ProfootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio was on 610-WIP’s Morning Show with Angelo Cataldi this morning and Angelo asked him how long Kevin Kolb, who is likely to miss this Sunday’s game with a concussion, would hang onto his starting job as the Eagles quarterback.
Florio answered the question by telling a story about then Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson and how he got injured early in 1998. Former Eagles great Randall Cunningham took over for Johnson near the beginning of the season.
Cunningham threw for 442 yards and 4 touchdowns in his first start which was a Monday night game in Green Bay. The Vikings kept saying that Johnson was the starter and would get his job back when got healthy, but they continued to delay his return as Cunningham and the Vikings were destroying the league.
Johnson never got his job back that year, as Cunningham led the Vikings to a 15-1 record by throwing for 34 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions. Florio believes Kevin Kolb’s return could be delayed, if Michael Vick gets on a roll.
There’s very little chance that Kolb will play this week since he can’t practice until Friday. The two biggest practice days of the week are Wednesday and Thursday. It’s unlikely that Andy Reid will send Kolb out there with little practice and only a week away from a concussion.
Therefore the pins are set up for Vick to do his thing against the Detroit Lions, but the Lions will have the benefit of getting the chance to prepare for Vick. I expect them to dare him to beat them from the pocket with his arm.
We all know what he can do with his legs. He’s proven to everyone that his legs are back, but can he stand in the pocket and run the west coast offense. That’s the question which will be answered on Sunday.
Will Vick be able to read the coverages and blitzes which he will confront? If the Lions prevent him from scrambling can he play a disciplined style of football by standing in the pocket and delivering the ball to the open receivers?
Can he run the offense and stay away from turnovers? Will he be able to get the ball into the end zone when the Birds get close?
Can Vick reignite the Birds deep passing game to DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin? Will he continue playing well like he did against the Packers or will he struggle?
If he gets the offense running and destroys the Lions, it will leave Andy Reid with a difficult decision to make next week.
There will be a lot riding on the game on Sunday.
The answer to this articles question would be no, not at all. First, Vick is not Randell…not in a million years. 2. Randell had..aw who was it at the time…oh yeah Randy Moss (rookie year), STILL one of the leagues most premier WR’s.
Vick should start on Sunday, true, but Kolb is the Eagles QB and untill he really proves otherwise that’s the way it will stay.
Yes, I need to see more of Kolb before I judge him as a player…hell…even Drew Brees got benched for Doug Flutie and look at him now…Brees I mean…not Flutieflakes…
Sorry, I spelled Pandall with an e and not an a…my bad.
I understand the trade of 5 I get it. Please somebody explain to me why they gave Kolb an extention without seeing him be “the guy”?
Pandall?..really?…I give up and I’m goin back to bed.
Btw that vikings team had a balanced attack with Robert Smith and two hall of fame WR. Hey I would love for Vick to make that happen but with this coaching staff they would find a way to mess that up too!
Absolutely not for the following reasons
#1) Cunningham had better Offensive Caoches who weren’t predictable like the Eagles
#2) Vikings had a strong Running game (RB Robert Smith led the way w/1,200 yds and a almost 5.0 yd per carry average and back-ups L Hoard had a 4 yd average with 9 Rushing TD’s)
#3) Vikings had a WR Tandem of R Moss,C Carter,J Reed,D Palmer and TE A Glover which is superior to what the Eagles currently have.
#4) Vikings had a superior O/Line to the Eagles
#5) Most people may not recall, but QB R Cunningham did not run that much in 1998,
He had only 32 rushes for about 130 yards since they had such a dynamic team that he didn;t have to run, I would say with 100% Certainty that is not the same situation the QB M Vick finds himself in..
This could be a far more accurate comparison that the Steve Young one from yesterday. A QB that was never really coached to be a QB and just told to make plays. Exactly what happened to Randall and then Randall goes to a team with great skilled players and learned how to be a traditional QB. That could very well happen with Vick. I just what whoever is the better QB to play. It’s quite possible that Vick has more of an upside even at this stage in is career especially if he is really learning to play the position. I saw the game again yesterday and was actually looking to throw the ball first. He ran when the pocket completely collapsed or if it was called for him to run. So we will see what happens.
