Questions, So Many Questions

Once again, I thought I'd figured this team out.  I began the year thinking this was a good team with a handful of question marks.  When early performances weren't up to expectations, I started to believe this was a talented team with a distinct lack of experience at key positions and a couple of serious personnel holes.  As things got worse, I accepted -- grudgingly -- that this was actually a bad team with issues at too many positions and a coach who may or may not have lost the trust of his charges.

After last night, who knows what to think.

Maybe the Eagles have turned a corner and demonstrated that they're back, but would you bet your house on it?  Are you that certain this wasn't just a case of an inferior team playing over its head against an opponent who spent the week looking past them?

On the other hand, dude, that was almost a sweet game.

This is one of those times I would kill to have a little access.  I'd love to be able to sit down with key members of the organization and ask...

... Brian Westbrook if there's a reason the team seems to respond so much better with QBs not named McNabb under center and if so would he mind sharing it with the rest of us?

... Jim Johnson where the heck he's been hiding all the fantastic stuff he rolled out against the Patriots and if there's some reason he doesn't feel compelled to use that stuff the other 15 weeks of the year?

... Jim Johnson (again) if the drafting of Chris Gocong and the schemes from last night's game mean the future of the Eagles defense will be a lot less static (shifting fronts, 3-3 or 3-4 looks) than what we've seen in the last few years?

... Jim Johnson (one last time) if blitzing works against Tom Freaking Brady why not try it more often against all the other mere mortals in this league?

... Reggie Brown, Kevin Curtis, Hank Baskett, Jason Avant and Greg Lewis who they'd rather see playing quarterback?

... Andy Reid if he's ever seen a more complicated QB controversy than the one he has right now?  He's got:

• Donovan McNabb, the presumptive starter and five-time Pro Bowler who seems to have a Dementor-like effect on his teammates every time he's actually healthy enough to take the field, to the extent that the team drafted...
• Kevin Kolb, the quarterback of the future, who fans want to see even though right now he isn't even as good as...
• A.J. Feeley, who missed some wide open guys last night and blew the game with a couple of picks, but also managed an offense that looked far, far more effective than anything we've seen since last year, when the team was led by...
• Jeff Garcia, who would be the cleeeeeaaaaar fan choice right now if only the Eagles had decided to re-sign him.

... Rick Burkholder if maybe we can slow that whole ankle/thumb rehab down a bit?

... Jeff Lurie if this team makes a second-half run will he be looking to open the pocketbook a little this offseason to bring in some quality free agents, since every young player on this team who's any good is already signed through 2016?

... Brian Dawkins if J.R. Reed is as solid as he appeared to be last night when he was laying the wood from the safety position in a way we've not seen since the last time Dawk was really healthy?

... and finally, Marty Mornhinweg if he's finally learned the lesson -- or if this was just a one-week thing -- that other teams spend so much time preparing for the Eagles' screen passes that you have to almost treat them like trick plays and use them sparingly and only in the perfect situations?

Comments

[bigmyc]

Very nice post. Very nice indeed. I couldn't agree more with you and if there was one post of the last three weeks (the time frame that I have been reading it for)that I would choose to force the Eagles and their brass to read, it would be this one. That team looked fresh and invigorated. I thought it would wear off by mid first quarter like so many other, "Davids" vs. "Goliath" but it did not....not even a little bit.

That team played like they belonged out there with the Patriots....and they actually did. So, how did THAT team end up 5-6?????????

[Boss Hot Sauce]

Here's what I think about McNabb. For all parties involved, it's best if this is his last season in Philly. I'm late coming to this decision because I've been a Mc5 backer for years and hate the way the boobirds come down on him so hard. But last night showed me a couple of things.

First, did you notice how loose they played last night. Sure, some of it may be because they're such underdogs. But consider this. If McNabb throws that first pick-six it's more than just a bad throw. It's a referendum on the future of the franchise. Sunday night the Eagles could and did play carefree football.

And second, Feeley got rid of the football. Sure, he threw some bad balls. But everyone's seen McNabb hold onto the ball too long this year. It's almost as if he's waiting for people to get wide open (like, against Detroit wide open). I have a hard time believing McNabb would have thrown the first touchdown to Lewis because he is either too careful with the football/doesn't trust his players enough. Last night we saw both the upside and the downside of the willingness to make a decision, but at least decisions were made.

And I know there were at least two occasions when free blitzers came at Feeley and he hung in there to deliver the throw -- my guess is that McNabb would have tried to avoid the rush rather than stand in there.

Not that any of this makes McNabb less of a QB. He's going to make some team A LOT better. I just think the pressure on him and the team to perform when he's on the field is too much. As a result no one's free to just play the game. Not even Donovan.

[Nick]

Very well said post... It would just be sad if this is the way McNabb is ushered through the door.

