Brotherly Beast of the East
In a season of ups, downs, change and uncertainty, not to mention the rise and redemption of perhaps the single most controversial player in the National Football League, The Philadelphia Eagles have at long last established themselves as the premier force in the NFC East.
To say that the quarterback position has been a focal point of the Eagles’ success this season is an understatement. Nearly all of the team’s media coverage has centered around the Kolb/Vick question (which as of Week 3 had still not been answered) and while Andy Reid has fluctuated on the matter he has been justified and rewarded by the performance of Michael Vick, who at the moment could well be the leading candidate for Player of the Year. While Vick has been undeniably brilliant, a host of youthful offensive weapons as well as a defense that ranks 8 th in the league against the run have provided the foundation for this 7-3 NFC East beast.
No truer redemption story could be written than that of Michael Vick. The dynamic quarterback, who was reinstated into the NFL in Week 3 of the 2009 season after serving 21 months in a federal penitentiary, has in 2010 provided some of the most electric offensive performances in recent memory. No matter how you feel about Vick personally, one simply cannot deny the sparkle of his high velocity, seemingly effortless plays that apparently have NFL defenses as dazzled as the fans. Despite missing four games with a rib injury, Vick has amassed 1,608 passing yards and 16 total touchdowns, not to mention what he can do as a runner. Like a plump Thanksgiving turkey he too has the sizzle and aesthetic appeal of the classic holiday bird, often stealing the show from his complimentary side dishes. Yet as a Thanksgiving turkey is only so much without stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce, so too is Vick without linemen, receivers, and running backs. Like any turkey on the Thanksgiving dinner table with all its sides, the Eagles have surrounded Vick with a plethora of offensive playmakers as dangerous as they are young.
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Running back LeSean McCoy is among the top backs in the league in almost every category and has shined as both a between-the-tackles runner and pass catcher. “Shady” has flourished in Coach Andy Reid’s West Coast offense, which allows the Eagles to spread the field and create space for dangerous open field runners to catch check down screens from Vick. McCoy’s 726 rushing yards have contributed to the NFC-leading Eagles running game, which as of Week 11 has totaled 1,508 total yards (third in the NFL). Downfield receivers DeSean Jackson (arguably the fastest player in the NFL) and Jeremy Maclin enable the deep ball threat we so commonly see from Vick. You know: the one where Vick fires a ballistic missile seventy yards down the field like a 155mm AGS round in a naval bombardment. Plays such as the 88-yard touchdown pass DeSean Jackson caught on the first play of the Week 10 Redskins beat down are fruits of an offense that ranks 9 th in the league with just under 250 passing yards per game. Sprinkle in role players like wide receiver Jason Avant and crafty tight end Brent Celek and you have a recipe for offensive fireworks.
On the defensive side of the ball the Eagles have surpassed expectations. With the return of middle linebacker Stewart Bradley the defense has effectively limited the ability of opposing teams to run the ball, holding them to an average of less than 100 total rushing yards per game. Defensive ends Trent Cole and Juqua Parker have provided the pressure off the edge, combining for 12 of the team’s 26 sacks, a total that ranks 9 th in the league and 5 th in the NFC. At the same time the secondary has risen to the occasion, boasting a league-best 19 interceptions. Thanks in large part to cornerback Asante Samuel’s league-leading seven interceptions, the Eagles have become one of the NFL’s best in creating turnovers. Remember how just one year ago the New Orleans Saints won the Superbowl with their high powered offense and turnover machine defense, a combination reminiscent of this year’s Eagles. This “score points, force turnovers, score points, force more turnovers” game plan could make for this year’s version of the 2009 Darren Sharper/Drew Brees Saints. Who knows?
What we do know is what we have come to expect from this high octane offense; big plays down the field made possible in large part by Vick’s mobility and the need for defensive backs to contain him while also dancing with receiver routes. This is the reason why Vick is such a weapon. His ability to make plays with his legs only makes the skill position guys around him more effective. He has been consistently criticized for being one-dimensional throughout his career, a running back that can throw a little. The difference this year is that Vick appears to have transformed himself into a prototypical quarterback that can also run…a lot. He is staying in the pocket, allowing plays to develop down the field first, and using his escapability to extend plays as a runner secondly. While we can’t expect to see a 59-point explosion on a week to week basis, this offense appears to be firing on all cylinders, and with a defense that continues to create turnovers, we can all look forward to seeing the Eagles flying high come playoffs.
By: Michael Londino
Pro Football Fans Philadelphia Eagles Correspondent