What the Hell Happened During “Hell Week”
That's it...nice and easy! And a one and a two
When I heard the reasoning behind Mike Shanahan’s decision to pull Donovan McNabb during the last 2 minutes of the game due to McNabb not having the “cardiovascular endurance” to run the offense, my immediate thought was…what about “Hell Week?”
A big deal was made about the “Hell Week” that McNabb invited his fellow Redskins receivers, tight ends and running backs to last July. It was held in Arizona the week before training camp and was described by the Washington Post as “a week of grueling workouts and team building.” From the Wapo article:
McNabb calls it “Hell Week” because of the demanding nature of his workouts, and also because of the extreme summertime heat. Temperatures around Phoenix this week are expected to climb as high as 112 degrees.
“It’s a different mind-set,” McNabb said of the week. “I prepare guys the way I prepare.”There, Brett Fischer, McNabb’s trainer, will lead the group through workouts and exercises nearly identical to the ones the quarterback does during the off-season.
“For them, I think it’s an eye-opener what we’re doing,” said Fischer, whose résumé lists him as a physical therapist, an athletic trainer and a strength-and-conditioning specialist. “I think it’s an eye opener for them, comparing themselves with their quarterback, with how hard he’s working out here. To me, it’s him telling them, ‘Hey, I’m taking this thing seriously to the next level. Let’s go to the next level.’ ”The daily routine focuses on the athlete’s core — abdominals, the lower back, gluteal muscles and hips — and involves everything from traditional weights to resistance bands. Fischer likes to focus on balance, flexibility, joints and areas that most athletes tend to ignore in their regular workouts.
The group also will spend plenty of time on cardio by running steep hills in the desert heat until they finally take a break in the early afternoon.
“People, when they come in here and they see what he does, they’re shocked,” Fischer says. “They go, ‘Man, he pays attention to every little detail in the workout.’ And he’s here from 8 o’clock until 10 o’clock. They go, ‘I didn’t realize he worked this hard. I didn’t realize he had all the flexibility, all the core, all the lifting, all the things done for his body.’ ”
So here we are a few months later and Mcnabb is now “unfit.” I guess all the 14 hour training days were not enough or else they were just a bunch of bs. McNabb appears to be in better shape than I’ve seen him in recent years. Sure I notice him huffing and puffing after a long scramble, but hey…I huff and puff going from the lazy-boy to the fridge for a Bud Light.
McNabb‘s “Hell Week” may have been an accurate title for Redskin‘s fans. Malcolm Kelly injured his hamstring in Arizona and was placed on injured reserve for the year. Colt Brennan and Devin Thomas were also there…they were both cut. Thomas described the workouts as “tough.” McNabb gets pulled at the most important time of the game for…Rex Grossman? The only known participant who seems to be having a decent year is Santana Moss. Maybe next year they should try the “Charlie Sheen” week.
Cheers and Hail
A Bad McNabb Is Still Good
photo via Redskins.com
I saw the player I loved to hate for so many years play like the player I loved to hate in the Redskins-Ravens pre-season match up. All the things I used to make fun of Donovan McNabb for were on display. He missed receivers high and low, he missed them left and right…he even threw a couple of his patented 20 yard knuckleballs. And you know what? I loved him.
I now realize what I didn’t see all those years, a Quarterback who makes plays and is a leader on the field. I saw a QB that is going to make a handful of plays each and every game that may be the difference between winning and losing. I saw the difference between Campbell and McNabb and that difference is like night a day.
McNabb throws the ball downfield and he looks to make a play past the first down marker on 3rd and long, instead of pulling a JC and dumping it off to the running back. A perfect example was the 3rd and 7 on the Redskins first drive. McNabb delivered a perfect strike with a lot of heat on it to a double-covered Moss 13 yards downfield. JC would have dumped it off to Portis, who always seems to fall down we he catches the ball.
McNabb senses pressure and he steps up in the pocket or he rolls away from it. JC would clam up, wind up and eventually take a sack which 50% of the time would result in fumble. A perfect example are two plays to Cooley. On the first drive on 3rd and 14 McNabb had several guys blitzing up the middle and he casually rolled to his right and hit Colley for a 14 yard gain and a 1st down. Later, from his own end zone McNabb faced a heavy blitz from his blindside and was able to step up and hit a wide open Cooley on a post pattern for a big gain. That play had sack, fumble and 6 points for the Ravens written all over it if JC is at QB.
