"That's really all I saw happen to Michael. Simple stuff that I've seen him execute at a high level last year, he tried to do too much with. He tried to make too many big plays.
"And then, when that happens, it snowballs. What happened to Michael was a couple of things didn't go right early on, and now, instead of just settling down and trying to find his rhythm, he tried to make up for it by making more great plays. He has the potential every time he takes a snap of doing something phenomenal. But when you play outside the structure of the offense, there's the danger of something terrible happening each time as well."
Vick attempted a career-high 56 passes in the Eagles' 17-16 win over the Browns. Completed just 29 and threw four interceptions, which could easily have been seven or eight if the Browns' linebackers could catch a little better.
He failed to recognize blitzes, failed to see defenders in coverage.
Seldom went further than his first progression. Bolted the pocket like there was a gas leak in it. Forced balls in places he had no business forcing them.
Yes, he engineered a 16-play, 91-yard touchdown drive at the end and threw a game-winning, 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Clay Harbor. But he also threw a pass right into a linebacker's hands on the play before the touchdown and fumbled a snap that was nearly recovered by the Browns four plays before that. So it wasn't exactly one of those hop-on-my-back-and-I'll-lead-you-to-victory drives.
Vick completed six of his first eight passes and six of his last 11. In between, he was an ugly 17-for-37.
"I think it just got away from him really quick," Dilfer said, "and he just kept trying to make up for it, and you see that kind of frenetic activity in the pocket when that happens to him because that's where most of his biggest plays have come, when he's tried to escape from the pocket or do what I call second- and third-reaction quarterbacking to break down the defense and make a big play. And Cleveland was ready for that.
"To his credit, that last drive, I don't know what clicked. But that last drive he just ran the offense. And the touchdown pass, I thought, was a beautiful example of [where] he starts off looking to his left, goes through two progressions on his left, and flips his hips back to the right, which is what the play calls for, gets back on perfect timing and throws a touchdown pass. He was able to settle himself down for the one drive that mattered the most."
The question, of course, is which Vick will we see this week against Baltimore? The one we saw on that game-winning drive? Or the one we saw most of the game?
"I think it'll be a great learning lesson for him moving forward," Dilfer said. "I think he'll probably evaluate himself that exact same way. He'll see all the plays that would have unfolded if he had just stayed within the structure of the offense. I look for him to use this as kind of a launch point to get back to the really good Michael Vick, which is the guy that plays the Andy Reid West Coast offense with discipline and with structure."
Quick hits
This is why having Vick throw 56 passes in a game is a bad, bad idea. Because he has thrown 35 or more passes in a game 17 times in his career and he is 4-12-1 with 24 interceptions in those 17 games. So, Marty, sometimes when something doesn't work, it is because it's the wrong thing to do.
The only word I'm sicker of hearing than Kardashian is Bountygate.
Somebody asked Juan Castillo the other day how he will relay the defensive signals to his players when the Ravens go to their no-huddle offense Sunday. Castillo smiled and declined to answer the question.
"The Ravens look at this press conference too, so you have to be careful a little bit," he said. The scary part is he's probably right.
"Hey, Frank. Right after you get done watching the Eagles' blitz tape for the 15th time, how about checking out Juan Castillo's press conference and see if he let any pertinent information slip."
Look for Bryce Brown to get five or six touches against the Ravens.
Eagles corner Nnamdi Asomugha said he probably will move inside some Sunday when the Ravens put their two pass-catching tight ends, Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson, on the field at the same time. "You might see a little bit of that," he said. "But it won't be a full game of it."
Figuring the Eagles
A formation breakdown of the Eagles' 88 offensive plays last week:
3WR/1RB/1TE: 38 plays (27 passes, 11 runs)
2WR/1RB/2TE: 26 plays (17 passes, 9 runs)
2WR/2RB/1TE: 11 plays (6 passes, 5 runs)
1WR/2RB/2TE: 4 plays (0 passes, 4 runs)
4WR/1RB/0TE: 4 plays (4 passes, 0 runs)
3WR/2RB/0TE: 3 plays (0 passes, 3 runs)
3WR/0RB/2TE: 2 plays (2 passes, 0 runs)
Eight of LeSean McCoy's 20 carries, 55 of his 110 rushing yards and five of his eight first downs came in the fourth quarter Sunday. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry on first down and 5.4 yards per carry on second down. He was 4-for-4 in short-yardage situations (2 yards or less). In the last five games dating back to last season, McCoy has converted 18 of 21 short-yardage situations.
According to Pro Football Focus, Vick attempted 22 passes under pressure Sunday and completed just seven of them. Three of his interceptions came on plays under pressure. His passer rating on plays under pressure: 6.5.
The Eagles had 15 possessions against the Browns, not including the one following Kurt Coleman's game-clinching interception. Just one of those 15 drives started beyond their own 26. Nine started at the 20 or inside the 20.
Browns running back Trent Richardson rushed for just 39 yards on 19 carries Sunday. Thirteen of his runs went for 2 yards or less, including six for zero or negative yards. He had just one rushing first down.
The Eagles haven't allowed a rushing touchdown in their last five games.
The Eagles' pass defense in the last five games: .511 completion percentage, 4.99 yards per attempt, 56.1 passer rating.
The Eagles were the second-youngest team in the league entering Week 1. The average age of their 53-man roster was 25.51 years. The only team younger: the Rams at 25.30.
Tweeting with Big Red
I sure do miss those Sonic Bacon Double Cheesburgers. #dietingsucks
Howard Mudd almost ran me down with his damn golf cart. Somehow blames me for Peters injury. #crazyoldman
LaMonte says he can get me on DWTS next season. Told him will only do it if they partner me with Peta Murgatroyd. #babelicious
Just got a tat. It says, "8-8 is unacceptable."
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