In the Eagles’ system, he can be used in many ways. Matt Bowen
Now that Michael Vick is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, all the rumors, the sources and the speculation -- that I was guilty of plenty of times over the summer -- can stop. And we can finally focus on Vick the football player.
But Philly? With Donovan McNabb? Another quarterback that Eagles fans may want to start?
Sure, I was shocked at the move, just as I assume many of you are this morning. There were so many other options, so many other viable options, that just made sense from the standpoint of Michael Vick moving forward in the NFL — that I didn’t see Philly as one of them.
APHow will the Eagles fit Vick into their scheme in 2009?
But does he fit there?
Of course he does, but you just have to use him in the right fashion on the football field. Because as much as I still see Michael Vick playing quarterback at some point during his return to the NFL, it isn’t going to happen in a conventional way in Philly.
He isn’t going to challenge McNabb or Kevin Kolb for their jobs, and he isn’t going to create a controversy at the most important position on the football field.
Instead, he gives the Eagles options on offense — multiple options.
I played against Andy Reid’s offensive scheme many times in my career, and what the Eagles do best is create mismatches through the west coast system — the same system Vick last played in during his time in Atlanta.
Put players in motion, align them out of position, put them in favorable one-on-one matchups and get them the ball in open space. Then let them do what they do best — and that’s being a threat in the open field.
Brian Westbrook, DeSean Jackson, rookies LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin -- all players who have the ability to be used in different ways on the field. They’re players who can take advantage of defenses when they play in Reid’s system.
Vick is no different. He can be one of those players. He can be an offensive option — unlike any other in the league. Sure, we can talk about the wildcat, but I’m thinking bigger. Put him on the field with McNabb at the same time, create specific packages for him in the red zone, backed up and in third down situations. Align him in the slot, in the backfield and use pre-snap movement to get him the ball quickly — with blockers and open field in front of him.
Lots and lots of options, folks.
Yes, he’s still a long way from coming back as a football player, but I see him as an asset — a player who adds to an offense, a player who adds excitement, and a player who makes this football team, which was already a Super Bowl contender, that much better.
APAndy Reid now has another toy for his high powered offense.
He still has to return to football form, he still has to get into football shape and he still has to do the right things in the eyes of Commissioner Roger Goodell before we even get to see what his impact can be.
But make no mistake about it. When Vick does come back to the football field, he will be a weapon, and a threat to defensive coordinators. And when that time comes, the Eagles will be even more multi-dimensional. That’s a scary thought for the rest of the NFC.
Sure, we were all thrown off by this move, which had been building steam daily since the beginning of August. But Michael Vick is back in the NFL, and it’s now time to sit back and see what he can do.
Follow me on Twitter: @MattBowen41
I am pretty sure that if the Eagles want him after the first year, they will restructure his contract and give it out over four or five years
To be honest, if the Eagles use him this way, I wish he would have come to Chicago.
Good call Coach. I didn't even think of that. Probably because my head is still spinning F5 tornado style.
Well, for a place to come back to after being out for 2 years, the NFC East isn't it. It's unlikely that he could find 3 more dangerous defences in the NFL to play against twice each season. If he isn't back to his best, then expect an injury in one of those games.
Mel, are you kidding? Dallas' defense is the perfect one for Vick to play a small role against: they're not as quick as he is, not terribly disciplined, and have a weak LB corps other than Ware. Plus safeties, used to spy on him, are not their strong point. Washington has limitations on team speed and are more scheme-heavy in their ability to stop other teams, so he could eat them alive with 1-2 blockers on a misdirection. And while NY is a great defense, they also just lost Spags, so they'll trend down, though the 5-man front is perfect for containing someone such as Vick and putting pressure on early, that assumes he's under center; if he's not, that's 1 extra slow guy on the field for him to race right past.
Once, teams had to game plan for Vick's speed (see Carolina's misery in years past). Now they'll waste time--which is Reid's plan--planning for 6-8 plays worth of Vick, thereby taking precious time away from game-planning to stop McNabb.
We were all thrown by this move because we thought he would be playing qb full time . If not as starter then as backup . I agree that he will just be a gadget qb in this offense & maybe 3rd string . I'm wondering if this was the best fit for him & what were his other options as far as teams go . I also wonder if AJ Feeley will be traded .
We were all thrown by this move because we thought he would be playing qb full time . If not as starter then as backup . I agree that he will just be a gadget qb in this offense & maybe 3rd string . I'm wondering if this was the best fit for him & what were his other options as far as teams go . I also wonder if AJ Feeley will be traded .
