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McNabb discusses the Saints and Rush
On Thursday Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb spoke with members of the local media. Q: How are things with the football team right now? A: "Everybody's feeling like you're feeling, real energetic." Q: Does winning cure all? A: "I wouldn't say that. I think when you're playing this game and you have 16 guaranteed games, you feel positive about a lot of things. Winning definitely plays a major part. I think camaraderie plays a stronger part than anything." Q: How would you say you guys are playing compared to the last couple of years? A: "I would say pretty much the same if you take a look at our record and that should speak for itself although we're probably not putting up as many points as we want to, but we're winning games and finding ways to win the game. Just looking at the big picture, you never know what to expect, so you just have to take it one game at a time and when you have that approach, hopefully things will take care of itself." Q: Do the Saints seem to be a confident team when you take a look at them? A: "Yes, they are. They're playing well defensively right now. They're coming together defensively. They're flying around offensively. They're making big plays. It's going to be a challenge for us. What better match up to watch than the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles." Q: Is this one of the toughest matchups for you in the last couple of weeks? A: "I think every week is a tough match up. It just so happens that you have two hot teams right now, competing against each other at the right time. We're both in a position where we're trying to get ourselves in a playoff position and better our teams for after the 16th week." Q: I assume that you have seen game tapes both with and without Darren Howard. What does he do to that defensive front that wasn't there when he wasn't playing? A: "I think when he wasn't there they were still a very aggressive defense, a defense around the ball a lot, the linebackers, safeties and corners are very involved in the passing game and they had a pass rush. With him coming back into the lineup, they obviously possess a little more speed and experience at that defensive end position, a guy that makes so many plays for them and they're able to move him around a lot to create some mismatches." Q: When you talk about the progression that when you came into the league and were more apt to run out of trouble, as opposed to now where you're more mature and letting things come to you and your progressions. Will you talk about that subject? A: "I don't know about running quarterbacks. I just know about quarterbacks that are able to move. I will say that the development of just having the confidence of what's going on in the offense, the confidence of the guys around you and the confidence of the guys up front, I would say in the most obvious of terms, the day and age of quarterbacks just sitting back in the pocket to take hits from defensive ends and linebackers are over. Just like you talked about Darren Howard, being quick, getting up field and getting his hands on the quarterback. If he's not able to avoid him and keep your eyes downfield. You put his sack record up there. So it's obviously why these guys would have some problems." Q: Do you have the green light to scramble when you see fit? A: "I have the yellow light. He (Andy Reid) hits the red light every now and then. When the green light's there, I go." Q: When you do have the yellow light, do you put your foot on the gas and run for it? A: "When you coming in traffic it's coming, so you got to be cautious. Once you bring up the green light aspect, I think pretty much all quarterbacks have the green light." Q: Does Andy (Reid) and his assistant coaches impress the need to let things develop? A: "No, I've been given the opportunity to go through a the reads of progression. If there's nothing there, make something happen and I've also been given the opportunity where if there's a play that's called and we won't be protected on that, then I can change the play to get us in a better position of success." Q: When you differentiate running quarterbacks and people who use their feet, what is the difference in your mind? A: "Well, let's take a look. Matt Hasselbeck is a guy who can get out of the pocket and run. Patrick Ramsey, Tom Brady, Doug Flutie, Rich Gannon, guys who if nothing is there, they're able to pick up yards with their legs. Nobody pretty much labels them as running quarterback. I'm still trying to find out what exactly the definitely of a running quarterback is when you have quarterbacks nowadays that are not just going to sit back there and just be introducing themselves to the yard marker." Q: What would you characterize Aaron Brooks as? A: "As a quarterback." Q: Do you characterize Brooks as a guy who is able to scramble and get out of trouble? A: "Just as a quarterback. We're all just quarterbacks." Q: Wouldn't you admit that some quarterbacks have a more acute ability to get out of trouble? A: "Some quarterbacks, yes, running backs, yes, tight ends, yes. If they're going to qualify quarterback that can move as running quarterbacks, then we might as well classify tight ends as tight ends/receivers and running backs/flankers, so you just really can't separate the quarterback and think not everybody is going to feel good about it. You take running quarterbacks, people are going to ask the question, what do you mean?" Q: Rush Limbaugh came back to the airwaves the other day. Did that make any dent in your mind at all? A: "No, I'm just trying to tune in and listen to his show to get a hands on experience of the excitement that he provides." Q: Is there any lasting effect from the controversy a couple of months ago? A: "No, not at all." As always keep it here to NOPF for the latest on the Saints.
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