McNabb, case study-coaching or talent at qb?

I can't help but think he may have lost his passion for the game once he got traded from Philly. He clearly hasn't been the same since.

I second your theory.

McNabb really has been pretty healthy when compared to most NFL players.

I think like Matty said he is just going through the motions no real desire.

just throwing it out there as a possibility. And considering his age, no he hasn't been healthy for most qbs. As an eagle, from 2004-2009 he only completed one season. From 2002-2009 he completed 2 seasons (2002 he played 10 games, 2005-9, 2006-10) The more you get injured in your career, the earlier your body will break down on you. Motivation probably has something to do with it, anxiety to prove himself on game day probably does also. And andy reid probably has alot to do with it.

Ive been thinking about this for a long time but in the opposite way. Are some QB busts only bust because they were put into a situation that doesn’t take advantage of their strengths?

You got very well rounded qb’s that, during their prime, are likely going to be good no matter what type of system you put them in (think Farve, Cutler, Bledsoe).

Then you got guys that are really only suited towards certain type systems, and I agree and think McNabb would make a perfect case study of a guy that was put into a position to succeed early on and then forced to do things outside of his dominate strengths later in his career (although this isnt susposed to be the case in Minn). The offense in philly focused on McNabb’s strengths, not the other way around (maybe we should be giving madd props to Ron Rivera and not just Cam Newton?).

Then you also got QBs that are square pegs in round holes like Orton in Chicago (and hopefully Grossman), this list could also include Brad Johnson, Steve Young and Brees.

They seem to recruit guys and mold the offense around the QB more so in college then they do in the NFL, perhaps because regardless of the what type of QB you are if youre good enough to get drafted youre probably viewed as a very well rounded player. I got no problem with system QBs. I think their great. If Grossman and Beck are put in situations that will make them succeed, id rather have that then a awesome QB forced in a system that doesn’t really utilize their strengths as much as it could. So maybe the thinking should be, instead of whos the best qb, whos the best quarterback for my offense.

Although McNabb might be a old dog new trick type qb. I mean if you were to put Peyton Manning or Tom Brady in a completely new offense at this point in their careers would you really expect them to be great or even top 10 qbs?

It is definitely the brilliant coaching staff and scheme that the Eagles have had throughout the years. McNabb, AJ Feeley, Jeff Garcia, Kolb, Vick, all were clearly beneficiaries of playing under Reid. What's even more remarkable is how NFL talent evaluators were too ignorant to realize that, and the Eagles front office capitolized.

2nd for Feeley (quite certain he was out of the NFL within a couple of years.)
We know what they got for McNabb.
Kolb for a top 10 2nd round pick (Cardinals are awful) and a young, proven pro bowl cornerback.
That trade was a tragedy. Don't you think the Cardinals could've used Rodgers- Cromartie on Sunday?

McNabb was always over rated IMHO.

TO was right about him.

After seeing what AJ Feeley did in Miami after leaving Reid, seeing what McNabb has done after leaving Reid, and seeing the transformation Vick has made since joining Andy Reid, it's probably time to give a ton of credit to Big Red as a developer of QBs.

Kolb wont be bad..Not only that, but he pretty much has all say in personel moves...great moves by the FO.

Being benched TWICE in your starting career is embarassing.
Being traded to a division rival is embarassing.
Being owned by Rex Grossman is embarassing. Whether or not this should be the case is a seperate matter, but w/e.

Mc39inwaistline's TQBR
2008: 51.9
2009: 57.3
2010: 41.0

Mcnabb is done might as well start ponder

I think McNabb had talent, but also was helped tremendously by a system that helped him succeed. When it seemed that McNabb was on his way out, the best situation for him was to go to a team that had all the pieces there, except for a QB. Going to a team like ours or this year's Vikings is not a good situation for him. This sort of reminds me of Favre's stint with the Jets and then with the Vikes. The Jets were rebuilding when Favre got traded there, and he wasn't that successful. Yet when he went to the Vikes the following year, he had a good o-line, great running game (AP), very good WR (Rice), and a top defense.

McNabb's talent + Reid's system for many years resulted in McNabb being a top caliber QB. His declining abilities were not good enough to carry a rebuilding team last year, and it will certainly not carry this year's Vikes. I still think the McNabb trade was terrible and may have set the franchise bakc for a year. I'm glad he's gone.

I also want to mention exactly why McNabb has diminished. His whole career, his ability to run has kept him afloat at the top of the QB list in the NFC. As the years passed and injuries mounted, his ability to run has all but vanished which is why he's struggling as a QB now. He never had the skills to be a top flight QB to begin with (accuracy, pocket presence, intelligence, quick release) that the others have. (Manning, Rivers, Brady, Brees) It's not McNabb's age (34) that is making his decline show. Look no further than the 39-40 year old Brett Farve almost pulling out a MVP to debunk that notion. If your whole game relied on your wheels, expect a lower shelf life for those types of QBs. This is why I'm so dead set against the "run first" kind of QBs that come into the league. That might get you far in the NCAA and win you some games in the NFL, but to really progress and prolong your career, you need to win games from the pocket with the abilities I mention prior.