No nabbing McNabb?

  • Scott M. Johnson / Herald Writer
  • Wednesday, September 19, 2001 9:00pm
  • Sports

By Scott M. Johnson

Herald Writer

KIRKLAND – Levon Kirkland had the best seat in the house for Donovan McNabb’s calling-out party 10 months ago. Or maybe the worst seat.

Kirkland, then with the Steelers, watched from the sidelines as the Philadelphia Eagles’ young quarterback overcame 57 minutes of horrific play and carved up the Pittsburgh defense for a 26-23 overtime victory.

Before that game, McNabb was considered just another up-and-coming quarterback. Ever since, McNabb has been one of the most explosive offensive players in the entire league.

“The first three quarters, he had a bad game,” said Kirkland, who gave way to Earl Holmes as part of a dime package during the final few minutes of that game. “Then (the Eagles) got an onside kick and he passed it down the field on us. He made like three crucial drives at the end of that game. After that game, he really started playing well.”

McNabb led Philadelphia on two scoring drives over the final 2 1/2minutes of that game, rallying the Eagles from a 23-13 deficit. Then he led one more drive in overtime to set up the game-winning field goal. While Kirkland’s Steelers went into the tank after the loss, McNabb led the Eagles to the playoffs and emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate.

“There’s nothing like confidence,” Kirkland said. “There’s nothing like winning a game when you’re down 10 with two minutes to go. That’s what he did. He did a great job of winning the game, and when you do that, your confidence goes way up. He just really played well after that.”

After watching from the sideline at Pittsburgh, Kirkland will get another crack at McNabb and the Eagles this weekend when the Seattle Seahawks host them at Husky Stadium. While Philadelphia has one of the top defenses in the NFC, and a quality running back in Duce Staley, McNabb will be the center of attention.

“He’s their heartbeat,” said Seahawks free safety Marcus Robertson, who faced McNabb while playing for the Tennessee Titans last season. “He’s the motor to the whole system. In order to slow them down, you’ve got to find a way to keep him in the pocket. If you don’t keep him in the pocket, it’s going to be a long day.”

In his first full season as starter, McNabb finished second in voting for the NFC’s offensive player of the year and made his first trip to the Pro Bowl. He accounted for nearly 75 percent of the team’s offense, throwing for 3,365 yards and running for another 629.

So the dilemma facing the Seahawks is this: How do you stop the guy?

The St. Louis Rams put eight players up front against the Eagles last week, and dared McNabb to beat them with his arm. After a subpar first half, McNabb nearly did just that. He rallied Philadelphia back with two fourth-quarter touchdown passes, but the Eagles eventually lost 20-17 in overtime.

Another common tactic has been for opposing teams to use a “spy,” which is essentially a defensive player who keeps his sights on McNabb throughout the game. Seahawks linebacker Chad Brown was in that role in last season’s finale, but Buffalo quarterback Doug Flutie found a way to complete 20 of 25 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns in the Bills’ 42-23 win.

Brown is hoping not to have to do any “spying” again this week.

“That’s probably why he’s had some success, because people are afraid to (come after McNabb),” Brown said. “Not that we’re issuing a challenge, but we have to continue to do what we do. We’re going to be a little more conscious of him, but we can’t just not rush the quarterback. We don’t plan on spying him all game or anything like that.”

McNabb’s role this year has been even more pertinent to the Eagles. Philadelphia has two new receivers in James Thrash and Freddie Mitchell, and is also trying to get Staley re-acclimated in the offense after he missed the final 11 games of 2000 with a foot injury. Until the Eagles offense comes together, McNabb will have to make some things happen on his own.

“He’s one of the top mobile quarterbacks in the league as far as straight mobility,” Seahawks defensive coordinator Steve Sidwell said. “He can buy time and make things happen. That’s been a big key to their success, obviously.”

McNabb’s ability to make plays makes teams alter what they can do defensively. Seattle’s young cornerbacks will have to hold their coverage longer while McNabb scrambles around, and the linebackers will have to keep one eye on the backfield during passing plays.

“You don’t want him running outside, because when he does that, he’s very dangerous,” Kirkland said. “You just have to keep him contained. If everybody just does their job, we’ll be fine.”

“The uniqueness of Donovan is he is also a very fine passer,” Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. ” … When (mobile quarterbacks) come into our league, you have to be able to pass in the pocket and be good at it, otherwise you kind of become one-dimensional and people can do things against you. One of his strengths is he can (pass), too, which makes it very difficult for you on defense.”

Despite his success at the end of last season, McNabb spent the past offseason with a more rigorous routine. During his time off, he took part in a training program in Arizona that was designed to get him into even better football shape. He incorporated sprints and passing drills in the desert heat into his weightlifting program.

“I keep the mentality of going out and doing my job and not worrying about if I’m looking better than I did last year or if I’m doing things better which maybe I didn’t do well last year,” said McNabb, 24. “I just have to go out, do my job and things that are best for the team.”

Ever since that Pittsburgh game, McNabb has seemingly done all the right things. Now it’s Seattle’s turn to try and slow him down.

This time, Kirkland hopes to be on the field at crunch time.

“It was tough, real tough,” he said of watching McNabb carve up Pittsburgh’s defense from the sidelines. “But that was the team’s decision to make. You just live with it.”

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