Game 16 Thoughts

this was a win and it's always good to win, especially with a 'c' performance like today. the offense was carried by the two playmakers and the defense played a little worse than the 9 points they allowed.

- mcnabb at the end of the season looks like a completely different player than mcnabb at the start of the season. in hindsight this probably should have been expected and the unrealistic expecations on mcnabb's performance heading into a season just off ACL surgery was a big cause of fan discontent. not sure how those expectations could/should have been tempered coming into the season, but clearly there was some expectation setting that should have been done but was not. i think phil sheridan correctly identifies reid's strategy coming into the season in his column today:

Reid and his staff clearly thought the team could hang in there while McNabb worked through the early part of the season, then peak in time for the playoffs as the quarterback got back to form.

That plan looked better on paper than in practice. Ultimately, that strategy was doomed by the muffed punts in Green Bay and the defensive collapse in the final minutes against Chicago.

i don't think this is a bad strategy on the surface, but i do wonder whether most of the mcnabb uproar could have been avoided altogether simply by playing aj to start the season and letting don get healthier before jumping onto the field. i think the mcnabb we saw the last couple of games was much closer to the 'old' mcnabb and still gives the birds the best chance to win. i heard that some minnesota newspaper was speculating the the vikings would be willing to give up two first round picks for mcnabb. if that's the offer, i think it's too hard to turn down, but barring an offer of 1st round pick plus another first day pick, i think you stick with this guy for at least one more shot at a title.

- in order for that to happen, the o-line needs to improve. starting with the jailbreak they allowed on the first play, the o-line had pass protection issues for much of the day. even though mcnabb has historically had issues with holding the ball too long, this was not one of those games. the ball came out on time with great accuracy all game. if it hadn't this could have been a 5+ sack day. justice had some rough patches, but overall he looked athletic and got his hands on people. they do need to get him on "the good vitamins" however. he looks pretty weak and cannot handle a bullrush. jamaal jackson didn't play very well this season. while he is a physical upgrade over honeybuns, it seems like he's making the wrong block or the wrong call several times a game.

- celek already looks like an upgrade over LJ. i'd be completely comfortable going into next season with him at TE. he's a more fluid athlete than LJ, catches the ball more naturally, and doesn't carry the ball like he's afraid to have it touch his torso. little john is a fumble waiting to happen, goodbye and good riddance.

- the young linebackers had an up-and-down game and were most responsible for the uneven defensive performance. bradley took a stupid roughing penalty and he also got eaten by a blocker on the long marshawn lynch run (so did gaither). gocong made a huge hit on someone early, but then took a horrible angle on a swing pass and let lynch get by him for a long gain. still, i continue to be optimistic about their future. these guys are physical, active, and don't appear to be dummies. hopefully, we'll see them continue to develop and make fewer mistakes.

- abiamiri looked pretty good. he had a few decent pass rushes and seems to be pretty good at hand fighting.

- jr reed keeps laying the wood. i've always liked this guy.

the birds have some holes, but my understanding is that they had very little free cap space last offseason but they have a lot of free cap space this offseason. also, they do a good job at drafting and have their usual bevy of draft picks. i'll post my thoughts on what they need for next season in a few days.