…You have got to be kidding!..Im not saying Kolb is done, over the last couple weeks he has showed me he can play a little in this league, but his lack of arm stregnth will ultimatley be his undoing..see Chad Pennington

rcp1936
rcp1936
November 2, 2010 10:14 am

JDDCP
4th Quarter is 15 minutes we are talking 2 minute drills which it is almost a universally given in in Philly that the Eagles were not good and Andy Reid was constantly blamed for use of time management –well maybe if the QB can’t handle the hurry up and he had to use timeouts earlier because of play calling problems it wasn’t Reid’s fault

As far as Brady –maybe if your team is ahead going into the last quarter you don’t need a comeback

It would be nice to see the statistics

rcp1936
rcp1936
November 2, 2010 10:18 am

Witcher

Oh numbers are only OK if they buttress arguments in McNabb’s favor

BTW as far as Chad Lewis he was McNabbs go to guy in the 4th quarter on 3 and long plays

IMHO we lost the SB not because of TO’s injury but because Chad Lewis broke his leg on the last TD of the NFC championship game

EAGLE Co 32
EAGLE Co 32
November 2, 2010 10:28 am

I just hope that he takes this criticism and learns from this. G you have always pointed out his flaws as a QB. As McNabb fan I can respect that. Why it is so hard for people to accept that I will never understand? The guy COULD be one of the best ever if he could work on some technical points of his game. I trully hope he bounces back.

bugsyhawk
bugsyhawk
November 2, 2010 10:29 am

As long as we are talking about Brady, let’s really talk about him. Because Brady had nothing when he won superbowls. Nothing. He had average WRs, not much run game and a good defense. Sound familiar. Brady sure as heck didn’t have someone as dynamic as #36. I know that McNabb doesn’t deserve all the blame, becaue Belichek and Reid are hardly equals, but he does deserve some of it.

He was the best Eagles QB of all time, but he is not performing at that level anymore, so why not make a change? Whether it was for Kolb or not is irrelevant, because do you honestly think that McNabb would have faired better than Kolb when there is a consistent pass rush. He didn’t last year… see every Dallas game.

Why is is so offensive to some people that I can still see #5 as the best Eagles QB, but I can also see his faults?

Gotta Luv It
Gotta Luv It
November 2, 2010 10:43 am

This is Assinine …YOU DON’T PLAY 11 very good YEARS in the league if you don’t know terminology of that offensive system…11 years in one system and yall believe this man couldn’t call 2 plays at a time…?

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
November 2, 2010 11:36 am

It is indeed “Always Sunny in Philadelphia”..

jakedog
jakedog
November 2, 2010 11:51 am

Exactly my point earlier Gotta. This whole article and thread is flat out ridiculous

phillywill
phillywill
November 2, 2010 11:57 am

@ rcp his 1 st yr was his 2nd yr not his 4th
how dare u compare a bum like kolb to any1
and pman since i dont care anymore warren moon better than dan fouts

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
November 2, 2010 12:04 pm

Bugsy

I agree with you in part. McNabb had faults, and he was a good QB. But what did Westbrook do in the Superbow?. In fact, Westbrook often disappeared in playoff games as well. I’ve said all along that McNabb and Westbrook won in spite of Reid.

phillywill
phillywill
November 2, 2010 12:10 pm

hey ktdawk do i really have to answer that
did we not put up records last yr for pts in a season so please with the dumbass questions
also kolb has the luxury of playing a game or 2 here or their if he finishes green bay gm do i think he has a 85 rating lol he had 50 rating fvs titans about right
3rd comparing kolb to d5 is like me comparing stev largent to jerry rice

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
November 2, 2010 12:10 pm

Warren Moon was a great QB for sure and one of my all-time favorites,
I still don’t think anyone throws a prettier spiral than he did and on a rope too…
Unfortunately, he had some off the field issues usually centered around Alcohol Abuse and beating up his Wife/ex-Wife,Girlfriends up and a couple of DUI/DWI Offenses which has kept him off the big Networks and TV Commentating for a few years..I think he went on to discover God and Religion and is in good shape now and has those other issues under control and is now a happy,productive family man…

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
November 2, 2010 12:14 pm

Considering that McNabb broke the team’s scoring record last year? How can anyone say what he would be doing this year as an Eagle?

