Trent Dilfer On Why Michael Vick Is Becoming "Unstoppable"

by JasonB on Nov 7, 2011 9:01 AM EST in Philadelphia Eagles News

Trent Dilfer wrote a glowing piece about what he's seen from Michael Vick over the past few games, specifically with respect to how well he's reading defenses and how smart he's been in terms of running and throwing.

He looked at the tape of the Dallas game and concluded that the Cowboys weren't "unprepared" nor did they have a bad plan against the Eagles. In fact, the blitzes and coverage they ran have all worked well against Michael Vick and the Eagles in the past... the difference, according to Dilfer, is simply how well Vick read them.

Just watch the tape from the Washington game. On a late drive, he saw the linebacker front set to blitz and checked to a perimeter run right for LeSean McCoy. He did this again in the Cowboys game, foiling the Dallas plan again and again. It's important to see Vick continue to check into plays that utilize the talent around him, not his own legs. It's important for a guy who throws 100 mph to find a changeup. He's the most athletic player to ever play the position, but the fact is, defenses would rather see Vick run. It makes sense -- he's hitting 67.2 percent of his passes from the pocket, among the best in the league.

Which leads to the last adjustment he seems to be making: he's running selectively. For one thing, he knows he'll never last if he wants to run. Let's face it: He's not a big guy. Secondly, he might also see that he's not a good thrower in the play after he scrambles. The tape on this doesn't lie. When Vick takes off, he often makes poor decisions on the next throw; he gets tired, he becomes erratic and his throws get short.

With these adjustments, Vick doesn't just become better, the whole team does.

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cant wait for tonite

This is a huge game!!!

by VRFC8 on Nov 7, 2011 9:09 AM EST via mobile reply actions

This game scares me a little bit because its almost a trap game… their defense plays to let you do somethings but you have to play mistake free football which isn’t always our thing…

by ieatcrayons on Nov 7, 2011 9:23 AM EST reply actions

Maybe if the Giants had lost yesterday I could see it as a trap game. But the Eagles know what’s at stake here. You can’t go down 3 games in the division at this point and still think you have a chance to win it. You also can’t go 3-5 and think you have a chance to get into the playoffs at all.

The Jruth shall be told.

by packimop on Nov 7, 2011 10:23 AM EST up reply actions

They are all must-wins at this point

at least until they are a few over .500

The weird thing is it seems like they were affected by the pressure more when they were losing. Since they got the monkey off their backs, and that damned Dream Team moniker, they play loose.

Follow @D3Keith

Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring it Home for Jerome.

by D3Keith on Nov 7, 2011 8:17 PM EST up reply actions

even though im nervous about this game, i must say, its a relief playing this in philly for the first time in seemingly 1262369018375 years

I hate new york.

by XxActionJacksonxX on Nov 7, 2011 9:35 AM EST reply actions

Seriously. Fuck Soldier Field that place is a joke.

The Jruth shall be told.

by packimop on Nov 7, 2011 10:20 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I think you missed about 243325 years in your estimate.

by DLawrence55 on Nov 7, 2011 12:05 PM EST up reply actions

Yup, the book on Vick every since the last month of last season was to blitz the hell out of him and have him run, and make mistakes. If, and IMHO it still is IF, Vick has developed as a QB to the point where he’s reading defenses and utilizing his offense around him as he has the past 2 games every week, then able to showcase the Michael Vick Experience only when things break down, he’ll be the best QB in football and the MVP of the league.

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Bear Bryant

by NJBammer on Nov 7, 2011 9:53 AM EST reply actions

yeah, I just hope they keep out all the trick plays and stuff like that. Play football and let them try to beat us at it. I have all the confidence in our team that we are that much better and will prevail as long as we dont beat ourselves.

