Michael Vick Injury: Will Concussion Change How QB Plays the Game?

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick left the game last night with a concussion, and backup Mike Kafka was unable to lead the team to a victory, falling to the Atlanta Falcons 35-31 in a thrilling Week 2 contest.

Vick's concussion came in the third quarter when, trying to evade a blitz, he was knocked into his own right tackle head first. Vick's head snapped back, he bit his tongue and he was out for the rest of the game. He may miss next week's home opener against the New York Giants as a result.

The risk of injury to Vick has been a major topic of discussion since last season, when the quarterback missed three weeks after cracking his rib cartilage in a big hit on the goal-line against the Washington Redskins.

Part of this worry has to do with Vick's style of play. He is a physical quarterback, not content with merely staying in the pocket and passing to make plays for his team (though last night, he stayed in the pocket much more than we are accustomed to seeing). He runs when plays break down, and he runs when the play is designed for it.

Obviously, any quarterback taking off with the ball is a major risk for him and for his team, but for a quarterback like Vick, who has made the maneuver a cornerstone of his offensive philosophy, the risk is both higher and lower.

Higher, because opposing defenses are on the lookout for Vick to take off, meaning it is less surprising for the defense to see him with the ball. They can prepare for it, and when he's running that means treating him like a running back in order to stop him—with a big hit. However, when that big hit results in injury, the Eagles are losing not just their quarterback, but a major source of their yards on the ground as well.

The risk is also lower, because the entire team and coaching staff know that Vick makes plays with his legs, and that it's one of his greatest strengths and the reason why he's so valuable. Everyone is aware that injury is a possibility, as it is on every snap, and the goal is to allow him to improvise while keeping him protected.

Injury issues for Vick would be less of a worry were the Eagles' offensive line able to provide him with greater protection. The breakdown of that protection directly led to Vick's concussion last night; less so last year with his rib injury.

Throughout his time with the Eagles, Vick has been subject to a number of crushing hits that can be blamed almost equally on the quarterback and his offensive line. Vick's style of play almost necessitates that he get hit, and that's a balanced risk that he and the Eagles are willing to take.

However, there are a number of hits that Vick should not be subjected to. When he is simply rolling out, his offensive line needs to hold fast and protect him, and they aren't consistent enough to this end. It's no wonder that all conversation regarding Vick's chances to succeed in the 2011 season are qualified with an "if he stays healthy;" it's a common refrain because it's clearly an issue.

This does not mean Vick should consider changing his style of play. It not only works for him, and for the Eagles, it's one of the things that make them one of the most dangerous teams in the league, and what propelled them into the playoff discussion beginning in 2010.

He may come off of his concussion with a degree of increased wariness, to be sure, and he should have it. Not because he should be concerned with his gameplay, or afraid of being hit again, however; instead, he should be wary of his own offensive line.

If the Philadelphia offensive line is not fine-tuned enough to protect the team's biggest asset, nor well-suited to his style of play, then reconfiguring or replacing personnel should be a major priority for the team.

It's not Vick who needs to change, to be sure. It's his line. Injury concerns about the quarterback aren't really about him at all. It's about who protects him—or, in this case, who apparently cannot.