Vick flying under the radar

[FishFreak]

Sure the guy will probably not throw for 3,000 yards but he could run for 1,000. Vick is ranked 2nd and 4th among QB's in both my leagues and nobody seems to be noticing what he's doing. Even the "Quarterback Watch Report" doesn't have him listed in "Climbing Up The Ladder" section much less the top 10. The way Atlanta's offense is going right now Vick could drop 30 total TD's this year especially with Duckett out of the picture. Add those TD's in with his minimal passing and stellar rushing totals and he could finally live up to the hype. I'm not a big fan of his from a QB standpoint but it looks like he's going to be putting up sneaky good stats all year long.

 

He fell into my lap this year in both my leagues and I lucked out and grabbed him by default. I was pissed when I couldn't grab Culpepper late but sometimes you just get lucky. Sit back and watch a great show this Monday night as Vick always seems to torch the Saints.

[theeohiostate]

I've noticed, i have him in 4 leagues and started him in 3 in week 2 and 2 leagues in week 1. He's putting up monster numbers and is 6th in my leagues for total points among all players after 2 weeks.

[Fantasy Jesus]

The way the Falcons are running the ball right now they don't need to pass.

 

Is Vick running some sort of college option with Dunn?

[Big Dogs]

I actually targeted him as my #1 QB this year. Yea, I know....

 

In all the leagues I'm in, I was very unsure of the #2 RB's out there, so most leagues I went RB, WR, WR, RB -- to make sure I got solid WR's...........Since I was planning on doing this, I knew Vick would probably help with my overall running game, and targeted him.

 

Since he wasn't real high on anyone's radar, I was able to wait till the 8th round to take my QB, so I was able to load up on other positions.

 

Was it a gamble...... Absolutely! Has it paid off...... So far! Yes....

 

What I hate about taking Vick is that he's one juke into a Linebacker and out for the season. Just hope it doesn't happen and I get lucky.

[gilthorp]

The way the Falcons are running the ball right now they don't need to pass.

 

Is Vick running some sort of college option with Dunn?

 

 

This is the type of offense that is run quite frequently in college today. Texas had it installed last year, and it's actually a veer philosophy. The initial read is off the OT/DE instead of an option being off the OG/DT.

 

If they keep this in place, he'll have a killer year running the ball.

[Big Score 1]

What I hate about taking Vick is that he's one juke into a Linebacker and out for the season. Just hope it doesn't happen and I get lucky.

 

I would be more concerned about the hits he takes in the pocket.

 

Falcons O'line while well schooled run blocking, leaves a little to be desired at pass protection.

 

If you watched the games, you would have seen on the runs Vick either kips out of bounds or gets down on the turf taking a glancing shot.

 

Now the shots he's taking standing while in the pocket? Oof! I saw one sack that I was surprised he got up from.

[Big Dogs]

I would be more concerned about the hits he takes in the pocket.

 

Falcons O'line while well schooled run blocking, leaves a little to be desired at pass protection.

 

If you watched the games, you would have seen on the runs Vick either kips out of bounds or gets down on the turf taking a glancing shot.

 

Now the shots he's taking standing while in the pocket? Oof! I saw one sack that I was surprised he got up from.

 

 

I wanted to watch the game, but didn't get it locally.......

 

But this is good info to know. Either way. After he got his leg broke a few years back, Vick has always scared me............

[Avernus]

I sort of had the door open with him this year...

 

he's another player I've slammed over the years, but I think he can have some fantasy value...

 

I even said recently.....he usually has about 150 pass yds....if he can crazk 200 almost consistently...and then rush for 60....then in my league, that's already 22 points...not counting TD's...

 

I want to get him this week...

[Randall]

Most of us who have had him in the past know how unreliable he is.

 

Teams will figure out the new wrinkle to the college option and then he'll go back to his old self. Once one team figures it out it's all over for Michael.

[alexgaddis]

The key with Vick is to let him be Vick...don't try to make him a pocket passer, because he isn't one...

 

I think Atlanta is finally letting him do what he does well and only time will tell if NFL defenses can stop him...

[Randall]

ajc.com > Print Edition

Falcons running toward danger

 

By Terence Moore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 09/19/06

Flowery Branch —- Fresh off the Falcons spending a second consecutive game executing the spread-option college attack of Texas and West Virginia so well that they could meet Ohio State for the national championship, offensive coordinator Greg Knapp wasn't available for comment on Monday. Perhaps he was breaking down old films of Red Grange and the Four Horsemen.

 

This running thing for the Falcons is getting a little creepy.

 

There isn't a thing wrong with running, running and running some more. In fact, from the Pop Warner level through that of the pros, running is preferred. Running wins championships, whether we're talking about Steelers (as in The Bus and Willie Parker for Pittsburgh), Longhorns (as in Vince Young destroying USC) or Vikings (as in Lowndes, Georgia's Class AAAAA high school champions for two years).

