Sun. Dec 01, 2002
I Like Mike
I Like Mike – Some have already started calling him “the Michael Jordan of football.” Earlier this season, Atlanta Falcon Michael Vick became the first quarterback in NFL history to run for more than 90 yards in two consecutive games. In a league where running backs who average 4.5 yards per carry go to the Pro Bowl, Vick averaged 9.0 yards per carry in those games.
Today, he topped even that: “Vick ran 10 times for a career-high 173 yards, including the winning 46-yard touchdown run in overtime to lead the Atlanta Falcons to a 30-24 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Vick’s yardage was the most by a quarterback since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. The previous mark was 127 yards, by the Chicago Bears’ Bobby Douglass in 1972.”
It was said earlier this year, “The last time this team chuckled this much was in 1998, when Atlanta won its final nine games en route to the Super Bowl.”
Chuckle? As I’ve said repeatedly this season, in my 25 years of following the Falcons, I have never laughed out loud so much during a season. Not even the 1998 season when they went to the Super Bowl. That was different, an example of power football at its grinding best. But it was somewhat predictable. Not Michael Vick. He’s an ever morphing ghost of a weapon. Vick will leave defenders on the turf who moments before had him in their grasp, and when I see them get up shaking their heads, looking at each other as if to say, “how the hell are we supposed to stop this guy,” I just laugh and laugh.
Because I know the answer: you can’t. And as a result, my life as a Falcon’s fan is looking up for the forseeable future.
LATER: More evidence of the above, from one of those guys left shaking their head: “Vikings linebacker Greg Biekert threatening to smack Vick from the left side near the 20-yard line. Viking safety Corey Chavous was closing fast from the other side. All Vick did was zip between them, and they collided behind him.”
“And Vick kept running. Chavous watched from a cozy spot on the ground with Biekert. ’People like to describe this guy either this way or that way,’ said Chavous, shaking his head. ’But if you don’t flat out and go ahead and admit that he is one of the best guys that has ever come into this league, then you are fooling yourself.’ Either that, or you haven’t been paying attention these days. With apologies to Dan Marino, John Elway and others in or near the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Vick is evolving into the greatest NFL second-year quarterback ever.”
Published 01:16PM, Sun, Dec 01 2002
Category: Fun and Games
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Peanut Gallery
There's been a fair amount of talk in Atlanta about this very thing. He worked on his slide this pre-season, and even brought in a former Brave to run their slide drills with him. But he's only employed it a few times (he does use the sideline well to avoid hits, when it's convenient). He's just a reflex runner. He glimpses an opening, and he's gone, with no thought of the hit he might take. But he's been averaging about ten runs per game, much less than your average primary running back. And he's still very much a work in progress. Hopefully he'll learn to pick his spots a little more, but he'll always be a runner. I don't know that he's going to "change the league," that's just part of the buzz that's around him right now. I just know I've never seen a quarterback who is such a diverse threat and such a complete talent ... in year two! I'd be willing to bet at the end of this season you'll see Arthur Blank make him a near lifetime Falcon and a very rich man with a lengthy record-breaking contract.
Fly Eagles fly, on the road to victory. Fight Eagles fight, score a touchdown 1,2,3. Hit em' low, hit em' high, and watch our Eagles fly. Fly Eagles fly, on the road to victory! E*A*G*L*E*S - Eagles!
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We shall see over the long run. Plenty of running quarterbacks have threatened to change the league (Tarkenton, Cunningham, Young, Cordell) but few actually do. Mobility is good but passing ability is much better. There's a reason why running backs have shorter careers than any other position: they take a pounding. If your quarterback takes the normal number of quarterback hits PLUS all those extra runs, that's just more times he gets worn down. Or injured. As they say, only time will tell. Enjoy it now because, sad to say, it probably won't last.