Staying in the pocket doesn’t come naturally to Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. Maybe it never will. But the Eagles’ coaches won’t stop trying to make it happen.
Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg told PhillyMag.com that Vick, heading into his fourth season with the Eagles and his third season as the Eagles’ starter, is still working on becoming the kind of pocket passer the coaches want him to be.
“It really is an art form,” Mornhinweg said. “The first thing he did when he got here is he evolved so quickly with his work within the pocket. And you need to stay disciplined within your movements. And then when you get into open air, your natural ability takes over. That’s the general thought with Mike, and he’s worked very, very hard to get to where he’s at with his pocket passing.”
Making Vick into a pocket passer would probably reduce the hits he takes and cut down on his injuries. The question, however, is whether it would also take away what makes Vick special. It’s possible that the Eagles are going to make Vick a better pocket passer while making him a less effective complete package as a quarterback.