See, I disagree that McNabb is "built for the West Coast Offense." In fact, I say just the opposite. This pass-happy, 3 and 5 step drop O is killing him. And he's not nearly as productive in the short passing game as he would be in a more ball-control, play-action, stretch the field offense.
What do Tom Brady, Matt Hasselback, and Joe Montana have in common. Average arms, but terrific accuracy and timing. Those guys are tailor made for the WCO. McNabb has a huge gun, but his accuracy is way inconsistent. Sometimes he'll put it right where he wants it on a seam route to the TE, sometime he's completely wiff on the little circle route to the RB. Also, his timing is nowhere near what we see from Brady, and some of the other WC QBs.
But what does he do well? He buys time. He throws on the run. He never gives up on play. Put him in BPs offense, where he's only throwing the ball 20 -25 times, and almost never throwing that little slant, or the WR screen, and his numbers would be much, much better. Protect him, move the pocket with a little designed half-roll, and send the WRs deep.
In the WCO, you've got to complete 65% of your passes to be successful, because so many of them are short of the first down marker. In a run-first, play-action offense, if you complete 60%, you're gonna kick ***.
I think McNabb would kick *** in Dallas.
And for the record, I think Bledsoe's doing a hell of a job, too. He just needs to realize that he doesn't have to do it on his own. I think he's getting there. And I have no qualms about him starting and delivering in big games. He did it when he was with BP in New England, and he did it in an AFC Championship game on the road. He's our QB, and he's much, much better than I was expecting, and a big reason why the Cowboys are in 1st place.
