Over the past week several NFL teams have struggled figuring out what to do with the stars in the most glamorized position in football, the quarterback. Here’s a look:
PHILADELPHIA – McNabb’s making noise
Donovan McNabb has been under the microscope in Philadelphia. Six days ago, the Eagles were booed off the field following their 20-12 Monday night loss to Washington. Then, McNabb went on HBO and said that black quarterbacks face greater scrutiny than white quarterbacks, grabbing bad publicity in the process. After having a career year* in 2004, including a trip to the Super Bowl, McNabb’s next two seasons ended early due to injury. This year, things didn’t start well. But on Sunday, McNabb threw for 381 yards and four touchdown passes leading the Eagles to their first win of the season. The ship appears corrected.
FPS analysis – A what have done for me lately mentality grips all sports especially the NFL. McNabb needs to recognize this, stop talking and play football. He’s a gifted athlete and quarterback who is capable of making the Eagles NFC contenders. Simply put, on the field victories result in less criticism. McNabb needs to put up big numbers before he starts running his mouth. This week should be better for Donovan.
ATLANTA – Dumping on Joey
Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino put QB Joey Harrington on the hot seat this past week. Petrino said it was not fair to blame the offensive line for the high sack numbers through the first two weeks of the season, 13 total. Joey was holding the ball too long. On Sunday, Harrington responded completing 31-of-44 passes for 361 yards and two touchdowns. While Harrington was saddled with the loss, it was not his fault. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall picked up three penalties, accounting for 67-yards, during a Carolina drive killing any momentum the Falcons had. In the fourth quarter, playing catch-up, Harrington hit wide receiver Joe Horn in the hands with a pass in the end zone. Horn dropped the six-yard pass attempt and the Falcons settled for three points.
FPS analysis – Harrington is not a great quarterback. Actually the best description for him might be slightly above-average. However, Joey "Quack-Quack" had a 5-4 record last year at the helm in Miami. Atlanta is in trouble, period. Their new QB addition, Byron Leftwich, doesn't really fit the offensive style. The best guy for quarterbacking Atlanta is now in Houston. It's high time to stop taking shots at Harrington. He's an easy target, but playing on terrible teams has not helped either. For now, Harrington should be the starter in Atlanta.
CHICAGO – A Windy City mess
Rex Grossman’s rough outing Sunday, 15-of-32 for 195 yards and three interceptions, lead to boos from the home crowd and a “we want Griese” chant in the second half. Griese, referring to Chicago’s backup QB Brian Griese, is a ten-year veteran of the NFL. With six interceptions this season, Grossman now leads the NFL with most interceptions since 2006 ahead of Detroit’s Jon Kitna and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger. The Bears are struggling offensively, banged up defensively and have stumbled to a 1-2 start.
FPS analysis – For now, it appears that the coaching staff is behind Grossman. But there is not a good answer for Chicago’s quarterback woes. Inserting Griese into the lineup might translate to more wins now, but Grossman was supposed to be the future for Chicago. Neither option looks like the long-term answer in the Windy City. At this point Chicago can’t afford to go back to the drawing board; they have too many championship pieces already in place. The Bears will have to take their lumps with Grossman.
ARIZONA – Controversy brewing?
Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt decided to bench QB Matt Leinart Sunday in Baltimore. Leinart looked awful against the Ravens. He completed only nine passes in 20 attempts for a meager 53 yards, before being replaced by backup Kurt Warner. Warner was able to rally Arizona from a 17-point deficit. He played great completing 15-of-20 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately, the Cardinals still came up short as Baltimore kicker Matt Stover knocked in a last-second field goal giving the Ravens a three point win.
FPS analysis – It does not look like Leinart needs to sweat it. Whisenhunt said he will remain the starter. As Leinart struggles the rap against him coming out of college, that off-field activities were more important than football, will grow louder. Matt is only 24 and has started just 13 NFL games, so there’s huge upside. But, I’ve never been sold that Leinart is the real deal. While he is talented, the amazing skill players at USC propped him up. If the Cardinals want to win games now they should start Warner, the two-time league MVP. If they don’t, Whisenhunt and the rest of the organization better hope Leinart shows improvement.
Blogger's Note: *Donovan McNabb threw for 3,875 yards, 31 touchdowns with only eight interceptions in 2004.
2 comments:
I like McNabb. I don't like Grossman. One can play and has proven himself and the other has been an obstacle rather than an asset for his team that is, as you mention, filled with championship talent. I disagree that Grossman is the right option for the present simply because he was intended to be the QB of the future. He's not the QB of the future. He's lucky to be the QB of the present. I think the much larger problem in Chicago comes from an offense focused around the running game that gets rid of Thomas Jones and leaves the lackluster half-talent Cedrick Benson in the starting role. Benson is a subpar running back at best. Thomas Jones was the playmaker and they didn't hang on to him. Now Grossman is forced to make more plays through the air - a bad idea for a guy that turns the ball over more than the butter fingered Tiki 'I have better things to do but I'll play two more years' Barber.
I enjoy watching McNabb run his mouth. He is intelligent and he is a good quarterback, but what he is really good at is stirring up controversy while trying to play the "good guy." McNabb is football's Curt Schilling, without the championship hardware. You know what he is saying is true, but it always seems to come out at the wrong time and in the wrong place. For McNabb to ever win a superbowl he's going to need a wide reciever of Marvin Harrison's talent and unique under the radar personality. McNabb will be allowed to be the dominate personality, but the real engine will be the players around him.
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