Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Why McNabb Ultimately Failed

Here's a look at every single throw Donovan McNabb made on a third down this season. The summaries are in bold if you want to skip the mundane play-by-play stuff (courtesy of CBSSports.com).

Note: "Short" indicates a pass that traveled less than 10 yards in the air. "Deep" indicates more than 10 yards in the air.


at San Diego

1st quarter, 3-9-MIN35    (9:51) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short middle to A.Peterson to MIN 39 for 4 yards

1st quarter, 3-3-MIN15    (4:15) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short left to M.Jenkins to MIN 27 for 12 yards (A.Cason). Penalty on SD-A.Cason, Defensive Pass Interference, declined.

2nd quarter, 3-3-SD30    (15:00) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short middle to M.Jenkins to SD 19 for 11 yards (M.Gilchrist).

2nd quarter, 3-6-SD15    (13:04) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short left to P.Harvin (A.Cason).

3rd quarter, 3-7-MIN23    (9:58) (Shotgun) D.McNabb scrambles up the middle to MIN 33 for 10 yards (S.Gregory).

3rd quarter, 3-6-MIN37    (8:34) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short left to B.Berrian (A.Cason).

3rd quarter, 3-10-MIN43    (:05) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to A.Peterson.

4th quarter, 3-8-MIN30    (8:25) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete deep left to B.Berrian (A.Cason).

4th quarter, 3-10-MIN20    (3:42) (Shotgun) D.McNabb sacked at MIN 10 for -10 yards (A.Barnes).

Summary: 3 first downs on 9 attempts. 3 completions on 7 pass attempts, 27 yards, 1 scramble for 10 yards, 1 sack. 6 passes are short, 1 deep.


vs Tampa Bay

1st quarter, 3-10-TB43    (11:12) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete deep middle to V.Shiancoe (A.Clayborn).

1st quarter, 3-5-MIN15    (5:32) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short left to P.Harvin to MIN 26 for 11 yards (R.Barber).

2nd quarter, 3-12-MIN36    (9:44) (Shotgun) D.McNabb scrambles left end ran ob at MIN 49 for 13 yards.

2nd quarter, 3-4-TB4    (5:15) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to V.Shiancoe.

2nd quarter, 3-16-TB46    (1:45) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short right to T.Gerhart to TB 4 for 42 yards (E.Biggers).

3rd quarter, 3-8-MIN22   
(13:10) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short right to V.Shiancoe to MIN 26 for 4 yards (S.Jones). PENALTY on MIN-A.Peterson, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at MIN 22 - No Play. (I'm including this even though it was wiped out by penalty because it was an awful call by the official. Judgement call on my part.)

3rd quarter, 3-13-MIN44    (6:11) (Shotgun) D.McNabb sacked at MIN 34 for -10 yards (S.Jones).

4th quarter, 3-11-TB11    (9:46) D.McNabb pass incomplete short left to L.Booker.

4th quarter, 3-6-MIN26    (4:25) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete deep right to D.Aromashodu (E.Biggers).

Summary: 3 first downs on 9 attempts. 3 completions on 7 pass attempts, 57 yards, 1 scramble for 13 yards, 1 sack. 5 passes are short, 2 deep.


vs. Detroit

1st quarter, 3-8-DET18    (11:35) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short right to M.Jenkins to DET 9 for 9 yards (C.Houston).

1st quarter, 3-14-DET14    (9:47) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to A.Peterson [N.Suh].

1st quarter, 3-3-DET35   
(6:30) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to P.Harvin [Sa.Hill]. PENALTY on DET-Sa.Hill, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced at DET 35 - No Play. (Not including this as a gained first down, penalty occured after pass was thrown incomplete.)

1st quarter, 3-4-DET14    (5:43) (Shotgun) D.McNabb sacked at DET 23 for -9 yards (N.Suh).

