Defending Donovan

by ajay on Nov 17, 2008 11:47 AM EST

If you throw the ball 15-20 times, what are the chances that you'll throw an interception? All things being equal, probably pretty low. If you throw the ball 58 times - and you have no running game to speak of, and your opposition can consistently drop everyone into coverage without worrying about said running game - what are the chances you'll throw a few interceptions? Pretty good.

I'm not going to defend the actual interceptions; Donovan threw some horrific passes. Everyone could see that. But quarterbacks have bad games. It's not like Donovan is having a bad year statistically - in fact, it's pretty good. He's not throwing 3 INTs every week.

But usually head coaches try to compensate for bad games (see Coughlin, Tom) by utilizing the running game. Now I don't know why the running game doesn't work, especially with the size of our offensive line. But I think more of the blame has to fall on Andy Reid than Donovan McNabb for this game/season.

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agreed

by damonmoore43 on Nov 17, 2008 12:09 PM EST reply actions

i agree... Donovan is not the problem.

by Joe_D on Nov 17, 2008 1:33 PM EST reply actions

+1

our problem is not donovan, but marty

Look up... get up...Don't ever, ever give up!!

by anuj on Nov 17, 2008 1:55 PM EST reply actions

I have to disagree

While there’s plenty of blame to go around, D-Mac is the QB and he’s the one who has started out nearly every game like a turd. One game fine, two games ok, but 4-5 games in a row is unacceptable, especially after all the rah-rah talk of us being the team to beat in the NFC East.

If you watch the game again, you’ll see that he’s missing his first read nearly every time, and when he does, he immediately tries to either jam into the second progression, or waits too long and gets in trouble. For whatever reason (ribs, ankle, knee) Westbrook isn’t able to bail him out with the safety valve, like in years past.

If you haven’t seen D-Mac shrivel under pressure, then you ain’t been watching. That’s not a problem w/ play calling, that’s a problem with the QB.

I bleed green and I piss silver and blue

by oldasquick on Nov 17, 2008 2:04 PM EST reply actions

You make some good points

Donovan’s slow starts are pretty inexplicable but it’s worth noting that Andy scripts the first, what is it, 15 plays? Even in Donovan’s slow starts you can place some blame at Andy’s feet. It’s much too predictable – 3 straight passes, 3 and out. There’s no attempt to build any type of rhythm or momentum.

Also, I don’t think there has generally been a “safety valve” behind Donovan. It’s been a long time since the “3 Headed Monster” at running back. That was a legitimate safety valve. But even when Westbrook has been dominating as a RB the past two seasons our pass/run ratio isn’t balanced enough.

by ajay on Nov 17, 2008 2:22 PM EST up reply actions