THE DAILY COLLEC Donavan McNabb walk , missing a two-point o Giants. Gator guar,- By Doug Fert ASSOCIATED PP, GAINESVILLE. Fl; . Florida last won a kind in 1996 the made it through an (mt_ playing musical quarto!; Heading into their t year, the issue is far tr(..:, The starter in Sa7V.lf Conference showdown will be Jesse Palmcr. 0 who has started - Gators' first two gam Coach Steve Spu►riel resounding endorseill,..! "We sort of think Jufr-, terback," he said. pick up his play a link there." If he doesn't, Spurri , shirt freshman Rex t;:: his debut with the in - when Spurrier lost pat Grossman responded down passes in a 55-+; nessee State. STUD 2 2 Roundtrip London Paris :3 Rounder: London " Fares are roundtrip an ,- ; taxes and fees additioo Surcharge for Call for exact fares r - .e No fares Get Personal! in Collegian Classifieds McNabb still working on improving his game By Rob Maadi ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER PHILADELPHIA Tom Couch has done it So has Daunte Culpepper and Akili Smith and Cade McNown and Shaun King. F;ach member of the Class of 1999 quarter- As has had a really big game except for Donovan McNabb. McNabb, the second quarterback selected • ad No. 2 overall pick last year, posted his • ,,- st 2,00 _yard game Sunday in a 33-18 loss to i€ New York Giants. But, 177 of his 214 ds came in the second half after the <;i is took a 20-3 lead. - Donovan did some good things, and there r. some things that he could take out of this lid work on," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. ii was a little bit here, and a little bit there, ‘ri and bad, and he knows it. He's very about this thing and we'll get that urked on The Eagles are 3-5 in McNabb's eight Ilis I)=_'st game came against Washing ,l; last season when he was 16-of-28 for 172 V.;rds. two touchdowns and no interceptions. lie :Also ran for 71 yards. But, the Eagles lost Nabb had three touchdowns in 38-31 1('1,!v over St. Louis in the regular season question left wide open; Palmer to start Saturday also freshman Brock Berlin, who ;)used to the be the first one off the week. ;. did I say that? Three or four Spurrier said, trying to by he changed his mind. "Maybe practice he did look good. One looks better than the other one. ~ .k. Rex looks better than all of Jesse is our best quarterback to there against Tennessee." 'r - is the only Florida quarterback experience playing before 108,000 ,irted two years ago in Knoxville, inp, his first 10 passes while alter :lays Frith Doug Johnson. - the way the Gators have been 1( ithan Trophy winner Danny • _'aided them to their fourth -,EC title and only national cham it years ago. Back then, Spurri ‘l'Ziti much easier. 4.,kcli called the play. The quarter the ball. Any number of blazing ‘ ers caught it. And the band , CAREER AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITH: -1P,4 ,frft , Stop by and visit the P&G Booth! Representatives from Manitiacnirmg. Information Technologv, & Research and Development will be available to answer your que\ilim\ & slimmer 401 ..,,,,...... "Donovan did some good things, and there are soine things that he could take out of this and work on. It was a little bit here, and a little bit there, good and bad, and he knows it." finale. But, the Rains played their junior var sity in the second half and McNabb was only 15-of-32 for 179 yards and two interceptions. Until he proves he can beat teams in the air, defenses will continue to focus on shut ting down Duce Staley and daring McNabb to throw. "I love it," McNabb said. "It's a challenge on my part." McNabb may eventually prove to be the best of the group. He has all the physical tools a strong arm and excellent speed. He also has the intangibles a solid work ethic, tremendous poise and maturity. But, it hasn't translated into a really big game yet. Not like the others. Couch, the No. 1 pick in '99, had a three touchdown, no interception game against New Orleans, and a 19-for-35, 262-yard, two touchdown game against Tennessee last season. "It's not as easy as it used to