Why Vick probably doesn't fit Kelly's vision
The problem with the Eagles keeping Michael Vick for 2013
Why Vick probably doesn't fit Kelly's vision
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
We still are in the guessing stage, about pretty much everything when it comes to the Eagles and new coach Chip Kelly. Tops on the list of questions might be the quarterback. We all know that Michael Vick and Nick Foles are under contract, but that Vick can be released without any financial obligations to the Eagles if it is done in the first three days after the Super Bowl.
Who will it be?
Maybe Foles.
But probably not Vick.
This is just a surmise, of course, but it comes from Kelly’s own words. Someone attended a coaching clinic where Kelly was a featured speaker, and published his presentation. Here are three statements, lifted from that presentation. The subject was quarterbacks.
One:
“In a quarterback, I look for a quarterback who can run and not a running back who can throw. I want the quarterback who can beat you with his arm. If the defense forces him to run, he can do it effectively. We are not a Tim Tebow type of quarterback team. I am not going to run the quarterback 20 times on power runs. If I had a Tim Tebow, I might change my mind. You do not find the 6-4, 240-pound, 4.6 quarterbacks too many times.”
Two:
“In our attitude, every sack is the quarterback’s fault. It is not a sack if the quarterback throws the ball away. Nobody ever lost a game on an incomplete pass. Throw the ball away, and give us another opportunity to make a first down.”
Three:
“The job of a quarterback is simple. He has to ‘let it happen, and not make it happen.’ We want to move forward. That is a concept you have to make your team understand. The cardinal sin at our place is the quarterback sack. We want the ball out of the quarterback’s hands in 1.5 seconds. That does not mean holding the ball until 2.5, waiting for someone to get open.”
One, two, three. Does anybody see how that possibly adds up to Michael Vick quarterbacking the Eagles in 2013? He is the antithesis of most of these Kelly statements. He holds the ball forever, waiting for someone to get open, always looking for the big play, always reluctant to settle. As a result, he gets sacked a lot and hit more than almost any quarterback playing the game.
If not Vick, then Foles? One sentence, quoted above, sticks out as his problem: “If the defense forces him to run, he can do it effectively.”
The realities of the situation might force Kelly to compromise his vision in the first season -- we will all see about that, and soon enough. But it is hard to imagine the fundamental compromise that would be required if Vick were to be Kelly’s quarterback. I mean, when was the last time you saw Vick play and thought he was just letting it happen and not trying to make it happen? Ever?
Again, it is fundamental -- and we all have seen that Vick is too old to change. Given that, it seems obvious that the only question is whether the Eagles retain his rights after the Super Bowl in order to trade him.
ehill40 i dont think it couldve been said any better then the way you posted it thats real talk!!! because he took kolbs job and put up some of the best numbers ever posted by an eagles qb behind a shabby and shotty line at that time all the vick haters seem to figure the line problems were solved because vick didnt really need a line that year!!! But last years line was even worst it was much harder to duplicate what he did the year he got come back player of the year everyone seems to think it was him lol!!! gotta love the philly fan haters lol!!!! i agree with ehill40 if they let vick walk they will be doign themselves a major disservice!!! i tell u this better know if kelly is plannin on running the spread foles wont come close to being able to run that offense!!! sorry but true!!!!— DJ_Bootleggah- One of the best seasons ever by an Eagles QB? McNabb had 7 season WITH the Eagles where he passed for more yards than the 3018 Vick passed for that year. His season was good because he didn't turn the ball over a lot which obviously was an aberration considering opposing defenses dropped a lot of INT's that year. Vick is what he is, he has never been an elite QB and one brief period of success in 2010 doesn't make him elite. If one good season makes you elite lets start talking about guys like Derek Anderson. To see elite, you might want to look at a guy like Peyton Manning who has passed for under 4000 yards twice. Both of those seasons he had more passing yards than Vick in 2010 or Vick's career high in 2011. Andrew Luck and RGIII just passed for more yards in their rookie years than the great 2010 of Vick. — jimbo jones
- Probably doesn't fit because he's falling apart, can't throw, and can't think his way out of a paper bag. Other than that, he's just great.— CiceroSpuriousDeodatusTheSecond
- Don't get your interpretation of Kelly's remarks. Sounds to me like he's looking for a younger Michael Vick with a good offensive line. Vick is obviously not the best fit for the Iggs next season, but it remains to be seen if he's the best available fit.
