Few things... Number one, Falcons are winning because Warrick Dunn's been a stud (and a steal for my Fantasy Team) and the defense has played outstanding football. They have some real talent with Hall, Brooking, Kearney, etc. Second, the only reason the Falcons beat the Packers in Lambeau a few years back was because the following either missed or didn't play much: WR Donald Driver was injured RB Ahman Green was injured DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila has the flu DE Keith McKenzie was injured DT Gilbert Brown was injured OT Chad Clifton was injured FS Darren Sharper was injured CB Tod McBride was injured That's 8 starters, 3 Pro-Browlers. Falcons didn't win because Vick had some kind of magnificent outing; they won because the Packers were undermanned. Vick is overrated, overhyped, and, in my opinion, isn't as fun to watch as a Brett Favre or a Donovan McNabb, or even a Daunte Culpepper (he's not as good as any of them, either).
But it is true. Those guys are better than Vick at this point, but they are different. In the open field Vick is like Deion or Barry Sanders, not merely like the list you say. And yes, we have not seen a guy like that play QB. He is not better than those guys, may or may not ever be better, but he IS different. I am sure their are other excuses today. But the bottom line is Carolina designed their defense to stop him and the Falcons won big. It is hard to measure the way he impacts the game.
I'd say if he helps his team win games, he's good. Maybe there's too much individual expectancy placed on him, but a field general leads his troops to victory. While everyone is keying on Vick, his teammates get to exploit the defense in the rushing game. Vick is possibly overrated as a passer, but an underrated leader and diversionary weapon. He'll be a competitive winner for years to come barring any serious, career ending injury. His passing game will grow up. steddinotayto, good assessment.
If this is the direction the thread has gone, then you've all missed my point entirely. Never did I say Vick wasn't good. I said he didn't deserve the hype he was getting right now...the Canton references..and the best QB in the league run. he's just not. his team is playing great...his defense has been unbelievable. but for the 2nd straight week, vick can't find the end zone...and he's yet to throw for even 200 yards. i'm sorry..but that's not deserving of the hype he gets. not at all. he ran for 35 yards, which is right around what carr ran for yesterday. if his running game is opening up the passing game, how come we're not seeing that?
Before I get into this with you, let me ask you this. How many Falcons games have you seen in the last three years?
Even ESPN had an article titled "Better than Vick...Why Atlanta's Defense is the Reason They're 3-0."
Oddly someone would make the Fiedler comparison. The current Falcons team play almost exactly like the Jay Fiedler Dolphins teams back in the Ricky Williams and pre-Ricky era. The Falcons have 6 rushing TDs, 2 passing TDs. They had 102 run plays(+ 33 Vick rushes) vs. 79 pass attempts. Their defense has played incredibly well, ranking 2nd in scoring defense. Honestly, I don't see the hype on Vick as of right now. He might yet become the highlight reel on a consistent basis in the future, but he certainly isn't one right so far this season.
There is a difference between "playing like them" and having "players like them" . Felder has had team of current or former Pro Bowl players around him the last couple of years. The Falcons do not have a Ricky Williams, Jason Taylor, Oliganye (sp?), Surtain, Madison, Tim Bowens, Seau, etc. I'll give you Brookings is equal to Zach Thomas--and that is because though I think they both are good players I think Thomas is somewhat overrated (Neither one is certainly in the same league as Ray Lewis as an inside backer). The Falcons will have a couple of Pro Bowlers this year, at least Vick and Brookings. But that is a far cry from what Fielder had the last couple of years. Of course Vick isn't the whole story, he doesn't play defense, special teams, and has 10 other guys on offense. But come on, he obviously is the most important player on the most surprising 4-0 team. Iroc It summed it up well about the parts of Vick's game many of you underestimate. Who cares if his total yardage is just over 200 when he is 10-18, with no TOs, and taking no sacks while beating the most talented defense in the NFC and pre-season divison favorites playing at home. Despite opponents desinging their whole defense to contain him, Vick is doing what it takes to help his team win. I'd much rather have a gamer like that than someone like Culpepper who also is a physical phenom and who puts up gawdy stats but seems to always make the big turnover or lose his patience and focus when the going gets tough and the stakes rise.
Look at the Titans, Eddie George heavy, but McNair learned how to lead the team during those years. They won a ton of games. Everybody doubted McNairs ability to throw the ball. But when his time came. He led the league in qb rating. I see the same exact things happening to Vick that happened to McNair. And while Vick is electrifying on the field, I can guranttee you McNair was every bit as electrifying when he ran for a 60 yarder against the Buccanneers D. We simply have forgotten about it. Because those days are ancient history. Vick is a stud waiting to become a passer. Winning is everything right now. And he's learning how to do it on the fly.
He might be overhyped right now but I think he will live up to the hype. David Carr's career passing stats are worse than Vick's at this point, but people still believe he will become a great passer.
they are? vick has been in the league one season longer than carr, albeit with injuries effectively removing a year. they've both played in 32 NFL games. carr started for an expansion franchise with nothing to work with in year one. was sacked more times than any QB in NFL history. had no running game to support him at all. he's thrown for 700 more yards than vick...his completion percentage is higher...and their TD numbers are nearly identical. carr has thrown more interceptions than vick. vick was brilliant in the playoff game at Lambeau. carr's teams' best season was a 5 win performance. if you're just talking passing....i think carr is the better passer. who will be the better all around QB remains to be seen. carr is certainly mobile, but no where near comparable to vick in that category.
