All Signs Point To McNabb Showing Promise

With every report you hear regarding Donovan McNabb at training camp, they all mention this "one play" where McNabb was rolling out of the pocket and really tested his knee.  Les Bowen mentions it.

There were a few times when No. 5 didn't seem to plant solidly on his braced right knee, and passes floated. But there were many other times when the ball flew like a guided missile. Perhaps most reassuringly, McNabb scrambled away from the rush, stopped as he neared the line of scrimmage, and hit Hank Baskett down the right sideline - exactly the kind of stop-and-start test McNabb must pass as he returns from ACL surgery.

"It's going to be a slow process, but there were no worries in my mind of coming out and being nervous or anything like that," McNabb said between practice sessions. "It was just playing football. I've done it before. It's kind of like riding a bike."

It's strange how one play can be such a big deal at camp, but watching some of the footage from Lehigh, I do find myself amazed at the fact that Donovan had knee surgery such a short while ago.  By all accounts, he's far from game ready but things look encouraging.

Brian Dawkins decided he needed to get the defense in line and called a defensive meeting to stress the fact that if this team wanted to go anywhere this year, the D better step it up.

Spikes felt Dawkins came up with the perfect combination of words when he addressed the defense for the first time Tuesday night.

"I thought it was needed," Spikes said. "Everybody can talk, talk, talk, but when you get a guy like that to stand up and get his points across, it means something. People know it's not a selfish thing, because this guy cares.

Indeed.  Let's hope the Birds can do more than talk about stopping the run this year.

>>Not a bad start for McNabb [Inqy]
>>Dawkins prods the Eagles defense [Inqy]

Comments

[ryan]

That's very encouraging news. The ability to evade the pressure, find an empty spot on the field, and hit the open man after he's had time to improvise is what has made D-Mac stand out over the course of his career and it's refreshing to see it (or at least hear about somebody else seeing it). I don't think any of us should really be surprised, Donovan has always had an amazing work ethic and a never say die attitude, I'd be shocked if he wasn't on the not yet frozen Tundra in September taking snaps from center when the season starts.

Football is in the air....I'm getting gitty just thinking about it.

[hone]

A quote from the same Dawkins article on the Saints playoff game...
"I watched the game, so I remember the game - every play. I felt like I was there because that's how in tune to football I am."
Good lord I love me some Takeo Spikes...

[the Krisheim]

why on earth would mcnabb even decide to comment on vick?

he isnt saying anything too crazy (by his standards that is), but in this instance, keep your mouth shut, WIP is going to have a field day with this. his take on family and trust and support is so bizarre in so many instances.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/01/AR2007080102193.html

[ryan]

What's wrong with him commenting...you know he's going to get asked, and I think what he said was 100% accurate and the right thing to say. Don't get me wrong, I HATE Mike Vick, but not because of the recent charges that were brought up, I've always hated him. I went to West Virginia University and the one year he played us just after Mark Bulger threw a go ahead touchdown pass to Jerry Porter with about a minute left, Vick pulled a play out of his ass to get the Hokies in position for a go ahead FG, that they made to win and go on to play for the National Championship. But he's right, people shouldn't be so quick to judge Vick here. By all means, he looks guilty, and the charges against him are nasty, but all the facts haven't been laid out yet. All of the former supporters of Vick who suddenly hate him for being accused of being a criminal may end up looking as foolish as Mike Nifong. When all of the facts are out and if Vick is found guilty, I'm sure that McNabb's stance will change, but people should really let the courts do their jobs to figure out exactly what happened before jumping all over Vick.

[johndewar]

Commenting on this Vick situation is a no-win for any player.

That said, McNabb was trying to show empathy for Vick, which is admirable because they are friends. I have no beef with that, but if McNabb had said something along the lines of saying that dog fighting wasn't that bad, then I'd have more of a problem. He was just being empathetic for a buddy of his....something anyone would do.