2008 Woodie Awards
McNabb not the same
Mike Graziano
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: sports
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I ask myself at times, why oh why do I even watch football? Why Do I watch my favorite team (The Miami Dolphins and the South Carolina Gamecocks)? Why Do I turn on the TV to ultimately see their demise over, and over, and over again? Well besides the fact that I am a loyal fan to no end, I suppose it's the fact that I know they will jump back someday… five years from now but till then a team who has nothing to lose is a dangerous, dangerous team indeed! I actually haven't watched football in nearly two weeks. But then it happened, I was sitting in my room today and I hear my roommate yelling in agonizing pain, screaming obscenities. Assuming it was our crappy DVD player I walked outside in hopes that he would have spiked it and started going Mario onto of it like he would a mushroom. Instead he was sitting up with his hands on his head in a failed attempt to rip his hair out. He had just watched the Eagles receive a fumble recovery and then watched Donavan McNabb get sacked and fumble it himself.
I sat down and decided work could wait and this game could be interesting. As I watched the continuation I started to realize something about Mr. McNabb. I personally feel he has been robbed of his gift. He is no longer the dangerous quarterback he once was. Who reading this remembers the first year McNabb played for the Philadelphia Eagles? He reminded me of his college days, every defense was scared out of their minds because if you rushed him, he would miraculously turn into a running back and suddenly be long footing it down the field where ever your defenders weren't. Or if you rushed him he would throw the ball like a rocket to the receiver or tight end that the safety simply overlooked.
Now what does he do? He sits there like he has been drilled to for the past how many years. To sit in the pocket and throw, thus making him nowhere near as effective as he once was. Many would disagree, that's all good and fine, but hey we all have our opinions (I guess that's why I am the editor of the Opinion section.) As quoted from Wikipedia: McNabb started every game during his career, compiling a 33-12 record. As a senior, he led Syracuse to an Orange Bowl berth vs. Florida as he completed 157 of 251 passes (62.5%) for 2,134 yards. His 22 TD passes tied the school's single season record set by former Eagle Don McPherson (1987). McNabb also rushed 135 times for 438 yards and 8 touchdowns." Now look at those stats, I believe that is just for his Senior year if I am not mistaken. His 2000 Season was excellent! Now I understand he was young but at the same time he did things that not many quarterbacks could have done, and lets not forget the number of records he broke. As I look over his overall stats here on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donovan_McNabb#College_career) I can see that the one stat that seems to be a positive of this new engrained style is the interception rate. It has progressively gone down the more years he has played pro.
Still I am sure many will argue against me that McNabb can still run like he used to, I really don't think so. It is a huge shame that he can't. Now everyone please remember that I am not bashing McNabb at all. I am more over bashing the coaches or whatever/whoever it is that has slowly forced him into this new mold. McNabb is a huge piece of the Eagles mental game, he is without a doubt a class act and definitely holds a good portion of the team on his shoulders. Him and numerous others (Kearse also being a huge motivation booster) make the team from the city of brotherly love that much more fun to watch.
You have to admit, that play with the small pass to Brian Westbrook and his run for the end zone to seal the fate of the Redskins was one heck of a play. I suppose it's fitting though, I just watched "The Replacements" the other day. Kind of reminded me of that, all I know is that I have to start watching football more often again that's for sure.
I sat down and decided work could wait and this game could be interesting. As I watched the continuation I started to realize something about Mr. McNabb. I personally feel he has been robbed of his gift. He is no longer the dangerous quarterback he once was. Who reading this remembers the first year McNabb played for the Philadelphia Eagles? He reminded me of his college days, every defense was scared out of their minds because if you rushed him, he would miraculously turn into a running back and suddenly be long footing it down the field where ever your defenders weren't. Or if you rushed him he would throw the ball like a rocket to the receiver or tight end that the safety simply overlooked.
Now what does he do? He sits there like he has been drilled to for the past how many years. To sit in the pocket and throw, thus making him nowhere near as effective as he once was. Many would disagree, that's all good and fine, but hey we all have our opinions (I guess that's why I am the editor of the Opinion section.) As quoted from Wikipedia: McNabb started every game during his career, compiling a 33-12 record. As a senior, he led Syracuse to an Orange Bowl berth vs. Florida as he completed 157 of 251 passes (62.5%) for 2,134 yards. His 22 TD passes tied the school's single season record set by former Eagle Don McPherson (1987). McNabb also rushed 135 times for 438 yards and 8 touchdowns." Now look at those stats, I believe that is just for his Senior year if I am not mistaken. His 2000 Season was excellent! Now I understand he was young but at the same time he did things that not many quarterbacks could have done, and lets not forget the number of records he broke. As I look over his overall stats here on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donovan_McNabb#College_career) I can see that the one stat that seems to be a positive of this new engrained style is the interception rate. It has progressively gone down the more years he has played pro.
Still I am sure many will argue against me that McNabb can still run like he used to, I really don't think so. It is a huge shame that he can't. Now everyone please remember that I am not bashing McNabb at all. I am more over bashing the coaches or whatever/whoever it is that has slowly forced him into this new mold. McNabb is a huge piece of the Eagles mental game, he is without a doubt a class act and definitely holds a good portion of the team on his shoulders. Him and numerous others (Kearse also being a huge motivation booster) make the team from the city of brotherly love that much more fun to watch.
You have to admit, that play with the small pass to Brian Westbrook and his run for the end zone to seal the fate of the Redskins was one heck of a play. I suppose it's fitting though, I just watched "The Replacements" the other day. Kind of reminded me of that, all I know is that I have to start watching football more often again that's for sure.