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.
There is only reason why someone may support Vick. And we all know the reason. He's simply not smart enough. He've lost his elite speed. He's a turnover waiting to happen. It's so obvious!— passi0natephillyfan- Vick is too dumb to be a good quarterback. He's not even in the same league as Brady, Mannings, Brees, Rodgers. Good riddance, you loser!!!— dundermifflin
- Kelly is going to draft or trade for a QB so you all can stop your bickering.— WantToKnow
- Dear Fans: Along with no Mike Vick, there will be no slow linemen (the Fireman should not even show up at training camp) and the line blocking scheme is CRUCIAL for the zone read schemes he will employ. I am guessing that, FOR SURE, the Eagles will take either the Texas A&M or Central Michigan kid for the line because nothing works without good run blocking. Inside Zone Read is almost impossible to stop if the blocking is done correctly (ZONE BLOCKING, not man to man, so guys like Danny Watkins will not flourish. Kelso yes, Herremans yes, Jason yes...King, hahahaha, he is history!!— BirdinParadise
- More Foles cheerleading. If only the guy had done something to merit it. But the local talking heads and blowhard "reporters" hate Vick so they'll keep propping Foles up until Kelly finally makes up his mind. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.— JLH
- lol @ this article being on time.— bloodymess
- I predict by year 3 we'll be calling for the removal of Mr. Great Football Mind. I have no faith that Chip Kelly is NFL head coach material.— MrBigDizzle
- I predict by year 3 we'll be calling for the removal of Mr. Great Football Mind. I have no faith that Chip Kelly is NFL head coach material.— MrBigDizzle
- "Why Vick probably doesn't fit Kelly's vision"
Not smart enough.;
Too Old.
See? It only took five words.— fmMD - Please get rid of this low life and be rid of all the negativity around him. I want to go back to rooting for the Eagles which I cannot do while this criminal is on the team. How anyone can root for someone who did the hideous things that he did is beyond me. Lets be gone with him once and for all and get a fresh start ..Black/white color is ireelevant folks— flyers1000
- Vick might be a better QB than Foles, but the Eagles are a better team with Foles as their QB than they are with Vick as their QB. The three things Kelly holds concerning a QB clearly point to Vick hitting the road.— fafink
- Dennis Dixon (Ravens backup and former Duck starter under Kelly) will be brought in to compete with Foles. Might draft Tyler Wilson as well. If not, look for Kelly to make due in 2013, and then draft either Johnny Football from A&M or Taj Boyd from Clemson in the '14 draft.— vdstrading
- you gotta love the vick haters lol!!!! not!!!!!— DJ_Bootleggah
- Go Get TEBOW! As Buddy Ryan used to say about Chris Carter. All he does is catch touchdowns! Well all Tebow does is WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!— PhillyTerm
- We "hate" players that suck and contribute to the Eagles' losing ways. DJ_Bootleggah- There's only one reason why you support Mike Vick!— passi0natephillyfan