I’m a firm believe that McNabb was good enough to win a Superbowl, but he was handicapped by play-calling and the lack of weapons.

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
November 2, 2010 12:17 pm

Here’s the question. Does anyone think that Kolb could have won with the same players and under the same circumstances as McNabb?

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
November 2, 2010 12:38 pm

If you’re going to compare McNabb to Kolb, isn’t that the only question.

Let me go on record (again) by saying that I agree that McNabb should have been traded, although my reasons probably differ from most.

ChuckRob
ChuckRob
November 2, 2010 1:06 pm

The terminology defense is a cop out… You don’t put up the type of numbers and have the success that McNabb has on just athletic ability. G, you might as well just sterotype the dude and say that he’s not intelligent enough to call 2 or 3 plays in succession. That’s basically what Shanahan said, and what you are saying Andy covered up for all these years. I don’t buy it… I friend last night was saying that Peyton is the greatest ever…i had to interject Tom Brady into that conversation. Peyton plays in ideal conditions at least 50% a year, he plays in a dome…Peyton has had the same system for his entire career…that helps. G you opened up a huge can or worms again…this sounds like April again. You will always have your McNabb backers and McNabb Haters, that will never change. We just have to agree to disagree.

E-money
E-money
November 2, 2010 1:10 pm

I’m not buying the “terminology” thing, sorry. You’re telling me that Reid would have lived with Donovan’s inaccuracy and inability to call 2 plays at a time for 11 years? That just doesn’t add up. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think either Reid or McNabb are all that bright, and I think both of them are prone to brain-farts, but this “terminology” thing is a red-herring.

BirdoBeamen
BirdoBeamen
November 2, 2010 1:18 pm

Kolb is a competent player with a high upside. Just has to work on that arm strength. His upside is far superior to McNabb’s right now tho so if it came down to both of them again, I would go with Kolb.

phillywill
phillywill
November 2, 2010 1:22 pm

hey green i only call him 1 name a bum

phillywill
phillywill
November 2, 2010 1:25 pm

hey birdo his upside is the bench
cheer for him there

on sportscenter look at how fast he can get the play in to vick
make sure he dont drop the clipboard
or check out his pink eagles breast cancer hat

the big boys r trying to make a run into the offs now
so put the women and children to bed good nite kolby

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
November 2, 2010 1:27 pm

*********************************************************************************************************************
Some more insulting and disturbing news for McNabb and Company..
Today, the Washington Redksins worked out former #1 Draft Pick Bust of All-Time Jemarcus Russell
Let me repeat, Mike Shanahan, coach of the Washinghton Redksins brought in former Raider QB
J Russell to have a workout for the Washington Redskins for the QB postion as if being benched in favor of QB Rex Grossman wasn’t bad enough…
Someone better be checking up on McNabb and the local Bridges in the Washington DC area for this situation has gone from bad to worse…
*********************************************************************************************************************

greenfan
greenfan
November 2, 2010 1:29 pm

so he DID steal your girlfriend?? lol

Why spend time putting down the backup qb?

I would rather focus on Vick returning and taking on the Colts. Looking at our defense and what Manning might try and how to stop him.

Instead, you focus on one qb who isn’t here and one who isn’t playing? I don’t get it.

Stevo
Stevo
November 2, 2010 2:00 pm

wow…. great job G….. just like old times…. you say the name McNabb and you get 1,000,000 hits.
Who cares…. he’s a foreskin!!! Lets talk about the birds. McNabb was the best qb we’ve ever had. Now… its vicks team. Any word on a deal for him?? How have we heard nothing on this? What are the eagles doing to help kolb stop throwing short? Hows peters looking? Lets talk birds.

Paul M….. what can we do to get you to be paulman again?? You wrote 1 thing for G 2 years ago and now your a scout or something. Yes we get it…. you read profootballtalk like the rest of us.