With the Eagles at 2-1 but feeling like a team that can’t get out of its way, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said Thursday that he hopes quarterback Mike Vick will do more to stay out of the way of defensive players.
“Maybe he needs to move,” Mornhinweg told the media. “About half of the time the quarterback needs to move. It might be subtle or a slide. It might be up and out, in a full scramble, front door or back door -- all these type of movements.”
Vick seemed to reach a new level two years ago because he was moving less. Patient in the pocket, Vick waited for opportunities to develop. This year, it seems like he’s simply waiting to get blasted by a blitzing linebacker.
The hits Vick has taken, coupled with his alarming turnover rate, has prompted calls for the team to spend more time running the ball, especially with LeSean McCoy on the roster. Mornhinweg doesn’t sound sold on that approach.
“We go after people now,” Mornhinweg said regarding the possibility of making the running game a priority. “Look, I tell the players that we’re going to be aggressive. Again, you can be aggressive in the running game or the pass, but we’re going to be aggressive. I want them to be aggressive and want them to play without the fear of making a mistake. If you make a mistake, you find the solution and then you correct it fast. Once you get that thing motoring pretty good, and I think we are closer than it appears, then you’re in pretty good shape both run and pass.
“Normally, many of your runs come in the second half, whether you are close, you are even, or you are up, and with us most of the time. Not all of the time, but most of time. Philosophically, I don’t care as much about balance in any particular game. If we have to run the ball 50 times to win the game, that’s what we’ll do. If we need to pass the ball 50 times in any particular game, that’s what we’ll do. Now, you take the whole season and you’d rather be somewhere around 60-40ish, usually a little higher than 60ish maybe 60-65 percent pass.”
It sounds good in theory, but every pass play lately has had Eagles fans holding their breath for the next hit on Mike Vick. Sooner or later, he’ll absorb a hit that keeps him from continuing.