The observation thread

Eagaholic · December 15, 2007, 10:05:45 AM

I'd like to ask a question to the guys who go to the games. If you've seen at least a couple of games this year, how much of the problem is McNabb holding on to the ball too long and how much of it is the receivers not getting open? It's something you really can't tell very well on TV.

rjs246 · December 15, 2007, 12:31:19 PM

You can certainly tell on TV and it's about 50% of the problem. There's no question that he holds the ball too long and doesn't trust his WRs to make plays. Of course the other 50% of the problem is that the WRs don't make plays on their own and don't get open enough for Donovan's liking. Basically, in order for him to be comfortable it appears that he needs dudes to be wide freaking open and these clowns at WR simply can't do that.

shorebird · December 15, 2007, 02:48:35 PM

Another part of the problem is that his mechanics seem screwed up and when guys are open he's throwing high and behind them or right over their helmets. I think it's from bad footwork and bouncing all time. He's not set when he throws, no foundation.

He's never been the most accurate qb, and this year he's worse than ever.

QB Eagles · December 15, 2007, 05:24:04 PM

The whole passing game is broken. zesty quarterbacking decisions, zesty routes run by receivers who can't get open, zesty playcalling, and botched execution.

Of course, if there were a credible threat of running the ball, things might open up a bit more in the pass game. Fixing any one piece of the passing game still leaves a lot of broken components though.

Eagaholic · December 16, 2007, 06:31:46 AM

I personally don't think you can see as well on TV vs live what the WRs are doing, especially the ones in a different area of the field than the intended receiver. In past years when I've gone to games I could see alot more than what I could see on the tape when I got home. To me McNabb seems to be regressing. Sometimes goes into these funks where he can't seem to see more that 10 yards down field. Maybe when his mechanics are off he loses confidence and checks down after his first read or maybe he has post traumatic stress from the first Giants game, but I agree most everything else is broken.

fansince61 · December 16, 2007, 01:09:03 PM

Quote from: Eagaholic on December 15, 2007, 10:05:45 AM
I'd like to ask a question to the guys who go to the games. If you've seen at least a couple of games this year, how much of the problem is McNabb holding on to the ball too long and how much of it is the receivers not getting open? It's something you really can't tell very well on TV.

One of the reasons it's so hard to tell is that the Eagles aren't a very good team offensively. Without Westbrook the Eagles would be worse than Miami

BigEd76 · December 16, 2007, 11:47:20 PM

Eagles open as a 3-pt underdog at New Orleans, O/U 46

Don Ho · December 17, 2007, 04:23:57 AM

Quote from: fansince61 on December 16, 2007, 01:09:03 PM
Quote from: Eagaholic on December 15, 2007, 10:05:45 AM
I'd like to ask a question to the guys who go to the games. If you've seen at least a couple of games this year, how much of the problem is McNabb holding on to the ball too long and how much of it is the receivers not getting open? It's something you really can't tell very well on TV.

One of the reasons it's so hard to tell is that the Eagles aren't a very good team offensively. Without Westbrook the Eagles would be worse than Miami

roger that.

Displaced · December 17, 2007, 05:02:26 PM

Another major problem is the protection schemes or lack thereof Reid dials up. You almost never see Max Pro out there. On top of that you never see hot routes he can dump to when the blitz is in his face.

Pressure is almost always coming at him from the sorst possible place: right up the middle.

Don Ho · December 17, 2007, 06:12:48 PM

oh, they have a package for the blitzes. it's called worm burners.

Wingspan · December 17, 2007, 06:41:05 PM

Quote from: Displaced on December 17, 2007, 05:02:26 PM
Another major problem is the protection schemes or lack thereof Reid dials up. You almost never see Max Pro out there. On top of that you never see hot routes he can dump to when the blitz is in his face.

Pressure is almost always coming at him from the sorst possible place: right up the middle.

Max Pro was cut after week 3 of the preseason.

Sgt PSN · December 17, 2007, 07:22:47 PM

Quote from: Displaced on December 17, 2007, 05:02:26 PM
Another major problem is the protection schemes or lack thereof Reid dials up. You almost never see Max Pro out there. On top of that you never see hot routes he can dump to when the blitz is in his face.

Pressure is almost always coming at him from the sorst possible place: right up the middle.

I especially like the part of the game plan that doesn't account for Demarcus Ware rushing untouched.....right up the middle.

QB Eagles · December 17, 2007, 07:28:10 PM

Quote from: Sgt PSN on December 17, 2007, 07:22:47 PMI especially like the part of the game plan that doesn't account for Demarcus Ware rushing untouched.....right up the middle.

The plan on that play was fine. The execution, during which Tony Hunt waved Ware through like he was directing planes at an airport... not so much.

Sgt PSN · December 17, 2007, 07:30:11 PM

I know which play you're talking about because while Ware was busy running up the middle, Hunt wast busy blocking Shawn Andrews' ass. But there was more than once when Ware (among other Cowboy defenders) had a clear path to McNabb.

QB Eagles · December 17, 2007, 07:34:02 PM

Quote from: Sgt PSN on December 17, 2007, 07:30:11 PM
I know which play you're talking about because while Ware was busy running up the middle, Hunt wast busy blocking Shawn Andrews' ass. But there was more than once when Ware (among other Cowboy defenders) had a clear path to McNabb.

Yeah that was the one in the third quarter. The one right before the first field goal attempt, that was bad planning. No one was around to take on Ware. And if you have to block only one of those guys, I'm thinking it should be Ware.