"Obviously, I lobbied for him to be here. But what a difference a year makes." -- Donovan McNabb

by thePurpleLion on Nov 7, 2011 9:56 AM EST up reply actions

yep. i also think a lot has to do w/ the options they give him.

he seems to have more opportunities to audible, now. and they are doing a better job of calling multiple plays in the huddle (it would seem), hence the ‘KILL, KILL’ that you hear sometimes over the tv feed.

the td to maclin was a pure checkoff, though, and a really nice one. dagger in the heart, that.

another big factor of late has been the increase in 3 step drops, the decrease in what i term ‘unnecessary’ play action and the commitment to the running game.

giving him more pure dropback snaps has to help, because he’s not starting out with his back to the defense. i think this is andy and marty learning they can beat folks straight up without always having to fool them.

a lot of the ugly sacks he took early in the year were on play action (because the book on him was to secondary blitz the backside of the stretch run).

now that they’ve added that playside sprint draw thingy (vick drops back on an angle to the left and gives to shady on the inside handoff, off tackle), they have gotten even elite DE/OLB types (see: Ware, Demarcus) in a no win situation.

i’m hoping the bears’ safeties take a peak tonight to try and stop the run and mid-field game and that the birds can connect deep to either desean or maclin just to remind the league that that’s out there, too.

by poetx on Nov 7, 2011 3:17 PM EST up reply actions

Well not MVP this year

Rodgers has that in the bag after 8 games.

But if he plays like an MVP, great. The stuff he did last week was less flashy, but all us Eagles fans would prefer heady Vick I think.

Follow @D3Keith

Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring it Home for Jerome.

by D3Keith on Nov 7, 2011 8:18 PM EST up reply actions

WTH ?

Why did I never think of the play after the big run ? I would love to see the stats on all running QB’s after a run of 5 yds & 10yds or more. Would be interesting to see….talking about Cunningham,young,elway,vick,mcnabb etc….. Never even gave it a thought that Vick was human.

by Mikegeminsky on Nov 7, 2011 10:00 AM EST reply actions

I am going to try and get Mike to give me a high five tonight. That would be awesome.

Formerly... "You don't have to be sweet, to be good"

by Ed Van Chimp on Nov 7, 2011 10:05 AM EST reply actions

he’s hitting 67.2 percent of his passes from the pocket, among the best in the league

WOW…I did NOT know that.

"If I can get you to think twice, I'm in your head."
-Brian Dawkins

Nnamdi, Asante, DRC; The Three Graces...charm, beauty, and creativity.

The 2011 Philadelphia Eagles:
"JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I WAS OUT...THEY PULL ME BACK IN"
-Michael Corleone

by immynimmy on Nov 7, 2011 10:12 AM EST reply actions

Dilfer likes who he likes, and if he doesn’t like you, in his opinion you pretty much suck

by DLawrence55 on Nov 7, 2011 10:13 AM EST reply actions

Yup. I’m not a big Dilfer fan, regardless of this article.

Formerly DeSean10
36-5-20-JJ -- Forever Bleeding Green

"i was never back on (the Eagles' bandwagon)… they’ll go 8-8 at best and Reid should be fired at the end of the season…. and all you loyalists will be crying your eyes out… and jumping off ledges cuz u didn’t see it coming" - Eagladelphia

by AnthroEagle on Nov 7, 2011 10:23 AM EST up reply actions

He’s a superbowl winning quarterback man

Alex Bunbury = good. Teal Bunbury = a colour

by Lesean25 on Nov 7, 2011 11:49 AM EST up reply actions

If I were Ray Lewis

I’d go to Dilfer’s house and repo that Super Bowl ring, then punch him in the face. Dilfer sits there on ESPN and goes on and on about how this or that QB sucks. He was pretty much a solid example of a high round QB bust. And he will always have the distinction of running possibly the most incompetent offense of all time; I think they set a record for fewest touchdowns or most quarters going scoreless. His career stats make me long for McNabb…from last year.

http://www.nfl.com/player/trentdilfer/2500392/careerstats

by DLawrence55 on Nov 7, 2011 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

If you were Dilfer

and ESPN offered you a hefty contract to go onto ESPN and talk about other QB’s, would you do it? I hate when people critisize these guys on TV. Like you wouldnt sign the contract if ESPN offered one to you

by Mike Will is DoubleDown on Nov 7, 2011 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

Not saying I wouldn't

My point had nothing to do with whether I’d take the deal or not, or whether he was financially justified in doing so. In fact, that’s absolutely irrelevant to what I was saying. Just saying he might not have the best credibility for what it takes to be successful at the position.

