Donovan McNabb on Michael Vick, Eagles' playcalling
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
Donovan McNabb on Michael Vick, Eagles' playcalling
Zach Berman
Former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was on the NFL Network's NFL AM on Monday and discussed the Eagles. He did not say anything inflammatory or that wasn't true, but considering McNabb's history with the Eagles and specifically with this current regime, what he says carries validity. Here are his unedited comments on the Eagles:
On Vick's performance: "I just think it's a bad day at the office. If you look at the preseason, he wasn't able to get into a rhythm and get his feet up under him. This was another preseason game for him. I think Marty Mornhinweg will do a great job for him of getting his feet back under him and getting his confidence back. I thought he lost his confidence throughout that game. Walking off the field with his head down, that's just not like Michael Vick. Michael Vick's a guy who keeps his head up, continues to motivate the rest of the guys. I thought he lost his confidence early, which led to more and more turnovers all throughout the game."
On Vick throwing 56 times: "I think that was just a bad decision overall. I thought they should have ran the ball a little bit more. Shady McCoy did a great job of running the ball with over 120 yards rushing. And whenever you get in that position, you got to take the ball out of his hands and put it into the guy that's hot. If you run the screens, if you're running the ball or if you throw the shovel pass, do something just to get that confidence for Michael Vick. Continue to throw and throw and things aren't going well, you put your team in a bad position."
On whether Vick's performance was a cause for concern: "I don't think it's a cause for concern. I think the most important that we need to focus on is what's going to happen next week. They're playing a tough team with a tough defense next week, and I think now you go into the gameplanning, are we going to throw the ball 30, 40 times, or are we going to set it up with running the ball now. Because I think it's important you find out the mental makeup of Michael Vick this week. You're coming off a four-interception game, now what are you going to expect? Are you going to come back and think you're going to throw your way out of a slump, or just kind of get into a rhythm. I think it's important that Marty Mornhinweg and Andy Reid do a great job of getting his confidence by doing a three-step to five-stop game to get him back on course."
Insight from a guy who never once took any responsibility for his bad play. Not that he was a bad QB, but he had some rough games and it was never his fault.— Sidewinder7- This comment has been deleted. — The DooDooFresh
- Oh doo doo, still trying to push your racist agenda. I'm white and always was a fan of McNabb, even with his faults.
- This comment has been deleted. — The DooDooFresh
- Well, it could be argued that every time you flap your gums, you "misspeak"...but that's usually the case with racist agendas.
- and yet you'll still have to deal with the fact that McNabb has had more success in the playoffs than any other Eagles QB since 1980. — OurCity2000
- McNabb is right it was just a bad day at the office. McNabb should know, he had about 100 of them when he was with the Eagles. This is the last guy who should be analyzing Michael Vick. McNabb has more excuses for what went wrong with a game than the man in the moon. Remember, he worked for the master of Excuses, Andy REid. What a combo.— rduexpress
- Seems like a lot of guys from Chicago tell us it was not their fault these days — backliner
- SideW; You may be right about him but can you disagree with his assessment? Vick looked like he was without a clue - as if he was rusty and he admitted as much in his newsy after the game. The play calling was awful and stupid esp. since Cleveland has a coach who knows the Iggs tendencies inside out. They cannot play like this next week or it will be 40 - 0.— jjthree
- Vick has been a turnover machine his entire career. Him turning the ball over is nothing new. 4 INTs against a team that is likely at the bottom of the league may be a bad day but 2 INTs and a fumble lost is typical for him against a team like this. — Sidewinder7
- McNabb was maddening at times, and he killed a lot of worms, but he didn't throw 4 interceptions in a month, let alone 1 game
— blaqjaq - Vick has thrown 4 INTs twice in 10 games. McNabb has never thrown 4 INTs in 11 years with the Eagles. — Brizthe1
- I love what Mc5 did for the eagles....will never forget when the offence was all him...nothing from James trash and todd stinkston .....I just assume all the haters are from jersey or the suberbs— ThinkTwice
- Was all him except for his Pro bowl line, RB and TE and Jim Johnson and the defense that carried the team. Don't get me wrong I think he was a good QB but people left to forget the outstanding line he had, Westbrook, Lewis. — Sidewinder7
- Just watched NFL Primetime. They said that RGIII completed his first 8 passes. the first 7 were completions at or behind the line of scrimmage. The Skins knew he would get into a rhythm this way and it worked. The Eagles though, keep having Vick do 47 step drops and he ends up throwing deep into coverage while linemen are in his face. Maybe some adjustments by Andy and a more balanced attack would work best? Oh, but that would require Andy to actually make adjustments.— mikeyhigs
