Vick: Dodged 'Kryptonite' of Trying too Hard
As the Eagles began preparations Wednesday for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh, Michael Vick said the major adjustment he made in playing without a turnover in last week's game against the Giants was to settle down and run the offense.
Vick: Dodged 'Kryptonite' of Trying too Hard
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
As the Eagles began preparations Wednesday for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh, Michael Vick said the major adjustment he made in playing without a turnover in last week's game against the Giants was to settle down and run the offense.
"Sometimes you just get in situations where you just try to force things and make things happen," Vick said to a huge media throng crowded around his locker stall. "Sometimes that can be Kryptonite for a quarterback ... you try so hard, you don't let it come naturally ... you get into a rhythm, learn to play within the system, try to do that over and over again."
Earlier, Eagles coach Andy Reid said everyone but LB Akeem Jordan (hamstring) and DT Derek Landri (knee swelling) would practice Wednesday. He again tiptoed around a question about whether LT King Dunlap, back from a two-week hamstring injury absence, would start this week over Demetress Bell. Reid noted that Bell, the guy the Eagles signed as a free agent to start at left tackle when Jason Peters tore his Achilles', played well against the Giants. "That gives me a little time to see how King's doing," Reid said.
Asked about the decision to cut linebacker Brian Rolle, who started 13 games last season as a rookie, Reid said: "Brian's going to hook on with someone else and do a good job. For what I ws trying to get done here, he wasn't the right fit."
The Eagles replaced Rolle on the roster with veteran linebacker Adrian Moten, who was with the team in preseason and has more special teams experience. Their kickoff coverage is next-to-last in the league.
"You never know how the NFL goes," Moten said. "One week you're playing linebacker, next week you're not. I think a lot of people see me as a special teams guy and a good linebacker. There's no real key to coverage on special teams; it's all about being a ballhawk."
Reid said the difference between losing a lot of close games early last season and winning them so far this season "comes down to attitude and push, trusting one another, pushing through the tough times, knowing each other like the players know each other now. A lot of moving parts last year. We weren't as comfortable with each other."
This week, the Eagles face a huge challenge -- literally -- in the Steelers' 6-5, 241-pound quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, who might be playing the best ball of his career at age 30. Roethlisberger has completed 68.3 percent of his passes through three games, with eight touchdowns and one interception. He has a 109.2 passer rating.
Reid said Roethisberger "extends plays -- he's very strong in the pocket, and he has mobility. He always keeps his eyes down the field. If you have that one quality that's a little different from some of the other quarterbacks, this one guy here keeps every play alive. As a secondary player, you'd better continue to play your player until the play is history, until it's over, or he's going to find that guy and make you pay for it."
Among those practicing Wednesday, as he has the past few weeks, is WR Riley Cooper, who suffered a broken collarbone early in training camp. Asked why he seems in no hurry to get Cooper back in the lineup, Reid emphaisized how much work Cooper missed, and said WR Mardy Gilyard has done well on special teams in Cooper's absence.
"It allows Riley to get out there and practice, and that's what he needs right now," Reid said. "He needs to continue to do that. We'll see how he feels this week, and evaluate it as we get further in the week."
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Second-round rookie defensive end Vinny Curry hasn't been active yet this season. Normally, that might invite some scrutiny, but everyone assumes the Eagles' amazing depth at DE is the problem, not a lack of skill on Curry's part.
This still isn't exactly what Curry envisioned when he arrived, though.
"I wouldn't say it's frustrating, because you know these guys are doing a good job. If they'd been slacking on the job, then I would say it'd been frustrating. These guys are phenomenal, right?" Curry said.
Curry said he tries to stay plugged in at games, even though he's in street clothes. "If I see something, I'll let these guys know," he said.
