Donovan McNabb makes the Redskins a better football team without question.  But how will McNabb perform with less talent? McNabb will find comfort in tight end Chris Cooley, who will quickly become his favorite target. However, the Redskins’ wide receivers pale in comparison to DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Jason Avant. Santana Moss is a deep threat, but he is old and isn’t the dynamic playmaker that Jackson is.
Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly are two former high draft picks that have shown very little so far.
The Redskins’ offensive line also has issues. Chris Samuels’ retirement leaves a large void at left tackle.
The right side is also weak with former Bills’ 1st round bust Mike Willams. Those weaknesses combined with McNabb’s diminished running skills will leave the Redskins struggling to protect McNabb.
The Redskins’ backfield is filled with aging veterans Clinton Portis, Willie Parker, and Larry Johnson, who have all seen their best days.
There’s no doubt that McNabb will help the Redskins. However, McNabb’s days of carrying an offense like he did early in his career are far behind him. With less to work with, McNabb may find the going tougher in Washington than in Philly.
But there is another factor: new head coach Mike Shanahan.
Shanahan has a history of working well with quarterbacks. The prime example of course is John Elway, who had a similar reputation as McNabb with respect to the “can’t win the big games” tag.
Shanahan took over for Dan Reeves, who was strikingly similar to Andy Reid, especially from a control perspective. Reeves controlled Elway like Reid controlled McNabb.
When Shanahan took over, he released the shackles on Elway and turned the “can’t win a big game bust” into a 2 time super bowl winner.
If Shanahan can manage McNabb slightly differently than the over-bearing Reid, he may unlock what we all think has been missing from McNabb.
There is no doubt this is the thinking Shanahan made when he decided to trade for McNabb. Shanahan sees the similarities between the 2 situations and thinks that he can be successful with McNabb just as he was with Elway.
The telling moments will be how McNabb performs under pressure situations, like the 2 minute drill. If we see something like McNabb throwing 2 yard passes with 7 seconds left on the clock, then we will know it was probably McNabb who was at fault.
But if we see McNabb perform well under those circumstances after being “freed” by Shanahan, then we will know it was Reid and his slow in-game decision making that was at fault.
If there is a marked difference in McNabb’s performance under pressure situations, this trade would be considered a disaster for the Eagles.  Not only because McNabb would prove that he wasn’t the problem, but because the problem would have been Reid all along, and Reid happens to still be with the team.
That would also mean that Kevin Kolb is likely to suffer the same fate as McNabb, ever struggling with clock management issues, and strange play calls from the sidelines with no play clock time left to react to on-the-field situations other than running the play called.
For those who always wanted to know whether the problem was McNabb or Reid, the stage is set perfectly to get your answer.
What’s interesting to me is that Reid handled Jeff Garcia and even Doug Pederson differently than he handled McNabb. Only with McNabb did he go into “passing frenzies.” Regardless of McNabb’s health, supporting cast, weather, down and distance, defense, etc., Reid would throw at every opportunity. Don’t get me wrong, he still threw the ball with Garcia/Pederson, but the attack was much more balanced, and the defense had to respect that.
As for McNabb playing with lesser talent, that’s a no brainer. it’s what he’s accustomed to. That’s why he never put the ball up for grabs, except with TO, and you saw the results of that. He couldn’t do that with DeSean Jackson’s a little guy and a burner. You can just put it up there. You have to drop it into him as he outruns the defense. The problem with that is, you’ve got to have protection. You can’t be scrambling around, to put the ball “on the money.”
It will all come to coaching. Shanahan knows what he has down there and he’s not going to have Donovan throw the ball 35-40 times with sub-par talent. Yes the RBs are not what they use to be but there are 3 of them. So that’s better than expecting 1 aged RB to carry 20 times a game. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Shanahan go after Flozell Adams and then draft the tackle with their pick. Flozell isn’t the best, but he’s huge and our D-line couldn’t get around him. And also we’re evaluating their receivers with Jason Campbell as QB. We know a different QB changes things. Not saying McNabb will make the receivers better but he has worked with less in his career and amassed impressive stats doing so.
Shanahan is a smart guy and I don’t think he is of the mindset like Reid where he thinks he can just plug anyone into his system and it will work. This is the difference maker right here. And that defense will carry them a long way especially now that their offense will be able to score more than 10 points a game. Truthfully, it kind of reminds me of the Eagles when McNabb first got here. Good TE average players at other skilled positions and good defense. If Shanahan trys to make a play for Brandon Marshall or even TO, we’ll have a problem on our hands.