Paulman, I think you take things to literal. In my opinion, I don’t think Vick has to be exactly like Randall or will be. It’s a matter of can he lead this team and ressurect his career. That what it means to be born again. Not necessarily meaning it has to be exactly like the 98 Vikings. And yes the 98 Vikings were superior to what the Eagles had but we’re not comparing the 98 Vikings to the 2010 league. This is a different league. So the players we have now, aren’t much worst than the skilled players around the league NOW. And yes Randall didn’t run alot and it’s precisely because he had a better o-line which you state. Go back and look at the game and you will see that Vick only ran when the receivers were covered, protection broke quickly or it was called for him to run. And yes the Eagles are predictable and Vick makes the offense less predictable because the defense doesn’t know what he will do.
It’s so funny how you guys had all this optimism before the first game but there’s no optimism about the possibility of Vick actually becoming a good QB. You guys are hypocrites to the 10th power.
haha www and paulman say no to this go figure lol
hey G i just want to give u props
i know quite a few of us fans have been saying this all along but for some reason the media has been trying to sugarcoat alot
last week u had an article entitled kolb the 900 lb gorilla in the living room or something and in that article u stated
“I had been asked on Friday while making an appearance on 610-WIP Mid-day Show, why Andy Reid took Michael Vick out of the last preseason game versus the New York Jets after only a quarter after telling everybody he was going to play the entire first half. I didn’t have an answer.
Vick is going to be the backup to Kolb and he needed the chance to show he could go out and run the west coast offense from the pocket. . Why would Reid take Vick out of the game early and not let him play the first half?
I haven’t seen or heard anybody give a good answer to that question, but after thinking about it, I believe there’s a very good response considering the unimpressive way Kolb has played. I think Reid didn’t want Vick to look too good in that game because it would start a quarterback controversy before the season even started.”
very good work my friend any1 can say stuff after it happens the good 1’s see things before they even happen u know sort of like a good qb lol
very nice work
Of course paulman will say no to anything pro-Vick. He’s a hater and will say anything negative. But 4 days ago wanted everyone to be excited about the new season, new players etc… He’s a hypocrite just like the rest of those schmucks.
G – if it was anyone else who wrote that, I would tell them to quit making metaphoric comparisons to whoever (Steve Young, Randall Cunningham, etc.). But you bring a certain… credibility. If it is really true that Randall took little interest in game preparation (true or not – coaches put markers in his playbook to see if he studied at night and rarely found them moved ???), this is one area that Vick probably has an advantage as by accounts, the guy has admitted his Dirty Bird problems, and now prepares. It will be interesting to see how much better he plays this week (assuming he starts) after a week of practice with the first teamers.
correct me i am wrong, but if they try and stop vick using his legs= at least 7 in the box maybe 8. I love our chances with one on one coverage all day long. The only coverage they can in the scenario is 0 or 1, and i love our receivers chances there. I am also impressed with Vick’s accuracy last week and expect a big day for our receivers if they put mediocre defensive backs on their island against DJax and maclin.
The real Cunningham (not Bob) actually says something about this:
http://www.igglesblog. com/iggles_blog/2010/09/randalls-on-the-list-of-people-whose-opinions-dont-matter-too-but-.html
Take out the space between the . and com
The real Cunningham (not Bob) actually says something about this:
igglesblog. com/iggles_blog/2010/09/randalls-on-the-list-of-people-whose-opinions-dont-matter-too-but-.html
Take out the space between the . and com
Didn’t get a huge contract after that year, then turn back into a pumpkin while stating it was the next QB’s time (forget who replaced him)? That guy was max-fustr at least for me when he wore green. Great in pick-up situations (like that Redskins game) and seemingly clueless in the playoffs.
If Vick cannot get out of the pocket and the OLine collapses like it did last week, it’s gonna be a long day for Vick. Actually, it’s going to be a long painful season.
i agree with ur pman assesment scorp and thnx for the randall little piece
i like reading opinions of guys who actually did it u know
Of course I said no PW. Strictly compare the 2 teams, the 98 Vikes and the 10 Eagles. Can Vick do what Randall did…no he can’t, neither could Manning, Brady, Brees, Sammy baugh, McNabb, Marino, Montana, or anyone else you throw up here. Those Vikes had a real special year comparitivly speaking and I gave my opnion base only on that.
