Jaws: Vick can be top-5 passer
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Jaws: Vick can be top-5 passer
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Ron Jaworski continued his QB countdown today, naming Michael Vick his 12th-ranked signal-caller in the NFL.
Vick landed ahead of guys like Matt Schaub (13), Matthew Stafford (14) and Cam Newton (15).
During the segment on ESPN's SportsCenter, Jaworski discussed Vick's running ability and how it hurts him at times as a passer.
"The issue I have always had with Vick has been his willingness to run, to play the position outside of the pocket, outside of the structure of the offense," Jaworski said. "There’s no question he’ll always make plays, but he also leaves throws on the field."
Jaws then showed a play against the Buffalo Bills where Vick took off to run, despite having a clean pocket from which to throw the football. He was tackled after a short gain, while the film showed he had Jason Avant wide open in the middle of the field.
As I've written about at length here, deciding when to run will be something Vick continuously works on until his career is over. The official stats show that Vick ran 76 times for 589 yards last season. That averages out to 5.8 runs per game and 7.8 yards per attempt.
But I dug deeper into the numbers this offseason and found that 53 of those runs were improvised, meaning they occurred on plays that were originally designed for Vick to pass. So he took off to run on pass plays about 4.1 times per game. He averaged 10.2 yards per carry on those improvised runs, which is a huge number, but it's important to remember he was also sacked 23 times.
According to Jaws, Vick was hit more than 11 times per game.
"Vick always reminds me of something my former coach Dick Vermeil says: The problem with quarterbacks who can run is they run," he said.
Jaws also brought up a point that we probably don't discuss often enough: Vick has shown that he can make plays from the pocket.
"Vick has shown he is capable of throwing the ball exceptionally well from the pocket," Jaworski said. "His overall throwing skill set can be top five in the league. His objective in 2012 must be to play that way more often. It becomes an availability issue. You can’t be an elite NFL quarterback if you can’t be counted on every single week."
Earlier this week, I wrote about how Vick performed last year against different kinds of pressure. Many readers probably focused on his numbers against the blitz, but take a look at Vick's numbers when teams only rushed three: 31-for-40 for 470 yards. He was deadly (77.5 percent completions, 11.8 yards per attempt) when he felt comfortable sitting in the pocket and was not worried at all about the pass rush. Even though teams had eight defenders in coverage, Vick effectively found targets and delivered the ball accurately.
Jaws seemed confident that Vick can take another step in his development this offseason and lead the Eagles to big things in 2012.
"A more disciplined player will result in fewer turnovers," he said. "I would not be surprised if we’re getting ready to see the best year of Vick’s 10-year career."
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hey bro its roelaidz except for my name is now defroe stupid questions get stupid answers bro thanks for deleting all my post im glad i made your job enjoyable. philly.com is a joke well the people running it are. moderator or whatever its called keep hiding behind your computer and all your fake names and delete all my comments again bro. do it!— defroe- It's been tyen years since Vick came into the league. The quarterbacks are taller, The linemen are taller. The linebackers are taller and stronger and the defensive backs are no longer 5'7" The columnists won't tell you this but Vick is not even 6 foot tall. He is 5'11 1/2. The game has grown up around him and there is nothing he can do about. As for
Reid, his legacy will be Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick while other coaches got Payton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning, Tom Brady, Ben Rothlesburger, and ten other QBs that are better. McNabb was called a great quarterback in 2009. Several months later in Washington without the great players the eagles has, he was kicked out of football. Did Reid learn his lesson? Are you kidding????????— mario1239 - Mario1239: Thanks for writing the truth. Too many homers on this website can't see the truth. Vick could not and cannot be spoken of in same breath as Eli, Brady, Brees, Rogers, Rivers, Roethlisberger, Schaub, Flacco and Peyton. There. He can't be a top-five quarterback with these guys still playing. This doesn't take into account that he's roughly on par with Romo, Ryan, Cutler, Stafford, Freeman, and Sanchez.
