Sunday, November 26, 2006

Saints v. Falcons

Late in the first half, Michael Vick took a sack on 3rd and goal from the 3. This dropped the Falcons back a few yards and they brought on the kicking unit for an easy FG, cutting the lead from 14-3 to 14-6. Former Dallas Cowboys FB Darryl "Moose" Johnston had this to say about Vick:
That's the second week in a row I've seen Michael Vick make a poor decision in a situation like this. Last week against Baltimore, he took a sack that took 'em out of FG range. Right now you have to know you're really, pretty much in four down territory. If you have a positive play that doesn't make it to the end zone, Jim Mora's gonna give you another shot. The last thing you can do in that situation was to take the sack.
This sack didn't take the Falcons out of Morten Andersen's FG range. They put three more points on the board. That's not the point I'm out to make, though.

Vick didn't make a poor decision. He didn't have anyone open. Thus, there wasn't really a chance for a positive play that didn't make it in the end zone. When you call a pass play on 3rd and goal from the 3, you're pretty much saying I want a TD on this play and if I don't get it, I'll take the FG. You aren't planning on having a positive play that doesn't result in a TD. Vick had no where to go with the ball, so his options were limited to forcing a throw or to trying to evade the rush and scramble for a TD. I think he made a good decision not trying to force a throw. The Saints made a good defensive play and forced an Atlanta FG.

The blame shouldn't be on Vick for this play. Either don't blame anyone or focus on the play calling that confined Vick to the pocket down near the goal line and called for him to drop back in the first place. Personally, I'm not going to place blame on anyone. The play just didn't happen to work. It happens in football sometimes. Vick actually made a mature decision to not try to do too much and make a bad mistake. If they had been on the edge of FG range, Vick would be at fault for taking the sack. In this case, it's not a big deal.

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