I don’t hate Vick, I actually liked the signing. But I fell in love with his highlight reels, not his total package. It’s like watching NASCAR for the crashes or Hockey for the fights, I watched ESPN for Vicks scrambles.
Now, can Vick, with better coaching behind him elevate his game into something more than what he has been over the years? I’m sure he can.
Like I said…Kolb will have TWO games once he’s back, healthwise, to get exceptional. Being mediocre or just getting by isn’t gonna cut it. The guy’s going to have to be flat out exceptional and prove that the first half of the Green Bay game was just a case of bad nerves. Having said that if Vick has a poor showing against the Lions it will help Kolb, but not by much. If Kolb is mediocre he’ll probably get an extra game and if Vick is mediocre against the Lions Kolb will get an extra game before he loses the locker room, but not more than that with kind of performance Vick had in what would have surely been a blowout, no one is going to forget that. It’s far more likely that Vick will have a pretty good game against Detroit though, just because he’s significantly improved as a passer and has the arm strength to empower DeSean Jackson and strike fear in the hearts of defenses around the league.
It still depends on how the OLine plays.
To Scorp,PW and other Paulman haters..
I answered the question that the article proposes to the best of my ability with objective facts.
Simply put, Vick,Kolb or Kafka has nowhere near the Weapons,Coaching, Committment to the run and the Physical Style that the Offensive Team of the 1998 Vikings had …
It’s not a knock on Vick,but a honest opinion of the AR/MM Offensive philosophy that I have not liked and have stated numerous times over the last 2 Years..The 1998 Vikings Offenses was one of the best and most productive untits in the History of the NFL and to say the Vick can transform this current 2010 Eagles Squad with AR/MM’s Play Calling, this current O/Line, this RB,WR corps and the overall lack of Physicality that have become that norm for the Eagle is just plain laughable…
G is on Vick’s payroll. I’m convinced:
Randall’s best year (pre Minn): 30Tds, 3,400 Yards, 91.6 Rating, 942 Rushing Yards, 5 TDs
Vicks best year: 20Tds, 2,400 Yards, 75.7 Rating, 1,039 rushing, 2 TDs
NOT EVEN CLOSE
I get the general comparison G was trying to make. Don’t take it so literally people.
Vick could do something similar to Randall here. There are offensive weapons in place. And the defense could be pretty good. But based on the stubbornness of the coaching staff, I don’t see them switching to Vick. It will take some longer term injury to Kolb for that to happen. Sadly, if the o-line doesn’t get better that could happen no matter who is back there at QB.
This team needs to focus on the o-line and getting special teams right. If those were both marginally better last week then we win that game.
I was at least inspired by the defense last week. If they can continue getting better this year and the offense can at least get unhinged then we are a playoff team. That’s what I want, no matter who the QB is.
well put edogma
Also, the oline didn’t even play that horrible until jackson and weaver were gone. I mean of course green bay is going to get pressure on anyone if they are sending 2 and 3 guys. Kolb got injured because he thought he could casually run and by time like he did in the preseason and before he knew it his arms were pinned behind him and he was get driven into the ground. Kolb was more of the problem with bad throws and not being able to move away from pressure. When McNabb held the ball he at least could slide out of harms way or shrug a D-lineman off. Kolb can’t do that and he was just sitting back there ready to take a beating.
Here’s my thing, I want the best QB to win WITHOUT having to sacrifice your season. This Vick thing doesn’t have to end this year. What if Kolb gets injured again this year and Vick somehow gets you into the playoffs? You mean you are going to go with the guy who keeps getting hurt vs the guy who is playing good football? Nope. You trade Kolb and extend Vick. Period. But that’s only if Vick is better. And right now, for all intents and purposes with this team he looks like he can do more right now. And it’s more likely it stays that way. Kolb has a better chance at failure. Vick was a QB in atlanta that couldn’t read defenses, poor footwork and no real help around him. If he was able to win playoff games and get to the NFC Championship, why is the hell can he not be better here? It’s not like our division is unbeatable and the entire conference could be beat. Forget all about the Kolb has to develop. Why? No he doesn’t. If he’s not better you get rid of him. Period. That’s how football works. Problem with the eagles and they are stubborn and will hold on to a guy because of the contract they gave him whether he can play or not.
