So with an improved defense, they still dropped from 11-5 and reaching the NFC Championship Game to 8-8 and missing the playoffs? I stand by my comment that Vick didn’t make any progress.
Vick, IMHO, regressed. I don’t see the West Coast Offense as being for him. Which maybe, just maybe, the Falcons are beginning to acknowledge by firing Vick’s position coach.
I don’t understand why the Falcons are trying to change Vick. Let him do what he does best and open up the field, let him throw more downfield, and more importantly, bust a run here or there.
I know people say “but he’s gonna get hurt” blah blah blah. Most of his injuries, including the broken leg, came simply from being in the pocket and/or trying to scramble. Which could happen to any quarterback.
With the Falcons great running game, they should’ve been much much better. Plenty of which falls on the Falcons’ offensive playcalling - and plenty of which falls on Vick himself, regardless of offense. But let him be what he’s designed to be.
That being said, I think Vick is somewhat to severely lacking in leadership and inspiring confidence in teammates. And I see a real possibility that he continues to regress, quarterback-ability, mentally, emotionally, and physically, so that he becomes nothing more than a footnote in NFL history.
Improved? Defense? Did you watch the Falcons play this year?!
The Falcons defense was HORRID! Last year they were 14th in the league in points allowed and 14th in yards allowed. This year? 18th in points allowed and 22nd in yards allowed. That would be the lower half of the league. The rushing defense ITSELF went from 9th in the league to 26th in the league.
I’d really love to see this improved defense, because I sure as Hell didn’t see it.
Heh… that is what I consider to be his greatest strengths. His leadership has led the Falcons to an over .600 winning percentage when he is under center, even though he doesn’t put up great stats. When he’s out of the lineup, the Falcons are not that great of a squad. Vick’s leadership is one of the best things about him and makes him such a valuable player.
But I agree that they should have Vick run more. But I think that was a product of Vick and Mora’s idiotic crusade to “prove” Vick could pass in the pocket. Ugh.
It’s quote like these, and a couple others I’ve heard/read, that make me doubt that:
I don’t see leaders saying stuff like that usually, not in team sports. Even if it is 100% accurate.
agreed.
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever]
but that’s the thing. he ISN’T accurate and i wasn’t amazed by his arm strength last night during the rose bowl. also, i realize that texas runs most of their offense out of the shotgun, but he better not run that much in the pros or else he’s going to have a very short career. the throwing motion gets changed IMMEDIATELY when he hits the pros. now, i know that it’s more money and careers at stake, but why in the hell can’t an nfl offense run the option with an athletic quarterback?
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He isn’t accurate? He completed over 60% of his passes on the season, was the highest rated passer in the nation, and completed a whopping 75% of his passes in the national championship game. Please redefine accuracy for me.
Didn’t you just say
?
Did you mean gained and not allowed?
I certainly can’t deny that VY had a spectacular season. I think that his skills won’t necessarily translate to NFL success, though…
In the Rose Bowl, he had ALL DAY to throw, and tons of room to operate. So his funky release wasn’t a problem – and when he didn’t have time, he scrambled. If he was forced to throw under pressure, I suspect his funky release would result in a lot of passes being batted down at the LOS.
And option QB’s get hit on every single play. NFL coaches would have a coronary if their star QB got hit by an NFL linebacker on every play. So VY will be pressured to stay in the pocket more; which will mean that he will be pressured to modify his throwing motion.
Yeah, it’s gained, not allowed :smack:
The Falcons offense did better this season than last and the Falcons defense did worse… and the Falcons had a worse record. Seeing those numbers, I’d be inclined to blame the defense before I looked to the offense.
Then again, the Falcons were involved in a few close games this year. Hell, in both Tampa games, the Falcons could have won if the ball bounced the right way for them on a handful of plays. That would have made them 10-6 and you wouldn’t have all these discussions, IMO.
Please watch the Texas-Ohio State game from earlier this year.
OSU designed a defense that negated Young’s running ability and forced him to throw from the pocket. Young finshed 18 of 29 for 270 and two touchdowns, including the 25-yard game winner to a tight target in the corner of the endzone.
Vince can throw. Vince can throw far – he didn’t throw and log passes in the Rose Bowl but I have seen him toss a few bombs over the last three years.
aktep, I take back my comment that VY isn’t a particularly good passer. He put up incredible numbers this year, all year. I would refine it to say that he’s not a classic-looking passer, but his technique sure works at this level.
I fear that the track record of running QB’s in the NFL isn’t good (which is probably why there’s so much sidebar discussion on Michael Vick and Atlanta).
I assume you’re a Longhorn fan? Congratulations - this must’ve been a helluva ride for you!
I like running QBs, and hope VY success in the NFL. I (like many others) always like to see the Falcons on TV just to see what Vick will do - even if it’s go 8 for 20 with 2 INTs 
But “this level” is meaningless - the NFL is light-years different than college. Every single team in the NFL would kick any college team’s ass. Every player is the cream of the crop (when it comes to size, speed, strength), and the offenses and defenses in general are far more complex. So one’s technique better be damn well ready for the NFL.
VY will have much less time to throw, on average. He won’t run over or past linebackers (he doesn’t have Vick speed).
But man am I ever impressed with him on the college level.