McNabb makes throws JC would never dream of making. Besides the aforementioned Moss 3rd down throw, the dropped touchdown by Fred Davis was a great play by McNabb. Back of the end zone in traffic, should have been a TD. JC doesn’t attempt that pass, he throws it to the back of the end zone, but it’s 20 yards into the seats.
I didn’t mean for this to be a bash Campbell post, but it’s clear to me now that McNabb is a difference maker and a much better QB than JC. Things clearly aren’t always measured on stat sheets. Checking off to RB’s is a good thing for your completion % and keeping your interceptions down, but that doesn’t win football games. And Philly fans knocked McNabb for a lack of emotion? Wow, imagine what they what have thought about JC, guy had the same look on his face for 4 years. I guess you don’t know what you got till it’s gone…and for the Redskins that’s a good thing.
Cheers and Hail
Extreme Makeover: Burgundy & Gold Edition
For 11 years the site of this…
made me want to do this!
It’s amazing how far a new wardrobe can go.
He looks leaner, faster and almost like he won’t throw passes at receiver’s ankles. Yep, I’m drinking the kool-aid and have a roll of quarters in my pocket, wearing my Nikes…I’m fully on board with #5. Minicamp starts today, check back in October to see how I’m feeling then!
Cheers and Hail
What’s JC Worth?
With Donovan McNabb set to be introduced as the Redskins new QB tomorrow afternoon and talks of a contract extension immanent, the question is what do the Skins do with Jason Campbell?
I guess the obvious thing to do is trade him…but you have to get value in return. I’ve read reports today that put his value anywhere between a 2nd to 5th round pick. I would run around my neighborhood buck naked in a Shanahan mask if they could get a 2nd rounder for JC. That would basically mean that you traded McNabb straight up for JC and I think anyone would sign off on that deal. If JC’s value is a 5th rounder, then you keep him as a backup. I think the over/under is a 3rd rounder, if you can get a 3rd rounder or better you gotta pull the trigger.
Thru all the shit JC has been thru over the past year, he’s been a true gentleman. He’s never had a coach or front office executive stand behind him and say “this is our guy.” Instead he’s remained professional as countless names were rumored to replace him. My hope is that JC can be moved to another team where he’ll get a shot to remain a starter in the NFL.
Cheers and Hail
McRib?????
Update 4/5/10 01:11PM I am now drinking the kool-aid and fully in on this trade. The Redskins are a better team, the playoffs are realistic.
Really…the Redskins? No Shit?
Confused? Depressed? Numb? Dumbfounded…words cannot express my thoughts on the Donovan McNabb trade. Are the Redskins better? Yes, they probably are, but I’m in need of a support group.
I hate Donovan McNabb, I’m on record many times documenting my hatred. And at this point…right now…I still hate him. I have this weird feeling in the pit of my stomach, like someone close to me has done something very evil. Why would your division rival trade you “the greatest player in the history of their franchise?”
I have an analogy for that. My good friend once bought a new high-def TV and had his old projection big screen still in his basement. In passing he told me it could be mine…for free, all I had to do was pick it up and take it away. Sure, the TV was a little older, but it was big, and I had watched it back in the day and it had performed well. My roommate and I picked up this big awkward TV and took it to our house. Once we got the thing in the house and fired it up, we realized we had a huge hunk of trash taking up precious space in the living room. Meanwhile, my buddy had gotten rid of his trash and was sitting at home enjoying his new TV.
Photo via SuperSkin Defender’s FB page
Other thoughts about the trade:
Colt Brennan needs to sell #5 for as much cash as he can possibly get! Milk McNabb for all it’s worth….the QB position is getting very crowded, it may be Colt’s severance pay.
McNabb is set to be introduced on Tuesday, the same day Sam Bradford is visiting.
The Redskins have an awesome roster, if it was 2005.
Winning fixes everything.
Does Donovan know the new overtime rules?
Cheers and Hail