I believe Nabb can be successful with less talent considering the fact that he’s spent most of his career with the eagles with mediocre talent. There was a time when Kevin Curtis was our #1 wide receiver for crying out loud. We still went to the playoffs with Freddie Mitchell on our squad. The key was always Westbrook, and if the Skins rb’s can stay healthy there’s a lot of talent in their backfield, albeit old talent. The bottom line to all teams offensive success however, is offensive line. if that problem is addressed by the skins thru the draft. I’d say they could with 7 or 8 games this season, making them a success as compared to last years performance.
Reid kept insisting his suv was a porsche. kept trying to throw hard into the turns around the track when if he just took it off the course and used it for what it was built for he would have won the race. Blame the driver not the car.
Drummer, we even saw Big Red change up with AJ Feeley…well, just about any other QB he put in not named McNabb. Also, putting the ball up for grabs is something the Eagles should’ve worked on with (don’t kill me) H. Baskett. I’m sure with enough focus/practice on the “pitch and catch” and fade routs he may of hade some decent progress/sucess. Put him out there in practice with 2 CB’s on the spot, pass, and make him take it away from the defender. Keep going till the WR has enough confidence in himself that when that ball comes his way his only thought is “I’m coming down with this ball no matter what”.
Drummer You are not 100% correct on the only McNabb passing frenzies thing.
I forget what season it was but I sat in the freezing cold rain and watched AJ Feely throw 40 some odd passes against the Seahawks. Holmgren was on the other side doing the same thing. It was like watching two clones play each other except feely threw more picks. The eagles lost that game but almost won on an incredible punt return by westbrook.
The point is Reid and Co love to pass pass pass pass and pass. Wasn’t it odd how right after Garcia took the team on a deep playoff run that that off season they Drafted Kolb.
The eagles had seen with clarity but then kolb failed to impress in his first appearance and then the eagles backed into the playoffs the next season but were able to make the NFCCG. This stroke of “luck” set the eagles back a whole season. I am excited to see a whole new Eagles team out there the next few years.
What if Shanahan unshackles him and all you find is that you have a QB who is slow to make decisions and his body is too old now to compensate. Mcnabb was good when he ran and put pressure on defenses. The past few seasons when he was in the pocket more he was handled.
Less Talent? Clinton Portis, Parker, LJ. Thats a 3 headed monster. Shanahan runs the ball and will do so next year. I expect all 3 backs to have over 600 yards. As for the receivers, Devin Thomas was a first round pick, drafted ahead of Desean Jackson so he’s got talent. Fred Davis and Chris Cooley at Tightend got talent. The offensive lines on both team stink but Washington will get better and Eagles will stay the same. Washington’s D is better than the Eagles D. So, I expect a miserable Eagles year and the Skins to make the playoffs, going 9-7. The Eagles might win 6 games, depends on corn Kolb. I think he’s a flop. He showed me nothing in his 2 games. Beat the Chiefs, big woop and blew the game versus the Saints with 3 INT’s. So to say Mcnabb is working with less talent, I don’t think so.
Regal, sorry but I think I’m right. Feeley threw 4 INTs in that game. His first two interceptions led to Seattle touchdowns, and the Eagles began playing catch-up.
Sorry Drummer Regal is right. I was at that game against Seatle, 34 degrees outside and in the coldest rain/freezing rain for 4 hours i’ve ever experienced.
Nonetheless I thought every single McNabb lover’s argument was “he had nothing around him” The point is nothing from nothing leaves nothing, he’ll continue to only be moderately successful in Washington by you guys own argument.
Well according to the McNabb Love Fest contingent out there McNabb has been a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback with the Eagles his entire career and he’s never had a supporting cast around him the entire 11 seasons he played. Why would things be different in Washington? He should continue his Hall of Fame career there, right?
I guess the apologists answer will be that he “no longer has his legs to use as a weapon.”
Great article Denny.
Scorp you are exactly right. I also think we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves by saying we have more talent right now than the Redskins. Time will tell and you know Dan Snyder has deep pockets and he might make a run at T.O. or Marshall, if not both.
As far as the Redskins O Line is concerned people have to realize that they don’t have to be great. If they are just average that is going to help out McNabb, quite simply because Shanny is going to run atleast 50/50 which will keep the opposing team’s pass rush guessing.
Drummer I agree with a-lot of what you are saying. I just wanted to point out that They still throw the ball a ton with other qb’s. Yes feely did throw 4 picks that game but the last one if it had been completed to an eagle instead of lofa tatupu we would have won that game inspite of poor play calling.
