McNabb vs Cambell (1 Viewer)

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Donovan McNabb got the ball at his 38-yard line Sunday, with more than two minutes on the clock and three timeouts in his pocket, needing perhaps 30 yards to be in field goal range. Instead, the Redskins went five-yard completion, sack, incompletion, incompletion.

Wait, I've got a great idea! Someone should compare McNabb and Jason Campbell! What, you'd rather read about Albert Haynesworth?

(Special note for print readers: this item was crafted with the express purpose of luring white-rose-wearing McNabbists and red-rose-wearing Campbellites to spew forth many dozens of angry comments and insults about each others' lineage, leading to boffo Web traffic and possible abdication. It doesn't quite have the same benefit on the printed page, though you're welcome to leave angry messages on my voice mail. Or, better yet, my editor's.)

Anyhow, as a longtime anti-Campbellite, I was happy enough to meticulously run through Campbell's performance in clutch situations last season, and to find him lacking.

Looking at situations where Campbell got the ball back in tied games or down by one score with less than six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter or in overtime, I found that Campbell was 44 for 86 for 584 yards and two touchdowns in 17 applicable games, not counting spikes and times he got the ball back with virtually no time left. He also had four interceptions, was sacked five times, and fumbled three times. That was good for a 61.4 rating. The Redskins were 4-13 in those games.

McNabb has already had seven chances at such drives with the Redskins, spread out over three games. The seven drives have produced two field goals, one missed field goal, one interception, two punts, one turnover on downs and one ghastly blog item filled with far too many numbers.

Still, McNabb's composite stats in those drives have been, I dare say, Campbellian: 14 for 22 for 135 yards, with an interception and three sacks. The QB rating? Try a nearly identical 61.7. The Redskins are 1-2 in these games, rallying to beat the Packers while failing to come up in the clutch against the Texans or the Colts. And I think we all know what the reaction would have been had No. 17 been responsible for that penultimate drive on Sunday.

Now, wiser local columnists than I would point both to McNabb's superior intagibles, and to the silliness of QB ratings. Mike Wise called him the "one indispensable player on the Washington Redskins roster." Tom Boswell wrote that Campbell "never had a day when he looked remotely as good as the spry 33-year-old McNabb in his second game for Shanahan."



Well, the blog Krem's Sports also compared McNabb through six games this season to Campbell through six games last season. Might as well add Campbell through six games in 2008, too. McNabb has a QB rating of 78.8 and a completion percentage of 58.1; Campbell's equivalent numbers were better both years. McNabb has five TDs and five interceptions; Campbell averaged six TDs and three interceptions through his first six games in the Maroon and Black Era. McNabb is 3-3, while Campbell was a combined 6-6.

Now I'll go ahead and quote blogger Matt Kremnitzer, who exactly nailed my feelings:

"McNabb simply brings things to the table that Campbell never will: better pocket presence, a quicker release, the ability to create plays, and being better at throwing deep passes," he wrote. "McNabb is unquestionably the better quarterback - not exactly a stunning statement. Still, the Redskins need McNabb to play much better than he has, meaning that he needs to do a better job of hitting open receivers and completing a higher percentage of his passes."

That seems like an accurate paragraph. Though possibly not confrontational enough for Web purposes.

 

[Amused to Death]

I've heard Mike & Mike (and Stink) this season call McNabb out for his accuracy. Something like "he misses 5 or 6 open receivers a game". Your first bolded paragraph about not leading the team to a comeback win late in the game is one of the main gripes Eagles fans had about him. And here he is now being compared to Jason Campbell - and not favorably.

But when he was in Philly, the fans just didn't appreciate him. I know its a small sample, but anyone care to compare McNabb's QB rating with the guys in Philly right now?

 

[Eastwood]

Are they counting the 10-20 sacks Campbell would have in the pocket, with 4-5 of those resulting in Fumbles vs the ZERO times McNabb has fumbled the ball when sacked this year? To compare these 2 is just absurd. McNabb is 10x better than Campbell, on his worst day.

 

[Fat Nick]

Are they counting the 10-20 sacks Campbell would have in the pocket, with 4-5 of those resulting in Fumbles vs the ZERO times McNabb has fumbled the ball when sacked this year? To compare these 2 is just absurd. McNabb is 10x better than Campbell, on his worst day.

Absurd comparison. Campbell + 2008 Skins > McNabb + 2010 Skins somehow can allow one to conclude Campbell might be > McNabb? I don't think it takes a genius to realize that there are WAY too many variables.Inaccurate passing has always been part of McNabb's game. I used to celebrate when he missed a wide open Westbrook on the goal line by throwing the ball at his ankles. That said, I also hated the way that despite that, he found a way to win. McNabb will never be the best statistical QB, but he wins games. Wins are what counts. (Despite what Chris Johnson may think...getting 2000 yards rushing will not by default win the Titans the superbowl.)

 

[Bri]

Every team Santana plays for seems to have an underachieving almost disorganized offense

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I've heard, and I could be totally off my rocker here, but I've heard that there is more to a football game than just the last 2 minutes.

 

[Hang 10]

McNabb certainly has been average for a decent stretch of the season but to compare him to Campbell is absurd. How did Campbell look last week playing an 0-5 team?

8-21 for 83 yards, 2 picks and fumble.

 

[Sidewinder16]

I've heard Mike & Mike (and Stink) this season call McNabb out for his accuracy. Something like "he misses 5 or 6 open receivers a game".

This hasn't gone unnoticed by those that matter, either.

LaFleur said the emphasis on McNabb's footwork is something coaches have been discussing with the quarterback for several weeks and that they've already noticed progress.

McNabb's worst statistical outing of the season came Oct. 3 at Philadelphia, where he was 8-of-19 passing. His completion percentage has risen each week since then, from 42.1 percent against the Eagles to 53.1 versus Green Bay and to 64.4 last Sunday against Indianapolis.

 

[Dexter Manley]

If I'm not mistaken, McNabb already has more pass plays of 50+ yards this season than JC had the last 2 seasons combined.

And blaming the Houston loss on McNabb is laughable. Special teams and Hasslett's playcalling blew that one.

Also, I find it inconceivable that JC could of come remotely close to leading the Redskins to the same comeback against Green Bay with the way that sieve of an oline was playing.

Last week's loss to Indy was certainly disappointing and McNabb didn't get it done in crunch time, but lets keep it real. If JC was the qb instead of McNabb this season, the Skins would likely be 0-6 right now instead of 3-3.

If the author wants to write a legitimate article about a qb who has continually choked in crunch time this season, he should write one about that terrible PTPer Romo.

 

[Brunell4MVP]

Yeah, and Johnny Unitas and Joe Montana are statistically worse than about 20 other NFL QBs.

In a team sport, statistics often lie.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

I think you'll be hard pressed to find many Redskins fans who will say there's little difference between McNabb and Campbell.