Job One: Improving Vick as a quarterback

Michael Vick has had success in the NFL, but it would probably be as inaccurate as his left arm to say he has been a successful quarterback.

"He's a dangerous player and any time he steps on the field in any capacity he brings a formidable threat to the table," Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said before the team went through its second day of practice with its newest offensive weapon.

"Just being on that other sideline from a defensive standpoint – dangerous, scared, are all those words to describe the feelings running through defensive coaches."

Given Vick's extraordinary athletic ability, it's easy to see why McDermott would offer such an evaluation. The 29-year-old quarterback's legs, however, have always been the most feared part of Vick's game even though his arm is among the strongest in the NFL.

"He's got that lefthanded arm and it's just so natural," Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson said. "He just flicks it and it goes."

Even with that rifle arm, which was on display at practice yesterday when he effortlessly floated a 50-yard pass down the field to rookie receiver Brandon Gibson that was broken up at the last second by cornerback Asante Samuel, Vick's career completion percentage is only 53.8, well below Donovan McNabb's 58.9 mark. And we all know how Eagles fans feel about McNabb's passing accuracy.

Vick has averaged more yards per rush (7.3) than per pass (6.7), an astonishing achievement because it highlights both his remarkable ability to run, as well as his pedestrian throwing statistics. He has never thrown for more than 20 touchdowns in a season and he has only had a passer rating above 80.0 once in his career.

On the other hand, Vick went to the playoffs in two of his five seasons as the Atlanta Falcons' starter.

It has become obvious during Vick's first two days here that, in addition to adding him as a multidimensional offensive weapon, the Eagles also want to make him a better quarterback.

"I really think he can develop himself into a very accurate quarterback from the few passes that we've practiced," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. "With accuracy, I think there are some players that can dramatically increase themselves and . . . I think he's one of those."