Michael Vick: Eagles Reality Outshines Falcons Legend

When Michael Vick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in August of 2009, the general consensus was that he would be used in a gimmicky, Wildcat-type offense. Last season, that was his role as he backed-up Donovan McNabb, one of the greatest quarterbacks in Eagles history. 

What a difference a year makes.

One season and two quarterbacks later, the former Atlanta Falcon is soaring to previously unseen heights as he leads the Eagles. 

Michael Vick, as a Falcon, was actually a pretty awful quarterback when it came to throwing the ball. During his time in Atlanta, he finished a season with a quarterback rating over 80.0 just once. In Philadelphia this season, he has put together three straight games with a QB rating that exceeded 100.0, something he has never done before in his career. 

While his success throwing the ball may come as a bit of a surprise, his running game has been as advertised. Though he doesn't run nearly as frequently as he did earlier in his career, he maintains a 7.4 YPC average through the first three games. 

His infrequent running is a direct result of his improvements throwing the ball. Vick admitted that he didn't work as hard as he should have in Atlanta and that he tried to coast by on his athleticism. 

That worked, to a degree, as he simply took off when the pocket collapsed. The Falcons-era Vick was perfectly content to run the ball more than he threw it.

His speed in the open field is exciting to watch, but that won't win football games on a consistent basis. In today's NFL, it is imperative that a team has a pocket passer that can stand and deliver while absorbing hits from ravenous defenses. 

The new and improved Vick has become a pocket passer with unbelievable speed and agility, instead of simply a speedster taking the snap from center and creating on his own. His ability to check down receivers and find the open man has been nothing short of a revelation.  

Andy Reid took some heat for starting Vick after he adamantly stated that Kevin Kolb would be his quarterback. While it was a tough decision to make, it was the right one. It would have been impossible to sit Vick down after seeing what he did the first two weeks of the season.

While Kolb seems content as a cheerleader, Vick is fully in control as he stands in the pocket and throws darts to his core of speedy receivers.

This week, an old friend is coming to town.

Donovan McNabb and his Washington Redskins are looking to knock Vick down a peg after three electrifying performances. If Vick can continue to perform as he has through the first three weeks, it should be an exciting year in Philadelphia.