Simms: McNabb's not the problem
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Simms: McNabb's not the problem
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Very interesting interview with Phil Simms on WIP this afternoon.
I suggest listening to the whole thing, but there are some excerpts I wanted to share here.
Everyone has an opinion on Donovan McNabb and the Eagles' future at quarterback. Simms is no different.
He offered what I thought was a fair assessment of McNabb - praising him for his strengths and criticizing him for his weaknesses.
But when asked specifically about the way the Eagles' season ended and the two losses to the Cowboys, Simms said the Birds had several other problems that are of greater concern than McNabb's play.
"I saw a football team that absolutely could not even get close to protecting their quarterback," Simms said. "... If that was Kevin Kolb, they’d be drafting another one right now because he would be dead."
One quick note from me here: I'm not sure it's fair to lump the two games together in terms of offensive line play. I thought the protection was much better in the Week 17 game than in the wild-card game.
Getting back to Simms, he added that he's a big McNabb supporter. He acknowledged McNabb's problems with accuracy, saying McNabb's "not a naturally-gifted thrower," but argued that he makes up for it with his play-making ability.
"There’s no doubt for a big-time pro quarterback, he misses more throws than any of the big-time quarterbacks, but he overcomes that with his strength," Simms said. "Because they let him throw enough, he ends up making up for it. He usually hits those big plays… there’s a give and take there."
When asked about Kolb, Simms said the Eagles coaches will know if he's capable of carrying the team forward at this point in his career.
"If they really believe he’s ready and he’s the guy, then they’re gonna pull the trigger on something with Donovan McNabb," Simms said. "But, boy, you better be sure because if it doesn’t work..."
I've stumbled upon some other interesting takes, links and rumors on McNabb, which I'll share Wednesday afternoon.
And if you're wondering what my stance is on the whole issue, I'll get to that later in the week too. I'm trying to come up with a unique way to present it.
499, haven't read all the posts yet but it's nice to see an opinion from someone with a knowledge of the game who agrees with the "rational" people on the board. Simms' point is separate from the question of who will be actually playing QB next year. You know my position there: contracts win out. That said who can argue his position or is Simms just a DM apologist...[had to get that in]? Of course, without reading wiffraff's post he'll be off target so I'll guess I'll go get my daily chuckle from Chucklehead Magruder. As far as enabler, amazing how one off target pass brings such ire. Had he connected we would have lost both games 58-21, that's much better, no? I took note of all the "great" QBs the past 2 weeks. They ALL missed wide open receivers, ALL of them.— tpizza
Simms needs Parcells to slap him into place. Otherwise he makes dumb comments like this.— Voytas- 499, well I read it and I wish I hadn't. Usual copy/paste BS nonsense. Of course we get all the usual cast of characters, none of which I can or care to listen to [topped off by B-Bop] and how many SB rings in that group? Yep, ZERO!! Yeah, let's listen to them and ignore the SB WINNING QBs statements. Yeah, let's do that! We also have the same mistakes/lies/distortions from before. How does he know who the "young guns" want? Think DJ is going to love those 5 yard passes from KK? NOT! He'll be dead in a week. Missed the BRIAN Celek quote too. Jeff Garcia? What happened to trading DM to Cleveland for Quinn? Garcia couldn't even get a job this year, yeah, let's get him! Still trying to figure out what happened to 2010 and 2011 when wiff "GAURANTEED" a SB win next year with KK at the helm. Am I correct on that point? My new favorite is this one: "The Birds have to take one step back to go two steps forward..." How can that be if letting KK play QB is all wiff ever wanted and was the cure for all that ails the Eagles? QB was why the Eagles lose EVERY game isn't it?Why are we taking one step back? I'd ask wiff but we all know he doesn't/can't/won't answer a challenge and prefers to just spew BS. That statement is just complete lunacy. And of course we have: "...panpizza-49cent-brian-etc-etc) think they all wanted Don gone last year anyway..." which is so far off base it defies comment. Did I miss anything? Oh, critique...hmmm...now what does that remind me of? Idiot.— tpizza
- the muscle bound, ROID head, scatter armed BOZO needs to take the rip off frauds(Andrew sisters) along with him to another city. Maybe they could join the beached whale's former franchise player(LJ) in Baltimore.— jwatson
- Panpizza....No one is arguing the fact that all QB's miss throws, but what is the frequency of missed throws, how about missed throws in pressure situations, how about missed throws in critical situations, how about missed throws in easy situations, how about missed throws with hands in your face? Maybe the King of Stats (Seed) can provide us with that information. I would venture to say McNabb leads all categories, because I watched the "great" QB's the past two weeks and I didn't see anyone as inept as Low Throw McBlow, which means these other QB's will win the QB battle time and time again, which coincedntly has happened to Low Throw McBlow once he starts playing the better QB's. So either pay this chump $2-$3 million per year and run the ball more or get off this dream of him being a play maker that can win games for the team while making $15 million per year.— Voytas
- McNabb has been great for the Eagles, and I think Andy Reid blew it but not having better players around him on offense during his prime. I think McNabb is good man and all the hate and name calling by so-called fans is pathetic. After last season I was one to dismiss the very small faction who wanted to trade Mcnabb because the team seemed so close to making the SB. But the team took a step backwards this year, either through injuries or FA problems, or poor coaching. The coach isn't going anywhere. I don't think this team can turn it around in one year to suddenly be an elite SB competitor, without a huge falloff by several teams next year. So if you are defending McNabb and saying it is not him, but the other aspects of the team, then do you really think they can turn all this around in one season with a few players? With the QB contract situation the way it is and the collective bargaining agreement in shambles, it is best for the long term of the team to trade Mcnabb and get what value they can now. After next season, the whole league will be in limbo and Mcnabb will be 35. Now the other option is to trade Kolb, and they might be able to get more for him, but then you have just wasted 4 years of development, and have to look immediately for your next QB starter when Mcnabb is gone, which could be anytime - remember his injury history.
