Showing posts with label Michael Vick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Vick. Show all posts

Monday, February 11, 2013

Vick to Stay with Eagles Under a One-year Deal

A new coach doesn't mean new quarterback in Philly.

Michael Vick had signed a 6 year $100 million contract back in 2011. Things just went downhill from there on out for him and the Eagles. They failed to make the playoffs two years in a row and fell under .500 in 2012 going 4-12. Andy Reid got axed and outsiders assumed that Vick would be next on the chopping block. However, new Eagles coach Chip Kelly and the team seem to think that keeping him would be the best option. They then restructured Vick's contract to be a simple 1 year deal worth as much as $10 million to which Vick agreed to. For now, it's Michael Vick at the head of Kelly's experimental offense.

Seeing how unimpressive Nick Foles was combined with a lack of quarterback talent in the draft and free agency, it was probably best for the Eagles to keep Michael Vick for the time being. You never know how a new coach could affect a veteran quarterback's play (i.e. Jim Harbaugh and Alex Smith). At the very least you need someone competent at quarterback for this season while you keep your options open (i.e. Jim Harbaugh and Alex Smith).

As for Vick, it was probably best he stay as well. The Eagles seem to have a lot of talent just mixed in with the wrong mindset(s) and wrong schemes. That could change under a new coach like Kelly. Also, it's not like there are a bunch of other playoff worthy teams that Vick could start for right now. Not the Jets. Besides, I said "playoff worthy teams."

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Why 2013 Will Also be a Lost Cause for the 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are a great team that just fell short by a few yards of achieving their goal of winning a Super Bowl. As good as they were in 2012, they will not even get back to the Super Bowl in 2013. Here's why:

1. No losing team in the big game has gotten back to the Super Bowl since the Buffalo Bills of the early 1990's (last appearance 1994). Forget the fact that the Pats are the last Super Bowl winners to return the next season. History is not on San Francisco's side.

2. Frank Gore will be 30 years old next season. While the team will likely be moving towards an offensive system that will be more beneficial for Colin Kaepernick, they will still be reliant on a running game and their star back isn't getting any younger. More carries might be given to Kendall Hunter and/or LaMichael James which means instability in the backfield.

3. Front line was very fortunate this season. There might've had minor hits and bruises but nothing serious affected the offensive front line which was very fortunate for the 49ers in 2012. Their luck up front, however, might run out next year.

4. Can Colin Kaepernick manage to stay healthy an entire season? He doesn't seem to run it as much as Robert Griffin III or Michael Vick but the verdict so far on running quarterbacks is that they cannot last an entire season without being out for some time. Making sure that Colin is healthy for the 2nd half of the year and possibly the postseason is another reason why a solid running game (reason #2) is important along with trying to create a more friendly quarterback playbook for Colin.

5. A tough NFC West to fight through now. Seattle proved to be a very tough team in 2012, so much so that they were labeled as a Super Bowl contender. Mix this in with the fact that the Rams looked solid with Jeff Fisher as their coach and the Cardinals are looking to reboot somehow with their new coach Bruce Arians makes it no guarantee that the 49ers even make the postseason in 2013.

As pessimistic as I do seem to be about the 49ers chances next season, they can still be considered contenders. The team overall is still solid, they are now strong at the quarterback position, and they have Alex Smith as a marketable commodity.

If there is one thing that San Francisco needs to improve the most during the off season it's their secondary. Pass defense is something that needs attention which seems weird to say considering they were fourth in the league in pass defense. However, their defensive line was a big reason for that coupled with the fact they made team's one dimensional with their run defense. Getting some better (and less homophobic) defensive backs will make that team a true nightmare to move the ball on.

Despite how good the team looks now and the moves they will make during the off season, there is no way I am picking them to win the Super Bowl next year. I don't have a guess for 2013 yet, it's way too soon to do that. But I can say it won't be my beloved 49ers.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Chip Kelly Makes New Nest in Philly

Which Kelly is this again?

The Philadelphia Eagles have taken their sweet time finding a new head coach but they have finally found one. Chip Kelly of Oregon originally said he wasn't going to leave the Ducks after meeting with several NFL teams earlier this month. It seems that he has reconsidered after realizing that Oregon was always going to fall short of a National Title. So Chip Kelly has agreed to become the next Philadelphia Eagles head coach.

So what does this mean? Is Michael Vick actually going to come back? What will happen with Nick Foles? Will there be a totally different quarterback? Will the Philadelphia fans actually be nice? (no they won't)

Whatever it does mean, it certainly suggests that the high tempo offense that Kelly brought to Oregon will be brought to the NFL. Now certainly the league is showing that there are plenty of QB's that can play in his system but the Eagles might not have one of those if they and Michael Vick do part ways. Also, the Oregon offense is dependent on good running backs. Are LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown good enough for that system? Is the line good enough to run block?