Scorp, ok, but your assumption there is that Vick continues to get the job done (did he win that game or did he blow an easy chance to tie it, I still can’t remember!??). If that happens, then yeah, maybe we stick with him later and after this season. But let’s see the detroit game and the games past that before we make decisions about QBs past THIS SEASON (is it even game 2 yet!?)
vick will not sign an extension here unless he is guarnteed to start when he can go elsewhere and start. The only way I see Vick staying is after this year, and IF Kolb does poorly, the FO makes the decision that Kolb gets moved back to the #2 spot, Vick moves into the #1 spot and Kafka…well…he’s Kafka…non factor at this point.
Well, that makes sense, but I think the point here that many of us are missing is that ‘why da heck should we care about next season and the far future’. Let’s just worry about Detroit. The league is wide open. Our D looks promising. Vick looks promising. We can beat detroit. That’s all we really have to think about for now. Before week one, nobody thought that we’d lose Weaver and Jackson. Nobody thought that detroit would get a win. Nobody thought that Cincy would look like poop. Nobody thought that the jets would be 0-1 and looking at a likely 0-2. Nobody knew that Dallas would look crappy. Etc…. if week one changed so much, than let’s see what week two brings us before we get caught up about post week 16!
They should be trying to trade Vick right now to Arizona, Cleveland, Jets, Buffalo, Miami, etc. There are a ton of teams who are short at the QB possition and who would jump at Vick right now. The hype is high.. unload him. I’ll take Kafka/Kolb to get us through the year so we can draft a real QB if necessary.
mugzy – or how bout draft high for Oline? Then Kolb will have protection next year.
Schiller, fine if Kolbs the guy. We should know by Novemeber. The questions is if andy will know.
Schil….not to be a buzz kill….but Detroit did lose albeit on a BS call which..probably because of that game that rule will be changed next year.
The answer is ‘yes he can”. Yes he can do what Randall did here in Philadelphia. The circumstances are some what similiar. The Eagles have the potential for a strong defense, a weak offensive line, and questionalble special teams. Just like in the ninties. The two are unothodox QBs with comparable skill sets- “running back” ability and super strong arms. What he did on Sunday was no fluke. He’s run for a hundred yards or more ten times before, and has joined Randall & Young in the QB’s +4,000 running yards gained club.
Can he do what Randall did in Minnesota? Now that is a very questionable question.The question is will the Philadelphia fans let him. Remember the media already has him on the skids. Philadelphia has a reputation as a tough sports town.; known for it’s knock’em down drag’em out Hockey teams & Philadelphia fighters. It will “grind you & smash” you if you don’t measure up. Philadelphia prides it’s self for it’s appreciation of athletes who play hard for their team mates and “leave it all on the field”. Vick showed some of that on Sunday
Schill-I concur Dr. OLine should be top priority next year and a high pick on a CB would be nice.
Deep-If that’s the case…why didn’t he do it in Atlanta? you can draw the same aprallel there as well.
Did cunningham win a superbowl in Minnesota? Than who cares. I think everyone agrees that Vick could step in and do what Donovan did – get this team to the playoffs, and maybe win a few games. With our D and our weapons, plus Vick’s proven skill, he can do that (we’d need luck and health) but that’s quite possible. Isn’t the whole point of moving past donovan, reworking the roster, etc… – that both the team and the fans agree that getting to the playoffs and not winning it all isn’t enough? If we want to stay where we’ve been in the past 10 years, yeah, Vick, can definitely do that. Isn’t that what Cunningham did? But we’re looking for something more than that right? Or not?