But, homers can't see the truth. They think this team is just a few bounces of the ball away from winning the Super Bowl. It's just sad. I don't hate. I just tell the truth.— rubicon24 - Sports writers have been saying that about Vick for ten years. Most philly fans want him see him do what they predict. Reid has been a Superbowl favorite for 13 years. I don't think eoither of them will make any of the predictions of these philly sports writers. I'm saving all the columns by them so I can send it back to them at the end of the 2012 season.
— mario1239 - Again, "could be" is not "has been." This is a player that has never had back-to-back winning seasons. Since joining the Eagles he's 15-10. This upcoming season will be tough. Our o-line is worse. McCoy will be hampered by the loss of Peters. Maclin and Jackson can't create space. (Jackson really isn't the breakaway threat people think he is.) DeMeco Ryans is still coming off a terrible injury. Our second round draft pick is 5'11''. Book it: 9-7.— rubicon24
- every time someone attacks charmaine i report abuse its only fair under my other name when i attacked the haters philly.com deleted my comments for attacking other posters. well im doing my job what about you philly.com?— defroe
- "0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:40 PM, 06/29/2012
Yeah the freak Charmine, who sleeps with Vick's jock under her pillow came out...LOL...McNabb was better than Vick, McNabb won many playoff games and took the eagles to SUPER BOWL...the loser Vick has not even won a stinkin' playoff game...LOL."
I don't know, I saw him in the 2004 NFC Title Game that he lost
against one of the NFL's top 5 Ds, he had to have won at least
two playoff games to get there, unless my math is wrong??
He is 0 n 2 with the Birds, but 1 game was sloppy cleanup, his
first year against Dallas, and if he hits Riley Cooper in
the end zone, the Eagles would of beaten the future SB
winners GB, in OT, I'm sure, who blew out the other teams after
the Eagles??
— mikey48 - All of his injuries sacks came when he was in the pocket, and he only improvises runs on pass plays 4 times a game? 4 times a game doesn't sound excessive to me.
I understand that conventional wisdom says Vick must run less to avoid injury, but the numbers never seem to back up that assumption.— bc3030 - L11, no prob. It takes a man to admit a mistake. We all make them. I made one yesterday when I thought I made a mistake...:) Oh well, an oldie but a goodie.— tpizza
- My problem with Vick is his jaded lack of good judgement and discipline on and off the field. It seems with age he is starting to mature somewhat but whether that translate to the field remains to be seen. However, Vick has to be Vick in order to be successful. That means he has to run the ball. I would prefer for him to convert to a pure pocket passer and manage the offense via his arm. He would stay healthier become a 4000yd passer and possibly take this team to a SB. But Vicks has his adoring fans that he must entertain and just like the fact that he can not learn to slide (as a RB can not learn to slide feet first) M. Vick can not learn to be a pure pocket game manager. What would his adoring fans say then? They would say Vick has become a punk? With Vick you will have the risky play, the attitude and the blame everyone else mentality. Although I admire his attempt to dispel his thuggishness, he is what he.— thegooddre
- Vick had his shot earlier with the Birds when he was truly listening to AR. AR has his faults but he is a great QB coach. The fall of the empire came after a victory against Dallas (Dec 2010, with DeSean dancing like a fool in the background) when Vick stated he was "going to play his way". The not so slow fade to mediocrity began at that exact point in time.— 2ndNlong
- 77% completions when not rushed. What does that tell you? Give the guy protection!!! Vick has proven that he wants to pass first. His problem is he won't "give up" on a play. He'll roll out, he'll run, he'll try to hit a receiver when the odds are slim. Remember, he got this job because the O-Line sucked two years ago and his running ability was the only chance the Eagles had. Had Kobb kept the starting job he would have been killed. Fix the O-Line and Vick will light it up. Read again; no pressure = 77% completion rate. Note to Howie: We still need another offensive tackle.— Craig321
- Zeru, Reid has trouble calling "timeout" ,let alone the right plays.— Geno D
