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 - I would hope that you wouldn't be wrong. The whole idea of hindsight is being able to look back in to the past and say what SHOULD have been done. Being Captain Hindsight, if you were wrong in your hindsight you'd be one bad superhero, and one stupid dumbA@@ to boot...one out of two ain't bad I suppose.
Point being, it isn't hard to sit back and say: I would have done this, and I wouldn't have done that. That doesn't make you a brilliant football mind...— JTR - eagles-fan-in-texas, 2nd Dallas game is an Eagles loss. Dallas coming off extended rest from Thanksgiving game. Eagles coming off a short week, as they are on Monday Night the week before. Remember the Seattle fiasco last year.— watsonmr
- Yea, anyone just chalking up automatic losses to the Ravens AND Steelers is crazy. This team will be much better than all the nawsayers would have us. Reid has had challenges throughout the last few seasons but the addition of Ryans will be HUGE. Wasn't traded because he can't play anymore. it's that he didn't fit the system and had a high cap hit. The DB's will play huge with the addition of Todd Bowles to the coaching staff. And Michael Vick will have that MVP season that people insist he CANNOT have. It's easy to see this as a bad team when you WANT to. If you look at this team from a negative perspective, of course you'll form a negative opinion. If your a TRUE fan, you'll look at it from a positive perspective and see things ending happily. Whether it ultimately does or not, is not up to some 2-bit wacko with a computer typing in the win/loss record for a season that hasn't happened. The saying goes "ANY GIVEN SUNDAY" for a reason. Teams lose games that you know should be checked off as wins; ala SF, SEA, BUF and ARI. If you truly KNEW deep down in your heart that we would lose THOSE games, your a nut. NOONE in their right mind had SF going 13-3. THIS Eagles team will NOT win a Super Bowl just because they changed coaches. ANDY REID AND MICHAEL VICK will win the Super Bowl together and in Philadelphia.— papabear702
- sorry ladies book 10-6— oldBird
- From what I see, Jeremy Maclin is back to being healthy again; which should be a huge part of our success as he should have a pro bowl season for us this year; our LB are more solidified than ever with the addition of both Kendricks and Ryans, and our DL is teeming with talent to the point that some is going to get cut by us and go on to have a 10+ sack season ala Chris Clemmons, Derrick Burgess, Jason Babin, but we will still manage to get more than 50 sacks between all of em. Whats funny is for every DE that bust for the Eagles, there's at least one other who found a way to still flourish in the league. Just saying. Anyways, that's just 3 significant changes for you Rube. You can also add in Todd Bowles and OJ; who will make quite a few big plays for the defense in a reserve type of role in the secondary. I think he will play more in dime packages and come up with at least 4 turnovers that are critical this year, whether they are INT or FUM, as well as provide somewhat of a veteran leadership presence in the backfield. Add to that Asante being shipped of to ATL and subsequently the team can play the bump and run coverage that Andy Reid wants to play to help create even more sacks and TO. Watch and see, this season will be one to be remembered. The one position on the team that fans have been screaming for to be addressed and in a major way. Bill Cower HAD to get a QB to finally win that Super Bowl. Andy Reid HAD to get a difference making LB in here to shore up our run defense so now this team should be EPIC. Just show some hope, and you'll be very rewarded this season.— papabear702
- @Rub: You obviously can't handle the fact that the starting QB for the Eagles is doing his job better than the starting QB for the Giants, who everyone loves to point out "won" the SB last year.— Penfold18
- i normally dont do predictions but in my mind i was thinking 12 or 13 wins,the Skapadia went and gave up the blueprint on how to defend Mr Vick ,we're doomed,why Skapadia why?— greensob
- I have good Vibes that we will win it all this year. I'm for real. I'm no psycich or fortune teller. But I have strong vibes that we will win it all this year. GO BIRDS!— Ace-Philadelphia
- Penfold, if he was doing his job better then the Giants QB WHEN IT COUNTS you may have a argument... Games are won in the 4th quarter and vicks stats in the 4th do not match up (unless you are talking about garbage time in losses) as long as Andy is coach, the Superbowl is safe from Philly - the only stat that matters is winning the Superbowl...— GBPottsgrove
- Eli had 14 interception and managed 9 wins to get into the playoffs. The year before Eli had 25 interceptions, and was still considered elite. The Giants won the Super Bowl, and were just an average team finishing with a 9-7 record. The last time the Giants won the Super Bowl they were then 9-7. The Eagles finished with a 5-1 record in the division. They are the class of the division.
