WHAT HAPPENS IF VICK GOES DOWN?

The title says it all. The Eagles will have a major question mark should Pro Bowl Quarterback Michael Vick sustain an injury that causes him to miss much time. Waiting in the wings is another former Pro Bowl performer in Vince Young. Recent NFL history (including the story of the 2010 Eagles) has shown that quality at the #2 spot on the QB depth chart can be a key to success.

Let’s take a look at some of Vince Young’s plusses and minuses:

VINCE YOUNG’S POSITIVES

Experience – Vince Young has over 8,000 yards passing and 50+ games played in his 5-year NFL career. That extensive time on the field is not a given for most NFL teams’ backup QB. Game experience is a teacher unlike any other for a Quarterback, so Young enjoys the advantage of having seen most, if not all, game condition experiences in the NFL.

Success – Young has engineered 11 come from behind victories since 2006, and won nearly two-thirds of his starts as a Titan. Again, this is a positive in Young’s resume that is not commonplace for a second string NFL Quarterback.

VINCE YOUNG’S NEGATIVES

Commitment – Young’s departure from Tennessee was not tied solely to any isolated incident. His willingness to be a team player, coupled with his decisions, at times, to either physically remove himself from his team or to demonstrate insubordination, paint a picture of a an individual with a me-first agenda. Most NFL Quarterbacks have encountered unfairness at some point in their Quarterbacking lives, and their reaction to those circumstances usually speaks volumes about their ability to lead and to be counted on.

Passing Workload – The Titans enjoyed an offensive resurgence over the last few seasons, largely in part to the emergence of Chris Johnson as an elite running back. At the same time, and as a direct result of Johnson’s productivity, the need for Young to throw the ball dropped by nearly 25% during his last two seasons (’09 and ’10) in Tennessee.  During Young’s two previous full seasons with the Titans (’06 and ’07), the Titans’ need for more pass attempts resulted in below average statistical performances by Young. That said, Young’s 19+ pass attempts/game over the last two seasons contrasts sharply with Michael Vick’s 2010 average of 31 pass attempts per game – while completing 62% of his passes.

OVERVIEW

From the Eagles’ perspective, the best scenario would have been to retain Kevin Kolb for 2011, but the value presented by the trade with Arizona proved too great to pass up. Having made that deal, the Eagles needed to modify the profile of the backup Quarterback they would carry on their roster – from a likely QB of the future, to a veteran with some baggage. Vince Young’s potential to provide spot relief for Michael Vick for limited amounts of time makes him a desirable #2. However, Young in the role as the Eagles’ starter for any extended period is a serious gamble.