The Eagles got more quality play from Michael Vick and Nick Foles, last night during the Birds 14-9 win over the Carolina Panthers. This means Chip Kelly’s quarterback project is working. His quarterback competition is forcing both Vick and Foles to play their best football.
So far this preseason, Vick has completed 13 of 15 passes for 199 yard, one touchdown, and an interception which was a Hail Mary at the end of the half last night. Foles has completed 11 of 14 passes for 96 yards with a costly fumble and interception. He played very well except for those two mistakes. Vick has yet to turn the ball over in the preseason.
Everybody has been so focused on the competition for the starting quarterback position, that we have failed to acknowledge the way it has forced both quarterbacks to raise their level of play. I think this competition has been Kelly’s way of forcing Vick in particular, to play the game on a higher level.
Kelly is getting what he wants and he has no intention of stopping his plan now, since it’s getting such excellent results.
“I told you since Day 1 we’re not going to make any rash decisions,” Kelly told reporters last night after being asked if he was ready to name a starting quarterback. “You can put your pens down if you think I’m going to name a starting quarterback in this room right now.”
Remember that Kelly said he resigned Vick because of his skill set. He didn’t say it was because of the way Vick had played the last couple of years.
Anyone with eyes can see that Vick’s tremendous arm and foot speed fit Kelly’s system and have the potential of making the uptempo offense more potent, as long as he is making good decisions, taking care of the football and staying healthy.
The first year Eagles coach looked at the tapes of a year ago and saw Vick playing poorly and turning the ball over time and time again. Still this didn’t erase the potential Vick has in this offense.
Vick had flourished when he came off the bench for Kevin Kolb during the 2009 season. He was a candidate for the NFL MVP award that year, when he under the pressure of trying to get off the bench and prove to the nation that he could still play. So Kelly probably decided that the veteran quarterback needed some pressure.
So Kelly decided to provide that pressure for Vick through competition. He wasn’t going to allow him to be comfortable, like he had been under Andy Reid during the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
When the mini-camps came to a close, Vick complained publicly about Kelly’s insistence that the quarterback competition go on throughout the offseason and training camp, but the rookie NFL coach didn’t flinch. He probably cheered behind the scenes when Vick made the public statement, because this showed the competition was doing what he wanted, making the veteran quarterback uncomfortable.
Kelly’s goal is not to make Vick or Foles comfortable, it’s to get better play out of the quarterback position.
The six-foot veteran left hander also complained about the use of the flyswatters during seven-on-seven, but he continued to throw passes into them. Kelly refused to take them down and Vick has started to adjust his throws to get his passes to his receivers, which was the reason Kelly put the flyswatters up there in the first place.
Throughout the offseason, sources were telling me Vick was struggling to pick up Kelly’s system. I saw the practices and I could see he wasn’t separating himself from Foles. At times, he was holding onto the football too long and making poor decisions when he did throw it. Foles was struggling as well, but ever since the Eagles put the pads for training camp Vick’s level of play has gone up substantially.
Vick has accepted the fact that Kelly isn’t going to end the quarterback competition any time soon. It has forced him to be focused every time he comes out on the practice field. The former number one pick has seen the possibilities of what he could do with this offense if he plays at the level of his highest capabilities.
Vick’s improved play has forced Foles to raise his level of play and it’s improved the play the Eagles are getting at the quarterback position, which is what Kelly was after in the first place.
So don’t be surprised if Kelly takes the quarterback competition right up to the end of the preseason and leaves the door open for it to return during the regular season. Whether Vick knows it or not, he performs best under pressure.
I really like this Chip Kelly guy.
Reid sucked arse!!!!
pass,pass,pass
Now there’s a run game to take the pressure off of Vick which will extend his career.
No more quick 3 and outs, bombs away philosophy which also puts serious pressure on the defense to stay healthy.
Chip Kelly used Foles to get Vick’s play to the next level and by the way it’s working, I’d rather have Chip tell us that only Vick can determine if Foles play.