- jwatson, people like you represent typical mcnabb haters. just look at the nonsense you typed. this is why you're just another irrelevant guy who bypasses all the real football talk and goes straight to stupid stuff.— wh88088
- "Maybe the King of Stats (Seed) can provide us with that information. I would venture to say McNabb leads all categories, because I watched the "great" QB's the past two weeks and I didn't see anyone as inept" -- Voytas, mcnabb does lead a catagory you'd be interested in, interceptions per attempt. He has the lowest in the history of fooball. And the 'great' qb's you're talking about.. i hope you dont mean Tony Romo who threw for 198 yards and 3 turnovers, including one more fumble that was recovered by the cowboys. week to week my man, sometimes pressure defenses get to a qb and make them look silly.— wh88088
- I can not believe how many McNabb appologists hang on to the past. When he was younger, he did have the play making ability that masked his inaccurate passing and difficulty reading defences. Now, McNabb can barely outrun a defensive end. What plays has he made recently? What is the main job of the quarteback? Pass the ball. If you quarterback can't hit a bus in a crossing pattern, how is that going to equal success with a pass first offence? When is the last time you saw McNabb his a slant? McNabb is a square peg in a round hole. He would good in an offence that can run first and that is where they should trade him. In looking at all of the other games, McNabb's shortcomings were glaring as I watched a majority of the quaterbacks left in the post season hit recievers in stride over and over again. You want to go to the superbowl, you need consistancy.— chrisrr
Comment removed.- This issue is pretty old now and there are good arguments on both sides. However, I am happy to see Eagle fans that live in southern california as I do on here. Is it true that Plum Crazy in PB is the Philly hangout????— PhillyFan1968
- chrisrr: McNabb is more accurate than Elway ever was and as accurate as Jim Kelley. I will stick with him. BTW, listen to Favre and Brees what they said about their run game after the win. Playoff are won by DEFENSE and RUN game, just ask Rivers.— Seed
- Voytas, you've never heard me say DM has pin point accuracy but now it seems everybody is just focusing on the last 2 games against Dallas to prove some point. What I am saying is that a QBs accuracy and total game is dependent on a lot of things. His own ability to be sure but why is the condition of the O line in those games being discounted? Why is the fact that DM was chased all over the field discounted? Why is the fact that Dallas KNEW we were going to pass every down discounted? Why is the fact that that fact lead to our receivers being covered like blankets being discounted? Why is the fact that AR's stupidity in not running the ball to offset the Dallas rush being discounted? Why is that fact that Brady and Romo were made to look as ineffective as DM under the same pressure being discounted? How'd Warner do under pressure? Riddle me that. If you are going to criticize the QB at least look at the reasons behind what MAY have been a factor in him playing that way. And don't pick out one or two bad passes he made as examples like enabler. Like I said, they all do that. Criticize OK, don't just give me the facts according to lonedope. That isn't presenting the whole story and why I spend so much time in what you guys think is a defense of DM. I'm just balacing the scales. I have eyes and CAN see the forest for the trees.— tpizza
- Peyton at 65%, McNabb at 59% and Elway at 57% would complete 21.5, 20.0, and 19.0 passes each game if they threw same number of times. Critical thing about McNabb, he has been doing better than ever in last three season, except with TO. Other interesting thing, Elway has more SB. Peyton may get his second this year, but Favre getting his second is more likely as this DEFENSE and RUN game is better (Reggie Bush standing between Favre and another SB).— Seed
- the question isn't if McNabb is the problem but how to fix the team. If the team's evaluation of Kolb is high and they believe he can perform at close to McNabb levels (that is top half of the league). Than McNabb is the teams biggest asset in fixing the problem, our defense and/or line play both sides.— matt g
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