Tag: Donovan McNabb (Page 6 of 27)

      Why did Shanahan bench McNabb for Grossman?

      October 31, 2010 /
      DETROIT - OCTOBER 31: Kyle Vanden Bosch of the Detroit Lions hits Donovan McNabb of the Washington Redskins during the first quarter of the game at Ford Field on October 31, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

      Donovan McNabb has been to six Pro Bowls, has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Year and has led a team to a Super Bowl.

      Rex Grossman has never been to a Pro Bowl, has never been the NFC Offensive Player of the Year and although he did lead a team to the Super Bowl, it was primarily due to his defense and Devin Hester’s return abilities – not his play at quarterback.

      So it’s natural that Mike Shanahan would choose Grossman over McNabb to run his two-minute offense down a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

      I’m not kidding. You think I’m kidding? I’m not kidding.

      With just under two minutes remaining in the Lions’ 37-25 win over the Redskins on Sunday, Shanahan benched McNabb for Grossman, who promptly fumbled on his first play, which led to a 17-yard touchdown return by Ndamukong Suh to ice the game for Detroit.

      The details are sketchy at this point, but McNabb definitely wasn’t hurt. He had taken six sacks and threw an interception that led to the Lions’ go-ahead touchdown with just over three minutes remaining in the game, but his offensive line and running game didn’t do him any favors either. Suh, Corey Williams, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Cliff Avril completely dominated the interior of Washington’s offensive line so there wasn’t much McNabb could do. The interception was ill timed, but he still completed 17-of-30 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown. Those aren’t Hall of Fame numbers but he wasn’t Jay Cutler out there either.

      Unless McNabb was turning the ball over at a Brett Favre-like pace, there’s really no reason to ever sub Grossman into the game – any game. What did Shanahan think, that Grossman was going to lead the Skins back with a heroic touchdown drive? Grossman hadn’t taken a snap all season and yet there he was, in for McNabb at the most crucial moment in the game.

      Look, I could see Shanahan making a move if he had a better option at backup. But this is Rex Grossman we’re talking about. It’s not Kerry Collins, Charlie Batch or even Chris Redman – it’s Rex Grossman. Just why…what the…huh…are you serious?

      Shanahan has some explaining to do as the Redskins gear up for their bye.

      External Sports, NFL

      The Packers have some big-time issues

      October 10, 2010 /
      Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is stopped on the goal line by the Washington Redskins defense in the first quarter of their NFL football game in Landover, Maryland, October 10, 2010. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      If you wanted to trace back where the Packers started having issues, go ahead and start with the Monday night loss to the Bears three weeks ago.

      That was the game where their troubles were put on full display. They had trouble running the ball, they were undisciplined and they lacked that killer instinct that most Super Bowl contenders have. At 3-2, Green Bay is still in great shape (it’s early yet), but this is a team that is hurting right now in more ways than one.

      On the second play of Sunday’s 16-13 overtime loss to the Redskins, tight end Jermichael Finley (who is a huge part of the Packers’ pass-happy offense) suffered a knee injury and was carted off the field. Nobody knows at this point how long he’ll be out, but some are already speculating that he won’t play next week.

      Making matters worse, Clay Matthews left Sunday’s game in the third quarter due to a hamstring injury, which affected the Packers’ pass rush for the rest of the game. Donovan McNabb had spent most of the first half running for his life but once Matthews came out, the Redskins were able to chip away at Green Bay’s 13-3 lead and eventually won the game in overtime. If you wanted to know what kind of an impact Matthews has for the Packers’ defense, just pop in the tape of today’s game and compare halves.

      Finley and Matthews’ injuries come at a time when Morgan Burnett, Nick Barnett and Mark Tauscher are already out with various aliments. At this pace, Aaron Rodgers will be playing on both sides of the ball in a couple of weeks.

      Speaking of which, Rodgers and the passing game continues to sing off key. Rodgers played well again today, but he was plagued by drops and was obviously affected by Finley’s injury. The fact that this team can’t run the ball (Brandon Jackson had 115 yards today, but 71 of which came on one play) doesn’t help Rodgers’ cause.

      Things don’t get any easier for the Packers, either. They play a Miami team coming off a bye next Sunday and then host the Vikings before going on the road to face the Jets in Week 8. They host the Cowboys in Week 9 before having their bye in Week 10.

      If this team can’t get healthy soon, we won’t be talking about Green Bay the potential Super Bowl team, we’ll be talking about Green Bay the what-could-have-been team.