Keep Foles with the clipboard looking over Vick’s shoulder and if it forced Vick into another MVP type season, then it’s well worth it.
Eagle fans want to not face facts. Its not Chip Kelly reinventing football its not Vick or Foles having a light come on its very simple. Protection! If you protect any NFL QB they will carve you up no matter what the offense is.If you dont you get sacks ints and fumbles. Ask Tom terrific how good he was when the Giants started pounding him in the SB. Very ordinary. Just protect Vick and Foles and both will succeed.
thank you..so it’s clear the core problem with the Eagles were the offensive line and Reid’s deficiencies, bad defense all around including coaching, and personnel.
Vick was just a product of a bad situation and Chip Kelly seen it.
Lmfao
Its time for Chip to get ready for Washington. No more of this splitting reps with 5 QBS. Vick needs to get most of the 1st team reps, play 2 1/2 qts agaist Jacksonville with Foles playing final 1 1/2. Then Foles playing 2 1/2 vs Jets and Barkley finishing up preseason. sitting Vick vs the Jets.
Vick’s passing yards to Foles are 2-1. ( 199 – 96 )
Djax playing on the right side is really working out well. Jason Avant has been flawless on 3rd down. He is by far the best surprise with his grasp of Chip Kelly’s offense. So far Mike Vick is holding up. I was very skeptical about his head being about to maintain contact. So far so good.
I hear nothing but crickets here from the Vick haters lol.
Ya’ll got shut the Fuck up. Now shut up and support the team
Vick did have the team with a 3-1 record last year until doom struck —
Um since you asked you can have this info.
Running a QB is a bad investment. It has never been about Vick’s ability for me. It is about the idea of your most important player (most highly paid player) getting hit more than any other QB in the game because of style of play.
Go ahead and let the QB start to pull the ball down and run and take hits shure. week one ok. By week 4 he is in agony and slow but since he has taught himself to read run and trust his legs he will continue.
Vick will take more hits again this year and be injured again and fumble again because his skill set leads to a style of play that is FOOLS GOLD for a coach. If Kelly Picks Vick it will be the beginning of his undoing.
hey?
I didn’t see the defensive coordinator’s debacle,depleted offensive turnstiles posing as lineman, bad playcalling, bad clock management,, horrible special teams, failed draft picks after releasing superior talent, as the reason for his failure under Reid.
Do you think Vick would have took less hits if a better offensive line was in front of him that didn’t let players run right through to blow up the offensive plays?
Songsrme2…you have been on the money…the Vick haters in the media and these forums never gave proper consideration to the factors that you mention above…it was simply blast Mike Vick. So Chip Kelly comes in and the haters never wanted Vick to even compete for the job..”cut him’ …now they must all eat crow…
Is this how you support the team? By gloating over being right?
Why don’t you take your own advice?
This was for Vicksupporter
No they don’t support the team they basically support Vick and only Vick. Songs, Vick supporter, Godgotvick….same agenda support Vick blah blah blah….As long as their guy is the starter they support the team. It’s very annoying because thy pull the “real fans” bullshit out of their asses.
How many points does Vick have to score against Jacksonville to secure the job next week, 17?, 14?, 10?
Whatever is enough in chips mind I think.
How many Hits does Vick take next week??
Thats a legitimate concern, right before half on that 15 yard scamper he didn’t get down yet again….he needs to protect himself but he wont. Last years concussion wasn’t a hard hit.
G…..excellent article on Kelly’s plan behind the competition. I would agree that Vick’s best performances have come when he was under pressure. He had a lot to prove in 2010, but 2011 & 12 he was handed the job by Reid. Same thing in ATL.
If your theory is accurate, and Mike plays well and stays healthy, how does Chip motivate him next year?
One year contracts green fan….Only way.