We were all thrown by this move because we thought he would be playing qb full time . If not as starter then as backup . I agree that he will just be a gadget qb in this offense & maybe 3rd string . I'm wondering if this was the best fit for him & what were his other options as far as teams go . I also wonder if AJ Feeley will be traded .
This makes the Birds offense pretty dangerous.
Vick, McNabb, Westbrook, Jackson and Maclin aligned together? Lots of guys who can make plays.
I think this deal makes sense. He's paid like a backup this year, but clearly his value is higher next year, after he's had a chance to shake the rust off. Probably the Eagles move him for draft picks, and his new team will do a long term deal. Or, if they have a problem with McNabb, they can keep him at a bargain rate next year, while they sort things out. Smart deal with little downside for the Eagles. This is just the sort of thing the Redskins should have done, but they prefer to blow draft picks on a used-up Jason Taylor. There's a reason the Eagles are a top team, year in, year out.
Vick is not suspended until week 6.go back and read it again. He has a conditional reinstatement that could allow the commissioner to reinstate him BY week six not UNTIL week six. This means he can reinstate Vick at any time before week six as long as he keeps his snout, err nose clean. Week 3 is probably more like it in his case to get ready.
His contract and McNabb's are now running simultaneously. There is no guaranteed money in Vick's contract either, so they can cut and restructure at any time
Mr. Lombardi suggested (tweeted) that he thinks Vick was signed as a back up QB, not a wr or rb. Why would you want to limit McNabb's touches/impact by direct snapping to Vick?
The gritz,
Who in their right mind thought that Vick would be coming back as a full-time QB? The only reason he had any value after his 2 year vacation is his supernatural athleticism, not his mediocre passing skills. The media took every opportunity to shove him down the throat of the Dolphins and every other team that is expected to run the Wildcat this season. The only situation that was ever brought up as a QB possibility for him was SF, but obviously they felt better with Hill and Smith. If this new role for Vick comes as a shock to anyone, it's because they never paid attention to what was being written about his possible destinations or really gave much thought to how he could best help a team.
Dave B,
All that means is that he'll be listed on the roster as a QB and they'll probably dump Feely to make room for him. If the Eagles intend to use him as a QB and not a gadget player, then they would have worked him out before signing him. Since they didn't even watch him throw one ball (as far as we know), they merely signed him for his speed and athleticism which clearly means he'll be lining up other places than under center.
Maybe I'm old school but NOBODY seems to be talking about Vick the person. It's as though what he did and how he did it never happened. He Lied to Blanks face to get a $125 million contract-- Vick's character is he's a T-H-U-G. I hope the Eagles suffer through a PR firestorm.
Maybe I'm old school but NOBODY seems to be talking about Vick the person. It's as though what he did and how he did it never happened. He Lied to Blanks face to get a $125 million contract-- Vick's character is he's a T-H-U-G. I hope the Eagles suffer through a PR firestorm.
Since Andy Reid, Jeff Lurie, Matt Bowen, and Andrew Brandt all seem to agree that Vick is an NFL QB, could some of the people who were telling me I was nuts to think that drop in and admit they were wrong? Ah, indeed, didn't think so.
@ bill bates
Why did I think he would come back as a full time qb ? Bates look around the NFL . The league is filled with mediocre starting qb's . He could start for SF , Washington , Buffalo , Jax , & St Louis tomorrow . You might not be impressed with Mike Vike as a starter but guess what ? There organizations that have worse . If you read Michael Lombardi's article he even suggests that MV will be McNabbs primary backup .
Gee, Philly signed the bum? Then again, the city did boo Santa. He'll be a perfect fit, he can go on shooting sprees with Marvin Harrison, do drugs with Reid's kids, maybe former Eagle Stallworth can come by and they'll drunk drive together, whatever. I give Vick less than a year before his punk/thug nature takes over and he does something stupid again.Why don't the Eagles resign Stallworth and pick up Pacman while they're at it?
Gritz blitz, you've been right on Vick all along. Some of these guys just cannot separate their disdain for him from his abilities. Of course he will play QB. Who else do the Eagles have behind McNabb?
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Aug 14, 2009
07:24 AM
The thing that I don't understand is that Vick is signedfor 1.2 million this year and a club option for 5+ million in year two. So he's suspended until week 6 and while he's out he will be learning the playbook. But, they only get to use him for 11 weeks after that. So say he makes it into year 2, McNabb is still there, he's signed for 2 more years. He is going to make 5+ million dollars as a slash type player? Huh? This move raises a ton of questions. If this post doesn't make sense, its because I'm flummoxed.
Great. Now I have to talk myself into Vick helping my Eagles. That is something I didn't think I'd have to do.