The bottom line is that with Jason peters at LT Herremans at LG ???at C St Andrews at RG and W Justice at RT we better start running the ball with McCoy, Bell and weaver enough to keep opponents pass rush guessing.
Kolbs quick releas should help us, the talent we have at WR, TE, FB, and RB should help KK to distribute the rock to guys that are quite frankly the best set of skill position players (as a whole) that this team has had in my 32 years of life.
PS The loss of McNabb is nothing compared to losing my two favorite eagles. Randal Cunningham (greatest athlete I have ever seen in philly) and Reggie White (RIP).
Mcnabb played with bums off the street as recivers for 9 of his 11 seasons here (charles johnson, freddie mitchel, james thrash, todd pinkston, ect.) chad lewis was the leading reciver for a couple years for gods sake. he had TO for a year and then had maclin and desean for a year and look at what he did. he carried this horrible offense for 11 years. everyone will be surprised at how bad we are this year but not me. don never had a legit running game behind him. the one year we had duce, buck and westbrook reid didnt run the ball eventhough we had 3 starters in the backfield.
Don will be sorely missed its just that nobody knows it yet. just wait till kolb has to drop back 40 times a game and throws int after int. everyone who trashed don these past 11 years will be the same ones crying to have him back after 4 games.
spadaro spits And swallows, attaboy!!!!!
Amen, Regal! Half an amen, anyway. Reggie was the best. I watched him line up and cover wide receivers at camp. Couldn’t believe my eyes! As for Randall, I believe he lacked good coaching.
Seems like this site has gotten back to good posters. OUT FRIGGIN STANDING!
To RegalEagles..
I think you would have to add R Moats and R Mahe to your list..
Back on topic,
If you look at Redskins Skill players and skill at WR (Moss,Thomas,Kelley)
and TE’s (Cooley,F Davis) and the RB Corps of Portis,L Johnson and W Parker)
this is more talent than the Eagles had in 9 of the 11 years that McNabb was in Philly
J Zorn and QB J Campbell are not even in the same league as Shannaha and McNabb…
I expect #05 to have a pretty good season (Stats wise that is)
let all of the criticism of the eagles fans continue…the national media will continue to characterise us a unknowledgable and unfair…remember all that they said about us when Richie Kotite went to New Yoooork?? They called us fools for letting such a football genius go, but they hadn’t lived and died with that idiot for all of those years…and then what happened, he showed all of the country what we had known for years.
The same thing may very well happen with McNabb. He might be shown to be more a “product of the system” then a Hall of Fame QB. We have watched him for over a decade. We have seen him do some great things and we have seen him have trouble with the same things year after year. The consesus of the FO and a large majority of the fanbase is that he had run his course and taken this team and coach as far as he could. He deserves to be credited with having lead this team through a number of winning years, but only time will tell if he is exposed in Washington as a regular QB.
less talent? you just proved you don’t know what your talking about half the time.
I definitely think McNabb can do well with little talent. He has done that for years here, and just because he is getting older, doesn’t mean he will not be able to do it anymore.
I agree with “drummerwinslow” first statement about Reid managing the game different with Pederson and Garcia and that is one of the big reasons I wanted McNabb gone, because I am hoping Reid changes his philosophy with Kolb.
If I had the choice though, I think I would rather of let Reid go than McNabb. I think they both were a big part of our success and failures, but with Reids pass happy style, I am not sure he will ever win a SB, unless he changes. I don’t feel the same way about McNabb. McNabb has his faults (accuracy, hesitancy to make/force plays, holds ball too long), but with a more balanced game, I think he could definitely win a SB. He has the talent, but his faults are magnified when he is forced to pass 70%+ a game, and defenses know whats coming. It is hard to make plays in them situations.
What bothers me the most is, if Reid doesn’t change his style and Kolb becomes the next QB that can’t succeed because of it, then Reid will most likely get fired, but with a new coach coming in…… Kolb will most likely not be retained, unless the coach really sees something in him, which is rare. Most new coaches like to start off with their own QB. That means, we will never be able to see what Kolb could accomplish.
Who cares? He’s not our problem anymore.
I don’t know that there’s an issue of less talent, with the exception of DeSean Jackson. If you take Jackson out of the equation, or even leave him in Santanna Moss is fairly close even being 5 or 6 years older…people are dreaming if they think the talent gap is that large. The offensive line and constant changes on offense, plus that situation with the coaching last year, is what cost them. There’s not as much of an issue with with the personnel as much as the play calling. McNabb being in an unpredictable system for defenses where running the ball 50% of the time is th usual is probably what will make the biggest positive distance.