Washington Post: Will Michael Vick Start In Philadelphia?

by Brandon on Sep 16, 2010 10:52 PM CDT in Green Bay Packers Analysis

The League Panelists over at WashingtonPost.com are discussing whether QB Michael Vick can return to form. From my response:

He can still run, and can still run away from defenders. And he's still got a strong throwing arm, which he showed off on a rocket pass to the sidelines for a completion. But he also showed his trademark inconsistency when he one-hopped a couple of pass attempts. He played just over one half and totaled an impressive 278 yards from scrimmage. Is that good enough to be named the starter?

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If I am Philly

I give him a game or two to prove himself while I let Kolb get fully healthy. I think Kolb is still the franchise though. If Vick plays well, he’s the kind of x factor that could make Philly really hard to beat. Their offense is WAY more talented than anything he ever had in Atlanta so the potenital if there for him to have a HUGE season. They could even position themselves to trade him later in the season!

by TrevorR on Sep 16, 2010 11:16 PM CDT reply actions

I dunno 'bout that

Philly has one excellent WR (Jackson) who needs the O-line to give him time to create separation, one above-average WR (Maclin) and a better than average TE (Celek). No running game (other than Vick) at all. FB is out for the season. THe right side of the O-line is horrible, and now the starting center is also out for the season. It’s a good thing Vick is a lefty – he’ll have to roll left all day and just out-run the pursuit. If I were a Defensive Coordinator against the Iggles these days, I’d know I could just defend half the field.

With the O-line problems and lack of a FB (who was also their best runner) they absolutely need Vick’s mobility. But I don’t think this current Philly offense is very good.

by LA Cheese on Sep 17, 2010 2:29 AM CDT up reply actions

The have a GREAT running game…its called Vick. They don’t even need a running back, he keeps them honest all by himself. I think the Philly offense has plenty of potential. If the line was good and they WANTED to have a running game they could, but we all know that isn’t Reids mantra. Heck we though we had the Eagles number in that game and yet every time he was in our grasp he got free and was runnign wildly downfield.

Vick is the only way this team is going to be successful this year I think…

by TrevorR on Sep 17, 2010 7:16 AM CDT up reply actions

I've never bought into Kolb as a franchise QB,

so giving Vick a chance makes sense. He’s definitely not a long term answer in an Andy Reid offense, but he’s a more dangerous player now than I’d estimate Kolb will ever be. However, if you buy into Kolb as a franchise player than the choice is easy; you go with Kolb. It depends on your opinion of Kolb.

by Jason Hirschhorn on Sep 17, 2010 12:55 AM CDT reply actions

For a game or three, I’d take Vick over Kolb (or just about anybody else). But, for the long-term, I’d take Kolb (or just about anybody else) over Vick. I think was Hank Stram who said about QBs whose game was mainly about running, “they’re great right up until somebody carries ’em away in a bucket.”

Vick is at risk for all the injuries of a QB and the injuries of a RB. He wears down over the course of a season, too, getting slower as the year goes along. …which will get more pronounced as he gets older. Most QBs can play into their mid to late 30s, but Vick will lose his burst at 30, just like a RB. So, he gets slower late in the season, and it’ll happen more-so at the end of his career. And, without that speed, suddenly he’s Billy Joe Tolliver: all arm strength and no accuracy.

Although, don’t get me wrong. While he’s in his prime, I mean, look out! The speed of Deion Sanders and the arm strength of John Elway. …and that’s not an overstatement. He doesn’t have the mechanics needed for the accuracy, but the guy can bring the heat like nobody else. He’s an incredible talent, and I’m glad to see he’s at least got this opportunity with the Eagles so that his whole career doesn’t get completely wasted.

by Curly Lambeau on Sep 17, 2010 2:27 AM CDT reply actions

Vick is already 30

But then he did get two years off. Ahem.

by LA Cheese on Sep 17, 2010 2:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Vick doesn’t need burst in the same way RBs do though. He’s not busting through Olines or running sweeps. He’s going back in the pocket and then running once forced out. Its really a different style than a running back IMO. Even if he slows a LITTLE, I still think he’ll have enough to beat out LBs and DL guys so the only way you slow him down is to keep safeties or corners in to spy which really hampers pass defense and creates a mismatch if they do actually run.

Sure Vick is 30 now but that is still PRIME time for QBs. I think he still has a lot left in him and a LOT to prove.

Nice billy joe tolliver reference! hahaha

by TrevorR on Sep 17, 2010 7:26 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, there are different demands on him than a RB, that’s true. But Vick runs as often as a RB, and he’s the size of a WR. The guy takes a pounding.

by Curly Lambeau on Sep 17, 2010 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Vick's skills were always as a runner

And once people started accounting for his running abilities and making him beat them deep, he couldn’t. It took a couple of years for the NFL to adjust in the mid 2000’s, but I expect it would only take a few games now. The game plan is to make Vick throw accurate passes, which has always been his achilles heel.

by Danwood on Sep 17, 2010 6:18 AM CDT reply actions

I think so. I was a big fan of his back when he was with Atlanta, and always thought people were too hard on him. Everyone wanted to rip on his passing abilities but the fact of the matter is, he’s never going to be a great pocket passer. He’ll beat contain, and at the very least be able to keep plays alive with his feet. I always thought some of his passing struggles were his receivers (or lack thereof). I never understand how no one could seem to get open for him despite his ability to keep plays alive for so long.

Obviously he has that with Jackson and Maclin, and even Celek. I think Vick could be very effective for the Eagles. Between him, McCoy, Maclin, and Jackson they have a lot of weapons who are all very explosive.

by packallday555 on Sep 17, 2010 10:12 AM CDT reply actions

He's 30 years old

How much longer is he going to have this gifted athletic ability and speed? You can’t win Superbowls by being fast and athletic, you have to have the QB smarts, be able to play out of the pocket, and have the ability to read the defense.

If Vick is contained in the pocket, the Philly Offense goes from good to garbage. I’m simply not a believer in Vick in the long run or even this season. I would much rather stand pat and develop Kolb.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on Sep 17, 2010 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions

He’ll have it this season if our game was any indicator. And he actually did beat us out of the pocket. He made some really good throws, and played extremely well.

If he’s contained then things get tougher but I don’t know how much you can really contain him.

by packallday555 on Sep 17, 2010 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions

Beating us out of the pocket

What I meant was playing as a Pocket Passer and reading defenses.

Run when you have to, not when you want to.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on Sep 17, 2010 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Michael Vick teams only hit double digit wins ONCE

He has been contained many, many times.

by Danwood on Sep 17, 2010 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, I think this Philly team is more talented then his Atlanta teams but who knows.

by packallday555 on Sep 17, 2010 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Vick might not be the most accurate QB ever . . .

But when you can buy an extra five seconds to let your receivers get open you don’t need to be extremely accurate.

by I voted for Kodos on Sep 17, 2010 9:30 PM CDT reply actions

Kolb...

Is apparently starting next week (as long as he’s good to go). I don’t know if its the right call. Vick makes the Eagles a scary team to face…tough to gameplan for. Kolb doesn’t have an x-factor like him and Vick for a couple plays really doesn’t have the same effect…

by TrevorR on Sep 20, 2010 7:07 AM CDT reply actions