- I think Jaws is right. Vick IS a pretty good passer when he stays in the pocket. First priority is for Vick to stay healthy throughout the season. We don't need him running for 50 yards per game, that's how QBs get killed.— p-diddy
- we will see what vick can do once he has confidence in his line,he already has that with the recievers,i'm gonna go all in and put my whole allowance on the birds to win it all ,at 14 to 1 odds i will surely be able to buy a new vick jersey— greensob
- lol - Vick = 7-9 if he could finish the season that is.— osi is hurt boohoo
- Vick is a $100 million bust...there are MANY QB BETTER than Vick, they are Brady, Rodgers, Brees, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Big Ben, Rivers, Stafford, Romo and more..plus even the young kids Cam Newton and RG111 are 10 years younger and bigger, faster and more accurate than the old fraud Vick....LOL.— phil500
- of course he meant top 5 in the NFC East. Who's better: Brady, Rodgers, Rivers, Eli Manning, Brees, P Manning(if healthy).— palmyra21
- The key is "Felt Comfortable in the Pocket". We are talking about rehabilitating a running Quarterback who often was in a collapsing pocket last year. Granted by the end of the year that pocket was better, but Vick was punished behind the Eagles line. (HTML deleted)— Dexter
- This comment has been deleted. — Bobski5000
- For you punctuation wasn't needed, you understood quite well, even with a different name. — charmaine
- Cam Newton was a flash in the pan....If he is so great why did his team SUCK.....The league is on to him....Lets see what he does this year.....— number4not5
- MVP year for Vick. This is the most excited I have been about a eagles qb my entire lifetime as a fan of the team. Andy Reid has never had a player who could play the game from the pocket the way Vick can. Never had a player as accurate as Vick is. And never had the lead by example no frills leader Vick is set by his example. If they can keep Vick from the ground we will go deep into the playoffs. Vick is deadly accurate. He just has to be convinced his line doesnt require him to play street ball to survive. I think Reid has more control over the outcome of this team than he has ever had at any point of his career. If Reid calls the right plays the superbowl is there. Cant wait to see it.— Zeru
- Maybe they should tie him to a pole during training camp and don't let him run. Give him 3 - 5 yards of rope to move around. Who knows maybe he'll get used to staying in the pocket or throwing it away instead of running or taking a sack!— gdibig
- I think that's a great idea too,and I don't mean that in a treat him like a dog way. It seriously it might force him back into the good habits when he was making good reads and keeping his eyes down field in 2010.
- Hey, that actually may not be a bad idea that the Eagles could use as a disciplinary tool to force him to go through his reads and look for the open receiver. — essell
- Can't wait to watch Vick and crew tear it up this year.— gho_matt
- Isn't this the same Ron Jaworski that infamously got excited about Chiefs quarterback Tyler Palko?— Trashcan_Man
- LOL, I knew it would just take a moment before the freaks come out, and then people want to question why they (the freaks) get bashed.— charmaine
- Jaworski rated Vick as the 12th qb in NFL...well that's very average...plus Cam Newton and Matthew Stafford are even better than the over rated Vick...Vick is a very average middle of the pack qb, who is a $100 million bust...LOL.— phil500
- I'm waiting— charmaine
- Vick looks like he's ready for a great season with his head in the right place after i read this article and saw this interview..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8Uop794hiM&feature=relmfu (HTML deleted)— jchlarue
- Vick looks like he's ready for a great season with his head in the right place after i read this article and saw this interview..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8Uop794hiM&feature=relmfu— jchlarue 
Comment removed.- I would like to make a public apology to Sheil Kapadia. I posted several very negative messages in response to his article, "What They're Saying About the Eagles," dated June 27, 2012.
I mistook Mike Freeman's words for those of Sheil.
I have already asked Sheil for his forgiveness. It was a horrible mistake and I am truly sorry.
Well, there's goes my record of perfection. Prior to now, I had always been right. Actually, I thought I was wrong once a long time ago, but I was mistaken.
Tpizza, thanks for the heads up.
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