How teams attacked Vick in 2011
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How teams attacked Vick in 2011
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
As part of the research for my article on Michael Vick in the 2012 Eagles Almanac, I took a detailed look at how teams defended him last season.
Here's a look at how many pass rushers defenses sent at Vick. Of course, there's always some guesswork involved, but the numbers came from charting every snap where Vick dropped back to pass - sacks and scrambles included.
| No. of Pass Rushers | Percentage of Plays |
| 3 or fewer | 9.9% |
| 4 | 54.7% |
| 5 | 24.9% |
| 6 | 8.3% |
| 7 or more | 2.2% |
If we count a blitz as any play in which the defense sends more than four rushers, Vick was blitzed 35.4 percent of the time last year. More often than not (64.6 percent), defenses stuck with four rushers or fewer.
How did Vick perform against different numbers of pass rushers? Here's a look at completion percentage and yards per attempt:
| No. of Pass Rushers | Comp. % | Yards Per Attempt |
| 3 or fewer | 77.5% | 11.8 |
| 4 | 57.8% | 7.4 |
| 5 | 64.1% | 8.9 |
| 6 | 52.8% | 4.9 |
| 7 or more | 42.9% | 3.1 |
Rushing three was not the way to defend Vick. The Eagles’ offensive line was able to protect him in those situations, and the team’s pass-catching weapons can still get open, even with eight defenders in coverage. Vick was 31-for-40 for 470 yards when teams rushed only three.
When teams rushed four and dropped seven into coverage, Vick’s numbers were pedestrian. He completed 57.8 percent of his passes and averaged 7.4 yards per attempt.
Vick’s numbers against five rushers look great – 64.1 completion percentage and 8.9 yards per attempt – but he was sacked quite a bit on these plays. Vick was sacked 8.1 percent of the time when defenses sent five rushers his way; that number was only 2.6 percent when defenses rushed four. In other words, just one extra rusher made a huge difference.
The numbers against six or more rushers were not good. Vick completed just 22 of 43 passes (51.2 percent) for 199 yards (4.6 YPA) on those plays.
Overall, against the blitz, Vick completed 60.3 percent of his passes and averaged 7.6 yards per attempt. He completed 60.7 percent of his non-blitz throws and averaged 8.1 yards per attempt.
Looking ahead to 2012, I would expect teams to choose their spots with the big blitzes of six rushers or more. If the Eagles send their receivers deep downfield, and Vick breaks the line of scrimmage, those plays can lead to huge gains and are risky for opposing defenses (think back to the comeback game against the Giants in 2010).
The best way to defend Vick is probably with four or five pass rushers. A lot of this comes down to the play of the Eagles' offensive line. Teams were not effective at sacking Vick without sending extra pressure last year. That could change if Demetress Bell doesn't adequately fill in at left tackle for Jason Peters, or if Danny Watkins doesn't improve at right guard in his second season.
But by sending four or five, defenses force Vick to go through his progressions, and they protect themselves in the event that he takes off and runs.
Anyway, this is just part of what I focused on in my (long-winded) analysis. I also covered Vick's injuries, sacks, turnovers, passing targets and more. As I mentioned yesterday, the Eagles Almanac is chalk full of good information and well worth your time as we count down the days to Lehigh.
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Buy 2012 Eagles tickets 
mjwilliams75, lol- mjwilliams75, lol
So everyone in Philly agrees tjhat RG III will be a bust and keep Washington in last place in the East. You have a big shock coming. Hey Crowe, you forgot the 18 interceptions. 7-9 this year if they are lucky..— mario1239- TO THE DOPEY LONE WOLF: Eli Manning was first in turnovers? If you don't include Freeman(27), Fitzpatrick(24), Rivers (25), Sanchez(26), and I may have missed another. Eli Manning had 20 turnovers, and a slew of QB's had 18-19 (a lot of them with missed games, i.e. VICK). You're an idiot.— stephkrist
- Fact: In the past two seasons, Eli has AVERAGED more turnovers per game than Vick. That erases your games missed theory. I don't know where Eli ranks league wide the past two seasons, but I'm guessing he is in the top ten, maybe even top five. — Penfold18
- Stephkrist,
Dopey? Are you serious? You've got to feel like a penny asking for change.
