Mudd: Vick wants to overcome instinct to run
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Mudd: Vick wants to overcome instinct to run
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- We’ve heard that Michael Vick needs to avoid injury so often and from so many mouths that it’s become almost a staple answer when assessing the Eagles' chances this season.
The Eagles are equipped to make a Super Bowl run, but if Vick can’t stay healthy …
But Howard Mudd looks at Vick from a perspective unique to most. The Eagles offensive line coach, in many ways, is responsible for keeping the quarterback clean. It’s his guys that are tasked with shielding Vick from pass rushers.
“Don’t let him get hit, don’t let him get hit,” Mudd said. “That’s a mantra we have.”
But Vick isn’t your typical quarterback, and he certainly isn’t in the mold of Peyton Manning, who Mudd had to protect for over a dozen years in Indianapolis. Manning is statuesque. Vick can’t stand still for more than a few seconds.
The Eagles don’t want Vick to abandon his natural instinct to run when either his first few receivers aren’t open or the pocket breaks down. But they do want him to be more judicious when taking off downfield.
“He wants to and works really hard to overcome his instinct, when a little something goes wrong, to take off,” Mudd said Monday after the first practice of training camp. “Just take off and create something. So he’s working really hard to do all these things that everybody’s writing about – to go take care of himself so he doesn’t get hurt.”
Mudd, who is now in his 36th year as an NFL offensive line coach, said that he appreciates that Vick is highly motivated to succeed. But that drive often leads to the 32-year-old quarterback wanting to be Superman (Vick has the superhero’s emblem tattooed on his arm) and trying to do too much.
“I would wish that he doesn’t think that he has to take on more than his part,” Mudd said. “Don’t do it. Don’t get hurt. And if somebody’s loose he knows that if he’s got problems -- like up front because the pocket collapses -- he knows those guys are getting coached very hard.”
Mudd admitted that it probably took most of last season for Vick to feel comfortable with his offensive line. The interior of the line was completely new with rookies Jason Kelce and Danny Watkins at center and right guard and veteran Evan Mathis at left guard. Todd Herremans also moved from left guard to protecting Vick’s blindside at right tackle.
And Mudd had brought to the Eagles a new blocking scheme in which the offensive linemen are more aggressive and don’t drop in pass protection. By the end of the season, Vick appeared to be more at ease in the pocket. In the last four games he only scrambled nine times.
“Michael’s getting ‘it’ at the end of the year in the sense of delivering the ball, knowing who’s not blocked,” Mudd said. “Because that happens and you think, ‘Gee, well that’s pretty elementary.’ But there are a lot of quarterbacks that don’t know when they get hit and they just start running.”
[Mudd admitted that it probably took most of last season for Vick to feel comfortable with his offensive line. The interior of the line was completely new with rookies Jason Kelce and Danny Watkins at center and right guard and veteran Evan Mathis at left guard. Todd Herremans also moved from left guard to protecting Vick’s blindside at right tackle.
Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/Mudd-Vick-wants-to-overcome-instinct-to-run.html#ixzz21Td6H6Ma
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If the O line don't hold up well this time and then you can have a 'TASER' on your right hand to help them do their job right Vick.— phillafuN- Excited for the Possiblities of the Season.— dmanphilly
- Stupid. Why they trying to make Mike into a statue QB. That not his game. Mudd will destroy his MVP season by tryin to make him a white QB. Leave him alone.— Tyrone7
- Yep, Tyrone, Mike's a victim of racism.
What a way to look at life! Sad.— mmds - Getting a positive report from Mudd goes a long way, as far as I'm concerned.— Lonewolf11
- Vick's (aka Ron Mexico's) remaining fans love to see him panic in the pocket. Unfortunately for Vick, feeding off these fans, he will scramble. Reid better hope Kafka is ready if he wants to keep his job. Let's hope for a new coach and QB next year.— matman1
- Why don't you haters go root for the Redskins?— blaqjaq
- Tyrone I don't believe Mudd is trying to make Vick a white QB, I think he's trying to make him a better QB and keep him healthy.— Geno D
- If Mudd was able to protect Payton Manning who has the dodging skills of a three legged water buffalo I feel confident he will keep Mikey safe in the pocket. It will be up to Vick to pick a safe lane to run through if and when it becomes necessary.— unbelieveable!
- Wow, he's so smart!— mmds
- Vick gets it ? Can you imagine Vick throwing an interception or get hurt in a game at NY and the fans chanting: dynasty, dynasty, dynasty.— farley
- Mike should have been an RB not a QB, his instincts are to run, think he would have been a good one, just sayin'...— DJ
- Hey. Moeski, you forgot about Rothlisburger
— Eddie Spaghetti - Tyrone and moeski are both making interesting comments, but I wonder if the game is trying to resist evolving into a game where the QB scrambles. Games naturally evolve and that impacts whether a player's talent are welcomed or not. Take the NBA, for years dunking was illegal until the game evolved. Why was dunking illegal? A decision. Therefore, shooters had the advantage. It is not really about black and white. Well, not really. But we have no true idea how the NFL would look if the O-line became even more athletic to fit into a running QB scheme. We do not know because decisions are made not to know. NFL scrambling is the NBA's version of a dunk.— WantToKnow
- The people who get on here saying Vick just isn't good either are with PETA or absolutely have no clue they're the same people and yes I always say this that Brett Favre is a great QB we are talking about a man that I know I've watched out of excitement because I was waiting on the next Int he was going to throw lol!!!!! Man Vick is 1 of the best QBs I've ever seen play and hands down the best talent ever to hit the NFL anybody that can say he is just an average QB or worst is outta their mind lol!!!!— shaad
- MV as RB would not have been very healthy for him. QBs run because it hurts to get hit for 16 games by those beasts on Defense. As a famous fighter once said, Everybody has a plan until they get hit.— oldBird
@moeski What u trying to say? @ Tyrone all the coaches starting with Mudd want Mike to use his running ability they absolutely do not want Mike to change his game... Go to Eagles .com and hear the whole Mudd interview...Mike knows he is very fortunate to have Mudd coaching his protections... Mudd may be one of the very best EVER to coach the O Line.- That's as clear as mud— jhaigs
- Vick is too short to see over his own linemen, which is why he NEEDS to get out of the pocket - to see his receivers downfield. What pocket? He needs a periscope in the pocket. Ever wonder why he can't find DJax in the red zone? He can't see tiny Jackson unless he's got some space around him, which he can't get as easily in tight quarters against good defenses. Well, at least the Eagles' backups are over 6"0" in their stocking feet. Look at the height on Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Roethlisberger and Brady. And look (down, please) at Vick. He's exciting, fast and can win a game or two with his feet. But he's too short. Andy's undying love for high-motor midgets is the main reason why we cannot win in the playoffs. Nobody else is winning this way. But thank goodness our Coach for Life is a genius. He's going to prove them all wrong! 9-7 this season, 10-6 w/lots of miracles. Not being negative - it's just reality, folks.— NM Eagle fan
- Hey,this may be the best shot we've had since we went to the superbowl.
We may actually have a better team.Like any football season you have to be both lucky AND good.Lucky is just a matter of injuries and the bench.— Ernie Garman - Peyton almost never took a sack. No more excuses, Vick.— Drew777
- Tyrone7, please never speak again.
vick throws a beautiful pass most times and very accurate.
he is not a top ten qb but he is the best qb we have-stay healthy.— mwright252