1st quarter, 3-8-MIN44    (1:26) (Shotgun) D.McNabb scrambles left end to DET 48 for 8 yards (J.Durant).

2nd quarter, 3-5-DET43    (14:30) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short left to T.Gerhart [L.Delmas].

2nd quarter, 3-5-DET8    (:15) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short middle to V.Shiancoe for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

3rd quarter, 3-5-MIN25    (11:16) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short right to B.Berrian. Penalty on MIN, Illegal Shift, declined.

3rd quarter, 3-18-MIN16    (8:27) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short left to M.Jenkins.

3rd quarter, 3-1-MIN29    (2:01) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short left to P.Harvin (B.McDonald).

4th quarter, 3-9-DET25    (12:11) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short left to M.Jenkins to DET 17 for 8 yards (E.Wright).

4th quarter, 3-14-MIN14    (4:28) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete deep right to B.Berrian.

4th quarter, 3-5-DET31    (1:22) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete deep right to B.Berrian.

Summary: 3 first downs on 13 attempts. 3 completions on 11 pass attempts, 25 yards, 1 TD, 1 scramble for 8 yards, 1 sack. 9 passes are short, 2 deep.


at Kansas City

1st quarter, 3-5-MIN25    (13:34) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short right to B.Berrian.

1st quarter, 3-3-MIN27    (6:10) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short right to V.Shiancoe to MIN 33 for 6 yards (Do.Washington).

2nd quarter, 3-1-KC35    (11:25) D.McNabb pass short right to K.Rudolph to KC 37 for -2 yards (D.Johnson) [T.Hali].

2nd quarter, 3-15-KC20    (7:56) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short left intended for T.Gerhart INTERCEPTED by B.Carr at KC 21. B.Carr to KC 35 for 14 yards (D.McNabb).

2nd quarter, 3-8-MIN42    (2:38) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short right to K.Rudolph.

3rd quarter, 3-2-KC38    (11:53) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short left to V.Shiancoe to KC 33 for 5 yards (J.Belcher).

3rd quarter, 3-4-KC15    (9:22) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short left to P.Harvin [T.Hali].

3rd quarter, 3-11-MIN19    (4:21) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to D.Aromashodu (B.Flowers).

3rd quarter, 3-6-MIN24    (14:52) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete deep left to B.Berrian.

4th quarter, 3-7-KC30    (10:31) (Shotgun) D.McNabb sacked at KC 37 for -7 yards (T.Hali).

4th quarter, 3-1-KC1    (5:55) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short left to M.Jenkins for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.

4th quarter, 3-10-KC41    (1:50) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short right to B.Berrian (B.Flowers).

Summary: 3 first downs on 12 attempts. 4 completions on 11 pass attempts, 10 yards, 1 INT, 1 TD, 1 sack. 10 passes short, 1 deep.


vs. Arizona

1st quarter, 3-6-MIN46    (13:17) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short left to V.Shiancoe (S.Acho).

1st quarter, 3-4-ARI4    (6:31) (Shotgun) D.McNabb scrambles up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

2nd quarter, 3-8-MIN4    (14:06) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short left to V.Shiancoe.

2nd quarter, 3-9-MIN35    (8:58) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short left to D.Aromashodu (S.Bradley).

3rd quarter, 3-4-MIN28   
(6:40) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to V.Shiancoe [C.Campbell]. PENALTY on ARZ-R.Marshall, Defensive Pass Interference, 6 yards, enforced at MIN 28 - No Play.

3rd quarter, 3-12-ARI18    (4:22) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short middle to L.Booker to ARZ 8 for 10 yards (P.Lenon; R.Marshall).

4th quarter, 3-7-ARI43    (14:28) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short left to L.Booker to ARZ 28 for 15 yards (D.Dockett).

4th quarter, 3-10-ARI28    (13:04) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short right to M.Jenkins to ARZ 25 for 3 yards (A.Jefferson).