In 2010, Eli led the league with a career high 25 INTERCEPTIONS, followed by Brees, Palmer, Favre, Henee, Peyton Manning, etc.
Interceptions Thrown Leaders - All Players
RK PLAYER ATT LONG TD INT
1 Eli Manning, 92 31 25
2 Drew Brees
3 Carson Palmer
4 Brett Favre
5 Chad Henne
6 Peyton Manning— Lonewolf11 - Stephkrist, I treat everyone with respect on this board. So, why the personal attack?
Is the name calling due to an inability to communicate or is it low self-esteem and self-hatred related? Just because you blow out someone else's candle, yours doesn't shine any brighter.— Lonewolf11 - mario1239 - Not everyone agrees; I certainly don't. Like any other rookie, RGIII could be a bust, but if I had to guess, I'd say he's going to be an impact player. Of course, a lot has to do with coaching, scheme, surrounding talent, etc. I certainly wouldn't have guessed that Cam Newtown would have had such an amazing season. Time will tell, and that's what makes the NFL so exciting.— Lonewolf11
- Sheil, I assumed you were an articulate young writer coming up the ranks providing and an analytical perspective on this 'blog'. The other day you omitted one the DTs on the roster while evaluating the position for the upcoming year and then provided no explanation. Here, as you continue to promote your contribution to your work in the Eagles' Almanac, you use the phrase, 'chalk full'. Are you serious? These pieces are so short doesn't someone proof them before they are posted? The phrase is hyphenated 'chock-full'. I guess my hope for some good new writers was asking for too much. GoBirds!— gobirds17
- gobirds17, i scratched my head a minute over that myself and came to the conclusion that he was trying to make some sort of pun ,guess i was wrong— greensob
- I must say - Eagles fans may be the most moronic people around. You guys cannot win a championship for one basic reason. No, not talent - the Eagles are by far the dumbest team in football, led by mental midget Vick. But I've enjoyed this for 10-12 years... because every year it's the same thing - "THIS IS OUR YEAR". Then as the season progresses, all the losses are Reid's fault and all the wins are because of the players. There's no doubt they win win 10-12 games (probably won't) but it doesn't matter. As soon as the play a team that has a clue (Giants, Packers, 49ers, Saints) in the playoffs, there season will once again end, and it will be Reid's fault according to the fans.— stephkrist
- I must say that Stephkrist is grossly uninformed. He disputed the fact Eli Manning led the league in interceptions and was roundly criticized just one year ago.
With that lack of knowledge and credibility, how could he ever be taken seriously?
— Lonewolf11 - Bring back the screen pass!— phillyboymike7
- I think few would disagree that the Eagles did an excellent job this off-season. There is an increased level of fan confidence that this year's version of the Eagles could win a championship this season. Wolf I agree with most of your analysis and Yea U have changed, for NOW hahaha...Aaarrgh did I just say that about Wolf. Vick is still a QB that is considered a THREAT as deadly a weapon as Aaron Rodgers. Many forget that a few Divid Akers missed field goals was the difference in Rodgers championship season. In 2010 Vick led Brady most of the season in least turnovers by a QB, but faded late in the season. Last season was an aberration. Hindsight is very well stated in "Rube's" case,@rubicon24 after you fired Reid who would you have brought in as Coach? which QB not named Breeze, Brady, Stafford offered a better option than a HUNGRY Vick that year in Free Agency. J.P.P "MIGHT" BE MY CHOICE TODAY having seen his production. THE BOOK is yet to be written on Graham,that question may be answered this year ... In that years draft, Graham was considered to be the better pick. I get your your frustration Rubicon 24. As a Koolaid loving Eagle fan, the Contract moves to make the veterans players happy, the talented additions in Coaching, the Draft and Free agency the CONTINUITY, season 2 with Mudd, Juan and Washburn I feel reasonably satisfied in the Eagles efforts to compete for a Championship this season.— trinieagle
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