Sun. Jan 23, 2005
Eagles Roll, Falcons Plan Vacation
In any sport, the playoffs are a codified form of rising to your level of competence … but no further. That was true of today’s Eagles-Falcons game, and the contrast was clear.
Jim Mora is the 12th Falcon’s coach in 38 years (average tenure, 3.16 seasons). In those 38 years, the Falcons have never been able to string two winning seasons together, back to back.
Meanwhile, Eagles Coach Andy Reid, Donovan McNabb and Co. have been appearing in NFC championship games as many years as Michael Vick has been in the league. Four years in a row now, and they’ve finally got their long due NFC title.
McNabb is the kind of QB Vick perhaps needs to become more like. He scrambles, but not frantically, and is always looking downfield … to pass. On the other hand, Vick seems to look downfield … to run (and replays of pass plays showed he really telegraphs with his eyes). McNabb is truly a mature quarterback, in ways that Vick is not … yet.
It’s hard to place too much blame on the Falcons defense. Twice the defense stiffened to hold the Eagles to a field goal instead of a TD, keeping the offense in the game. Again and again the defense gave the offense a chance to close the gap. But while the Vick-Dunn-Duckett running combo may have looked like a Giant Killer last weekend, today it was decidedly pedestrian. No miracles from Superman, just average Clark Kent.
And I don’t mean to sound like the Eagles had nothing to do with this. I think the Falcons best chance was to open the game by handcuffing Jeremiah Trotter. On most of the critical plays in the first two thirds of the game, he was there.
The Eagles earned their title. And I almost always pulls for the NFC in the Super Bowl.
As for the Falcons, “wait ‘til next year” has a bit more heft to it than it usually does. This team has got talent, and good coaching, but it needs polish. And that only comes with time. Next year, you won’t be looking at a team with a rookie head coach, and a brand new offensive and defensive scheme. You’ll be looking at a team with some playoff experience.
And a bit more maturity than we saw today.
Published 07:12PM, Sun, Jan 23 2005
Category: Local Sports
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Peanut Gallery
A couple of things Photodude,
Yes the Falcons and their Winged T offense did look good getting to the NFC championship but look at who they played, the mediocre, Mike Martz led Lambs.
Vick is a tremendous athlete and obviously very dangerous when he leaves the pocket. Even more so when he crosses the line of scrimage but he isn’t and may never be a good conventional passer. As Dan said he telegraphs everything! I personally believe he’s miscast and should be playing runningback. Yes I know he has a rocket arm but he can’t read a defense and those empressive wheels will breakdown sooner rather than later.
As for the NFC, in this case the Eagles, in the Bowl, give it up, only a fool would bet against Brady and the Pat’s.
“but look at who they played, the mediocre, Mike Martz led Lambs.”
Yes, but they played them on the second weekend of the playoffs, meaning they’d secured the first weekend off by working hard for 16 weeks to have the second best record in the NFC, 11-5 (and they pretty much “threw” the second to last game). And that’s after a disasterous 5-11 season last year. So excuse me for being pleased with the fresh new smell.
“Even more so when he crosses the line of scrimage but he isn’t and may never be a good conventional passer. As Dan said he telegraphs everything!”
It was me who said that (“and replays of pass plays showed he really telegraphs with his eyes”). Because it’s true. But there’s more to it, in my opinion.
Do you remember Joe Montana in his first year playing the West Coast offense at SF? How about Brett Favre in his first year starting in a similar offense at Green Bay (after the Falcon’s traded him there following a crash and burn rookie year of partyin’ here in Hotlanta)?
I remember Favre’s eyes that year, in particular. It wasn’t always pretty, not nearly as pretty as it became after Montana and Favre had a couple of years experience running that offense. This is Vick’s first year in it, and the whole team’s first year with the new offense, a new defensive scheme, and a new head coach.
Unlike in the past, “wait ‘til next year” has some real heft to it, for me.
“those empressive wheels will breakdown sooner rather than later.”
This is a valid concern. And it’s the reason he needs to become more “McNabb-like” in the way he runs the offense. McNabb is a dangerous running threat, but you almost forget it, because he employs that threat rarely. Vick has definitely got to develop in that direction.
Did I mention he’s 24 years old? I expect he will be around to be criticized for quite a few more years.
“As for the NFC, in this case the Eagles, in the Bowl, give it up, only a fool would bet against Brady and the Pat’s”
Bet money? Maybe so. But a fool to pull for them? I’m a fool that way a lot of the time…
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I agree whole-heartedly. I think Vick CAN become the real deal, if he
learns to pass first and only run if there is no other option. Not to sound
racist, but that has been the knock against African-American quarterbacks
since they came into the league, but I guess there is some truth to it.
Once he learns to think pass (and look for EVERY option) before running,
will he achieve the success he is capable of.
Donavan McNabb just might be Michal Vick’s NEXT unexpected blessing.