Coaching Issues, Offensive Line Struggles Impacting Vick

It appears that Michael Vick’s week-long routine of carrying a football around wherever he went didn’t do much to help his ball security.

Another game passed with Vick turning the ball over multiple times, increasing his season total to 13 in six games.

When asked whether or not the team is making the same mistakes as in weeks prior, Vick brushed the question off and acted like these mistakes aren’t a regular for him and his teammates.

“It’s hard to decipher what mistakes are being made and what’s going on,” said Vick following the Eagles’ 26-23 overtime loss to Detroit. “This is the ultimate team game and I can’t pinpoint what’s going on in the moment. I have to go back and watch it and assess it myself, but I think the bottom line is we had our chance to win this game.”

That chance he speaks of was a 10-point lead with five minutes left. But that disaster wasn’t Vick’s full responsibility, rather the horrendous playcalling and inept offensive line.

His three-and-out in overtime came courtesy of an overpowered offensive line that has provided Vick with little to no protection. That incapability can be pinned on the coaching staff.

“I’ll take responsibility for it,” said head coach Andy Reid. “I just know that [the offensive line] wasn’t good enough all the way around. There were times and places where everyone needs to look themselves in the mirror and get better – me included.”

Focusing fully on Vick, though, he did deliver a 300-plus passing game and recorded two passing touchdowns; however, he amassed a sub-par 77.4 passer rating. Now whether or not you place the blame on Vick, the offensive line, or the playcalling, there has to be concern for Philadelphia’s starting quarterback.

Sitting near the top of the charts in turnovers is not where you want your starting quarterback to be, but that is exactly the case for Vick. It’s been said many times before, but Vick plays a risky game. He’ll throw the ball in tight coverage, take hits to gain extra yardage and dance around the backfield looking for an open receiver.

This is where the coaching staff comes in.

Doesn’t it make sense for them to build an offensive line that is best-suited for Vick’s play style? Or develop a short passing game that utilizes their speed on the outside and their dual-threat halfback in LeSean McCoy?

If Reid really does believe Vick is the team’s quarterback for the next couple of seasons, he should have taken this off-season to sign, draft or trade for offensive linemen that were reliable in pass coverage and could provide protection for Vick. Now I understand injuries have devastated this line in 2012, but even before the injuries (aside from Jason Peters, who’s loss was crushing), Vick was still feeling the heat.

Aside from that, though, the playcalling is not helping Vick. He keeps taking hits because he waits around for the play to develop or has to create a play on his own. But this could be avoided, or at the very least limited, if the coordinators utilized more swing passes, short post routes or screen passes, which have become the bread-and-butter for the New England Patriots. I’m pretty positive DeSean Jackson could be just as successful as Wes Welker if he was used on bubble screens and short five-yard routes in open space.

Unfortunately, though, this problem has been around for some time now and it seems it will never be fixed.

So the only thing we can hope for is a more reliable Michael Vick, and judging from his inconsistencies (or consistency in turning the ball over), it doesn’t seem like that will come true either.