• March 29, 2024

Vick Can’t Win It All By Himself, He Will Need Help

More than any of the other major sports, football is a team sport.  In the game of football, players are on the field for one or two of the three team units, offense, defense and special teams.  You can win or lose the game in any of those areas.

Vickmania has taken over but the Eagles entire football team had a hand in winning that game.  When Michael Vick and the offense come back to earth and don’t play the perfect game, the other units of the team will have to play better.

I’ve said it many times before and I will say it again, “teams win Super Bowls, not individual players”.  Despite the unbelievable level which Vick is playing at, the Birds are not going to reach their goal unless everybody on the team does their job.

Yes, the Eagles offense were the main reason the Birds won on Monday night and Vick was the catalyst but he didn’t make the offense function by himself.  They broke quite a few records for scoring and looked unstoppable, but we know they’re not, at least not yet.

I know Vick is getting most or nearly all the credit as he should but it was DeSean Jackson not Vick, who outran LaRon Landry and pulled in that 88-yard pass.  Vick put it out there and Jackson went and got it.   The offensive line gave him the time to do his thing.

It was a nice call by Reid and Mornhinweg to start out the game.

The shuffle pass to LeSean McCoy was a great call and it continues to leave defenses with their mouths open as Eagles running backs waltz into the end zone.  First it was Brian Westbrook, now it’s McCoy.  Will the coordinators have as a good of a game calling the plays against the Giants?

Jeremy Maclin made a great catch on that deep pass.  Yes, he did screen off Dante Hall when the ball was in the air, but that’s just good football.

Maclin is learning to use his size and strength.  The young wide receiver has some sure hands and he finds a way to come down with the football.

Jason Avant was able to somehow pull in that pass near the sideline which was reviewed.

We could easily be saying that those would have been great catches but they weren’t able to hang on to them.

There were also quite a few times when Vick had all day to make those throws.  That touchdown pass to Avant was ridiculous.  You knew the Skins had folded up their tents after that one.  Big Albert Haynesworth got knocked on the ground and just stayed there.

I don’t expect the offensive line to play every game as well as they did on Monday Night but they can’t be human turnstiles, either.

The defense on the other hand played well for most of the game but they gave up 28 points against a Redskins offense which isn’t a very talented unit.  I heard that somebody said something about their weapons lacking explosiveness to the point where you could take them on an airplane with no problem.

The defense did come up with three picks which aided the blowout but giving up 28 points to that Washington group is nothing to write home about.  That performance will get them beat against some of the teams they have remaining on their schedule.

Dimitri Patterson played an outstanding game, but he can’t give up the deep ball like he did on the play to Anthony Armstrong.  Stewart Bradley can’t fall down on coverage and let the a tight end like Fred Davis be running all by himself.

Big plays will kill any defense and if you don’t believe it, ask the Redskins defense.

The special teams didn’t do anything particularly special on Monday Night, but they almost did some which could have been disastrous.

In the second quarter the Birds had given up those two quick scores, when kick returner Jorrick Calvin had the ball pulled out of his hands on the kick off return. If the Skins had recovered that football, who knows what would have happened in that football game.

Calvin was able to recover the ball, but the Birds were on the verge of letting the Redskins back into that game.

That’s why Vick grabbed Calvin as they passed each other on the field.  Vick knows that he’s not going to win anything by himself.

GCOBB

Read Previous

The Emergence Of Harrison And Eagles May Need Big Game From Celek

Read Next

The Eagles Secondary Is Stepping Up

0 0 votes
Article Rating
35 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
RealTalk777
RealTalk777
November 18, 2010 12:13 pm

True G!
Andy Reid made a point of speaking to that after the game on Monday also..He said Vick couldnt have accomplished the things he did without, receivers catching the ball, O line protecting him etc……Vick said that he watched the tape of the game, and all he could think of was the good job that his teammates did. Vick deserves credit for how quickly he has reached this level of play…

I’ve never heard Vick at any point this season, not give credit to his teammates in a win…defensively and offensively…LOL Vick was even commending the O Line when the played Detroit! LOL
Vick is a leader and he is leading this team the right way…

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
November 18, 2010 12:25 pm

Of course he can’t win it by himself and he hasn’t been doing it by himself. Of course, he’s playing great and making things happen but that’s also because everyone else is doing their job. If Avant gives up on the play where Vick is trying to find some then who knows what happens. The catch Maclin makes the oline playing better. The unit is playing well. So when the article is entitled “Vick can’t win it all by himself, HE WILL NEED HELP” implies that he hasn’t had help and that’s very misleading.

