Vick: Bears' deep safeties surprised us
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Vick: Bears' deep safeties surprised us
Daily News staff
The Chicago Bears limited the Eagles big plays down the field, in part by playing their safeties much deeper than the Eagles anticipated, quarterback Michael Vick said.
"I've never seen them play that deep.," Vick said on his weekly radio show on ESPN Radio 94.1 in Virginia Beach. "That was very surprising to us. If we would have game-planned for that, we would have had a good strategy to take advantage of that. We still had a good game plan and we still put ourselves in position to go up in the football game. We just didn't capitalize."
The Bears also tried to limit Vick's opportunity to run and when he did run force him to move to his right.
"I was still able to get outside of the pocket and stick in the pocket and make plays when I needed to," Vick said. " I'm going to go out and play my game and not try to change a thing and let the game come to me."
Overall, Vick said, "They are going to make you beat them ... They did a good job in forcing us to check the ball down and take away our deep passes. They had a good overall game plan. I think we had a chance to ice the game at times, especially down at the goal line when I threw that interception."
Other subjects that Vick addressed with host Tony Mercurio:
* On the short turnaround until Thursday night's game: "I have a mixed feelings about it. I am happy that we can get this game out of our memory banks and have an opportunity to get back on the football field again and prove to our coaches that we are capable of doing everything that they ask of us. At the same time, you want those extra days of rest. We win this game and we'll have a nice weekend."
* On how he feels physically: "I took some shots but today is the best I felt after any game this season that I played in. I don't know what that's about, but I just have to give glory to God and be ready to move forward.
* On a postgame conversation with Julius Peppers: "He told me he enjoyed chasing me around. He hated it but he enjoyed it. It brings out the best in him. We have the utmost respect for each other."
* On Bears-Eagles being the top-rated game of the season: "I can see why. Everyody wants to see the best go head to head. That was a good game for us and obviously it was a good game for them. I am glad that I can bring that excitement to the NFL, not only myself but my team. It's a credit to the NFL."
* On being on SportsCenter: (laughing), "I'm going to have to get some stock in SportsCenter at some point in time. I'm on there enough, I can tell you that."
* On the SI cover jinx: "I got my own beliefs and superstitions and that's not one of them. But, hey, it could have jinxed me for that one game. We're going to move on and get better and think about playing a good game against the Houston Texans."
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Calabrese10 u do know ur the only on on these comments still crying about that right. lol. U do know that no one cares right?— salt- I'll reiterate the obvious - Reid is a horrendous game day coach. Unable to adjust, horrendous clock management, poor challenges. He's solely focused on dictating his offensive plan to the defense. This week's plan didn't include enough quick hitting slants, dump offs, and runs to force Chicago to come up. Once Chicago gave him the deep safety look, the game was over. He thinks he's such an offensive mastermind that his system & weekly plan will work against any defensive set. How about focusing a tad less on what you'll do to them, and a tad more on what they'll try to do to you, Andy? He's playing blackjack without looking at the dealer's cards.— dgreills
- The Bears give up 14.6 points per game. It doesn't seem that the rest of the teams have any geniuses on their staffs to combat the 2 deep safeties. We scored 26 pts without the benefit of any turnovers from our defense. I'm sorry but I just can't get too negative over this game. I didn't think we were gonna go 13-3. Remember how the almighty Falcons played in Philly earlier this year.— tommy_the_k
- Run the ball? The Bears are second in the NFL in rushing defense, and it's the linemen and linebackers, not the safeties, who usually make the tackle. So no, I'm not sure that would've helped.
Also, to jjthree's "We outplayed them in almost every stat category," it kills me how all you Eagles fans keep talking about how close you were to winning this game and how the Eagles surpassed the Bears in all these statistical categories. You do realize that the Eagles were behind by 18 points after three quarters and they gained 169 of their total yards, or 42 percent, in the fourth quarter, when the Bears were in total prevent defense and run the ball/take time off the clock/don't run up the score offense. This game wasn't nearly as close as the final score suggested.— toddloth - Go back and look it up. This is at least the 4th game where an Eagle offensive player said afterward that they were surprised by the defense. That shouldn't happen.— jtj06
- I don't understand how any QB is supposed to survive behind that offensive line. Just seemed like the defense was getting to Vick an awful lot. He took so many hits staying in the pocket, he would have been safer running.— Lany
- P Even's question is a good one, and exactly what the coaches should be asking themselves on Tuesday. What will the next team put in their gameplan to dumbfound us?— tacklinjoe
- Run, screen, shallow crosses, medium outs, skinny posts there are lot's of plays for the Tampa two, that JJ invented. Harrison has a great game and disappears. Bears front four were coming. Draws, traps, delays, quick off tackle plays. C'mon Marty let's Go !— oldBird
- The Eagles picked apart the best defense in the NFL and gashed them for 333 year in the air. The Best Defense, scoring better than 24 pts on a team that gives up 14 points a game. The Eagle had a pretty solid performance Sunday, the issue is the 31 pts that the Eagles Defense gave up, and 4 touchdowns out of 14 completions to Cutler.... Cutler threw a Touchdown every 3.7 Attempts...... unbelievable!
This proves as important Vick is to the Offense, Samuels is to that defense.— Dexter 
I am with u OLD BIRD and DEXTER. We have seen the Marty swoon in some key moments in past games when he takes his boot off the gas with unimaginative play-calling, and a lack of sense of a key moment in the game,The coaches must become less predictable, Still with all our woes, If we can continue to learn from these mistakes and other Teams strategies deployed against us. Watch out DALLAS, The Eagles are coming.- Eagles tied for first in their division, 3-1 in their last 4 with tough loss against a team that had allowed the fewest points in the league, not that difficult a remaining schedule wins over colts, giants and falcons. man they suck, fire reid.— notch44
- I agree with all of you.. it's so simple why not fire reid and any one of the authors on this page could be head coach....— BBAX