The teams with so-called "elite" QBs have lost more games than Vick's Eagles. Haters can hate but the Eagles have won 11 out of their last 12 NFL games counting regular season and pre-season. Saints are doing what Eagles did last year, losing close games, but no Philly klansman is hating Drew Brees. Some people just hate Vick because he is BLACK!— allworld2- Curry is an Eagle because hands down he was the best talent available still on the board. Either of the Philly starters are pro bowl talent and the back ups in their rotation are just as reliable and a force.— Dexter
- Yikes! Take a look at the Hannibal Lecter mask that Tuck is wearing. I didn't notice it during the game.— Penfold18
- @ eaglesinva, and its also funny that they hate McNabb too, despite the fact he's the best we've ever had and took us to our only Superbowl appearance. What makes people think Foles won't get hurt the same as Vick or that he, a rookie would be doing any better. All of this despite the fact we're leading the division...all thanks to Vicks late game heroics. Remember Payton throwing 3 pics in five minutes the other night. How about Eli throwing 4 in the first half? Its not how hard you can hit but how hard you can get hit (Balboa). Who has had to face more than Vick and is still finding ways to win games? Its a wonder he hasn't gone insane.— tharok2
- Someone tell Dick Vermeil and the 80 team they never made it to the Super Bowl. I think they are under the impression they did. — Scope33
- Its funny how people hate Vick on such a personal level. The man's a good quarterback who's played well at every level. He's had his UPS and downs like any other player, but he can obviously win football games. Every QB has weaknesses, its how they overcome them that matter. If given a chance and if he can stay healthy he can lead Philly to a title. If you love Philly you gotta believe that.— tharok2
- Re Curry, if they were so deep at that position, and didn't really need him. why did they pick him. Did they go the best player available route? Or maybe they didn't have faith in Graham. Anyhow another offensive lineman would have helped. I mean Danny Watkins will be retiring in about 2 years.— watsonmr
- Why isnt your second round pick defensive tackle getting game reps?!?! You spent another 2nd rounder on a guy who isnt playing... They could have gotten a offensive lineman that was just as good as Curry and they would have filled a need. Curry should be in the rotation.— Zeru
- Curry is a DE. He's just not at a level that the other DE's are at right now, which is a good thing because they're all good. Sure we'll see a lot of him in the future though...
- His kryptonite is taking a snap.— 2ndNlong
- "Trying too hard" is his kryptonite? Come on. It's like Les asked Mike what his biggest weakness was, right after Mike attended a free lecture on job interviewing 101. Just be honest - everyone knows his weakness is lack of field discipline. That and Valtrex.— dragoon6
- So tired of the ongoing non-support of Philadelphia QBs. I bleed green and it's ridiculous how many people shout for Foles. Honestly...what quarterback did you like in philly history...and don't say jaws cuz you hated him too. It's hard to win the superbowl...ya u can look at pittsburgh but my feelings on them is if the birds played both cleveland and cincy 2 a year they would have much more opportunity to win too. I shout at the TV and in the stadium as much as anyone...but come on. This team has potential to win....and Foles will get his chance. I give McNabb a Gold Medal for putting up with us Philly fans for 11yrs. I'm just tired of the negativity always placed on the qb. I swear we would find fault with Brady, manning, Montana, etc etc in philly...nobody is every good enough... the names change but the attitude towards them never does.— EaglesinVA
- For Elijah and CG25, who is overrating Vick? The media? No, this article says nothing about him being great. He IS still the QB here so they are going to write about him. When he stinks, like against AZ, they talk about benching him. When he beats the defending Super Bowl champs... they say he played well. Obviously you two really don't like the Eagles or Vick or something, so stop following them. You can't love everyone BUT one player. Everyone who wears that jersey is a part of the team and you follow and route for them, or you don't. Cause if you want the Eagles to win, then you need Vick and Reid to do well.
As for your no Super Bowl talk... EVERYONE knows they haven't ever won. Which makes me wonder why both of you are Eagles fans at all? You hate Lurie and Reid and Vick and McNabb and everyone else who didn't win. So what made you root for this team in the first place if they have NEVER won a Super Bowl? Do you like Dawkins? I bet you do... he never won us a Super Bowl either. So to be consistent, you have to hate him too. Did you hate Westbrook? Do you hate Shady McCoy? Jim Johnson never won a Super Bowl either. Did you like him? How about Reggie White or Cunningham? The list goes on... I say you root for someone else. Anyone else. And just because I still want the Eagles doesn't mean that I'm "drinking kool-aid" or anything else like that. It means I'm a fan. I disagree with a LOT of stuff they do, but at the end of the day they are my team and I want Philly to win.— macd41144 - uh, 1. you didnt even adress the proper people, 2. I wasnt even talking about Vick and 3. your not understanding the difference between having hope for a team, just any team, even a bad team, and a strategy that is a FLAWED STRATEGY THAT WILL NEVER WIN A SUEPRBOWL. I loved the Ray Rhodes teams because they ran the ball and played fundamentally sound football, he wasnt a great coach but he was decent. So I could have hope that maybe they could get "lucky" in the playoffs or things go right. The Giants dont "luck" into 2 superbowls in 5 years unless YOU PLAY FUNDEMENTALL SOUND FOOTBALL. AND THEY DO. ANDY REID AND THE EAGles do NOT. NOT ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BALL. ITS A JOKE. Passing it 60-65 has NOT WON ONE SUPERBOWL IN NFL HISTORY. THE STUPID WIDE-9 HAS NOT WON ONE SUPERBOWL IN NFL HISTORY. AND EVEN THE SPECIAL TEAMS UNDER BOBBY APRIL ARE BORDERLINE TERRIBLE. ITS PATHETIC.