BirdoBeamen
BirdoBeamen
November 18, 2010 12:39 pm

This article pointed out some of the most obvious things I have ever read. You sound like John Madden in this one G — pick it up.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
November 18, 2010 12:41 pm

Yeah Birdo, I feel like the line “The team with the most points usually wins” should be inserted in there somewhere.

schiller
schiller
November 18, 2010 12:42 pm

you are all right, but we’ve taken the bait and posted 100+ comments on just as obvious articles before…. it’s his job – put out articles (the media in general) on a consistent basis. Not when the content warrants reporting…

phillywill
phillywill
November 18, 2010 12:43 pm

yes he’s been getting the help he needs
no worries here

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
November 18, 2010 12:50 pm

I agree schiller. I just think the title for thing “article” is all wrong. It implies something totally different than the content. Title should say “Vick has been getting all the help he needs”. Not a title that makes someone think that no one else on the team is doing anything. A lot of the comments above should have been found in the “My thoughts Eagles/Redskins” thread. We’re starting the next football week tonight and we’re just now pointing out the obvious stuff? Just pretty funny to me.

BirdoBeamen
BirdoBeamen
November 18, 2010 12:54 pm

You guys think they’ll make a movie out of this story if Vick leads us to a Superbowl ring?

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
November 18, 2010 12:59 pm

Hey if Vince Papale can get a movie Vick should be able to. What’s a good title?

BirdoBeamen
BirdoBeamen
November 18, 2010 1:03 pm

You’re just asking for a bunch of overplayed dog jokes now Scorp hahaha.

RealTalk777
RealTalk777
November 18, 2010 1:13 pm

Movie title??? how bout? “Fall and Rise of Michael Vick” or “Rise LIke the Phoenix”

With all of the credit thats been given to Vick, its important that credit is giving to the team…Most articles of the Eagles this week, read something like this… Michael Vick MVP? Michael Vick’s Dominance, Michael Vick Soars…..etc…therefore I agree with you on the title of the article Scorp…

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
November 18, 2010 1:18 pm

Didn’t we discuss this Movie Deal last week…
I do like the tilte “Starship #7” – The Michael Vick Story ( i give credit to Jon Grueden for coming up with Starship #7…
Back on topic though..
After reading all the posts and listenting to ESPN/Talk Radio, I am now convinced that Michael Vick can win the Super Bowl by himself… In fact, I had a source from New York tell me that he overheard NFL Commisioner (R Goodell) was flying in a some top Doctors from Sweden to see if they can clone Michael Vick and then pass one out to every team in the NFL to make sure that all teams are even and on the same level playing field.. Who would have thunk ….

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
November 18, 2010 2:55 pm

Thanks for the reality check, G!

We saw McNabb do some miraculous things on the field and because of those plays, some believed he should have won the big game by himself. I can’t recall how many times I’ve heard and read that “McNabb never won the big one”. I’ve gone back and watched that game many times, and it puzzles me how people arrived at that conclusion, especially when some of those very same people found every excuse in the world for Kolb’s shortcomings. Everything from the offensive line to the wind were offered as excuses, but I digress.

Now that Vick has earned the starting position with his spectacular play, it could be very easy to expect him to carry the team. I’m caught up in the hoopla because Vick’s play has covered a multitude of sins.

I must give Reid credit for taking steps to help Vick. Historically, he’s been as stubborn as they come, and change has come about very slowly, but it has come. Reid has brilliantly used Vick’s elusiveness by rolling him, which has given the receivers time to run their patterns. He’s also used the inside hand-off to accentuate McCoy’s quickness.

Now that I’ve given Reid his credit, I must criticize the play-calling. While he’s been absolutely brilliant with the scripted first 15, I believe he calls too many successive passes thereafter. In my opinion, that’s a recipe for QB injury. At one point against the Redskins, Reid was calling passes at nearly 80%. While Vick eluded the mounting pass rush and made them pay, the fact remains that they were coming after him hard. Because of Vick’s exceptional speed, the Redskins were eventually reduced to rushing only 3 men, with a spy. Of course, Vick picked them apart (as any NFL quarterback should).

