How do Vick's hits compare?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
How do Vick's hits compare?
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
News flash: Michael Vick gets hit too often. It’s difficult to measure how much is too much compared to other quarterbacks but the 16 hits he endured Sunday against the Browns can safely be described as too many.
The NFL keeps a tally of quarterback hits in its official stat sheets, although STATs, Inc., which compiles the numbers, said that the quantifying of “hits” is subjective and depends upon the stat keeper in each stadium across the league.
By the league’s count Vick was hit 11 times behind the line of scrimmage, including two sacks. The numbers don’t include the shots he took when he scrambled. By comparison, his counterparts in the NFC East took a significantly less number of hits in Week 1. Vick did take considerably more snaps (95) on Sunday than usual.
-- Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants – 5 QH.
-- Tony Romo, Cowboys – 2 QH.
-- Robert Griffin III, Redskins – 3 QH.
There were a host of reasons why Vick took so many blows against the Browns. The blame can be sprinkled around, but Vick has to do a better job of protecting himself. Eagles coach Andy Reid said that he didn't think Vick got hit more than other quarterbacks in the pocket.
"In the pocket, I wouldn’t say he gets hit more than the other quarterbacks," Reid said. "Now, I’m not going around studying [the numbers]; I’m not sitting here with numbers for you on the other quarterbacks. Maybe you’ve got the numbers, but I know quarterbacks are taking hits within the pocket there.”
The NFL average for QB hits per team through the first 14 games of Week 1 was 4.4. Here are the numbers for some other notable quarterbacks from the around the league:
-- Peyton Manning, Broncos – 3 QH.
-- Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers – 9 QH.
-- Tom Brady, Patriots – 4 QH.
-- Drew Brees, Saints – 5 QH.
Here’s a quick look at all 16 hits that Vick took:
1. Vick didn’t get hit on the Eagles’ first possession, which ended when LeSean McCoy fumbled. He did get hit just as he released a pass to Jason Avant on the fifth play of the second drive. Defensive end Juqua Parker got around right tackle Todd Herremans and slapped Vick in the helmet and upper chest area. Vick fell to the ground. There probably should have been a penalty called.
2. A play later, Vick connected with DeSean Jackson for 18 yards. Just after the throw, however, Ahtyba Rubin knocked him to the ground after he blew by running back Bryce Brown.
3. On the next play, Vick ran left on a designed bootleg. He ended up taking a sack when linebacker L.J. Forte pushed him out of the bounds. It wasn’t a big hit, but Vick should have just thrown the ball away before contact was made and he lost a yard.
4. A series later, Vick was blindsided by a blitzing Dimitri Patterson. He completed his throw, in rhythm, to Jeremy Maclin for nine yards, though.
5. Vick was thrown to the ground by Rubin two plays later when the linemen penetrated the Eagles’ interior blocking. Vick’s throw to Jackson was incomplete.
6. The next hit was a perfect example of Vick unnecessarily holding onto the football too long. Browns end Emmanuel Stephens got to Vick's legs, but as he was trying to bring him down the quarterback kept looking for a receiver. Vick’s toughness is admirable. There are times when it is necessary. This was not one of them. As Vick kept looking to throw he was pelted by two more Browns defenders. He ended up throwing the ball away.
7. Two series later, Vick scrambled for 11 yards on first down. He dove and was tackled. Vick should slide in that situation, but he never will. At least he fell to the ground.
8. On the next play, Vick didn’t see cornerback Buster Skrine inch up the line and blitz. He rolled away from Skrine by design but was pushed to the ground just after he missed Brent Celek on the flat.
9. Halfway through the second quarter, Vick was sacked when the pocket collapsed and he spun into the waiting arms of safety T.J. Ward. Celek appeared to be beat inside by Stephens and Herremans was late to help. Ward, meanwhile, was spying Vick and then attacked on a delayed blitz.
10. Just before the half at the start of a drive that netted the Eagles’ first TD, Vick appeared again to have held onto the ball too long when a blitzing Eric Hagg knocked the QB on his back. Vick had McCoy open short over the middle. But he waited too long and when he finally threw to the running back Hagg was in his face.
11. Danny Watkins was called for holding Rubin, but the defensive lineman still beat the guard inside and managed to swipe at Vick’s left hand just as he threw to Maclin. It wasn’t necessarily a “hit,” but Vick has had his hand injured on similar plays.
12. Ward blitzed and Vick threw to the “hot” receiver, but he was still rag-dolled to the ground. The pass to Celek was off target.
13. Hagg blitzed again and Vick was forced to throw the ball away. He was shoved to the ground.
14. As the protection improved in the second half, Vick was more upright. His throws, however, were shaky. It’s fair to wonder if all the hits had started to take their toll. During the game-winning drive, Vick was decked to the grass when Rubin hit him late. Rubin was assessed a roughing the passer personal foul.