      External Sports, NFL

      Redskins-Eagles fails to live up to hype as Vick goes down and McNabb struggles

      October 3, 2010 /
      Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb (R) is greeted by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick before the start of their NFL football game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 3, 2010. McNabb was traded to Washington during the off-season. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      Lackluster doesn’t even begin to describe what transpired in Philadelphia this evening, although I guess we should have all seen it coming.

      The media hyped up Donovan McNabb’s return to Philly so much that you would have thought Obama was giving a speech at halftime. In the end, McNabb completed just 8-of-19 passes for 125 yards with one touchdown and one interception, but the Redskins still pulled off a 17-12 victory.

      Michael Vick, who ironically has become the media’s darling, suffered an injury in the first half and couldn’t return. Kevin Kolb replaced him and while he completed 22-of-35 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown, he stuck with check downs and short-range passes for most of the game and failed to lead Philly to a comeback. This was the second time this season where Kolb has failed to get the Eagles’ offense moving, which further supports Andy Reid’s decision to stick with Vick.

      As far as Vick’s injury is concerned, FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer is reporting that the results of the X-ray he took were negative. Vick will undergo an MRI on Monday morning, but as of now he may not be out long. It’s doubtful he’ll play next Sunday, but that’s just speculation on my part.

      As for the rest of the game…snoozefest. At halftime I switched over to the Colts-Jaguars game and only returned periodically to make sure Kolb was still checking down to his backs.

      External Sports, NFL

      Better off (with): Donovan McNabb or Michael Vick?

      October 1, 2010 /
      Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb waves a towel over his head as he runs off the field following his team's win against the Dallas Cowboys in their first NFL game of the regular season in Landover, Md, September 12, 2010. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      When you get right down to it, neither Donovan McNabb nor Michael Vick are in a bad place right now.

      McNabb certainly isn’t in the prime of his career, but at 33 he doesn’t have one foot in the proverbial NFL grave either. He’s working under a man in Mike Shanahan that has won three Super Bowls (two as a head coach, one as an offensive coordinator) and multiple conference championships, and is ready to face his old team this Sunday at his old stomping grounds.

      He’s also out of Philadelphia, where he couldn’t wake up in the morning without being booed for the way he poured his cereal. He’s now playing for a fan base that appreciates what he brings to the table because they realize what it’s like not to have a leader at the quarterback position. (No offense to Jason Campbell, who is an extremely hard worker and a likable guy, but considering Bruce Gradkowski is now starting over him in Oakland it’s apparent that he doesn’t have what it takes to be a quality starting quarterback in this league.)

      Vick has it good, too. After dazzling Andy Reid in the first two weeks of the season, he was named the full-time starter and he did well not to muck up the first opportunity he had to thank his head coach by lighting up the Jaguars last Sunday. Vick has been as good as any quarterback in the league this year, throwing for 750 yards and six touchdowns while compiling a QB rating of 110.2. He’s also rushed for 170 yards on 23 carries and best of all, he hasn’t turned the ball over despite fumbling twice.

      The Eagles are now Vick’s team and while he has yet to face a quality defense, the tape doesn’t lie: he’s been phenomenal so far. Whether or not his great play continues is uncertain, but as of right now there’s nothing negative anyone can say about Vick’s game.

      Continue reading »

      Barstool Debates, External Sports, NFL

      Rams win a game at home, fire and brimstone now falling from the sky

      September 26, 2010 /
      St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) is chased by Washington Redskins Brian Orakpo in the second quarter at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis on September 26, 2010. UPI/BIll Greenblatt Photo via Newscom

      For only the second time in their last 29 games, the St. Louis Rams actually won a football game.

      With their 30-16 victory over the Redskins on Sunday, the Rams won a home game for the first time since 2006. Many factors went into the win, but the play of rookie quarterback Sam Bradford will be discussed above all else when the St. Louis faithful replay this game on the radio airwaves this week.

      Bradford was far from perfect (he threw his fifth interception of the season), but he completed 23-of-37 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown – mostly without the help of Steven Jackson, who pulled his groin midway through the game. Kenneth Darby racked up 49 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown in Jackson’s absence, but it would be a stretch to say he was “effective.”

      On the other side, this was an embarrassing loss for the Redskins, who have done nothing to build off their opening win against Dallas. They fell apart in the fourth quarter last week against Houston and never led at any point today in St. Louis. Donovan McNabb threw for 236 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw a pick late in the fourth and the Redskins just couldn’t put the ball in the end zone.

      Kudos to the Rams, who have been in every game so far this season. The defense has played decent the first three weeks and while Bradford has made his fair share of mistakes, he’s also making plays in his rookie year.

      External Sports, NFL

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