I still say they should trade Foles to the Raiders for Terrell Pryor, and play him behind Vick for a season. Pryor could learn the offense, learn how to play generally, start the 3-6 games Vick misses with injuries and play 2-4 series a game as a change-up.
Failing that, there's Alex Smith, who's not a great player but a good player and a smart player who'll pick up Kelly's system as fast as anyone. And Smith can run, and run well, when necessary. Which will be often if the O line does not improve.— aintnorep - hey, those of us who think black or white QB's are not supported in Philly are "NUTS" We EAGLES FANS want to WIN, we don't care about the COLOR of there skin! WE WANT TO WIN!! So get over your selves, you HATERS.you HATERS out there need to look in the mirror....Stop the Chains (shackles)i.e Slave mentality. GO EAGLES!!!We took a shot with Vick and we had a little success, however, NOT enought, Do i need to give any examples? It's time to say GOODBYE and GOOD LUCK and FAIRWELL, thank's for the short but GREAT memories, you will be in our prayers.NEXT! Foles a possability or someone else? PLEASE FIND A GREAT ONE!!!!! EAGLES FAN FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— mkam
- Foles is not a guy who is so good that he just has to start right away. He could use some more time on the bench. Vick is definitely not the answer in a Kelly offense. The next starting QB is not yet an Eagle.— Boru
- Name one QB who could have successfully operated with such a horrific offensive line? The reality is that there are very few QB's that fit Chip Kelly's offensive scheme. In college, the defenses are not comprised of NFL calliber players. Many are just darned good high school players who will never ever see a pro football camp. In the NFL, name one QB who won a Super Bowl while running 15 times a game. The closest successful "scrambling" QB's were Roger Staubach, John Elway, and Steve Young. Michael Vick was tough in Atlanta, but teams learned to contain instead of try to sack. Keep him in the pocket. Randell Cunningham was one of "those" QB's however, when he became a pocket passer in Minnesota, he became a winner (missed a Super Bowl on a missed extra point). Kelly's offense will surprise many D-coordinators, but in the NFL, unlike college, most if not all linebackers/d-backs have lightning like speed. Should be interesting who ends up behind center next season.— drhoffman
- Love Tim Tebow as an athlete. Vince Lombardi would have figured out how to make him the modern-day Paul Hornung.— ewils
- Right now, at this point.....WE DON'T HAVE A QUALITY QB. Period— stardog
- @passinate i like vick for the same reason i like p-manning, breeze, rodgers, tebow, newton, griffin III and u like foles for the same reason u like kolb, kafika, orten, cassell lmao don't try and say im pulling the race card you nitwhit!!! Its true i am black but not racist unlike you and all of the vick haters on here lol!!!!!— DJ_Bootleggah
- @passinate i like vick for the same reason i like p-manning, breeze, rodgers, tebow, newton, griffin III and u like foles for the same reason u like kolb, kafika, orten, cassell lmao don't try and say im pulling the race card you nitwhit!!! Its true i am black but not racist unlike you and all of the vick haters on here lol!!!!!— DJ_Bootleggah
- Umm really? You're clearly wrong, my friend. I'm not racist. I don't blame anyone who supporting a player because he or she can relate to that athlete. I'm just letting you know that Vick is done as a QB. I don't know why you can't see it. He was still elite in 2010 but not the last two years. He threw 30 TDs and 24 INTs the previous two years. Those are horrendous numbers for a starting QB. Stop blaming the O-line. As a QB, everything is your fault. You're the leader. Vick threw his teammates under bus. No respect. Don't even mention the likes of Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, and RG3 in the same breath as Mike Vick. You've lost all creditability as football fan. — PhileaglyersFan
- hey jimbo put vick behind the lines mcnabb played behind and i bet money we get way further with those lines and defenses he played with!!!! the two teams vick played on dont even come close to being comparible!!!!— DJ_Bootleggah
- I think there is a 4th thing: the QB has to have a quick mind. That eliminates Vick.— 4thand10
- Vick is shot as a QB. Been in decline past two years. He can't escape DEs anymore. Foles? Who knows? He'll probably be the best choice ffor this year anyway— rustypop58
