McNabb talks miserable Vikings debut
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
McNabb talks miserable Vikings debut
Daily News staff
We know this is an Eagles blog, but we also know there is still some interest in the plights of both Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb.
After a disastrous 39-yard passing performance on 7-for-15 in his Vikings debut, we figured McNabb's weekly session with the media in the Twin Cities would be interesting. Probably not as many pointed questions as what it used to be like around here, but still ...
In the second half, McNabb completed one of six passes for 2 yards.
Here are some excerpts of what McNabb had to say today:
Q: What will you do differently?
A: We just go back to doing what we have done throughout the preseason. I think that’s something that all teams are pretty much going to do. We had a tough loss last week. You just go back to what you have been doing, back to the basics and go out to execute plays. We have to be able to sustain drives and we have been able to do that, but you have to be able to for four quarters. In this game your really can’t give a team a chance to come back and win the game. I thought offensively we could have sealed that game with one or two big plays and possibly sustaining a drive, but we just weren’t able to do that.
Q: Did they dominate your offense or was it more of what you guys didn’t do?
A: I think it was more of what we didn’t do. We had them on their heels in the first half and we pretty much did what we wanted to do. We just didn’t hold that momentum. It wasn’t what they were doing, they weren’t doing anything spectacular, they were making plays in the second half when they needed to, but it was more of what we needed to do in that game. We needed to continue to keep drives alive and we weren’t able to execute.
Q: Do you need more freedom, in what you are able to do as a quarterback to achieve success?
A: Well it’s the first week. We are going to continue to grow together, but still everyone realizes the mistakes we made, that’s the most important thing at this point.
Q: Are you guys predictable?
A: No, by no means. I don’t think we are predictable by any means. Everyone expects us to hand the ball off to Adrian, but there are plays in this offense and things that we can do, and that we will do.
Q: What have the last couple days been like for you?
A: I’m a pro, I been at this stage for a long time. It doesn’t matter if I pass for 400 or 500 yards and we lose, it’s still the same feeling. That is the way you have to approach it as a quarterback in this league. You have to have short-term memory, you have to be patient and you have to understand it’s all about winning in this league. If I pass for 37 yards or 400 and we lost the game it’s no different. Watching the film for me was very critical in terms of what I could have done to change that game. The opportunities will continue to happen as we continue on.
Q: Given the way that last year went and last week there could be some stuff out there that says ‘that was justified what the Redskins did’…
A: That’s not the case now. This is a new season. Everything that happened last year; I mean they could look at different things, last year I passed for over 3,000 yards, that’s pretty decent. It’s not one of my best, but from the start of it there can be a lot of assumptions. It’s a long season, when this next game ends they will probably be saying ‘this is the guy we expected to see’. And as the games continue on, everybody will start putting out different opinions. I have to focus on what I can do here to help us be successful.
Q: Sunday or Monday morning after a game like that, do you stick with your normal regimen or do you straight to the tape and find out what happened?
A: Monday morning I am watching the film. I’m writing down my mistakes, writing down the things we did well and finding out what we need to do against our next opponent to eliminate those next mistakes that we have made and get the offense going. I communicate with Bill Musgrave on Monday to see what things we can do differently. Being on the same page with your coordinator is very important for us at this time, because we didn’t have much time in the off-season. Things are going great and the way we wanted them to during preseason, so we have to get back on the horse and get things going the way we want.
Q: Do you feel like you are under extra pressure now?
A: Not at all, we just have to play football. We needed to get back to that in the second half and we need to get back to that throughout the season.
**
To read our earlier report from the Eagles practice, click here.
Is it me...or were these responses given by McNabb refreshing because perhaps a more professional media?— JmH Reborn- I know its too early to come to any final conclusions, but it appears that McNabb and Kolb are going in opposite directions. By all appearances, Kevin Kolb is embarking on what will be a successful career as a starting QB, and McNabb is on his last gasp...looking as pathetic as Steve Carlton did in his last days as a pitcher, when he just didn't want to admit it was time to hang 'em up. Its time to go out while you still can do it with a bit of dignity, Donovan!— SteveS11
- Professional questions receive professional answers.He did not lose that game by himself.— HO HUM
- Even though he did not loose the game by himself, the QB receives credits when the team wins and critics when it looses. — DJax
- Limbaugh could not have been more disgraceful. Of all of the issues to focus on--and essentially attack someone--he zeroed in on McNabb. Just zero in and attack him? Now, what was Limbaugh's point? It was not that McNabb was not an extremely good QB. The Eagles owner gave him a $100million contract, he was voted in by peers and/or selected by coaches into the Pro Bowl 5 times. His team won a whole lot (has this ever not been an NFL QB's measuring stick? Uh, no.). He was extremely exciting and clearly marked, *potentially*, a "next generation" of ultra-athletic, NFL QB's. Oh ya, he has largely been a class act by all accounts. So, again, what was Limbaugh's point? That McNabb got special treatment because he was black and, well, there had been an absurd lack of NFL QBs for decades (all of the sudden black guys are good/smart enough to play QB??? Amazing!). Did McNabb get hyped by the networks? Of course he did--he was the fresh and exciting face for a top team--the QB always gets overhyped! Did the local media in Philly give McNabb a break? Hahaha. As McNabb said himself in a press conference--that is laughable. Now, did some of the press maybe pull for McNabb because he was black, because he was making more inroads in the league, and because he was exciting? Maybe--but so freakin' what? Of all things to focus on, THIS is what Limbaugh chooses as his pet issue--and to *attack* somebody?!?!?!! That a very good and successful QB may have gotten a little too much leeway? Limbaugh is a hateful, sad little man. McNabb was a long-time pro bowler who had an excellent career and is now perhaps burned out. He will get Hall of Fame votes, even if his career doesn't turn around, he was class, he was exciting, and he won a lot.— Jim C.
- Uh...I posted the same post on two websites, I thought someone brought up Limbaugh here. Err, never mind, I guess. My fault.— Jim C.
Comment removed.- Refreshing? Hardly. Sounds like the same, old McNabb to me. "We" made all of the mistakes, not the person who actually threw for 39 yards. McNabb probably was still distracted by the booing he got at the draft, Andy benching him once in his career, etc., etc., etc.— iceman
- Ok, ok, enough is enough! Print one article on McFlabb...ok. Two? Unnecessary. Three? WTF?? C'mon....this is the EAGLES posting site! Hello??— Panthro2011
- I hope Donnie has a lot of paper and pens. He'll need them to record the vast quantities of mistakes he makes.— LarsMendte2
- This guy is so BORING.. Next Question...— USAFirst1
- KEVIN CLUTCH KOLB IS THE BEST QB IN THE NFL— lonewolf1O
- Uh oh. I think lonewuss is subbing for that goof that used to post on here .....DonovanisKing or some such nonsense like that. Donowhine was here, now he's gone. He left dead worms to carry on. GO EAGLES!!— Panthro2011
- Comment removed.
- "It doesn’t matter if I pass for 400 or 500..."
wait- MORE LIKE 39 FREAKIN YARDS.
LOL.— bloodymess