I was hoping Foles would play qb this year and let him sink or swim. If he failed the team moves on with the rebuild. Vick has looked real good and has earned the starting position. I think the more success he has running around will cause him to risk some more big hits and get injured again. His great mobility and amazing toughness highlight his biggest flaw, his small size in the land of giants. The pass patterns were fun to watch last night, hopefully the fast pace causes the defenses to use less exotic looks and Vick can stay 1 step ahead of the defense. That a big if and the million dollar question. If Kelly can make this organized chaos understandable for the offensive players and put the defense on their heels and wear them out, then he is the man. I will cheer for either qb, but it doesn’t mean I think Vick can last for 19 games, that is the ultimate goal.
I was hoping the benefit of Foles failure may lead to a Clowney pick. That kid seems to have it physically and mentally. I’m still hoping Barkley is the long term solution, but his accuracy was really off last night.
I only have to pay an extra $50 to get a South Carolina #7 jersey signed by Clowney on the NCAA website. It’s a much better deal since I had to pay Manzel $150 cash to sign my son’s shirt.
You guys who are anxious for Vick to get more reps are soon going to get what you want, and it’s not going to be good for Vick. The more Vick plays, the more likely he is to show his flaws – and the more likely he is to be injured.
I don’t know what it looked like on TV, but at the game it looked like Vick got his bell rung when he ran the ball down by the goal line. This guy just will not go down feet first…
Kelly is calling totally different plays for Foles and Vick. Those bubble screens and designed quarterback runs that he is calling when Foles is in the game is much more like the Oregon offense.
@Irish…the better Vick plays the more likely, you are to say things like “show his flaws, and more likely to be injured”….which is nothing more than wishful thinking on your part…I know your stance you don’t like Vick…If the play calling looks much more like Oregon with Foles in the game…thats fine…But Vick has looked better…You are doing a very terrible job of being an unbiased Eagles fan…
So are you telling me the designed QB runs, can’t be called for Vick? You must be watching the games with tunnel vision, son….
How can you disagree considering the fact of Vicks Injury and performance isue? He has looked great, but small samplings. I saw the same play where he got rocked near the goal line. Last years concussion wasn’t a hard hit at all. Im not saying it’s definitely gonna happen, but there is a decent chance of it happening bottom line.
I disagree…because Vick has shown good decision making thus far…The fact that its an offensive system that plays to his strengths is a big reason…He is more comfortable and it shows….A big reason being, the O Line looks much improved…O Line being healthy, doesn’t have Vick scrambling for his life and trying to force throws…Makes the game easier…
No one is disagreeing that injury is possibility…Injuries happen in football…But I’m not one of the cats, that is hoping for an injury…Cause lets be real here, some are wishing for exactly that!
Thus far Real, throughout his career he has shown glimpses of great play. They only last 1/3 of the season or so. Sometimes it’s injury and sometimes it’s just bad play. It’s a pattern he has to break and prove he has broken. Thats as real as it gets.
Well as a human being you would hope no one wants somebody hurt over a game, but realistically we both know it happens.
Well Xevious…As I’ve said for a long time now…put a player in a situation that best suits his skill set and lets see what happens…throughout Vick’s career he was never used properly, to fit his entire skill set…in ATL he wasn’t asked to throw, he was asked to run. Run, run, run and run, then throw a deep pass…Not until he got to the Eagles was he asked to be a QB…Playing in a system that was pass happy, didn’t fit Vick’s skill set…There’s the two words that sound familiar…Skill Set…Didn’t Chip Kelly get Vick an extension based on his skill set…Could he also believe that putting Vick in a system that will use him properly would be beneficial to the Eagles…?
Were gonna find out it seems. Again though he took to Reids system like duck to water….No one truly knows if he cansustain a high level of performance. With his skill set he should be able to make any throw or at least keep a drive alive ala 5. I don’t think a coach would put someone on the Team if he didn;t think it beneficial to the team. Unless it’s Kotite that is.
I didn’t take long for Nick Foles to go down with a season ending injury.
Injuries happen in football.
I’m not trying to be an unbiased Eagles fan. I want a young QB who can mature with the team. I don’t want a QB on the down side of his career to be the starter on a rebuilding team – that’s stupid.