As for the players, there have been too many pleasant surprises on both sides of the ball for me to dwell on any negatives. We’ve had some guys step up big time and I think both Reid and Vick will keep everyone highly motivated. Reid’s teams have always improved as the season’s progressed and I don’t expect that trend to change. I look for us to peak in December and make a run for the gold.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
November 18, 2010 3:30 pm

Good stuff, I hope they are not peaking too soon, there’s a lot of fottball left,
I hope they stop reading the papers,watching tv and stop listening to the radio to hear how good they are..Keep their mouths shut and continue to work hard,improve and put some new wrinkles in their schemes to keep opponents guessing and to remain unpredictable..Get some of younger players involved a little more when posible (How about throwing the ball to TE C Harbor or Mills once in a while, hand the ball off to Schmitt, Play LB Clayton or Cheney for a series or 2, get LIdndley on the field… If the San Francisco Giants Chanpionship run taught us anything, it’s important to use your entire roster and keep everyone fresh and have them ready to contribute when called upon..

xHorusx
xHorusx
November 18, 2010 5:09 pm

Does anybdoy have the whole Eagles vs Redskins game for Download? I was in Air doing the game so I miss most of it!! 🙁 I JUST HAVE TO WATCH HOW THEY JUST DESTROYED THE SKINS PLAY BY PLAY !!!

Please Help anybody, I need to see this entire game.
Horusp4p@aol.com

WellWellWell
WellWellWell
November 18, 2010 5:12 pm

Oh nooo, not another 200+ posting about movies again……Ahhhhh. I know, I had my share in the last one!

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
November 18, 2010 5:20 pm

I sitll get a kick out of Schiller playing Howard Eskin…

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
November 18, 2010 6:02 pm

It’s about time we give the offense of nick name……How about “Vick and the Young Gunz”?

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
November 18, 2010 8:13 pm

How about the “Vickalators” or “Vickaholics” of the “Vick-5” or the “Pit-Bull Express”

rcp1936
rcp1936
November 19, 2010 8:03 am

Chicago Bears are getting it done so far without a QB–in fact despite the QB

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
November 19, 2010 8:42 am

To Rcp

I think both the Bears and Bucs have a great chance to make the playoffs due to their easier schedules down the stretch which makes it imperative that the Eagles beat the Giants and win the NFC East outright…
The NFC East will probably only get the Division Winner into the Playoffs with the Wildcards coming
from the NFC North (Packers/Bears) and the NFC South (Falcons,Saints,Bucs)
Next week’s Eagles game vs the Bears will decide each teams playoff fate I believe.. but first the Eagles must be the Giants, IF Birds go 2-0, they are in great shape, if they 1-1 it will be dicey,
if they go 0-2, they are done as far as the playoffs..

schiller
schiller
November 19, 2010 9:40 am

Paul, please elaborate as I have never listened to eskin…

jroc757
jroc757
November 19, 2010 9:47 am

Look Cutler is a time-bomb ticking…… He is just a turnover machine and I beleive the Bears will do terrible down the stretch of the season……. They played a great game defensively but like Cutler said during the press conference “They need to play at the level of the bears defense”!!! If you frustrate Cutler he plays off of pure emotions which is not good!!!! Mike Martz is a coach who has alot on his plate to handle a guy like Cutler…. We’ll see down the stretch…….

jroc757
jroc757
November 19, 2010 9:51 am

I say us the #1 team overall with a first round bye and home field andvantage
#2 Falcons first round bye
#3Packers
#4Saints
#5Bucs
#6Giants find away to stay in it for some reason!!! LOL

jroc757
jroc757
November 19, 2010 9:59 am

Damn my bad the 49ers will win the west some how! the Saints and then the Giants…… Its early Im trippin! LOL

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
November 19, 2010 10:06 am

To Schiller,
I don’t listen to Eskin either, but you “Whine” like him a lot which is the connection

