I like the habit Donovan McNabb is getting into at practice. He runs for about 20 to 30 yards each time he hands the ball off on a bootleg type play.
This is something he never did in the past but what it's going to do is keep him in good shape. McNabb gets "Chunky" as the season goes along if he doesn't do some extra running. He needs to run.
This guy still has enough quickness and speed to be a serious threat to leave the pocket and take off with the ball if he chooses to do so. This is especially true in the red zone where the Birds have struggled so far this season. Remember they focused on the red zone during training camp and the preseason and it hasn't helped.
They should put the ball in McNabb's hands on some run or pass options in the red zone.
McNabb said yesterday that he's not opposed to taking off with the ball if the situation presents itself. I think he needs to do that at times early in games just to show teams that the threat of him taking off is still there.
Just like I've talked about teams seeing DeSean Jackson beat somebody deep makes the safeties back up. McNabb taking off every now and then will limit the types of coverages opposing defensive coordinators will employ.
The offensive coaches should purposely set up a play or two where McNabb takes off early in games because it will open things up even more. I'm not talking about putting himself in risk. As soon as somebody gets near him, he should slide or get out of bounds.
Earlier in his career his running ability prevented teams from getting in man-to-man coverages and locking down his mediocre wide receivers.