If CNN started paying me Elliott Spitzer or Nancy Grace money to comment on legal issues, I’d do it in a minute. But that doesn’t mean I’d expect anyone who’s worked with me to respect my analysis or take me seriously.

by DLawrence55 on Nov 7, 2011 4:42 PM EST up reply actions

But, but, but...

KC “The Football Scientist” Joyner says Vick, and the rest of the Eagles, suck. So obviously Dilfer is wrong.

by DonnyD on Nov 7, 2011 10:17 AM EST reply actions

The issue is turnovers, it always will be with this team. We have not been stopped yet, but we are careless with the football and it hurts us.

If we don’t turn the ball over this offense is right up there with GB.

Formerly... "You don't have to be sweet, to be good"

by Ed Van Chimp on Nov 7, 2011 10:18 AM EST reply actions

I gotta agree with you there

In the beginning of the season the TO’s were IMO the most glaring issue. It prevented them from getting early leads and extending leads which put their defense in a bit of a jam. The defense was definitely struggling too, but being -10 or so in TO differential was the real killer.

by Balagast on Nov 7, 2011 10:34 AM EST up reply actions

The problem is Vick loves turning the ball over

I’ve been sick watching Green Bay as a Bears fan, but I haven’t seen anything close to their offense this year. Maybe the Patriots at times. But Aaron Rogers is simply a beast. I’m sorry, but with current rosters, Philly will never be at GB level on offense.

by Digs D-League on Nov 7, 2011 5:42 PM EST up reply actions

I hate the Bears so much and I don’t even know why. I hate them more than any other non NFC East team.

Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.

That is all.

by EREX21 on Nov 7, 2011 10:23 AM EST reply actions

maybe because of those 3 horrific, extremely lucky defeats they dealt us recently?

by MikeCampy on Nov 7, 2011 10:37 AM EST up reply actions

The one where Correll Buckhalter entered a vortex where crossing the goal line with the football is no longer a TD?

Formerly... "You don't have to be sweet, to be good"

by Ed Van Chimp on Nov 7, 2011 10:44 AM EST up reply actions

yep that’s one of them…

another of course being the sickening 98 yard TD drive in the final minute by BRIAN GRIESE!!

The other was last year where Chicago wins due to:
a) a tipped ball int near the goal line that led to a 14-point swing
b) Gaining about 200 yards after Eagles defenders slipped on their field.
c) poor red zone execution (again)

by MikeCampy on Nov 7, 2011 10:56 AM EST up reply actions

We got them pretty good 2 years ago

Shady’s rookie year he sealed the deal on the last HB strech play

"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that."-Bill Shankly

Dont mind my typos, trying to be sneaky at work like the rest of you

by theaction on Nov 7, 2011 10:45 AM EST up reply actions

Yea it was nice to get them once.

But 1-3… UGH!

by MikeCampy on Nov 7, 2011 10:58 AM EST up reply actions

I feel that way about the 49ers for some random reason.

I feel that way about the Patriots, too- but I know why lol

I would like to thank my hands for being so great, for allowing me to type this post.

by corn on the kolb on Nov 7, 2011 10:45 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

’Thankfully the 3-point games have been going against them in recent years!

by MikeCampy on Nov 7, 2011 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

Skip Bayless

is such a toolbag.

lol

"They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds." - Wilt Chamberlain

by soman319 on Nov 7, 2011 10:43 AM EST reply actions

is he douching himself with a Tebow figurine?

The Jruth shall be told.

by packimop on Nov 7, 2011 10:50 AM EST up reply actions

Is he back to saying the Cowboys are the greatest team in NFL history after their win over Seattle?

by groot on Nov 7, 2011 10:54 AM EST up reply actions

That’s Colin Coward.

The Jruth shall be told.

by packimop on Nov 7, 2011 12:10 PM EST up reply actions

Skip is a Cowboys guy too. In fact I think he’s actually a fan. Colin seems to just pick a different team to ride for a while, then when they fail, he switches to another. Right now it’s the ’Girls.

by groot on Nov 7, 2011 1:32 PM EST up reply actions