15. Vick hooked up with Maclin for 11 yards. Parker, though, motored past Herremans and hit Vick.
16. Vick’s scramble for a first down that ended just shy of the marker in some ways summed up his career. You love him for his effort, but did he really need to keep churning when the Eagles had another down to get a first? Vick ran 9 yards and on second effort appeared ready to reach for a first down. But the ball was knocked loose when he was walloped by two Browns defenders. Somehow, Vick recovered.
Vick holds the ball too long because he is confused by the defenses...you should do an article on how much LONGER Vick holds onto the ball before throwing, than all the other QB's.— phil500- More screens, more delayed handoffs, these guys on the opposing defenses are really t'ing off on vick and they have to be slowed down with some creative play calling (i.e. marty m.)otherwise the better teams are going to massacre vick or any other qb they put in there.— garyp
- The QB should be reading the defenses and changing the plays to what you suggested by he never does. — Sidewinder7
- Michael Weak.— Nitroglycerin
- hes just a smaller guy, so when he gets those finishing hits, they look much worse than what a larger QB would absorb— peteike
- great point Phil, that would be an informative article or stat— peteike
- Also agree with Phil. Think his greatest problem may be his progression reads -- moving from the "hot" receiver to choice 2, choice 3, etc. If you watch Brady or Big Ben or others, they move quickly from one read to the next and remain in ideal throwing position to quickly release the ball. With Vick, it appears as if he re-sets after each progression and loses fluidity quickly. This may not be just his fault -- poor play calling, receivers not creating separation -- but he has to be more definite, calm, and focused on his delivery. The secondary effect of this is it results in him opening up his body.— ken0603
- Prescription for failure, don't run the ball and pass a lot after your starting QB has been out for the last 3 games and has only taken 12 snaps in games this pre-season. That being said the OL was really bad the 1st half, Vick still doesn't read the blitz well, more runs should have been called for someone other than Shady...especially in the 1st half, a few more draws, traps and quick hitting plays need to be called. Oh yeah, our illustrious coaching staff forgot about Jackson for about half the game and didn't throw to Celek much either. I guess that's because the TE's need to help block for the "turn-styles" on the OL.— jss31
- Dunlap got beat consistently. There was no blitz pick-up either for most of the game. The Browns were sending DBs and all kinds of edge blitzers and delayed blitzers but the TEs and RBs were nowhere to be found on blitz pick-up. Marty was sending McCoy and Celek both out on patterns almost every passing play. Vick had a blitzer in his face the whole game. The Eagles are going to miss Peters. They are going to have to give Dunlap more help and leave someone in to pick-up the blitz. Everyone in the league knows that Vick struggles against the blitz so he's going to see a steady diet of them all year.— JimG
- Someone post the snaps for the QBs listed so we can figure out the "hits" per snap percentage. So for Vick 11/95 = 0.1157 So 12 percent of snaps. HIT!— joe_1974
- phil500 - alas too good a point. Vick continues to have a problem recognizing defenses and responding accordingly. He's being coached by well-regarded QB coaches and yet he continues to have problems.
The problem, sad to say (and observe!) is between Vick's ears. It's sort of "the elephant in the room" that Eagles beat writers and columnists don't want to address ... the guy, simply, has more guts than brains. And that is a BAD thing for an NFL QB.
Both his b/u's - even the rookie Foles - appear to have more field awareness and sense than Vick. More screens, delayed hand-offs, play-actions, etc. will help ... but only so much.
Sad to say, I look forward to when Vick is unable to play and Reid is forced to put asided his misplaced "loyalty" and play Foles or Edwards. I've said it many times before - Vick IS NOT a top-end NFL QB. Is not now. Never was (occasional big games notwithstanding) and, alas, never will be.
Imagine what a less-than-mobile Peyton Manning would do with the offensive weapons this team has. And yes, even with a suspect OL Manning would still make this offense click. Sigh.— FishFryFrank - VickVickVickVickVickVickVickVick ---- aren't there ten other guys on the field with him?? Why isn't anybody watching what they are doing and complaining about that?? This whole offense stinks and you can't stick the whole pile of doodoo on Vick!— bigdaddyG
- We wont be talking about Vick after next week because he'll be knocked out of the game before halftime. I'm guessing 6-8 weeks on the IR.
DUMP VICK...PLAY NICK!!!— ziggy26 - Thank you bigdaddyG. I agree Vick played lousy but he had a blitzer in his face the whole game. He definitely has to play better. Period. But how can folks say he doesn't know how to read blitzes when there is no blitz pick up? If he sees the blitz and moves, people say he needs to stay in the pocket more. He stayed in the pocket Sunday and got his head handed to him. And how come the refs only threw 1 flag for roughing the passer?— thegoldman
- Do the Eagles still run the West Coast offense? Isn't the whole point of it for the QB to take the snap and let the ball fly quickly?— Boru
