Michael Vick: Why the Eagles Could Go to Super Bowl With Him as Starter
In light of Michael Vick's fantastic performance Sunday, the big debate in Philadelphia all week—maybe all season—will be over which QB gives the Eagles a better chance to win. Surprise early season quarterback switches like Kurt Warner for Trent Green or Tom Brady for Drew Bledsoe have yielded storybook Super Bowl champions in recent years. We wondered if yesterday's Packers-Eagles game produced the next in line. Here are the top 10 reasons why Michael Vick can lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl.
No. 10: Tight End Brent Celek
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Celek emerged as one of the league’s best tight ends last season, catching 76 passes for 971 yards and eight touchdowns. It was the most productive season of any tight end in the Andy Reid era.
Perhaps in the new-look, post-McNabb Eagles offense, the tight end will assume a more prominent role. When Michael Vick was at the top of his game, his most reliable receiver was always tight end Alge Crumpler, who led the Falcons in receptions from 2004 through 2006.
When the defense has the wide receivers blanketed and Vick can’t scramble for first downs, Celek will be the man to look for to keep drives alive.
No. 9: Tiring Out the Defense
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During yesterday’s broadcast, Troy Aikman made an observation regarding how tired the Packers defense was chasing Michael Vick around. Whether it was moving around the pocket or his rushing for 107 yards, Vick’s legs brought a new dimension to the Eagle offense.
McCoy is one of the league’s emerging superstars at running back, and in between the tackles he is invaluable to the offense. But Vick’s ability to break to the outside when he escapes the pocket will eat up huge chunks of yardage.
To have an impact on the game, he doesn’t have to run for touchdown after winning touchdown like he did against Minnesota in 2004. He can just turn a third-down sack or a throw-away incompletion into a scramble that picks up the first down. Even one of those third-down conversions could mean the difference between a win or a loss.
No. 8: Proven Winner (Regular Season)
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No one really knows what the Eagles had when they made the switch to Kevin Kolb. He split his two starts early last season, playing very well in Philadelphia’s win over Kansas City. Andy Reid saw enough in him during the offseason to trade away McNabb but until he starts more games, he would remain a completely unknown commodity.
That is not the case with Vick. The track record with Vick is not stellar; his passing numbers have never even approached that of a great quarterback. You have to complete better than 56 percent of your passes in your best statistical season. But if winning games is the objective in the NFL (and it is) then Vick did an admirable job in Atlanta.
A 38-28-1 record as a starter plus two playoff victories should not be overlooked. He carried during those five years at the helm and in Philadelphia his supporting cast is far better than it was with the Falcons.
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No. 7: The Screen Pass
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For years, the Eagles have been far and away the best screen team in the league. McNabb and Brian Westbrook ran it to near perfection for a handful of seasons and, very subtly, it helped put Philadelphia in five NFC Conference Championship games.
And although both McNabb and Westbrook are gone, the 2010 Eagles will again rely on the screen. Late in yesterday’s game Vick hit LeSean McCoy on a screen for a huge 3rd-and-9 conversion to set up the Eagles field goal that narrowed the score to 27-20. McNabb’s mobility in the pocket helped make the screen an even bigger threat; he could elude rushers who were allowed to slip past the line.
With Vick back there he can do the same and the screen will be even more dangerous of a weapon for Philadelphia.
No. 6: Avoiding Pressure
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Apart from losing Kevin Kolb for an undetermined amount of time, in Week 1 the Eagles lost both starting center Jamaal Jackson and starting fullback Leonard Weaver, perhaps for the entire season. In less than one game, the Eagles lost two central pieces of their pass protection.
Looking past former All-Pro Jason Peters, the Eagles offensive line has never been among the best in the league. The losses of Jackson and Weaver will make things even more difficult for whoever is taking the Eagles snaps.
Vick’s prowess and running the ball for long touchdowns is exciting, but because he can avoid pressure WITHIN the pocket, he will buy more time and be able to extend plays. Vick’s mobility should create more opportunities for the Jackson, Celek and Jeremy Maclin to get open when the play breaks down.
No. 5: A Young 30
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Although Vick turned 30 this June it’s not really accurate in terms of football years. Normally, for a running quarterback who has taken a lot of shots like Vick has, there would be tons of wear and tear. And there is some on Vick.
But because he sat out 2007 and 2008 while in prison and serving a suspension he didn’t take any dangerous hits—at least that we know of—on the football field. Last year, that two-year layoff was a major concern any time he set foot on the field.
How would his timing be? When would he catch up to the “speed of the game”? When would he “get his legs back"?” With a year under his belt and a full offseason in the same training program and offense those questions shouldn’t come up again.
If we are ever going to see another incarnation of the Michael Vick from 2002-2005, it would be this year. He should be rested and, because his elusiveness should help avoid sacks, durable enough to make it through a whole season. Depending on how long Kolb is out, the Eagles cannot afford to turn to their third-stringer, Mike Kafka.
No. 4: Goal Line and Short Yardage
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That horrible 4th-and-1 at the end of yesterday’s game notwithstanding, Vick’s presence should give Philadelphia a tremendous edge in short yardage and goal line situations. If Andy Reid and/or Marty Mornhinweg are sharp enough to put Vick under center—and not in the shotgun—in those crucial situations, Vick will reward them.
Vick’s feet give the defense something extra to concern themselves with near the goal line. Kolb is not nearly the threat to run that Vick would be. With McCoy, Vick and Celek, the Eagles have several great short yardage options.
No. 3: Vick Won’t Hesitate
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Unproductive seasons from the Falcons wide receivers hampered Michael Vick’s rise to elite status in Atlanta. It was always so curious that a quarterback with Vick’s cannon arm couldn’t complete more passes and specifically more long touchdown passes.
But with DeSean Jackson at his disposal, Vick will look downfield for his speedy third-year receiver. Jackson is one of the fastest men in the entire league; Vick might have the strongest arm in the league. Vick and Jackson should connect on more deep balls this year than Kolb would with Jackson.
No. 2: Proven Winner (Postseason and on the Road)
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Starting out 0-1, playing in the best division in football and in a conference that also features Super Bowl contenders in New Orleans and Green Bay, the Eagles chances of winning the division—let alone earning home field advantage—are slim to none. Therefore, it’s a safe bet to assume that, should the Eagles qualify for the postseason, they will be on the road at least once, probably all three weeks of the NFC playoffs.
Vick already has one great road postseason victory under his belt: when he led a pretty average Atlanta Falcons team to a 27-7 thumping of the Packers at Lambeau in January 2003. That was ages ago but Vick has that on his resume. Kevin Kolb does not.
No. 2: He Doesn’t Have to Be Donovan McNabb
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One of the biggest questions in the NFL this offseason was whether Kevin Kolb would be able to fill the void left by Donovan McNabb. For all the doubters and complainers about McNabb’s decade-plus as the Eagles QB, he did post some incredible seasons throwing the ball, especially in 2008 and 2009.
For Kolb and the Eagles to be successful this year, you had to figure he would need to throw for 3,500 yards and 22 touchdowns, a typical McNabb season from 2000-2009. If Michael Vick ever put up those types of PASSING numbers in Atlanta, the Falcons might have won multiple Super Bowls.
Vick’s never topped 3,000 yards passing and only once thrown as many as 20 touchdowns. Yet the Falcons were contenders every week and won two division titles in three seasons. Vick won’t bear nearly the burden that Kolb would standing in McNabb’s shadow.
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