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DAVID MAIALETTI / Staff photographer

READER FEEDBACK

Eagles Notebook: Too many hands on Eagles' pass attempts

By LES BOWEN
Philadelphia Daily News

bowenl@phillynews.com

ONE RECENT Eagles trend really seemed to blossom in last Sunday's victory over the Giants.

Donovan McNabb, you might have heard, was very accurate. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns. But by our unofficial count, at least four of the six incompletions were balls that defenders reached up and swatted away, at or near the line of scrimmage.

What in the name of Samuel Dalembert is going on here?

McNabb agreed yesterday that, "This is happening, for the first time in a long time." He said pump-faking pass rushers isn't the answer because, "It'll throw timing off. Your guys up front just kind have to punch 'em or bring their arms down, or whatever it may be."

It didn't take a lot of imagination to think of at least one thing an offensive lineman might do that would tend to bring an opponent's arms down, but McNabb said that maneuver might rile the opposition to a dangerous degree.

Some of McNabb's o-linemen suggested that as a young group trying to build cohesion, they were perhaps concentrating too much on keeping their assigned defenders in front of them and not enough on what those defenders were doing when they didn't get through.

"It's something the offensive line needs to work on, maybe be a little more aggressive at the line of scrimmage," said right tackle Winston Justice.

"It comes along with understanding the offense more, rather than just understanding your protection scheme," said veteran left guard Todd Herremans, who said the o-line needs to be thinking in terms of an extra slap or shove on passing plays over the middle, through traffic. "You've got to understand when the ball's being released, where it's being released, stuff like that. It comes in time, playing with the offense."

That sums it up nicely

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was asked during a conference call yesterday about the fact that some of his career-best and career-worst games have come against the Eagles. Why the disparity? Romo said there was no common theme to the times he has struggled.

"Sometimes they do a great job," Romo said. "And sometimes, I [stink]."

By the way, Romo also was asked about how the Cowboys are different, now that Terrell Owens and other high-profile distractions have been exiled.

"I think our sense of urgency is different in the sense that we have a feeling that it's all about improvement. It's about getting better, week-to-week," he said. "Our sense of urgency is just about us."

Asked about the "revenge" angle from last year's season-ending 44-6 Eagles victory at the Linc, Romo said the focus was to "be a better football team than they played that day."

Birdseed

Donovan McNabb, usually one to downplay expectations, provided this telling quote yesterday: "You're seeing a lot of guys stepping up and making big plays for us . . . I've been part of a team where something like this happened, back in 2004" . . . McNabb, by the way, said he probably will continue to wear rib protection the rest of the season . . . So far, only wide receiver Kevin Curtis (knee) has been declared out for Sunday, but defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee), defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley (knee), linebacker Chris Gocong (quad, hamstring) and defensive end Chris Clemons (AC sprain) were listed as not practicing . . . Rookie safety Macho Harris (ankle) returned to practice but not to his starting role, which has been taken by veteran Sean Jones. Harris said he is here to learn, and will go along with whatever plan he's given. "It's my rookie year; I don't want to hurt the team," he said . . . Right guard Stacy Andrews said he can and will cut out all the false-start penalties . . . Andy Reid said Dallas wide receiver Miles Austin "has gotten better every week that he's played, starting from last year. He is a talented, talented guy."

Comments

Posted 08:27 AM, 11/05/2009

Dierte

Thank you Macho!

Posted 11:46 AM, 11/05/2009

craig123

We're going to need Bunkley this week, hope that knee gets better. Sports writers........all they want to talk about is the QB's and WR's. Bunkley being hurt is the story this week.

Posted 01:07 PM, 11/05/2009

calm weather

Look at the video - at least three of those "batted" ball were thrown into the d-lineman's helmet or shoulder pads. That's not o-lineman. Shouldn't we expect the quarterback not to throw passes directly into oncoming linemen?

Posted 01:39 PM, 11/05/2009

PhillyHouse JayDuce

McNabb didn't complete every pass? The horror!!! Peyton, Brady, and Brees never mistakes. They complete every pass they throw.

Posted 01:55 PM, 11/05/2009

JACK V

thank you twice macho!

Posted 02:26 PM, 11/05/2009

JACK V

thanks three time mucho!

Posted 04:07 PM, 11/05/2009

hubbs_in_frisco

Hey PhillyHouseGayDuce..... McNabbs completion percentage was 28th in the league coming into that game and that is horrific considering this is a west coast offense that throws tons of screen passes and short slants. Against Oakland they tried to throw 52 times and he threw 11 screen passes. (Not even including slants which should be gimme's in this offense) That means that minus the screen passes he completed 11 of 41. Tat is horrendous. To even think of mentioning him in the same sentence as Brady or Manning is a joke. First off they have 4 Super Bowls between them and Donny Boy has ) as in Zero. Not to mention they have had record breaking seasons each for number of touchdowns thrown. Whats even worse is that he has had the best Defense in the league the during the course of his career. Dont get me wrong.... I do hope he wins and I am a die hard Eagles fan, but he needs to win something before we can even mention him in the same sentence with guys like that.

Posted 04:14 PM, 11/05/2009

hubbs_in_frisco

I love how I get censored on here and my comments are omitted anytime I say something critical of McNabb. I didnt even say anything that a G movie couldnt show. Ouch guys..... so much for freedom of the press. This is a joke.

Posted 06:11 PM, 11/05/2009

WewantaSBRing

Offensive linemen at the pee wee level are taught to keep the defenders hands down.....

Posted 07:55 PM, 11/05/2009

tpizza

Hubbs, you get censored for anti-DM comments and wiffenstein gets through? Nope.

10 comments

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