Michael Vick Shines In Chip Kelly’s First Win

Everybody has been talking about whether Michael Vick can take care of the football well enough to lead the Birds to a good season.  Despite being emotionally-charged up last night in the season’s first game on Monday Night television, Vick played under control well enough to lead the Eagles to a 33-27 victory.  He didn’t turn the ball over all night long, but still able to throw two touchdowns and run for another.

Chip Kelly took a page for Andy Reid’s book with the well-scripted Eagles first drive.  Vick began the game throwing darts to his receivers, first wide receiver Riley Cooper to his left, then tight end Brent Celek to his right and up the seam.  His throws were tight spirals with plenty of steam behind them and they were on the money.

I thought Vick was up too high emotionally at times during the game.  He was throwing bullets and some of them were misfiring, but he choked things down a little bit and started connecting very consistently.  He had his feet quiet and set, when he hit DeSean Jackson on the crossing route for the touchdown.  That’s the key with Vick as well as any other quarterback.  He’s got to have good footwork or the ball with sail on him.  When his feet are quiet and set, he throws the football well.

There was great pass blocking on that touchdown throw to Jackson.  Vick stood back there with no pressure on him and three a dart to Jackson.  He took the snap and was thinking of throwing the football, not running with it.

The throw to Brent Celek was a harder throw for Vick.  There was some pressure in his face, to he had to move, but he kept his eyes downfield and threw a bullet to Celek in between a couple of defenders.  His footwork wasn’t the best on that one, but he made a great throw off of his back foot .

“I think it was a good play fake because the (line)backers bit really fast and then as soon as I got behind them Mike made a good throw,” Celek said. “It was a great play call right in that time, especially with those (line)backers coming up like that.”

All in all, Vick had a good night throwing the football.  He went 15-for-25 for 203 yards with two touchdowns.  He also ran nine times for 54 yards and that included a three-yard touchdown run.

“I just like what we do, and I feel confident and comfortable with everything that Coach Kelly calls,” Vick said. “We sit down and go through the game plan and try to make sure that everyone understands what we’re trying to do, and it doesn’t get any better than that. We just have to keep working and continue to work on our tempo and doing things fast and making sure that we’re on top of everything.”

Vick must stop trying to be a pulling guard for LeSean McCoy or he’ll run the risk of getting hurt.  He’s the brains of the operation, not the brawn.  He must execute the handoff then get out of the way. I appreciate his grit and toughness, but

Still before halftime,when the Eagles were only leading 12-7 and they were piling up plenty of yards but didn’t have the points to show for it.  They were much like somebody who was working and not getting paid for it.  Vick’s throw to Celek, three yard run up the middle and LeSean McCoy’s brilliant run did the trick.