However, Lartigue misses the point by a mile. While he cites this post as proof of me subscribing to the "manual", in the very next breath I note two known scramblers (although they are having to cut down on their scrambling these days) in Donovan McNabb and Daunte Culpepper. And since he read this post just last week, I'm sure he noticed my compliments of Ben Rothlisberger, who is far from being a typical pocket-passing quarterback.
You see, it's not about a manual; it's about balance. Football is a game of being able to draw up a better play and executing it better than the other team. You use all of your qualities in order to win. I'm sure if you asked players in the league, they'll tell you that you need to have more than one redeeming quality in order to become a top player in your position. If you're a one-dimensional quarterback in the NFL, you're soon going to meet up with a team that will neutralize your strengths and knock your block off.
One of the amazing feats of Michael Vick that Lartigue reminds us of comes during the Divisional playoffs, where the Falcons mangled the St. Louis Rams 47-17 in order to move on to the NFC Title game. Lartigue notes that Vick "only ran" for 81 yards in that game (he actually ran for 119), yet the Rams were so worried about Vick's running ability that it opened up opportunities for Warrick Dunn (who is a good back), who carried the ball for 142 yards.
Now that might sound like a great feat, considering it came within the playoffs. But remember what I said: Football is about balance. After all, there's 11 other guys on that field that are trying to stop you on defense. And a quick look at the Rams defense shows that during the 2004 regular season, they gave up 136 yards per game on the ground and ranked 29th in rushing defense. In other words, the St. Louis Rams couldn't stop a parked car.
As Lartigue correctly noted, I stated that Vick will use his feet to get him out of trouble. But in the next sentence I stated:
The good thing for Atlnata (sp) is that the Rams don't have a front line or linebacker set that can even catch him on two-hand tag.
And yes, I didn't think it would be a blowout. However, how it happened wasn't surprising. Anyone who has paid attention to the Rams in the past two seasons know this isn't a team that was going to stop the Falcons from running the ball. And thus, they got their blocks knocked off.
So instead of the Rams, let's turn our attention to a team that's much more appropriate and would have been a better challenger....say, Tampa Bay. The Bucs are undefeated this year, but last year they finished 5-11, and were only 19th in rushing defense. However, they always have Vick's number, because they have a decent linebacker corp that can run with Vick on the sidelines and can keep him contained in the backfield.
In their second game last year, Vick threw 27 passes - well above his regular average. Why? Because he could only get off eight rushing attempts and the Bucs' defensive line was able to keep Duckett and Dunn contained. This also led to two fumbles, two picks, and five sacks on the day for the Bucs onto a 27-0 victory. Now, Vick still ran pretty decent for a quarterback for a QB that day - 81 yards - but his passing game is lacking, and once Tampa Bay took away Vick's one strength, he was exposed.
And that's nothing new for that team. Tampa Bay's Super Bowl year saw them smack Vick around twice. In a 20-6 Bucs victory in October 2002, Vick's line was 4-12 for 37 yards and he ran for only one yard. The next week, against the Giants, Vick didn't play. Why? Because the Bucs put him on the shelf. Later that year in December 2002, the Bucs won again, 34-10. Vick only carried five times for 15 yards in that one. And note; the Falcons made a playoff run that year, breaking Green Bay's home playoff streak...in the snow. So they weren't lightweights.
In 2003, Vick was on the shelf for 3/4ths of that year due to an injury during preseason, so he didn't play the first game against Tampa Bay. The second one saw the Falcons win 30-28, but that was from the Falcons secondary picking off four Bucs passes in that ballgame. Vick did run the ball 12 times....but only came up with 39 yards to show for it. Atlanta had led that game 27-7 at halftime before the Bucs made their comeback.
Last year, Vick finally got the numbers he wanted on the Bucs, with the 24-14 victory last November. But that's the only time he's been able to maintain speed with the Bucs, and three weeks later he was shut down.
Indeed; one of the reasons why the Eagles were able to have their way with the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game was due to middle linebacker Jerimiah Trotter sitting back about 4-5 yards off the line of scrimmage and being an effective spy on Vick. That gave the rest of the defense time to close in on him. Once the Eagles led by double digits, it was over, because then the running game had to be abandoned. The Falcons didn't have a chance.
Now if every team was like the 2004 Rams, then there wouldn't be much to talk about, as far as opposition goes. But Atlanta faces the red-hot Bucs twice, they face Carolina (although our front four looked like we need to start hitting the track more often after last night) twice, they face the Patriots this week, and they've already faced the Eagles in a game that was lacklusture for both teams offense-wise (14-10). What's going to happen when the run isn't an option? And guaranteed; it will not always be an option.
Compounding that question is the fact that Vick has had two leg injuries this year that took him off the field. Vick was hurt in the Seattle game and last Sunday against the Vikings; two teams who aren't known for their defense. It's one thing to have a sore muscle, but those are debilitating injuries that will affect your performance on the field. Vick uses his legs more than any other part of his body. It's one thing for your left arm or shoulder to be hurting (I think Vick throws with his right; I don't see him throwing enough to ever notice). It's another for a leg to be the problem, especially if you are a rusher.
It's funny, because yesterday Daunte Culpepper came out and said he has back problems. Donovan McNabb has a hernia. Both of them have cut back on their scrambling over their career and have focused on their passing games more. Culpepper has not been good this year, but last year he put up numbers that would have made him MVP if it wasn't for Peyton Manning's unbelievable year. In the first four weeks, McNabb has put up the better numbers than anyone in the league. Why's that? Because both have realized that in order for them to be able to compete in this league, they had to adjust with age. Their passing stats have gotten better and they became effective leaders. Lartigue mentions Randall Cunningham in passing, but just like McNabb and Culpepper have done, Cunningham had developed a balanced game: 5 seasons with over 3000 yards, including the 1990 season in which he threw for over 3400 and rushed for almost 1,000.
Will Vick adapt too? Only time will tell. Maybe he will get that Moss or Owens like Culpepper and McNabb were able to attain, and will help him create a decent passing game. Until then, he's a sitting duck. And there's no telling when that trigger will be pulled.
CORRECTION: I said Lartigue stated Vick ran for 81 yards in last year's Rams/Falcons game. He actually said he passed for 81 yards, which is correct.