WP: A rejuvenated Donovan McNabb ready to chase the Super Bowl again

[ACW]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/30/AR2010073003753_pf.html

An excerpt won't do it justice.

:point2sky

[CrypticVillain]

In fact, while football is considered a young man's game -- 20-somethings as recyclable as cheap metal -- quarterback is a position where the top talents have excelled well into their 30s.

Of the 11 quarterbacks to enter the Hall of Fame in the past 25 years, most reached the peak of their success in their early 30s, and many kept producing into their late 30s.

This is why I am more confident than ever about the Redskins. We finally have a Quarterback who has some experienced, but is still good enough to lead an offense.

[ACW]

And the article didn't even MENTION Warner and Favre (both HOF locks).

[Hitman#21]

McNabb is the reason this team has unlimited potential. Combined with the fact that this team has an amazing coaching staff, the sky is the limit.

[Mad Mike]

The big hope for me is that McNabb will get even better with new knowledge and perspective from his new mentors, and he will be even more effective in Shanahan's offense with a real running game to take some of the pressure off of him.

[Commander PK]

Ever since the trade it's been easier to accept Donovan as the Redskins starting QB. He's already done more and trained harder, than most anybody we have had in recent memory, and he hasn't even won game one yet.

[bulldog]

McNabb adds leadership which has been lacking from the qb position for a decade.

But he also brings an approach to the game where an opponent has to beat his team, he is not going to throw away the game on interceptions and turnovers.

He has the lowest interception ratio in the NFL among starting quarterbacks and a positive turnover differential along with limited injuries are MAJOR FACTORS in determining which teams make the postseason.

If I am not mistaken, didn't the Saints lead the NFL in takeaway differential in 2009?

[FrFan]

I like McNabb's contribution to this team, but a quaterback also needs reliable receivers, that's why I am wondering about Kelly and Thomas.

[bulldog]

If these WRs don't show consistent improvement in camp, Shanahan WILL make a move for another WR for the opener.

There is no way IMO that Shanahan goes through a year like Zorn did in 2009, where the wide receivers other than Moss looked like the most apathetic and listless group in the NFL.

[SkinsTillIDie]

All this talk about our WRs - firstly, this will be a run-first team. A productive running game should open things up in the passing game; running the ball well will be the predominant root for our offensive success.

secondly, while Moss might not be a prototypical #1 WR, he's a legitimate starter with playmaking ability who has been used rather poorly the last couple years. As principally the "X" receiver, Moss wasn't utilized in the way that he will this year, where he will be moved around in a similar manner like Andre Johnson was in Houston (Andre to Santana, via WP: "Oh 'Tana you just in one spot. 'Tana you just playing.' 'Y'all vanilla.' ") The Shanahans will find the way to best make use of Moss' talents.

Further, we have two of the best pass-catching tight ends in football, arguably the best TE tandem in the league. We will be using (possibly more than anyone else) the 2 TE set, which means only 2 WRs out wide (Moss being one of them). Let's say, hypothetically, that no other WR steps up: we still have 3 exceptionally gifted pass catchers on the field, all three maintaining true mismatch problems for the defense. If we can run the ball effectively in the 2 TE set, it will only open up a more dangerous passing offense

And of course, McNabb has won with far, far less talented receivers (Pinkston-Thrash-Mitchell-Lewis ring a bell?). If he plays at the borderline-HOFer level that he's been at over the last 5 years, and if the Shanahan offense is as efficient and explosive as it's cracked up to be, whether or not Thomas or Kelly play up to their potential won't ultimately dictate the success of this offense. Shanahan Sr. made Eddie Royal look like a probowler while under Josh McDaniels, he hardly looked capable of making this roster. And Shanahan Jr. got the very, very best out of Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, and Owen Daniels. McNabb and the Shanahan's will make our receivers look far better than they've looked at any point under Zorn.

I feel fully confident that we have the perfect quarterback and perfect coaching staff to get the very best out of the talent we have... and it's not like we need stars at every position to have a quality offense

[MustangSteve]

All this talk about our WRs - firstly, this will be a run-first team. A productive running game should open things up in the passing game; running the ball well will be the predominant root for our offensive success.

secondly, while Moss might not be a prototypical #1 WR, he's a legitimate starter with playmaking ability who has been used rather poorly the last couple years. As principally the "X" receiver, Moss wasn't utilized in the way that he will this year, where he will be moved around in a similar manner like Andre Johnson was in Houston (Andre to Santana, via WP: "Oh 'Tana you just in one spot. 'Tana you just playing.' 'Y'all vanilla.' ") The Shanahans will find the way to best make use of Moss' talents.

Great post! Moss is still a very dangerous receiver and threat on the field, and a good running game will put our passing game wide open.