- Hey ChumpyGarner is back with nothing to say about the win over the gnats, just the same old caps lock retoric.While your sifting through the numbers to find the ones that fit your BS let me just remind you that AR and his patheticly flawed team are currently the only team ranked in the top ten in both Offense and Defense and while I'm at it let me also remind you that they only need one more win to meet the total you so sadly and mistakenly projected for the season.Maybe your not as smart as you think you are. — greensob
- lol, thats some food information that never existed there greensob. I never made an official season prediction on here, but said they would probably be 8-8 or 9-7. Possibly 10-6, and a 5% chance of 11-5. 0% chance 12-4 or better. ZERO. THATS WHAT I SAID. In no where is there a prediction for 4-12. I am right now out-predicting virtually every "Expert" in NFL games this season. This is a 7-10 win team in all liklihood as Andy avoids the 6-10 season that gets most guys fired. Absolutely nothing has changed yet. If he ges 8-8 or 9-7 he will be FIRED. If he goes 10-6 and fails to win a playoff game or wins one and then gets destroyed in the 2nd one HE WILL BE FIRED. THE STYTEM IS FLAWED IN VIRTUALLY ALL AREAS AND IS BEYOND A JOKE. OTHER GOOD COACHES (Ken Whisenhunt) WILL PROVE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. DRINK UP THOUGH GREENSOB. DRINK UP.
- Now now Chumpy,not everyone forgets your stupid posts as quickly as you,bedbug and you went on and on about it,maybe you said some things you didnt mean bc you had a friend but you said it it none the less.But in the end the record wont matter bc they will win the division and i will be sure to get your spot on prediction from there. — greensob
- lol, uh no. I never once said they would go 4-12 as a serious prediciton, maybe as a joke though. Others said 4-12...others also said 12-4....I never said either. I said 8-9 wins give or take 1 game because thats what Andy virtually ALWAYS DOES. and it will NEVER result in a superbowl so it really doesnt matter whether its 7, 10, 9, 11, or 8...either way its GARBAGE.
- "hard work" will make Vick into an Elite QB. phhhh! Vick will thow 3 pics Vs. the Steelers! Nick will get the reigns next year,, i can wait!— With all this talent who needs a real defensive coordinator?
- Any QB will turn the ball over if they get hit enough. Kryptonite cannot affect you once you realize that you are not Superman!— hillbillybirdsfan
"Reid noted that Bell, the guy the Eagles signed as a free agent to start at left tackle when Jason Peters tore his Achilles', played well against the Giants." -- Seriously? Was Andy watching the same game I was? Best play Bell made was when he accidentally tripped Rolle, who otherwise had a bead on Vick.— JimA1- Haters jsut flat out love to hate...if it was not for michael's desire to make it happen, we would be 1 and 3 and not 3-1...Yes he did cause all those turnovers and that is BAD...but if you think the O-line is not the cause, or that AR's scheme had nothinig to do with the ineffectiveness of the offense, then you are not just a hater, you are a dumb hater....and don't worry, when Michael gets hurt or Foles is the starter next year, we all can take solace in knowing the harers will find something about him to hate......Remember, anger and hate fill the void of empty lives....— nuggett
- "anger and hate fill the void of empty lives". written by a guy who posts 20+ times a day in the comments section here.
- graham hasnt played poorly— The2ndMostInterestingManInTheWorld
- We have a Ben Rothlisberger on our team. His name is Nick Foles and he never raped anyone.— Planet of the lacking analytical skills
- I had the exact same thought when I read this article. Foles definitely could be the next Big Ben. — Squizzy Magee
- Forgot all about Curry. I feel he'd be better then Graham.— RealizticFan
- @Scope33
Shut up and support the team or get the f off the wagon.— elijah29 - @elijah
Awwww are you hurt because I'm not a mindless clown who roots for any piece of garbage that throws on an Eagles jersey??? Get over it.— Scope33 - lol, yes eijah29, with an attitude like that Andy Reid and the Eagles organization have won 15 superbowls, leading the entire league. Supporting a medciore team always leads to good results. Clearly. The kool-aid drinkers were having a field day the week before the cardinals game after they beat the ravens thinking how great the team is. And then they get destoyed toLarry Fitzgerald AGAIN. Guess what Pittsburg up next, its not going to go so well, it might even be worse then the cardinals game...DRINK UP. 2012 DREAM TEAM MIRACLE PART 2.
- Kool-aid drinkers? How original! PATHETIC! — Penfold18
- Yawn. More spreading of the myth that Vick's shortcomings are merely due to him "trying so hard" or "wanting to win so bad". The guy is overrated plain and simple.— Scope33
- He's not overrated. He's inconsistent. So you get bad games followed by great games. When it all shakes out, he's rated right where he should be, not among the elites but not terrible.
- I'm sure you have some shortcomings to talk about, actually I am willing to bet you have a lot of them. Get a dam life, if you don't like the man quit watching the games and following all the articles about him. — charmaine
- Sweet sweet Charmaine, always there to defend Vick. Perhaps you are the one who needs a life dear. — Scope33