If the Eagles had a chance to make a run this year I would want a veteran QB. Unfortunately that’s not the case.
I’m not telling you that designed QB running plays can not be called with Vick (God knows he would be much better running than Foles), What I’m saying is those plays are not being called when Vick is in the game so far….
Have you seen any bubble screens run with Vick in the game? If so it hasn’t been many. That is a staple of the Ducks offense, and Foles has run a lot already. I’m not saying Vick can not run those plays – I’m saying he is not being asked to run them so far.
My only point is this – Kelly is calling much different plays for the two QBs. I have no opinion on why….
Another thing RealTalk – I don’t hope Vick gets injured. That does not have to happen for a young QB to be the starter. Vick just has to play like he has his whole career and a young guy will be our starter soon. For me it doesn’t have to be Foles – it can be a rookie in next years draft. It’s just too bad we are wasting time on Vick.
Well stated Irish…I can’t see him lasting Injury wise or sustaining this level of play. Realtalk argues skill set and it is a legitimate argument with Kelly, but I don’t buy it. Like I said up top we are gonna find out it seems. This just is deja vu to 2010…even Vick saying he feels rejuevenated speech. OY
If Vick plays well it’s great for the Eagles, if Vick get injured plowing into a pair of defenders the Eagles are still in a good position.
While I don’t hate Vick like a lot of other people I’ve seen the bait and switch and extra long injury list from him enough times to know that the minute he gets comfortable in the default starter role his play takes a nose dive and that he’s likely to put himself in a series of collisions that will put him out of multiple games. The main difference this time going around will be that if he goes out for a significant number of games it’s not going to be Kevin Corn on the Kolb stepping in to play for him.
That Butch is exactly my fear and the reason why Im not biting. It’s a contract year also, that plays a huge part in this. I do think we are in a much better spot if or when he does get hurt or gets comfortable.
Its crazy to see that Nick Foles is playing the Oregon Offense and playing it well but the scheme for big is a spread out simple Offense accustomed to vicks strong attributes. Alot of people say Vick is perfect for Chips offense but i know it is only preseason but i havent seen vick playing those type of plays Foles has. The advantage we have is we have A good starter and a capable backup either way you slice it. This time next year chip will scrap what he played this season so when teams think they can game plan for chip they really cant because chip will pull out new formations, tricks etc. Advantage Chip/Eagles/Fans.
Vick* not big* sorry ^
Also i just want our Defense for the most part this year to be an under the radar underrated D. Gritty copping attitude passionate like they played last night if that is any indication of what this defense can do in year 1 with different players they can easily dominate next year alot sooner then other Defenses that transition longer.
Also barring any injuries/knock on wood. I feel better about or Oline and D teams like Chicago and Charger and Packers have horrible olines its early but im glad im not them
Based on what I see of this years Eagles offense, defense and special teams reinforces just how poor a coach Andy Reid was and is. People saying he was the best at scripting plays blah blah. It’s so obvious that Chip Kelly is head and shoulders above Reid in all phases of the game. When Reid coached all the plays on offense seemed like broken plays, didn’t seem to fit the situation and were bogged down by penalties and took forever to call. Vick and Foles seem relaxed and are executing at a high level. Buffet
Belly was a fraud.
Exaaaactly Big E..Iv’e always felt that way concerning Reid. Chip is still going for more points with 14 seconds left on his own 40 yard line, not going to the locker room. He’s very meticulous in his coaching. It’s about time!
****Phils Fire Manager Charlie Manuel and replace him with Ryne Sanberg****
Phils keeping it classy… fire him a week after his 1000 wins. I think it was his time to go, but wtf, best manger in phils history. Couldn’t have let him retire at years end?
Scapegoat much? Ruben should be fired tomorrow.
Back on gcobb after trips to Va Beach Va, Wash DC, Upper Marboro Md, Sandusky, Ohio, and Coldwater MI.
Glad to see some of the veterans, Paulman, songs, etc.