 

Not only that, during the NFL season's opening two weeks, the Falcons used a lot of Michael Vick, even more of Warrick Dunn and a little of Jerious Norwood to chew through the historically run-suffocating defenses of Carolina and Tampa Bay for 252 yards and 306 yards, respectively. The Falcons also are undefeated. Plus, in each of the two seasons during the Jim Mora regime, the Falcons led the league in rushing for a trip to the NFC championship game that first year and a flying start the next before crashing shy of the playoffs. That's all fine, but this potentially isn't: Unlike any team in recent NFL history, the Falcons are prospering on the ground with a heavy emphasis on this option stuff.

 

It's an offense that is splendid for colleges, where most defenses aren't solid across the board regarding size and speed. So, with an efficient option attack at that level, you can exploit a weakness or three of your opponent. Conversely, it's an offense that hasn't longevity in the pros. Defensive coordinators eventually figure these things out, and they also have enough prolific linebackers to make your quarterback wobble instead of sprint along the way to the injured reserve list.

 

That said, Mora praised Vick for avoiding mighty blows during his various zigs and zags on Sunday. It's just that at this staggering rate of carries for Vick, those mighty blows are only a sprint away. With the option to run, pass or hand off on many plays against the Buccaneers, Vick nearly ran (14) as many times as he threw (15) for 127 yards rushing. Then there is Dunn, the NFL's top rusher with 266 yards. The thing is, he's averaging 25 carries per game, and he entered this season averaging 15 carries per game during each of his previous nine years in the league, and he's 31, a dinosaur age for running backs.

 

Not good.

 

Well, that's me talking.

 

"It's a unique offense that we have right now, but I just think it's unique for us, because we have an exceptional player at quarterback who can run and throw," Dunn said. "We also have backs that this system really fits. We have receivers who can block and catch. We have an All-Pro tight end. We have the talent to drop back and throw it, but we also have the talent to run. We complement each other. That's why it's so unique."

 

Unique can get you killed in a league that hasn't had a team attempt to run like this in decades. Literally. I worked in Cincinnati in 1978 when the Kansas City Chiefs came to town, and I was sent to write about their new coach, Marv Levy, resurrecting the wing-T from the dead. The offense featured a wingback operating as a second tight end while running inside counters, snatching curls and blocking like crazy. According to Levy, owner of a master's degree from Harvard, he wished to keep what statistically was the worst defense in history at the time off the field. In other words, Levy was desperate, and those Chiefs averaged 41 carries per game.

 

These Falcons aren't desperate, with a defense that is the antithesis of the one for Levy's Chiefs. Still, these Falcons are averaging four more carries per games than those Chiefs. Definitely not good. Still, unlike those Chiefs, these Falcons are winning, which is the bottom line.

 

Until somebody gets hurt.

[Avernus]

Matt Schaub anyone?

[FishFreak]

I'm not saying Atlanta will go all the way with this sort of offense or defenses won't adjust. I am saying Vick will continue to put up solid points with his rushing totals. Every QB is an injury risk, especially with Vick's style of play but Vick owners shouldn't worry about that. How many QB's do you know of in this league who can throw for a measly buck fifty and still score 20+ points a week? I suspect teams will start taking more chances and force him to make plays thru the air. If he adjusts and improves his passing, then Vick owners will really have something to smile about.

[Bill Swerski]

The key with Vick is to let him be Vick...don't try to make him a pocket passer, because he isn't one...

 

I think Atlanta is finally letting him do what he does well and only time will tell if NFL defenses can stop him...

 

 

Huh? NFL defenses have been stopping Michael "I-Can't-Hit-the-Broad-Side-of-a-Barn" Vick for years now. Until he can consistently complete passes to his wideouts, that's not going to change.

[Swiss Cheezhead]

The real point here is not how long Vick can keep up this pace -- it's that the "hype" factor around him was nonexistent this year, in terms of fantasy football.

 

He was being drafted as the 10th-12th QB in almost every league I've seen, so even if his numbers fall a little, he's a GREAT value this year. Luckily, I was smart enough to realize that in two of the three non-dynasty leagues I'm in.

[Big Score 1]

ajc.com > Print Edition

Falcons running toward danger

 

By Terence Moore

 

I stopped reading right there.

 

Terence Moore's goal in life, is to write the most inflamatory controversial articles possible, regardless of accuracy or facts. I'm just surprised he wasn't able to figure a way to get the race card in there. That's one of his SOP's and usually appears in anything he writes. He must be slipping.

 

I would pay about as much attention to what Moore has to say, as I would my 10 year old.

 

Actually that's a lie. I pay more attention to my 10 year old has to say.

