04/16/24
September 26, 2011
Michael Vick Breaks Hand in Eagles Loss: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who broke his non-throwing hand during the team's 29-16 loss Sunday to the New York Giants, complained that he's not getting late hit calls like other quarterbacks around the league. "Not to blame the refs or say that it was their fault," Vick said blamingly. "Every time I throw the ball I'm on the ground, getting hit in the head and I don't know why. I don't get the 15-yard flags like everybody else does but hey -- I'm not going to complain about it." He could miss three to four weeks.
You cant have both.
He SHOULD have both. He's not complaining about taking hits while he's running, it's about hits while he's in the pocket. He is getting hit late and to the head or knees in the pocket and those exact same hits against Brady or Rivers draws 15 yard penalty and heavy fines. I don't see what his being a running QB has to do with anything that he is talking about. If a QB is in the pocket, it doesn't matter what his last name is, you have to call the hits the same for all of the guys.
Roethlisberger is in the same boat..he got hit at the knees last week in the pocket and no flag...but if that happened to golden-boy?????
posted by bdaddy at 12:23 PM on September 26, 2011
According to Joe Bryant at footballguys.com, the Eagles are now calling it a hand contusion and saying he could be available for this week.
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:09 PM on September 26, 2011
I think bdaddy's right here: QBs that don't have the same RB/scrambling skills as Vick or Roethlisberger tend to get more protection from officials when they're in the pocket. There's a presumption that running QBs should be able to execute passes and instantly defend themselves from hits, and that's a nasty little double standard.
posted by etagloh at 01:33 PM on September 26, 2011
Roethlisberger is in the same boat
Ben takes some heavier hits sometimes because that's what it takes to take him down. It's really to his advantage for the offcials to let play continue when he is "in the grasp"; here again you can't have it both ways.
I do agree that the likes of Brady, Peyton, and Brees get favorable treatment but I would suggest part of this is because they are rarely scrambling around.
posted by cixelsyd at 02:23 PM on September 26, 2011
I was wondering yesterday if the in-the-grasp rule was still in effect while watching Cam Newton throwing a pass after being wrapped up by a Jaguars rusher.
posted by rcade at 02:34 PM on September 26, 2011
Is it just me, or does Mike Vick also hold on to the ball for longer than most QBs when in the pocket? He's always looking downfield, whereas guys like Peyton and Brady are getting the ball out on quick slants the majority of the time.
posted by dfleming at 02:35 PM on September 26, 2011
Merril Hoge on Mike & Mike this morning blamed Vick's problems on waiting too long to throw. He called him a quarterback who needs to see a receiver open instead of being able to anticipate it.
posted by rcade at 03:00 PM on September 26, 2011
Both Vick and Roethlisberger hold the ball longer than others. Neither is a pinpoint accuracy style passer, they thrive on the broken / extended play. Newton might be mentioned here also, time well tell.
posted by cixelsyd at 03:03 PM on September 26, 2011
It's really to his advantage for the offcials to let play continue when he is "in the grasp"; here again you can't have it both ways
agree about "in the grasp" and I NEVER want them to call that on Ben. But I'm talking about something different...regardless of how hard it is to bring a guy down, it's illegal to throw yourself at the QB's legs while he's executing a pass. To me that's not a matter of "how hard it is to bring him down", it's a simple yes/no question..did he hit the guys in the knees? Yes? Then 15 yard penalty. Same thing about the head...doesn't matter how hard it is to bring him down, when a lineman smacks him in the head hard enough to break his nose, that's a penalty.
Now if they're running out of the pocket and they take too long to slide and get popped, I can see the ref siding on the side of the defender..but if he gets hit in head or legs in the pocket, or the pass rusher gets 2+ steps in before he hits him after ball release, then these guys should get the same call as the other QBs as that doesn't have anything to do with how dangerous of runners they are.
posted by bdaddy at 03:26 PM on September 26, 2011
I've got no dog in this fight.
posted by ramblnrick at 04:47 PM on September 26, 2011
Is it just me, or does Mike Vick also hold on to the ball for longer than most QBs when in the pocket?
I think so, but I don't think that is as much Vick as the Andy Reid/Marty Mornhinweg offensive scheme. They have big play receivers - Jackson & Maclin - and they want to attack downfield as much as possible. Longer routes with an offensive line that's average at best - the guards and center, I would call poor - is going to get your QB hit - often.
Since Eagle QBs have been getting very banged up in the past few years - Kolb, Vick & McNabb - doesn't the offensive philosophy play a big role in the amount of hits the QB takes?
Vick is getting hit in the pocket way too much and while he's not getting the "quick flag" that a Brady or Peyton Manning will get, I don't think it is any worse than most QBs in the league.
posted by MrNix67 at 06:07 PM on September 26, 2011
I like Michael Vick's play, but his style of play exposes him to a much greater risk of injury. I also think frustration on the part of the defenders, increases his risk. If you are going to run like a running back, the intensity of the defenses will increase in an effort to stop you or make you pay. I have seen him many times put his head down and dive for extra yardage, while most quarterbacks just are happy to take what the defense gives them on broken plays. Vick is always a threat to run and for this reason defenses treat him as such. It is an exciting style of play, his athleticism is unparalleled, but I don't feel this is a good strategy for a quarterback considering their importance to a team. Pennywise and pound foolish, but no doubt fun to watch. I never bet on a Vick team to make it to the Superbowl at the beginning of a season, for the sole reason that I don't believe he can stay healthy for a season, and when your QB is running around, it is a sign of a bigger issue in front of him.
posted by Atheist at 10:50 AM on September 28, 2011
News flash Mike. You take bigger hits because you are alwasy running around. You take more hits then alot of QB's because they get rid of the ball. If you want to act like a running back you will be treated as such. If you want to enjoy the protection of a Brady or Rivers, become a pocket passer and never run. Go down easy like they do. You cant have both. Also, if you are coming off of an injury, you should know that every defensive player smells blood and will be after you. They said they would target Romo's ribs. You think the G-men weren't going for your head.