be," Spurri er said. Palmer has started well in each of the first two games, both against overmatched teams. But somewhere along the way, he has missed a read or a receiver, or both. The visor comes off Spurrier's head and the quarterback shuffle is on. This one took root in the second quarter last week, when Palmer never saw Alex Willis break free in the secondary. Spurrier whirled around and had the following con versation with Grossman. "Did you see Alex?" "Yes, sir." - Do you think you can hit him?" "Yes, sir." - Go in there and hit him." Two plays later, the same number was called. Willis broke free, Grossman threw him the ball and the Gators scored on a 16- yard touchdown. "If we think we've got a player better than the other one playing, we'll give him a chance," Spurrier said. "We don't like it like that particularly, but you've got to earn your way." WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 20th & THURSD,II; SEPT. 21st For more information about a career with P&G or to apply online, go to http://www.pg.com/careers SPORTS CAREER DAYS BRYCE JORDAN CENTER internship opportunities d ~ He was 19-of-31 ft , ' 259 ~ .,trds and two touchdowns in Cleveland's 24 victory at Cincinnati on Sunda\ Smith, the N 0..; pick '99. started just four games last year wi - ak battling injuries. Even though his 6r. ,g was the lowest among the six rookie (p.arterbacks. he did have a 25 for-42, 221 cirri two-touchdown. no-interception 'nst the Browns. McN own, seie i ven ill by Chicago, had a three-toucliiiwy , yard perfor mance against Washilq. .:nd a 255-yard. one-touchdown game r, i the Eagles among his first six start He was superh m t ~ : eO.-, o n opener against Minnesoti. McNov, !brew for 290 yards, two touchdowns and n interceptions, and rushed for 87 yard, and one touchdown. Culpepper, who did no 1;,11. e a snap last season after goi:4; at No. IL is 2-0 as a starter. Until that point. Palmer Ni.rp,:c i.)-w-23 for 139 yards and a toncliclow.: (i:-:1-qnittt tin ished 9-of-14 for 93 yards an; (;!)... intercep tion. Two of his first wtT+ for touchdowns. It's possible that Spurn( , ttt.tld 20 back to what he has dune at di' tit pints in the last three games. sen , a new quarterback every nlay It - net but it at least gives Simi 1! , i tit give marching orders \‘ it it be forgotten Palmer was on thc time, gripping the pi occasions, that it - I've done some bad things, too, - PH,I • to grade himself' oaen He could probably sis. You just go alon2 yourself to play. the v. two games." Spurrier would rLit self the sooner the 1 - ) He hasn't had since Wuerftel in kmwssee game tends to go a lona., decid ing championships Gamble Andy Reid F: - g! , 9s coach ti ill not ',VIIOIC It. ,'on 7-:11 prypare f „t,i}'liF' i~I5l urfic , . him Florida QB Jesse Palmer celebrate , vt , down. His team played Middle Tennessee , 41, Sept. 13, 200,0 He beat Chicago on the 4ri;i.ilid hv 11141 i, for three touchdowns in the opera an 4( Miami in the air with a 355-yard periormar on Sunday. Even King, who was selected in the sr and round and 50th overall l'ampa Ba, had more success than MeNaho King had a two-touchdown, 297 yard gar against Detroit last year and threw a4ati, winning touchdown to beat a asha4top. the playoffs. Meanwhile. McNabb is havulLt difTiczo! finding open receivers. "There were times the receivers and I weren't on the same page. 'fier(' were tiple when we were on the same page. hAtliir were covered," McNabb said in math of the loss to New York Still, Reid believes MeNaiii) wi;[ into the franchise quarterback tion expected he'd become wht fssrd several trade offers and selee , i the second pick. "He's better then he was at I * Pt la year. And he will do nothing hi.it gt.! this thing moves on," Reid said - lie s a Con petitor. He'll work on his gainf.. :•():11e time he's trying to make too morn h. pin- n. seen that before. Hell learn. L - it! to get better. He sees this as a elial:eft?t44 lit -7-;' 1 . * ':3 ' v ~. ~ x ~' ,~ ; 2 41 ' 4i4 s M I t.tBTOrif •
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