Michael Vick is the key to correcting the Eagles offensive mistakes from Week 3 (Photo: www.newyorker.com)
Week three was a bust for the Eagles. No matter how you look at it, it was a disappointment. Whether it was the short week, three games in eleven days, or just poor execution, Chip Kelly and the Birds walked away with their heads down, and looking down at a 1-2 record.
Getting the offense back on the level it was on for Week 1 is no easy task. Doing it against the Denver Broncos only toughens the task at hand. It seems that Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson and crew will have to put a lot of points on the board if they want to have a shot at a win. The Eagles must learn from week three in order to gain any momentum on the offensive side of the ball.
First of all, Vick must run. While his injuries may be a cause for concern, he needs to run the ball in the spread. He only carried the ball four times against the Chiefs, but broke out for 99 yards, 61 of them coming on one run. In order for the offense to open up for the passing game, Vick needs to be a dual threat. Kelly’s system is made for him, and he has to tools to use it.
In order for the play action pass to work, and the holes to still be big enough for McCoy to get through, Vick needs to keep the ball on the option a few more times. Vick kept the ball nine times in the Eagles only win at Washington.
If Vick keeps the ball, it opens up the short routes that have given them trouble in the passing game. Riley Cooper will have more room to work, especially if Jackson is running deeper routes, as he has thus far.
Having more success in the short pass game will trim down the turnovers, which is another thing the Eagles need to improve on from Week three. Vick and company need to protect the ball to even have a shot at coming out of Week four .500. They gave away the ball far too often last Thursday night.
From botched snaps, muffed punts and interceptions, the Eagles looked out of sorts on offense last week. The snaps and putts are very easily fixable. It is the interceptions that were troubling. Vick was trying to force the ball in where there was no space, and it cost them the game.
The short passing game will help with this. Getting the ball out of Vick’s hands on passes is critical. Three step drops and a quick release will only help the offense’s pace, and the offensive line gain their confidence back. It all starts with center Jason Kelce. If he sets the tone, and does not make the same mistakes that he did last week, the rest of the line will follow.
Yet, all of it starts with Vick. The team will rise and fall with the play of the quarterback. If he can run the ball effectively, as well as make the short throws he needs to, the Eagles might have a chance. If he does not learn from his week three mistakes, Sunday afternoon may be tough to watch.
Andrew Albert is a senior writer for CityofBasketballLove.com, as well as a sports desk intern with the Philadelphia Daily News. You can follow him on Twitter at @AndrewJAlbert01
