Michael Vick Injury: 10 Reasons This Spells Disaster for the Eagles

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Michael Vick was the guy Eagle fans wanted. He was the guy they wanted on the field and the guy they wanted to lead this team to the next level.

To their dismay, and horror, Vick went to the sidelines with what the team is calling a "rib injury," with no indication whether he will return to this game.

Enter Kevin Kolb, the guy Andy Reid said would never lose the starting job a few weeks ago.

Here are 10 reasons why the Eagles are in serious trouble without Vick on the field.

No. 10: Vick a Better Athlete Than Kolb

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I think this is a "duh" thing to say, but let's at least put it on the table.

Michael Vick is the better athlete of the two. He can move around in the pocket, he can give you different looks, and you never know what he's going to do.

Not to mention his speed.

No. 9: More Faith In Vick

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If you're the Eagles, whether it be the offensive line or the wide receivers, who would you want more under center?

You have to believe there's more belief in Vick to be able to take over games by himself when he needs to or make the big plays.

Kolb brings you a pocket passer who can't make the kind of things happens as Vick does.

No. 8: Less Options With Vick On The Sidelines

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When Michael Vick takes the snap, you never know what's about to happen.

You don't know if he's looking for a receiver, about to run a quarterback sneak, or even run a rarely seen option.

He keeps the defenses guessing.

With Kolb on the field, you know he's going to do one of two things. Pass or hand off. Not much suspense there.

No. 7: Blitzes Become More Effective Against Kolb

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If you're a defensive coordinator and you see Kevin Kolb under center, you're more apt to run a blitz through the offensive line because you know there isn't the elusiveness with him as opposed to Vick.

The Eagles have a guy in Vick that can get away from even the fastest defensive ends or linebackers. They'll be in trouble if he will be out for any length of time.

No. 6: Wide Receivers Can't Stretch The Field

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Michael Vick at quarterback allows the Eagles to have their wide receivers stretch the field. You don't need to throw the short passes, you have a guy that can throw the perfect deep ball and keep the defensive backs honest.

No. 5: Vick Keeps His Defense off The Field

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Quarterbacks that can keep their defense off the field are quarterbacks that every team would love to have under center and in their uniform.

That's why Michael Vick is a guy the Eagles love having out there. He can pick up the big first downs on his own or he can throw a strike to a receiver 10 yards deep at the first down marker.

The more breaks you give your defense, the better they are.

No. 4: A Win Isn't a Lock With Kolb

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The Eagles know what they're getting with Michael Vick; they know what he brings to the table and they know he can win a game in the blink of an eye.

With Kevin Kolb, their offense has to work a little harder and their defense stays in a little longer.

There's no lock without the right guy on the field.

No. 3: Experience, Or Lack Thereof, Will Be Key

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Michael Vick has the experience that a lot of NFL quarterbacks depend on. It's what makes them better in certain situations.

Kevin Kolb doesn't have that kind of experience. When it comes down to it, when it's inside of two minutes and the Eagles trail, is Kolb the guy you want under center with 80 yards to go?

No. 2: More Pressure On LeSean McCoy

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Not having Michael Vick under center puts even more pressure on running back LeSean McCoy to be the guy to carry their running game.

Having Vick out of the game means the defensive units can key in on McCoy. Stopping him means forcing Kevin Kolb to do things himself which, for the most part, is unlikely.

No. 1: The Eagles Are Nowhere Near As Good

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Let's be honest. The Philadelphia Eagles are not nearly as good without a guy like Michael Vick.

He allows your team to put different looks on the field, he can do more than just beat you with his arm, and he can outrun some of the fastest defensive backs and linebackers.

Not only that, but you can run Vick out wide and have a guy that's athletic enough to make a big play down the field.

Not having those kind of looks makes you an almost one or two dimensional team. It's going to be tough to win games that you would normally win without a guy like Vick on the field.