What was Reid waiting for... here were my post-game reactions...

http://nicks2cents.blogspot.com/2007/11/now-you-see-that-evil-will-always.html

[eagles fan]

The thing I can not understand is that the eagles were 5-5 under a McNabb that was not 100% healthy to begin with. Getting rid of Jeff Garcia was the first mistake because Dononvan was not ready for action this september. Now AJ has shown a spark that the eagles offense hasn't shown in a long time. However everyone forgets something, the west coast offense takes a very accurate qb and McNabb has never been that. AJ is not quite that either. A Jeff Garcia type qb is what you need for the west coast offense. The play calling is the key! Our offense is much better called when Mcnabb is not in the game. IF we do make the playoffs then Lurie needs to open the checkbooks and get us some quality players.

[Soups]

It's pretty clear that the Eagles play differently -- let's be honest, better -- as a team when McNabb is not at the helm.

From what I've read, there is a lot of locker room drama stemming all the way back to the TO years, but I'd imagine that it's always been the case since McNabb came to Philly.

Maybe that has something to do with the team playing better as a whole when McNabb is out.

But things are never so simple.

My guess is that players -- namely receivers -- know that if the give 110% to get open, there's a much better chance the ball will hit them on the numbers if McNabb isn't the QB -- so they go 110% more often.

Is that right? No. Is it reality? Yes.

However everyone forgets something, the west coast offense takes a very accurate qb and McNabb has never been that. AJ is not quite that either. A Jeff Garcia type qb is what you need for the west coast offense.

Amen. All the Eagles need is a QB who can distribute the ball accurately and consistently.

When that happens, the Eagles are in EVERY game the play, if not winning every game they play.

Never in his career, and especially in the last 3-4 years, has McNabb been consistently accurate.

[Re #%]

I said it before, and now broadcasters are coming to that conclusion, {and they had the evidence all the while, but they were hushing up that embarrassing data}, our receivers haven't been covered, they've been open, and they've been open all during the McNabb tenure.

Garcia demonstrated that to a finality.

And if there were any remaining doubts Feeley erased them last night.

So it's NEVER been that the Eagle receivers weren't open, it's just that they weren't open enough for #5, who knows far more than any of us, how truly erratic he is.

THAT'S why he dinks and dunks. The guy in the flat is open enough for #5 to feel comfortable with, and even then, he often throws it over his head, at his feet, behind him.

Remember that Super Bowl game, when Westbrook converted a HUGE 3d down play in Patriots' territory, coming across the middle. Where was the ball delivered, so far behind him that Westbrook didn't even bother trying to spin around to catch the thing, he simply threw his right hand back there and scooped it up one handed.

Just another episode of Westbrook saving this team of course. But that wasn't the only example of McNabb putting the ball where receivers had to fight for the reception. Michael Irvin and Steve Young went over play, after play, after play, where McNabb delivered the ball inaccurately, EVEN THOUGH it counted as a reception.

I'm convinced that McNabb's a fraud, and have been for years.

I knew that this issue was going to tear the organization and fans apart.

And it will continue to do so. For McNabb simply doesn't have the game that can quash the indictment made against his play, his performance, his role in the locker room, his place within this organization.

Finally, ask yourself this question, but do it through the prism of a Cowboys fan, a Giants and a Redskin fan, WHO DO YOU WANT the Eagles to go with next year, McNabb the endless quarterback controversy, and the guy who leads an anemic offense, or a Feeley, or some other quarterback, who lets the Eagle team, both offense and defense, play with some fire, imagination and passion.

Isn't it an easy call.

The Cowboys want this city to keep McNabb, keep him till he's 38, and he retires an Eagle.

[BrianS]

"I'm convinced that McNabb's a fraud, and have been for years."

I think Feeley's the birds' best chance to win now, and I'm starting to really think that 5 won't be around next year, but I think it's silly to act like he was never good. The Eagles won a lot of games in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Brian Westbrook wasn't a superstar back then. They didn't have TO. Do we really think they won all those games in spite of McNabb?

Look at the nine-game winning streak in 2003. McNabb was terrible at the beginning of the year, but when the cast came off his thumb he was a visibly different QB. He's not playing well consistently enough this season, or in general since the superbowl loss, and right now I'll take a string of decent games from Feeley over excellent-awful-good-bad-excellent from McNabb, and I don't know (and probably no one does) if it's physical or mental at this point. But I think it's completely revisionist history to act like McNabb was never good.

Maybe he's a bit overrated -- I recall an article in 2000 saying he could become a Jordan-like star, and that's just not reasonable. But I still think it's wrong to think that McNabb is not one of the cornerstones of the Eagles rise to power.

We're all thrilled with Feeley now. But what happens next season if he's the starting QB and he throws a pick six in the fourth quarter. Will we still love him, then? If he plays a bad game will he have stuff thrown at him as he walks off the field?

Let's hope he's (or Kolb's) tough enough to handle it.

[slackerjoe]

Great opening post.

But reading these comments, all I can think is, man, some people have short memories.

