"I’m having fun playing football and I fell in love with the
game again and I am thankful for that.”
He looks it too, Vick has been outstanding this preseason. Through two games Vick is 13 of 15 for 199 yards, one TD, one interception and a passer rating of 113.1. His preseason performance is reminiscent of his first year with former Eagles coach Andy Reid. That year Vick was a rejuvenated by a new coach and a new system as well.
To understand Vick’s early success we have to unpack Chip Kelly’s offensive system. Kelly has simplified Vick’s responsibilities at the line of scrimmage by minimizing the amount of information the quarterback has to process.
Speed in Kelly’s system isn’t only about how fast the team gets to the line of scrimmage to snap the ball. The reads the quarterback make are fast and definitive. When the quarterback approaches line he has a series of options to choose from based on what the defense shows him.
Chris Brown of Grantland covers this in great detail. “This concept, known in coaching circles as "packaged" or "combo" plays, resulted in two of the Eagles' three touchdowns against the Patriots (one run, one pass) and was especially useful when the Eagles went to their fastest no-huddle tempo. The idea behind the play, like so many of Kelly's concepts, is basic arithmetic: If the defense doesn't put two defenders over the outside receivers, the quarterback will throw a quick screen that direction; if they do line up those defenders outside, the offense should have favorable numbers to run the ball inside.”
The system is seemingly a perfect fit for Vick, who’s always been more of a reactive player than a proactive one. There’s just one problem, he’s yet to face a real defense. While preseason has its uses, this is not regular season football. Defenses aren’t showing their hands. Vick isn’t facing blitzes or disguised coverages. When that does happen, will he revert to his old habits?
Furthermore Vick’s quote about falling in love with the game again is troubling when you break it down. How many times have we seen stories about the rejuvenation of Michael Vick? Vick is not a self-motivated athlete. He requires external motivation to be at his best; even then his enthusiasm and commitment eventually wane. Many believe that Chip Kelly used the Eagles quarterback competition as a tool to motivate Vick. Does Tom Brady, Drew Brees or Peyton Manning need their coaches to motivate them in this way?
It’s very possible Michael Vick will have a great start to the 2013 season but it won’t last, Vick is the king of the sugar high. The media and his fans will rejoice shouting “Michael Vick is back and he’s playing the best football of his life”. It won’t last, it never does. Michael Vick’s fiercest rival has never been on the other side of the ball, it’s behind center.
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