Why are you guys holding the Eagles to a higher standard? The NFL Playoff general favor the hottest and teams in good health in Playoffs, not the hottest team in the regular season. The Giants and Packers the last few years have proven that.
The last two years were total rebuilding years in Philly. That doesn't have to be touted, all the new players indicates a major rebuilding of the Eagles in 2010 and 2011. In 2009, the Eagles should have never qualified for the playoffs and, in my opinion going to the playoff only served to damage their 2009 draft position.
Brandon Graham was a standout Defensive End at Michigan, Big 10 Player of the Year. He was a solid pick at 13, it's foolish to evaluate Graham's play when he was injured, but as a Rookie he was a solid. You don't have to worry about Graham, I seen this guy dominate the Big 10 Graham is the real deal when healthy.
Vick had a bad year early on because of the inexperience of the offensive line, and he never complained. As the line got better his performance behind the line got better, the numbers in the article tells that story.— Dexter - I don't think the assessment I read here up top was accurate. There is no way had Kevin Kolb not been replaced by Vick the Eagles were a playoff team in 2010. To believe the Eagles were going to the playoffa with Kevin Kolb in his first year as a starter is out right delusional.
Mike Vick got plenty of positive mileage out of the Eagles in 2010, still despite what the administration said, 2011 was part two of the Eagles rebuilding process, 8 of the 22 starters were new free agents or rookies. Can any of you name another team with 8 new starters who made the playoffs in any season?
I don't need to defend Andy Reid, Andy Reid has been recognized twice as the NFL Coach of the Year in his 13 years in Philly. Under Andy Reid, the Eagles are both respected and feared league wide. Better player and Coach assessors than available at philly.com has made those determinations.
If the Eagles linebackers can tackle and they remain healthy this year, the Eagles will win at a minimum 12 games. 5 within the Division, and 7 of the Conference Games.— Dexter - EKW, since the issue was REGULAR SEASON wins it's exactly as I said. The Giants were 9-7 so it WAS enough to win the SB...TWICE. You just have to get into the dance. Giants proved that...TWICE.
The schedule IS tough but it's about the same for everyone in the NFC East. Eagles seem to get a lot of teams coming off bye weeks as WMR says but that's the luck of the draw and it's where depth and injuries will matter.
JTR, sorry, there is only ONE hindsight on this board. Ruby is predicting the future based on the past and predicting a team won't win a SB is like predicting cold in winter time...easy. And his guesses are better than anyone elses? NOT! He seems to take his predictions as fact though. There was [is] a guy that used to predict EVERY Eagles game and end it with a "book it". Bet against him and you could have retired a rich man. So much for "predictions".
TNEF, you are correct. For all of hindsight's stats like Reid's supposed [and false] 38% win percentage against +.500 teams, do you know what Reid's lifetime percentage is against the NFC East...63%. That ain't bad. He more than holds his own in that regard. And as awful as they were last year they STILL almost made the playoffs. Toss in the off season additions and there is reason to believe they will be competitive. After that anything goes.
Like I said, just get into the dance. You don't have to be 12-4 when 9-7 has worked twice.— tpizza - Getting back to the article, let's see the same breakdown on every starting QB in the league. I'm guessing they all have significant production drop off when the D brings 5 or more. The real analysis should be the play calling on the downs when 5 or more are coming. What reads need to be made, is anyone a safety valve, how did the back pick up a man, etc. I like Vick & Reid but the play calling & the decision making within the play are the key in my opinion. All this arguing about records, etc. is predictable, same tired old points every day/week/year/decade. Until we win a SB it's the what we have to put up with.— Mike in LA
- It's pretty obvious by the dog killer's numbers and play after those few great games he had. The defenses have figured him out. He can't read the field, he panics in the pocket, and he certainly isn't as fast as he once was. 8-8 is the best this team can hope for.— sackvicknow
- Did someone hack Lonewolf's account? All this positivity!— mjwilliams75
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