ducks
09-10-2003, 04:57 PM
Jaws on McNabb
September 10, 2003
By RON JAWORSKI
ESPN analyst and former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski broke down the tape of Monday night's Bucs-Eagles game. This is what he saw:
"Contrary to popular belief, plays were called down the field and there were opportunities down the field and there were times when Donovan McNabb had protection to throw the ball down the field. At times he just chose not to throw it down the field, for whatever reason.
"But if you're a wide receiver on this team and all you hear is, 'You stink. You can't get open. You need more wide receivers,' I think it must be frustrating. These guys are getting open. This is a group of pretty good receivers. They are just not getting the ball.
"When you are watching on television, you get the perspective that the Eagles aren't even looking down the field. I know this Eagles offense -- I've looked at every game on the coaches' tape since Andy Reid has been here -- and I know where the ball can go and there were numerous opportunities to get the ball down the field against Tampa Bay.
"I'm not buying the notion that these receivers can't get open. Look, I saw Billy McMullen run a 'go' route and he was 8 yards beyond the cornerback. The corner sat on the route and McMullen ran right by him. The ball wasn't delivered to him. Todd Pinkston runs a deep cross from the '3' spot -- from the right side to the left side -- and he was 20 yards in the open. 20 yards! Those are designed plays, big plays in the making and the ball was not delivered.
"On those plays, there are a myriad of things happening. In Donovan's defense, he faced a lot of duress and had to get rid of the football. But there were also opportunities when the offensive line gave him ample time to set up and throw the ball -- 3 ½ to 4 seconds, which is significant -- and the ball was not delivered.
"Tampa Bay did not spy Donovan, not once. The Bucs did not change their scheme. They never change their system. They believe in their speed. In the Super Bowl last year, receivers were open for the Raiders. Jerry Porter had a heck of a game for Oakland. He just didn't get the ball. Rich Gannon had a lot of pressure on him in the pocket and didn't deliver the football. You can't understand the speed of that defense until you play against it.
"It's not just the up-front speed with Simeon Rice, Greg Spires and Warren Sapp. The linebackers run like defensive backs. The secondary is very quick and they play with great discipline.
"Tampa Bay does not change the game plan. They mix in the blitz, they mix in the zone coverage -- they do not play as much Cover 2 as people think they play -- and they keep an offense off balance.
"Donovan has to bounce back. Every player goes through peaks and valleys and he's at a bit of a crossroads right now. It's a mental funk with him. Later in that game on Monday, he was completing the same throws he had open earlier in the game. Same throws -- square in's, deep comebacks -- they were available earlier in the game. He didn't throw those passes.
"It's not physical with Donovan because he can make every throw in the book. I think there's a certain degree of validity to say that he's been coached not to throw interceptions and to not turn the football over and that philosophy has worked. Andy Reid is as good a head coach as there is. At the same time, you miss the chance to make some big plays.
"On Sunday against New England, Donovan has a big challenge. The Patriots run a 3-4 defense, but what was shocking is that the Patriots hardly blitzed at all against Buffalo in that 31-0 loss. Now, the Bills came out and played a physical football game. They didn't spread the field. They played some smash-mouth football to take the pressure off of Drew Bledsoe. Last year, the Patriots hammered Bledsoe. This year, they changed.
"So on Sunday, McNabb has to be adaptable. He has to play with confidence. I don't know what the game plan will be, but the Eagles have to execute and score some points. With all of these injuries on defense, the offense has to take a leading role and win the game."
ouch (http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/homeNewsDetail.jsp?id=3955)
September 10, 2003
By RON JAWORSKI
ESPN analyst and former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski broke down the tape of Monday night's Bucs-Eagles game. This is what he saw:
"Contrary to popular belief, plays were called down the field and there were opportunities down the field and there were times when Donovan McNabb had protection to throw the ball down the field. At times he just chose not to throw it down the field, for whatever reason.
"But if you're a wide receiver on this team and all you hear is, 'You stink. You can't get open. You need more wide receivers,' I think it must be frustrating. These guys are getting open. This is a group of pretty good receivers. They are just not getting the ball.
"When you are watching on television, you get the perspective that the Eagles aren't even looking down the field. I know this Eagles offense -- I've looked at every game on the coaches' tape since Andy Reid has been here -- and I know where the ball can go and there were numerous opportunities to get the ball down the field against Tampa Bay.
"I'm not buying the notion that these receivers can't get open. Look, I saw Billy McMullen run a 'go' route and he was 8 yards beyond the cornerback. The corner sat on the route and McMullen ran right by him. The ball wasn't delivered to him. Todd Pinkston runs a deep cross from the '3' spot -- from the right side to the left side -- and he was 20 yards in the open. 20 yards! Those are designed plays, big plays in the making and the ball was not delivered.
"On those plays, there are a myriad of things happening. In Donovan's defense, he faced a lot of duress and had to get rid of the football. But there were also opportunities when the offensive line gave him ample time to set up and throw the ball -- 3 ½ to 4 seconds, which is significant -- and the ball was not delivered.
"Tampa Bay did not spy Donovan, not once. The Bucs did not change their scheme. They never change their system. They believe in their speed. In the Super Bowl last year, receivers were open for the Raiders. Jerry Porter had a heck of a game for Oakland. He just didn't get the ball. Rich Gannon had a lot of pressure on him in the pocket and didn't deliver the football. You can't understand the speed of that defense until you play against it.
"It's not just the up-front speed with Simeon Rice, Greg Spires and Warren Sapp. The linebackers run like defensive backs. The secondary is very quick and they play with great discipline.
"Tampa Bay does not change the game plan. They mix in the blitz, they mix in the zone coverage -- they do not play as much Cover 2 as people think they play -- and they keep an offense off balance.
"Donovan has to bounce back. Every player goes through peaks and valleys and he's at a bit of a crossroads right now. It's a mental funk with him. Later in that game on Monday, he was completing the same throws he had open earlier in the game. Same throws -- square in's, deep comebacks -- they were available earlier in the game. He didn't throw those passes.
"It's not physical with Donovan because he can make every throw in the book. I think there's a certain degree of validity to say that he's been coached not to throw interceptions and to not turn the football over and that philosophy has worked. Andy Reid is as good a head coach as there is. At the same time, you miss the chance to make some big plays.
"On Sunday against New England, Donovan has a big challenge. The Patriots run a 3-4 defense, but what was shocking is that the Patriots hardly blitzed at all against Buffalo in that 31-0 loss. Now, the Bills came out and played a physical football game. They didn't spread the field. They played some smash-mouth football to take the pressure off of Drew Bledsoe. Last year, the Patriots hammered Bledsoe. This year, they changed.
"So on Sunday, McNabb has to be adaptable. He has to play with confidence. I don't know what the game plan will be, but the Eagles have to execute and score some points. With all of these injuries on defense, the offense has to take a leading role and win the game."
ouch (http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/homeNewsDetail.jsp?id=3955)