Isn’t nice not to have Andy “hard headed” “won’t run” Reid gone.
It’s going to be so much fun watching him coach KC and laughing my rear off as he throws 70 passes in a row and gets his QB killed.
I wonder if he’s going to hire the janitor to be the defensive coordinator?
Oh well, if nothing else, Chip is logical. A breath of fresh air. Except for hiring the Browns to run the defense. Will have to wait and see the logic in that.
Anyway, with no Andy Reid, I’ll enjoy the season no matter what.
Yes, I will be back on to complain the second Chip makes a dumb decision.
It’s part of the Joy of being an Eagles fan!
Welcome back BSM..
Always nice to see some smart,passionate & fun posters back…
I think many of us Fans are happy and excited about the changes of the Eagles.. yes, their Defense needs re-tooling and it can’t be done in 1 off-season, but a breathe of fresh air, new energy and a new philosophy was much needed after the last 4-5 stagnant & very predictable AR Years…
Their Offense is going to be fun to watch..
Imagine Chip kelley comming to the Eagles from Orgeon because he salivated at coaching a QB like Michael Vick in his offense. SH*& We are all salivating secretely. EVEN THE VICK HATERS! look we are all Eagles Fan’s DIE HARD! Kelley is doing this thing right because you cant have the media turn on you the minute you walk in the dooor. This is what would have happened had he named Vick the starter from the beggining. #2 He needed to motivate Vick…. And we all see how that is playing itsself out. What I see is a Phenom at #1 and Future Phenom at #2 QB. Vick-Foles. LETS GET IT!!!!!!
Reading LOTS of talk about Vick here today…. and also reading LOTS of quotes from Vick himself…. talk talk talk.
As a guy who has stated over and over that Vick has the ability to do it… and as a guy who has gotten called a Vickapologist (or whatever)… im going to pump the breaks for a second. Noone call me Vinnie…. just hear me out…
All this talk about how NOW… he finally has a team/oline- my friends.. this is not the first time he has been given an a good oline. But it has been a while
All this talk about how he was never used right before- Bogus!! There were times he was used right… and he blew it. Dont tell me that in all these years… Chip Kelly is the FIRST to figure him out. Be real.
My friends…. it takes A LOT for a qb to be elite in the NFL. a good work ethic, raw skills, smarts, a solid Oline, skill players around you, a great coach, a great system, a good D to keep you in games….
Mike Vick has/has had some of these things before. Not always…. not even most of the time…. but he has had them before. At times he has done well. At times he has blown it. At times he has been a good teammate. At times he has not. We have heard and seen some of this before…. he gushed about Andy Reid’s system a few years ago. He spoke then about FINALLY being used the right way. so…. lets slow down.
Lets keep it real. No hate, no bias, no building up so we can rip it all down later….. lets get behind our QB.. all of us. But lets try and keep him/ourselves humble because… as great as he has played…. ANY QB can come back down to earth in a hurry.
Mike…. we are all behind you.You have the skills it takes to win games. Keep your head in the game, keep to the system, trust Chip… Make us proud.
Alleluuyah Stevo… Can I even say that on here, even though I mis-spelled it… Ha Ha…
the O line sucked ass last season with defensive linemen coming through unblocked regularly.
Is that not true?
Yes. Clearly. Songz… please reread what i wrote.
What im saying is… its working. And working well. I dont care about the past. I care about now. I dont want to hear about his former ints or how hes just needed the right coach. This system… with how hes focused is working. Right now.
lol.
He got to the NFC Championship with Reeves.
Jim Mora was a joke.
“he gushed about Andy Reid’s system a few years ago.”
In 2010? Before all the personnel drama Reid was doing the right thing.
2011/2012 Vick wasn’t raving about the offense. Though he is/was INCREDIBLY loyal to Reid. Wasn’t going to say anything bad about him. He couldn’t stand MM though.
I’m not really interested in what Vick is saying. I’ve watched a little Vick ball from Atlanta (not the last couple of years there) and Philly obviously – he’s NEVER looked that comfortable in the pocket. Ever. Not in 2004. Not in 2010. Not anytime in between.