McNabb was single-handedly winning games for the Eagles week after week for 5 years (from 2000 through 2004). He struggled in 2005 for a variety of reasons, but last year when healthy he was one of the top QBs in the NFL statiscally. I'm not ready to give up on him. Especially now that he's finally passed one year after his major knee injury. McNabb is a game-changing QB and people who choose to forget that just need to go back and look at who the Eagles' QBs were between Randall Cunningham and Donovan McNabb. Do you really want to go back to Bubby Brister, Bobby Hoying, Ty Detmer, Rodney Peete, etc?

I'm sorry, but there is no way that AJ Feely is a legimate QB for a playoff team. He's a fine backup who can win a game for you every once in a while. Don't make him into something he's not. Or just ask a Miami Dolphins' or San Diego Chargers' fan what they think of him.

[Paul]

I know this is a "what have you done for me lately" city but come on. AJ Feeley has one good game and we're ready to annoint him better than McNabb?!?! I completely agree that this team plays different (besides Westbrook) when someone not named McNabb is playing, but I still stand by my assessment that McNabb doesn't throw those two picks Sunday night. The receivers were getting open on in routes all night and I find it hard to believe McNabb wouldn't have been able to get the ball to those receivers. (the one throw I doubt McNabb could make is the first TD to Lewis, he doesn't have the touch). AJ played a great game but lets not make him in to Montana (or Brady) just yet. He was the reason we were in the game, but he's also the reason we lost. Those two picks and missing a wide open Curtis lost the game, simple as that.

Maybe part of this team really does agree with what TO had to say about McNabb....?

[Paul]

More importantly...

RIP Sean Taylor

[Me]

Those last three McNabb posts are spot-on. I'm not sure what the heck is going on with him right now, but it's ridiculous to claim he didn't used to be that good. He was.

[Dan]

I don't have a short memory, I have a long one.

I remember the specifics of his performance against Carolina in the NFC Championship game.

I remember his performance, the details thereof, against Tampa Bay, a team that had NEVER won North of the Mason Dixon line when the temp was less than 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Have you guys his WOEFUL performances in those games, some of the biggest games in Eagle history.

Maybe you've been so beaten down by decades of defeat, that you've set the bar so low that McNabb's subpar performances you're OK with.

I haven't.

McNabb's performance ON AND OFF the field is simply unacceptable.

Thus he has to go.

And McNabb "SINGLE HANDEDLY" won nothing.

It was our EXCEPTIONAL DEFENSE that won games for this franchise during McNabb's tenure, not McNabb. He had some occasional pyrotechnics, but they weren't par for the course.

McNabb was NEVER asked to do what Randall Cunningham had to do EVERY single game #7 walked on the field.

Let's not morph the Eagles of the McNabb years into that of the Eagles during the Cunningham years.

Randall was asked to perform miracles every day he walked on the field. McNabb only had to execute a West Coast offense, and not make mistakes, not be erratic. And it proved too much for him.

And now he's going to get run out of town on a rail.

All of the McNabb defenders are like some rear guard action, giving ground, rallying for some desperate last stand. And we all know how that movie ends, the slaughter of all involved.

[Paul]

Dan, are you kidding me?

You think the defense that McNabb played with was even in the same league as the one Cunningham had winning games for him?

I'll take Reggie White, Jerome Brown, Clyde Simmons, Seth Joyner, Byron Evans, Andre Waters, Eric Allen, and Wes Hopkins (just to name a few) over Hugh Douglas, ND Kalu, Corey Simon, Barry Gardner, Levon Kirkland, Troy Vincent, Blaine Bishop, and Brian Dawkins (....eer ok, B-Dawk is better) ANY YEAR!

Seriously, when you wrote about that "EXCEPTIONAL DEFENSE", did you realize you were indirectly comparing the greatest defense this team has ever had to the one McNabb had to rely on in 2002?

[Dan]

BOTH defenses were exceptional. The one Cunningham played with was better, but it never got to the Super Bowl, because it was handled by NFC dynasties.

The defense of the Cunningham years couldn't put sufficient points on the board to exempt Randall from going out there and hurdling tacklers, scrambling here, finding somebody open there.

McNabb has had players around him.

That's another reason actually why McNabb has to go. His presence has taken on such size that he unjustly overshadows the play of men like Dawkins, men like Westbrook.

It doesn't really matter though.

Reid will keep McNabb, for the simple reason dumping McNabb would be an admission that the long #5 project was a bust. And Reid simply can't and won't admit McNabb was a bust.

Like Vick. Fascinating, interesting, occasionally memorable. But at the end of the day, a bust. Not necessarily a "coach killer" like Vick, but nonetheless a tremendously frustrating player and quarterback.

But Reid will keep him. They won't even get rid of him after next year. And next year will be similar to this year, which was, surprise, surprise, amazing similar to last year.

Don't you guys detect a trend? And what do trends tell you?

The verdict is in on McNabb.

Many desire to avail themselves of jury nullification, but it won't do.