Thanks for Four Years of Awesome
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
Blogged Around Philly: Farewell Edition
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Tony: Well, Chris, since you're on my turf now, you get to bat first. I understand that you think Reid should go with Kevin Kolb?
Chris: Hey, Tony, thanks for having me. Yes, Kevin Kolb is obviously the right choice. First off, he's the future of the team: Andy Reid has invested too much in him to turn back now. He's traded the QB that he has been coaching for the last decade, and he's looking for his new protégé. Vick is obviously not the answer, but a stop-gap, and if they are going to be successful, they either need to go all in with Kolb or at least let him play out the season before drafting someone else and giving him the keys.
Tony: You make an excellent point here, even if you weren't intending it. Reid is stubborn and cocky. He will have a lot of trouble admitting that he was wrong. He has been selling us Kolb for years now. After all of this "grooming," it would reflect poorly on him if Kolb wasn't the answer. But, so what? You play to win the games, remember Herm? Why do they need to play out Kolb, if Vick gives them a better chance of winning? Just because Andy tells us he's good? I hope you have better reasons for Kolb starting than what amounts to a seniority argument and protecting Andy Reid's feelings.
Chris: There is a reason the Eagles never won a Super Bowl with Donovan McNabb: The West Coast Offense that Reid is known for has never been conducive to McNabb, and Kolb has the skill-set to really make Reid's dream scheme come true. He has designed an offense that thrives on quick decisions and short passes that add a third dimension to the usual offense in the NFL. He masterfully used the pass and the run, but also utilized the running back for screens/flats plays that extended the field and kept defenses on their toes. McNabb nor Vick have the accuracy to pull off such a nuanced system.
Tony: Wow, Andy should hire you to fill out his resume if he ever gets fired. You could at least write him a letter of reference, or a fan mail love note. I have bad news for you: this isn't a West Coast Offense anymore. When the Eagles decided to move on from Brian Westbrook, and added Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, this became a big play offense. Last year, Jackson had eight scoring plays of over fifty yards, the most all time. This offense demands a quarterback with a big arm and the ability to improvise. There is no one in the league that fits that bill better than Mike Vick. I'm giddy over here at the thought of opposing defenses trying to cover Jackson for the six, seven, eight seconds Vick will buy himself behind the line. They will become the most dangerous combination in the league.
Chris: Vick is a rental: The bottom line is that the Eagles aren't going to be able to afford Vick after the end of this season. There are too many teams in the league who are willing to pay a premium for a decent quarterback. There are only about ten quarterbacks in the league whose jobs are completely safe. The other twenty-two teams are looking to upgrade, and Vick can make a mediocre team into a great team overnight.
Tony: Can I just copy and paste your paragraph to prove my point? So Vick can make a mediocre team a great team, just not this one. You're fine with Kolb leading our mediocre charge, so neither his nor Big Red's feelings get hurt. Vick is playing well, even if the Eagles do plan to move him, showcasing him would drive up his value. Why wouldn't all those teams in need of a quarterback be interested in Kolb? He's younger, cheaper and the teams wouldn't need a new offense built around him, like they would for Vick. Also, who says the Eagles wouldn't be able to afford him? The Eagles are one of the most lucrative franchises in the league, and no one knows the financial situation next year anyway.
Chris: My final point on why Kolb should be the quarterback: I'm a Giants fan and love to watch the Eagles lose.
Tony: J'Accuse! I knew it! You just want us to have a bumbling hick quarterback who always looks terrified and like maybe he pooped his pants a little too! Enough about Eli. The bottom line is, Vick is the better quarterback. He has been to Pro Bowls and won playoff games. He has the physical skill-set to really thrive with the other weapons on this offense. Granted, he's only played six quarters this season, but he appears to be a more mature version of an already successful NFL quarterback. It would seem, at least for now, the weaknesses in his game, notably turnovers, have been rectified. Not to mention the players seem to prefer him, and he is infinitely more marketable, good or bad. Vick gives the Eagles so much more than Kolb on and off the field. We're talking about him; everyone is talking about him. I also can't deny the feeling of nostalgia and excitement I got when I saw the elusive quarterback with the cannon arm scrambling and improvising in that kelly green jersey, I'll always be a sucker for a certain superstar from UNLV. Back to my point, at the end of the day, the Philadelphia Eagles are a better team with Michael Vick at quarterback, it's that simple.
Michael Vick will be making his second start for the Eagles this Sunday in Jacksonville. The Eagles and Jaguars kick off at 4:05.
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