With Chip Kelly in Philly, that means a vacancy in Oregon. Someone call Emilio Estevez. Wait... that's stupid. He's a hockey coach, this is football.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Nick Foles to Start for Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles this year have been horrible for the most part just being lucky for the first few weeks and just plain bad following that. Counting the game against the Cowboys yesterday, they have lost 5 games in a row. While Michael Vick hasn't played as well as he should be playing, it's not all his fault or even the main reason why that offense is so terrible. The offensive line can't protect the QB to save their lives, more importantly Vick's life.

Over the season, Vick has taken shot after shot after shot and yesterday his head had enough when he had to leave the game with a concussion. Nick Foles came in and did alright for a rookie QB. He managed to throw a TD but also threw an interception that was returned for a TD. He went 22/32 for 219 yards as the Cowboys ended up blowing them out in the fourth quarter. Final score: 38-23.

The fact is that the Eagles at 3-6 are out of the playoff hunt and have to start thinking about the future. That being said, the one place they are going to look at is of course Quarterback. With Michael Vick out with a concussion as of now, the opportune moment to start rehearsals for the role has presented itself. Nick Foles will get a fair shake at the job as he has been the named the starting QB for Sunday's game vs. the Redskins. He will get time with the first team this week and show us what he's got this weekend.


As for when Andy Reid's job will be up for grabs, I can see rehearsals for that role just around the corner.

P.S. No matter who is the QB for the team, the one place that needs the most attention during the off season is the offensive line. No QB can be successful without some blocking.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Cowboys Beat Eagles in the Battle of Disapointments and More

As week 10 in the NFL began, two teams stood out among the rest as underachievers, jokes, and all around embarrassments. These two were the Cowboys and the Eagles. Both entered this week at 3-5 and both were looking to keep their seasons alive and avoid media scrutiny.

The game between these two stay close for a bit even when Michael Vick had to leave because of a concussion sustained in the 2nd quarter. Nick Foles came in and was average. The Cowboys, however, started to pull away in the 4th quarter with Dwayne Harris getting a 78 yard punt return for a TD. Then Foles threw an interception that was returned for a 47 yard TD by Brandon Carr. The Eagles did get a TD (missing the extra point) to make it an 8 point game but failed a comeback as Nick Foles was sacked in his own end zone fumbling the ball and being recovered by Jason Hatcher for a Cowboys TD. Cowboys win it 38-23. Cowboys are now 4-5 and the Eagles fall to 3-6 with Andy Reid starting to look for a new job on Craigslist.

As for the other games across the league, the Texans go to Chicago on Sunday night and beat the Bears 13-6. Jay Cutler left the game with a concussion leaving the Bears with no offense. Didn't stop him from throwing 2 INTs before he left, though. Giants get shocked by the Bengals in Cincy 31-13. Giants committed 4 turnovers including 2 INTs by Eli Manning. The Falcons are no longer undefeated as the Saints hold on to beat them 31-27. Can you hear the annoying cork popping by the '72 Dolphins? Last one I'll mention is that the Seahawks beat the Jets 28-7. Jets look awful again while the Seahawks still haven't lost at home this season (5-0 at home).

Week 10 ends tomorrow night with the Chiefs playing the Steelers.

P.S. For my take on the 49ers tie game with the Rams, click here. Be sure to check out the 49ers section at prosportsblogging.com for take on the team before and after the game.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Eagles Keep Diving with Loss to Saints

The Philadelphia Eagles went into New Orleans this week with a lot of questions around them from whether or not Micahel Vick will be the starting QB to whether or not the outcome of this game will affect Andy Reid's job as head coach of the team. To make the questions go away for the time being, they needed a win.

The Eagles played the Saints in the Superdome who were themselves looking to rebound from a disastrous start to a strange season that had players and coaches of theirs suspended. They needed a win as well to get a chance of making something out of a lost season. Vick helped them get started right away throwing a 99 yard interception returned for a TD by Patrick Robinson. The Saints would get two more TDs before the half.

The Eagles managed to get the 2nd half started right with a 77 yard TD pass to DeSean Jackson after a turnover committed by Drew Brees via a fumble. The Eagles would then score a FG after a Saints fumble on the kickoff return. Brees would get the Saints to strike back late in the 3rd quarter with a 6 yard TD pass to Jimmy Graham. That gave them a 15 point lead that would not change for the rest of the game. The Eagles could not do anything else but fumble the ball in the 4th quarter. Saints win it 28-13 leaving both team 3-5 but heading in different directions.

The Eagles have 477 total yards of offense and get only 13 points. They had 5 red zone trips that resulted in no TDs. Meanwhile, the Saints and their struggling defense manage to get a big win at home as they get ready for the Falcons on Sunday. As for the Eagles, looks like more questions.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Andy Reid Fires Juan Castillo

Did Juan Castillo suddenly turn into a goat?

The Eagles this season have been a .500 team that look like a disappointment. Michael Vick has been sloppy, the offense is under-producing, the fans have become agitated, and the owner hasn't made it a secret that this must be a playoff season for Andy Reid and the Eagles. There's a lot of pressure on this team none of this is helping them. They just lost a game to the Lions in which they were ahead by ten points in the 4th quarter. A change has to be made... at defensive coordinator.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid fired Juan Castillo and put Todd Bowles, the teams secondary coach, in charge of the defense. Castillo spent most of his time in Philly as the offensive line coach until he was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2011. Since the move, the Eagles have never quite been the same basically being a .500 team since then with the inability of blocking for Michael Vick.

