Post by EagleGene on Aug 15, 2006 19:38:48 GMT -5
McNabb Sees A 'Super' Team
August 14, 2006
By ZACH BERMAN
It's August 14, but Donovan McNabb has seen enough.
He's willing to be intrepid and make an eyebrow-raising statement, the type of comment that causes listening reporters to race to their notebooks.
"This is a Super Bowl team," McNabb said.
He said it in a simple, matter-of-fact manner as if there's no possible objection.
Listen back. Watch the video. He said it and he meant it.
"It goes back again, to 2001, 2002, 2003, where it is guys that most people would talk bad about because they are not a number one guy, they are not a household name," McNabb said. "But, in this locker room, we feel confident in the guys that they can make plays for us. If it is Reggie (Brown) and Hank (Baskett) on the corners, if it's Jabar (Gaffney) and Hank, if it's Todd (Pinkston) and Reggie, no matter who it is on the outside, they are guys we feel confident in that can make plays for us."
McNabb's answer was about the receivers, the position most heavily scrutinized by the fans and media. The claim is that the Eagles lack a traditional No. 1 receiver, or at least one who's performed to a star-caliber level.
To that point, there's validity, considering no current Eagles receiver has been to a Pro Bowl or been a top receiver. But McNabb is more concerned on what they are going to do - and how they fit within the framework of the offense - compared to what they have done.
And the receiver is only part of the equation. They make the catch and run, but it's up to the offensive line to provide protection and McNabb to find them the ball.
"It's obviously on me to make sure the guys are in the right place and I put the ball in the right position so that they can make plays," McNabb said. "We need to play well together and I think we have been doing that so far and the sky is the limit for us."
It might sound like hyperbole, but not to McNabb. He's the one in red jersey every day, the one throwing them the ball. And he's fine with this group.
In the past, McNabb has been outspoken when he felt the team needed another receiver. After all, he is the one playing with them.
But he hasn't said anything that would indicate any displeasure. All he's voiced is confidence. Likewise, the players have been supportive of McNabb - the unquestionable leader of the offense.
"That's great; especially from when my leadership got questioned to now all of a sudden I am a natural born leader," McNabb said. "That's something else, too, but I've been a leader ever since I have been playing sports or even if I wasn't playing sports. I think people are born to play sports. You can't ask or just pick one person out to be a leader because some people can't handle it. When the lights are on, some people back up. When the lights are on, some people step forward and I am one of the guys who steps forward."
McNabb stepped forward on Monday when he proclaimed this team's capabilities. The NFC East is loaded, the schedule is tough and there has been widespread criticism about their fate this season.
None of that concerns McNabb. It's August 14, but McNabb thinks his words will prove true soon enough.
"I'm sure people don't want to give us too much credit for the way we have been playing so far and kind of - not just for the offense driving down and scoring points or the (second unit) coming in scoring points - but, just by the way we are playing," McNabb said.
"We are playing back to the way were back in 2003, 2, 4, just playing together. It is quite obvious that people understand what is going on around here. No one wants to give us credit yet. That's fine. When the season starts, then everyone will understand that this team is back at the top of the NFC."
August 14, 2006
By ZACH BERMAN
It's August 14, but Donovan McNabb has seen enough.
He's willing to be intrepid and make an eyebrow-raising statement, the type of comment that causes listening reporters to race to their notebooks.
"This is a Super Bowl team," McNabb said.
He said it in a simple, matter-of-fact manner as if there's no possible objection.
Listen back. Watch the video. He said it and he meant it.
"It goes back again, to 2001, 2002, 2003, where it is guys that most people would talk bad about because they are not a number one guy, they are not a household name," McNabb said. "But, in this locker room, we feel confident in the guys that they can make plays for us. If it is Reggie (Brown) and Hank (Baskett) on the corners, if it's Jabar (Gaffney) and Hank, if it's Todd (Pinkston) and Reggie, no matter who it is on the outside, they are guys we feel confident in that can make plays for us."
McNabb's answer was about the receivers, the position most heavily scrutinized by the fans and media. The claim is that the Eagles lack a traditional No. 1 receiver, or at least one who's performed to a star-caliber level.
To that point, there's validity, considering no current Eagles receiver has been to a Pro Bowl or been a top receiver. But McNabb is more concerned on what they are going to do - and how they fit within the framework of the offense - compared to what they have done.
And the receiver is only part of the equation. They make the catch and run, but it's up to the offensive line to provide protection and McNabb to find them the ball.
"It's obviously on me to make sure the guys are in the right place and I put the ball in the right position so that they can make plays," McNabb said. "We need to play well together and I think we have been doing that so far and the sky is the limit for us."
It might sound like hyperbole, but not to McNabb. He's the one in red jersey every day, the one throwing them the ball. And he's fine with this group.
In the past, McNabb has been outspoken when he felt the team needed another receiver. After all, he is the one playing with them.
But he hasn't said anything that would indicate any displeasure. All he's voiced is confidence. Likewise, the players have been supportive of McNabb - the unquestionable leader of the offense.
"That's great; especially from when my leadership got questioned to now all of a sudden I am a natural born leader," McNabb said. "That's something else, too, but I've been a leader ever since I have been playing sports or even if I wasn't playing sports. I think people are born to play sports. You can't ask or just pick one person out to be a leader because some people can't handle it. When the lights are on, some people back up. When the lights are on, some people step forward and I am one of the guys who steps forward."
McNabb stepped forward on Monday when he proclaimed this team's capabilities. The NFC East is loaded, the schedule is tough and there has been widespread criticism about their fate this season.
None of that concerns McNabb. It's August 14, but McNabb thinks his words will prove true soon enough.
"I'm sure people don't want to give us too much credit for the way we have been playing so far and kind of - not just for the offense driving down and scoring points or the (second unit) coming in scoring points - but, just by the way we are playing," McNabb said.
"We are playing back to the way were back in 2003, 2, 4, just playing together. It is quite obvious that people understand what is going on around here. No one wants to give us credit yet. That's fine. When the season starts, then everyone will understand that this team is back at the top of the NFC."