Run? Pass? Vick can and will do either to get job done
Michael Vick offers a predictable response when asked if he is more dangerous with his arm or his feet.
“Both,” said the NFL's leading passer and its leading rusher among quarterbacks. “Whenever I have an opportunity to complete a pass, I do. Whenever I have an opportunity to run, I run.”
Simple philosophy, but Vick's rare skill set can create confusion for any defense, even one as proficient as the Bears', which is in the league's top five in points, rushing yards and total yards allowed, third-down efficiency and interception percentage.
“He's doing well in the pocket, and he's doing it outside of the pocket,” said Bears nose tackle Anthony Adams, who's preparing to face Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at Soldier Field.
“We've just got to try to stay in front of him, try to get him down and try to contain him. But they've got other weapons as well, so they're pretty stacked.”
Before he went away for a 19-month incarceration for his role in a dogfighting operation, Vick was feared more for what he did on the run than what he did in the pocket.
But explosive wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin provide the weapons that help make Vick more dangerous than ever as a thrower.
Two seasons with Eagles coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg have completed him as a quarterback.
“They've changed me as a quarterback,” Vick said, “fundamentally teaching me things that help me as a passer and to do the things that make me into a complete quarterback.
“When you take it all in, and you put it all together, and you practice it, and you hear it every day, and you go out and implement that into your game, then you have no choice but to expect changes as a player. I'm grateful for the opportunities I have here.”
All of Reid's and Mornhinweg's knowledge would have been wasted on the old Michael Vick, who was content to rely on his inherent athleticism to get by.
At 30, Vick has discovered a work ethic that wasn't part of his repertoire as a younger player. That he did on his own.
“It didn't have anything to do with the coaches; it was pretty much me,” Vick said. “You have to have the desire to want to be great. Your coaches can only talk to you about it and inform you of things that you can or can't do.
“It's up to you at the end of the day. Basically I didn't take advantage of the time that I had (before serving his prison time) and the opportunity that I had, so I just had to start from ground zero.”
Vick couldn't have asked for a more qualified teacher than Mornhinweg, who has been instrumental in the development of Steve Young, Brett Favre, Donovan McNabb and Jeff Garcia.
“Marty broke it down for him,” Reid said. “Just fundamentally broke him down and started building him back up. (Quarterbacks coach) James Urban was kind of the foot soldier there. He worked with him hour after hour.
“But it really comes down to the kid wanting to do it, and that's what Michael wanted to do. He wanted to get better fundamentally.”
Mission accomplished.
Vick's 62.8 completion percentage is by far the best of his eight-year career; his previous best was 56.4. His passer rating of 108.7 is 30 points higher than his career mark.
But he hasn't lost the ability to tuck the ball away and pick up huge chunks of yardage. In just seven starts, Vick has picked up 375 yards on the ground at a 6.8-yard average per carry.
Vick has never had such confidence in his arm, but he's really not running much less than he ever has. If that's what it takes, that's what he'll do.
“I take more pride in the passing game,” Vick said. “(But) I do whatever I need to do to win the football game.
“Nothing's going to stop me from running any less than what I've done. I'll do whatever it takes to win the football game. I do have to stop taking unnecessary hits, though.”
Follow Bob LeGere's Bears reports via Twitter@BobLeGere. Check out his blog, Bear Essentials, at dailyherald.com.