It’s obviously still pre-season, but it’s encouraging. And I’ll take that.
“I’ve watched a little Vick ball from Atlanta (not the last couple of years there) and Philly obviousl”
Should read “a lot of Vick ball…”
PRE SEASON, PRE SEASON, PRE SEASON.
IE no wear and tear, no exotic blitzes, games don’t mean jack, players who have made the team are 100% flat out right!?!.
Fools Gold, Fools Gold, Fools Gold.
Great points
Anybody excited about the special teams? They looked great the last two weeks. Chip Kelly really has me all hyped up, you can tell they are way ahead of teams as far as preparation at this point. It defiantly disguises the lack of talent being more prepared and having more reps. Even the third team looks ready to run w/e is called and the execution is not sloppy. They look like they have been running this stuff forever. Runs on 3rd and 8, 3rd and 6, Carolina clearly had no clue of what was coming next. This helps out the o-line bc D-lineman cannot pin their ears back as much. If you notice soon as it was obvious passing situations without extra protection some of the line struggled.
I hope Kelly can stay ahead of the NFL bc the copy cats will be in full effect.
SUPER excited about the special teams. SUPER. I think they may win us a couple close games and since the defense is def gonna drop us a few…there great play couldn’t have come at a better time.
most definitely tsjohnson, I agree the special teams are looking sharp so far
and the LT from Stony Brook or wherever #72 Tra Thomas’s young bol lol OMG he is massive I don’t even think he could possibly understand his own potential. Long arms, nice coordination, strong punch, he looks a little slow but then again he covers so much ground when he slides. STEAL!!!
For ever it’s worth,
Watching the 49ers vs Chiefs on NFL Channel and #1 Pick Eric Fisher is struggling and getting pushed around at RT by the 49ers Justin Smith thus far..
kc queefs stink
Maybe they do, maybe they don’t
But # 1 Pick OT Eric Fisger looks deffensive and on his heels
Curious to watch OT Joecel next week for the Jags versus the Eagkez and see how Lane Johnson is measuring up
So far in 2 Fames I think Johnson is pkaying pretty well overall..
He will put on 10-15 lbs and get stronger and master better blocking techniques and leverage and learn the tricks of the trade with
more experience.. Could be a Stud at OT for 10 Years..
Dave Spadaro on WIP via CBS – “NFL rules say that, a stipulation, is that the music needs to be turned down with 20 seconds left on the play clock, when the opposing offense is on the field,” Spadaro said. “So, Chip [Kelly], said well if there is no rule about when our offense is on the field, let’s play the music. And his thought is, well, we’re used to playing with the music. This perhaps limits the defenses ability to communicate or causes a little bit of confusion. Once the knee goes down and the play clock goes down to 40 seconds, the music goes on right up until the snap. The Eagles are getting all the music that they have at practice—they’re used to it. They’re are not confused. This is why they’re doing it. Now what’s going to happen, ultimately perhaps, the league is going to have to amend the rule or every other team in the league is going to try to do it.” Spadaro explained that this is not just a preseason thing. “Absolutely [this will happen during the regular season]. The Eagles are nonplussed by the music, by any sort of distractions in the stands, anything going on around them, because they have been practicing since day one,” Spadaro said.
DJ Big Balls fucking your defense up on the 1′s and 2′s.
Consider this Chip’s second infraction against the NFL officiating conservatives. First the refs fired preemptively at Chip telling him they wouldn’t speed up their play to suit his offense, and here we have Big Balls Chip gaming the system in the way the league never envisioned. It’s hard to imagine the league not changing this rule, but they can’t alter league rules in the middle season, can they? If not then expect to hear blaring pop hits during all Eagles games while the offense is on the field.
Other coaches will probably bitch and complain, but there’s nothing cheating about this. He’s playing by the rules. Not Chip’s fault if other coaches never thought of taking advantage of this the way this rule was written.