According to Howard Eskin the Eagles coaches said Vick had receivers open on several of the plays that he ran on for gains
Vick keeps that up he will join Kolb and Bradley in concussion city if not worse
“According to Howard Eskin the Eagles coaches said Vick had receivers open on several of the plays that he ran on for gains”
Lol. All that means is the eagles front office wants to try and slow support for Vick in the public.
wellwellwell.if Reid with his credentials of developing great QB’s help Vick becomes better smilar to what we seen last Sunday…Do you think you can rally behind Vick as the future of the Eagles?
Don’t this excite you opposed to a guy that seems lost at the age of 26?
Songs – (In know you asked well well but…) you’re excited by a loss? Sure Vick played better than Kolb, much better, v greenbay, but he didn’t run in for the score when he had an easy chance to tie, and WE DIDN’T WIN THE GAME. Wins are worthy of exciting people. Vick’s performance was encouraging. But all he did was prove that his legs/speed/scrambling ability is back to his old form – that’s great, and we wanted to see that. It will help this team a lot. But that doesn’t mean he’s any better at making the passes and beating defenses with his arm. It doesn’t suggest that Vick will be any better than how he was prior to his legal issues…. A mobile QB, one who can’t beat a D who is able to stop his run, is not encouraging. It’s not exciting except for highlights. In the long run, it’s better than before but not a solution at the QB position for a team trying to win a superbowl.
Paul..no one is talking about Kolb or Kafka and it’s an abomination to even put their names in the same sentence as Michael Vick.
This article is about an exceptional talent that have been given a second chance to use his mind with a better QB coach….This alone will make Vick a weapon and will give opposing defenses headaches…this is what’s needed…When we see Kolb is able to be a quarterback then and only at that time will he be considered a football player.
schill and mugzy are stewwing up a recipe for disaster….This organization have made mistakes so believe me..if Kolb is ass….and there’s a great chance he is….there’s no way he’ll be here next year….he recieved a 2 year deal and is making less than 1/2 of what a franchise QB makes annually…the season have turned into the open competition Reid tried to avoid this preseason and
If they get rid of Vick after the team improves with him….that would be telling.
Some fans would rather fail with Kolb than succeed with Vick..
Only in Philadelphia
Songs, where’s the proof they’ll succeed with Vick? Where? he hasn’t won a game. He’s had one good half. Look, if they go with vick for the long run (yep, pun intended) and he succeeds, hence the eagles do, GREAT. Fing AWESOME. But you’re only backing him so much because you’re so anti Kolb. An objective person would say, who the F knows right now, Vick had a good half and blew a chance to tie it. They lost the game. Kolb is injured so Vick starts v. Detroit. We’ll see.
schill..I’m looking forward to Vick running it in with the next opportunity and is extra excited with him knowing if it was Kolb with all that room to run .he wouldn’t make it 4 yards.
I’m excited about a QB that can beat a defense with his arm as well as his legs….This can be Reid’s masterpiece. Can he turn Vick into Randall in Minnesota? or Young in San francisco? Now, that’s something the fans can look forward to for years to come. That’s exciting
Randall in Minnesota barely ran. And Randall in Minnesota got the same number of superbowls Kolb and Andy have. Do you think Vick can abandon the run and have the pocket-passer year that Randall did? If you say yes, you’re pretty much alone on that. Do you think Vick can have as much success as Randall without abandoning the scrambling? Do you think that a great QB stat year, without a superbowl is an improvement over the last 10 years?
Schilll….Newsflash…the team would do even worse with Kolb…what’s this thing you have with asking everyone to band behind the team with Kolb but using a double standard when it comes to Vick who so happen to have on Green?
You tell us all the time…we can’t predict the future with Kolb…..neither can you predict what can happen with an improved Vick in the future…With Reid’s acumen as a QB coach it fair to say he can help Vick and the Eagles may win a Superbowl with him at the helm…
Let’s rally around our leader…..starting this week
Man speakng of Minnesota…Dennis Green is still out there and have the fire and coaching know how that’s perfect for Philadelphia….He commits to the running game and runs a prolific West coast offense, and he can work with Vick like he did with Randall….
songs, I agree that we don’t know for sure if vick will succeed or fail. And if he succeeds, believe me, I wil be 100% behind him. But all he has done so far is show outstanding scrambling ability and poor decision making…