To Jroc757
QB J Cutler is the most Overrated QB in the NFL and has been for the last 2-3 years..He’s had 1 decent year in his career I believe, never led a team to a playoff Victory> He is surly, not a leader and acts as a goofball in my opinion and just never understood how many observors rate this guy as a
Good to an Elite QB in the NFL… I just don’t see it
(you can add Carson Palmer to this Overrated list too)

jroc757
jroc757
November 19, 2010 10:23 am

Yea your right Paul LOL!!! Carson is a bum too!!!! I just dont get the fact that you have Terrel Owens, Chad Johnson, (excuse me Ocho Cinco). Jermaine Gresham, Jordan Shipley and you can’t produce….. Just doesn’t make sense……

I know the bears would have held on to Orton…… He’s been a some what an success for the Broncos besides there record…… I just think that the Birds are gelling at the right time……. The offensive line has been great the past few games and I’m loving every minute of it……. We have balance now something we the FANS have been preaching for the past maybe 5 years now……… I’m just excited this season the fact that AR realizes that we can move foward with us losing key players with the likes of Mcnabb………. And win as a team….. No drama just positives for the Birdz thus far….. GO EAGLES

jakedog
jakedog
November 19, 2010 10:31 am

Cutler has a big arm, folks love the rifle, remeber, Jeff George, big arm, couldn’t play but hung around for years because of the hose

jroc757
jroc757
November 19, 2010 10:31 am

@paul MAN: Question if Kolb leaves next season_____ who do you think the birds draft as a 3rd string Qb next season……. I think that Keenum or Jake Locker will be taken early in the draft or Mcleroy….. But do you think Philly will draft early to get one and draft later to get o-lineman…… It was a big suprise early this season’s draft when the birds foucused on the front line…… Just a question

jroc757
jroc757
November 19, 2010 10:35 am

LOL jake Dog…….. I just think that rifle mentality…. You end up hittin the wrong man…… Mike Martz has been horrible at coaching the offense the past few seasons….. You give the Bears offense 3 and outs and keep there defense of the field….. The’ll just crash as a unit…… Cutler is the type of guy who just has a rebel mind state……. Brett Favre is the same way but has rings and had a hell of a supporting cast to help him be successful…….. I just dont see them being contenders.this season…..

RealTalk777
RealTalk777
November 19, 2010 10:55 am

I say if Kolb is traded use the draft pick on a line backer or line man…I wouldn’t mind the bird going after Dennis Dixon this off season, he would be a good backup…Let him and Kafka compete for the backup job and take it from there…

jroc757
jroc757
November 19, 2010 11:08 am

RealTalk777….. what about drafting Tyrod Taylor….. He’s a guy who we can use in wildcat formations… And has a good arm as well and he has tons of speed…… He’ll be a good addition to the Birdz I think…… If he falls late in the draft…

jakedog
jakedog
November 19, 2010 11:15 am

Jroc, I don’t want to be insensitive or something, but Cutler plays/acts/looks like a retard

RealTalk777
RealTalk777
November 19, 2010 11:24 am

@Jroc…I’m a VT fan…I like Tyrod, he’s definitley having a nice year for the Hokies.I’m a fan of mobile QB’s, the game is changing, everyone is getting faster and stronger. The mobile QB is going to be more valuable in the coming years. With Vick, we dont really need to run the wildcat…Vick is the wildcat. I would be concerned about injuries with Dixon, Tyrod could probably take bigger hits..He’s an experienced college QB, I wouldnt mind snatchng Tyrod up. I dont know, though, I think the pick could be used better on another position. I think Kafka will be a good backup QB. Snatching a solid LB of Defensive line or offensive line would be a priority for me before the QB position.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
November 19, 2010 12:59 pm

To Jroc
If/when Vick is locked up with an extension (which we all expect and want) then Kolb will be traded after the Season, making Kafka the #2 behind Vick initailly.. SInce they do like Kafka’s long range potetnial, I think they would go out and maybe get a Veteran QB to back-up VIck as an emergency in case of a major injury.I don’t think that Kafka is quite ready to be a # 2 just yet.. by 2012 for sure. So I can see the Eagles going out and getting a serviceable, inexpensive veteran short-term back up like a Seneca Wallace, Drew Stanton, Matt Moore or someone like that to bridge the gap for a seasonr .
Maybe they will draft a QB late in the Draft, but I would think the top 4 Rounds will address the OL,LB,CB & TE positions where there is a higher priority and some roster turnover expected to happen ..