[Big Score 1]

Huh? NFL defenses have been stopping Michael "I-Can't-Hit-the-Broad-Side-of-a-Barn" Vick for years now. Until he can consistently complete passes to his wideouts, that's not going to change.

 

Apparently you missed the last two games Bill?

[Bill Swerski]

Apparently you missed the last two games Bill?

 

 

You mean the games where Atlanta's defense dominated and their offensive line moved the chains against two highly-overrated defenses? Would those be the same games that Vick threw for 92 and 140 yards?

 

I want to see what Vick can do when his defesne and running game aren't off-the-hook good. Oh, wait, I've already seen those games. Nevermind.

[kwolf68]

Vick is still a highly mediocre QB...and while he hasn't been terrible in fantasy this year, I count 7 QBs in my league above him right now

 

-McNabb

-Manning

-Manning

-Pennington

-Grossman

-Warner

-Carr

 

And I'd rather have Carson Palmer than him as well. Vick will have his monster weeks and then he'll have his 10-18, 105, 0TD, 2 INT, 35 yards rushing weeks as well, plenty of them...and they're coming. Mike Vick has been on my last two fantasy teams, my two worst teams in history. I'll take my chances with people who can actually throw the football consistently.

[Big Score 1]

You mean the games where Atlanta's defense dominated and their offensive line moved the chains against two highly-overrated defenses? Would those be the same games that Vick threw for 92 and 140 yards?

Why throw a ton and risk a pick when you're running for 252 & 306 yards respectively? That would be kinda stupid if you ask me.

 

Throw as much as you need. 140 & 2 TD's / 92 & 1 TD is more than adequate when you're just annihilating the opposition with your run game.

 

As for Tampa & Carolina's D's being highly-overrated?

 

I suspect that they're nowhere near as bad as Atlanta made them look. It certainly doesn't help either of those squads that their offenses are either failing to convert 1st downs, or they're just plain outright turning the ball over.

 

I'm sure that as much as you know about football, you didn't need me to tell you that though.

I want to see what Vick can do when his defesne and running game aren't off-the-hook good. Oh, wait, I've already seen those games. Nevermind.

Agreed.

 

More often than not, Vick has come up short in those types of situations. Like you, I'm interested to see how he performs under adversity this year.

[Bill Swerski]

As for Tampa & Carolina's D's being highly-overrated?

 

I suspect that they're nowhere near as bad as Atlanta made them look. It certainly doesn't help either of those squads that their offenses are either failing to convert 1st downs, or they're just plain outright turning the ball over.

 

I'm sure that as much as you know about football, you didn't need me to tell you that though.

 

Oh, I totally agree that their offenses have been bad. Carolina's D is probably better than I gave them credit for (although they've been perennially overrated for the past three seasons), but Tampa Bay got run over by a Ravens offense that had trouble scoring on the Raiders. They're old (Brooks, Barber, etc.) and falling apart.

 

More often than not, Vick has come up short in those types of situations. Like you, I'm interested to see how he performs under adversity this year.

 

If Atlanta's defense and running game can keep playing like this, it won't matter who's under center. They'll run away with the NFC.

Edited September 19, 2006 by Bill Swerski

[FishFreak]

Vick is still a highly mediocre QB...and while he hasn't been terrible in fantasy this year, I count 7 QBs in my league above him right now

 

-McNabb

-Manning

-Manning

-Pennington

-Grossman

-Warner

-Carr

 

And I'd rather have Carson Palmer than him as well. Vick will have his monster weeks and then he'll have his 10-18, 105, 0TD, 2 INT, 35 yards rushing weeks as well, plenty of them...and they're coming. Mike Vick has been on my last two fantasy teams, my two worst teams in history. I'll take my chances with people who can actually throw the football consistently.

 

 

Just curious, what type of scoring league are you in? I can't figure out how the QB's you have listed are ahead of Vick based on his week 1 and week 2 performances. I agree, he is a mediocre QB but fantasy wise he's a top 10 and rising QB to play with confidence. Even though Tampa Bay and Carolina are struggling right now, those are still two tough defenses he did well against so things are looking up for Vick.

[Big Score 1]

 

If Atlanta's defense and running game can keep playing like this, it won't matter who's under center. They'll run away with the NFC.

 

No pun intended right?

[WaterMan]

I should get paid to read some people's opinions here because they are that stupid.

[kerwin8]

If Atlanta's defense and running game can keep playing like this, it won't matter who's under center. They'll run away with the NFC.

 

 

Atlanta's running game is entirely reliant on Vick. If you take him away, you take away the stretch option they're running, you take away the effectiveness of the play action pass/run, you basically eliminate the element that helps the Falcons run game be what it is. To say that it doesn't matter who is under center is 100% incorrect.