Summary: 3 first downs on 8 attempts. 3 completions on 6 pass attempts, 28 yards, 1 scramble for 4 yards, 1 rushing TD. 6 passes short, 0 deep.


at Chicago

1st quarter, 3-7-MIN23    (13:43) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short left to V.Shiancoe.

1st quarter, 3-5-MIN25    (11:37) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short left to B.Berrian.

1st quarter, 3-6-MIN42    (1:37) D.McNabb pass short middle to P.Harvin to CHI 47 for 11 yards (D.Moore).

2nd quarter, 3-3-CHI40    (15:00) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short left to P.Harvin pushed ob at CHI 26 for 14 yards (C.Conte). Penalty on CHI-C.Tillman, Illegal Contact, declined.

2nd quarter, 3-10-CHI26    (13:23) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short left to V.Shiancoe to CHI 18 for 8 yards (D.Moore).

2nd quarter, 3-7-MIN12    (8:50) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short right to B.Berrian to MIN 16 for 4 yards (T.Jennings).

2nd quarter, 3-1-CHI33    (4:05) D.McNabb pass short left to V.Shiancoe pushed ob at CHI 22 for 11 yards (C.Tillman).

3rd quarter, 3-13-MIN20    (9:02) (Shotgun) D.McNabb sacked at MIN 10 for -10 yards (A.Okoye).

3rd quarter, 3-8-MIN29    (4:36) (Shotgun) D.McNabb sacked at MIN 19 for -10 yards (I.Idonije).

Summary: 3 first downs on 9 attempts. 5 completions on 7 pass attempts, 47 yards, 2 sacks. 7 passes short, 0 deep.



COMBINED TOTALS THROUGH 6 GAMES:
18 first downs on 60 attempts (30%, bottom 5 in the NFL), 21 completions on 49 attempts (42.8%) for 194 yards (4.0 yards-per-attempt), 4 scrambles for 35 yards (1 rushing TD), 2 TDs, 1 INT, 0 fumbles, 6 sacks. 43 passes short, 6 deep.

More than a few things really stand out. 1, FOUR YARDS AN ATTEMPT??? Every time McNabb drops back to pass on a 3rd down, the average yards gained is a whopping 4 yards. League average hovers around 6.

2, the number of times they throw on third-and-4 or less, 15 times in 6 games. So, at least twice a game, on 3rd and short, they're NOT giving the ball to Peterson.

3, the sheer amount of short passes. That short-deep ratio is crazy. Notice the 0s the past two games. This isn't all on McNabb obviously - it's playcalling and shitty receivers. But, after several losses, you'd think these problems would at least be addressed somewhat. Like for example, getting rid of Bernard Berrian, their "deep threat." But still, McNabb has shown zero inclination that he even looks to throw downfield and stretch the defense.

Take some examples from other quarterbacks this past Sunday: Josh Freeman iced the game against New Orleans on a deep out on 3rd and 9 for 12 yards. Stafford's TD to Pettigrew was a deep throw over the middle on 3rd and 10. Say what you will about Jay Cutler but at least he THROWS DEEP on 3rd down when its called for. Even watching highlights of Baltimore at Houston, you see both quarterbacks (Flacco and Schaub who are average at best) THROWING DOWNFIELD. Imagine that!

4, the four times McNabb ran, he got a 1st down every single time. He needed to run more often.

5, one turnover on 60 attempts. That's outstanding. But it's hard to turn the ball over if you take zero risks by THROWING DOWNFIELD. Sense a theme here?

6, most importantly (and most nauseating) how godawful the stats are in the 2nd half:

1st half: 13 first downs on 32 attempts (40%, around league average) 14 completions on 28 pass attempts for 149 yards.

2nd half: 5 first downs on 28 attempts (18%) 7 completions on 21 pass attempts for 45 yards.


That's pathetic. PATHETIC. I'm not sure it's even possible for Ponder to do worse than that.

No comments: