Michael Vick: Why His Injury Proved He's the Only Legit QB in Philly
The Philadelphia Eagles lost more than just the game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday. After an apparent rib injury, starting quarterback Michael Vick left the field early on, and the Eagles had little choice but to bring in Philadelphia's original starting quarterback Kevin Kolb.
And he struggled.
This was supposed to be a game in which the Eagles could prove that they made the right decisions regarding their quarterback position. Instead they were left with another loss on their record.
Donovan McNabb had to have been left with an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
But can we really blame Kevin Kolb for the Eagles all but lifeless offense?
We sure can, and here's why...
10. LeSean McCoy
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LeSean McCoy led the team in both receiving and rushing yards yesterday with 64 yards rushing and 110 yards receiving. Sounds pretty good, right?
To me it sounds more like Kolb is relying on his running back to literally carry the team.
9. DeSean Jackson
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A great quarterback has the ability to make his receivers look good as well, and Michael Vick seems to have some great chemistry with DeSean Jackson.
During games against the Detroit Lions and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Vick targeted Jackson for a total of 288 yards.
In Sunday's game against the Redskins, Jackson got just three looks for 19 yards. Total.
Something is wrong here...
8. Jeremy Maclin
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Up until this past Sunday, Jeremy Maclin has scored at least one touchdown in each of the Eagles first three games and has a combined 192 receiving yards on the season.
He had just one catch for 15 yards in Week 4 against the Redskins.
Are we seeing a pattern here?
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7. And They Were Going to Start This Guy?
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Kevin Kolb didn't look much like someone who should have ever had a starting job for the Eagles.
Call it rust. Call it lack of experience.
I call it just plain sloppy.
6. Kolb Is a Sitting Duck
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Part of what makes Michael Vick so explosive at quarterback is his elusiveness when it comes to evading defenders.
Unlike so many other quarterbacks in the league, Vick's quickness allows him to stay on his feet and buy the time he needs to make the big plays.
Kevin Kolb, on the other hand, makes things very easy for his opponent's defense. There is only so much the Eagles offensive line can do when it comes to protecting the quarterback, and Vick was able take it upon himself to scramble long enough to move the ball.
Unfortunately, Kolb is lacking in this department.
5. Redskins Defense
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I would understand if the Eagles only put up 12 points against say the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Baltimore Ravens, but this was a Redskins squad that is currently ranked No. 31 in total defense.
Twelve points? Really?
4. Kolb Ignoring His Receivers?
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We've already been over Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson's stats, and we have to assume that Kolb is the common denominator regarding lackluster performances from both of these receivers.
So what's going on here? Michael Vick may receive some criticism for his constant scrambling and run-first instincts, but at least he isn't afraid to air out the ball.
Maclin and Jackson are perfectly capable of making big plays further down the field, but it looks like Kolb lacks confidence in his receivers (or maybe in himself) to stretch the field and hit long targets.
3. The "WOW" Factor
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Michael Vick has that intangible "WOW" factor that we look for in an elite quarterback. His combination of creativity and athleticism make him an extremely lethal weapon at the helm of the Eagles offense.
Some (myself included) would even go so far as to say that Vick is playing the best football of his life. You can't teach most of what makes Vick so special.
2. Team Chemistry
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Michael Vick might not be the most beloved athlete when it comes to the American public, but he is extremely well-liked in the NFL, especially by his Eagles teammates.
As soon as Vick took the reins in Philly, it became very apparent that his presence elevated the rest of the team.
1. Vick Did It For You
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As much as I want to give Kevin Kolb the benefit of the doubt and believe that he could improve with experience, there is one thing about Kolb's performance that bothers me the most.
Vick stepped up when Kolb was injured in Week 1, and he led the Eagles to a near comeback against the Green Bay Packers. When the time came for Kolb to step in for Vick, he was unable to find his big boy pants and get the job done.
If you can't come through when your team truly needs you the most, how can you expect to start at the most important position on an NFL team?
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