I'll never quite understand this move of firing Castillo or even promoting him in the first place. It seems like a weird transition from offense to defense like that. Even so, it seemed to be working to a degree. The only reason that the Eagles are 3-3 is the defense for the most part. The offense has looked awful with Michael Vick turning it over routinely. The Eagles have a turnover differential of -9 with the Chiefs being the one worse team in the NFL with -15. The Eagles right now are also the 2nd worst points per game team averaging 17.2 points a game. The only team that is worse are the Jacksonville Jaguars with 13 a game. If anything needed changing, it was the offense in one way or another.

Instead, the team fires Juan Castillo which doesn't make sense. He might not have been the best defensive coordinator in the league but he was at least doing his job.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Falcons Still Undefeated, Texans Are Not, Pats Upset by Another NFC West Team and More

Week 6 was a wake up call for a few teams.

One of those teams was the Houston Texans. The Packers came to Houston to take on the Texans and told them and the rest of the league that they can still destroy another team. Aaron Rodgers unloaded on the Texans with 6 TD passes and 338 passing yards. Rodgers and the Packers jumped to an early lead and never let the Texans catch up. Matt Schaub did poorly throwing 2 picks and no TDs. The Texans just didn't play up to par before their fans or the country. Packers win 42-24. Texans are now 5-1 and no longer undefeated.

There is only one undefeated team left in the NFL and even they had a scare in week 6. The Atlanta Falcons hosted the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders should be an easy opponent to get by but they made it a bit difficult. Matt Ryan got picked off three times in this game and threw one TD in this game to Roddy White in the 2nd quarter. Meanwhile, the Raiders had 474 total yards on offense while the Falcons only had 286. The Falcons still were able to win it in the end with the Falcons making a quick drive down the field to score a 55 yard FG by Matt Bryant with one second remaining. Falcons win barely 23-20 and stay undefeated.

The rest of the NFL had some interesting games. The Patriots got upset again by another NFC West Team as the Seahawks win it 24-23 with a late 46 yard TD pass from Russell Wilson to Sidney Rice being the decider. Seahawks are now 4-2 and tied with the 49ers and the Cardinals in NFC West. The Cowboys lose to the Ravens 31-29 as Dan Bailey misses a 52 yarder to win it for Dallas. The Cowboys might've been able to get one more play off before kicking a FG but they all had to hustle to find out. The Lions beat the Eagles in OT 26-23 with Jason Hanson making the 45 yard FG to win it. Michael Vick threw two interceptions as the Eagles are lost. Last game I'll mention involves the Jets beating the Colts 35-9. Shonn Greene ran for 161 yards and 3 TDs on the ground just carrying the Jets to a win and stopping the Tebow talk for now.

Thank goodness this day is over. Week 6 ends tonight with the Broncos taking on the Chargers on Monday Night.

P.S. To read my take on what went wrong for the 49ers in week 6, click here. Check out the 49ers section at Prosportsblogging.com for my scoop on the team before and after the game.

Friday, August 31, 2012

2012 NFC East Preview: How 'Bout RG3?

The 2012 NFL Season is almost upon us which means it's time to look at each division and predict what will happen to the best of my knowledge. I took a long shot with the Bucs last year and I assure you that I will not be foolish to pick a team like that again.

That being said, I really like the Redskins. They have Robert Griffin III as their new QB, he looked good during his brief time in the preseason, and I believe they can go a long way with him at the helm... if this was a prediction for beyond this season but it's not. They will bomb this year as RG3 tries to navigate through the league. There is interesting speculation here as to whether or not he will have a magnificent season like Cam Newton had last year. He might not win a lot of games as it looks like the Redskins are underdogs for most of them but he can still have a terrific season.

As for the rest of the NFC East, it seems like any teams game. The Super Bowl Champion Giants might be the strongest (barely) but they could easily be upset. They got beat by Washington the two times they faced them last year. Once they get into the postseason, watch out but they have to get there first. Tony Romo and the Cowboys have something to prove after the way they finished 8-8 last year and just missed the postseason. I'm not confident, however, that they have gotten better. Romo was playing his heart out last season and he still couldn't pull them into the playoffs.

So my favorite is going to be the Eagles. Seems like a long shot considering that Michael Vick can't play a full season because he keeps getting hurt but I think this team has a lot to prove after the "Dynasty" comment made last year and they will pull it together somehow. Plus Nick Foles, the back up, is having a nice preseason and might be able to hold the team together for a game or so if Vick gets injured.

P.S. It seems almost ironic that Vince Young, the guy who made the "Dynasty" comment last year, doesn't have a team to call home after Buffalo cut him. Apparently, the Bills would rather trade for Tavaris Jackson, a fair QB at best, as their #2 QB than stick with Young. What a fall from Tennessee it has been.