Should the Falcons sack Jim Mora or cut Michael Vick ?

Question

Mora has been criticized for continuing to play Vick when Vick can't get the job done and Matt Schaub is on the bench.

Answer 1

Vick is so madly overrated it's embarrassing, but it would be a PR nightmare that the Falcons could never dig themselves out of if they benched Vick. Schaub is a better QB, Vick is a better athlete. If they could convince Vick to play slot receiver they would be a better team. Or if they used him more like Reggie Bush. Either way, Vick as a QB is lousy. Mora is a decent coach, but nobody could make the Falcons better as long as Vick is running the offense.

Answer 2

I'm not sure either of them needs to go, but something needs to get shaken up at Falcons headquarters. Do you realize that the best wide receiver that Vick has played with is a toss-up between Peerless Price and Brian Finneran? That's awful. Every year they draft underachievers like Michael Jenkins and Roddy White, or bring in retreads like Ashley Lelie. SportsCenter "Highlights" from a Falcons game this year included a count of dropped passes by wideouts, and while Vick doesn't have Pennington-like accuracy, he throws a lot of balls into the numbers that are just dropped. It's pathetic.

The coaching staff claims that they're running the West Coast Offense, but the next time you watch a Falcons game, count the number of times Vick does a seven or nine step drop following a snap (there are only like eight seven-step-drop plays in the West Coast, and no nines). Vick has been sacked more times this year than David Carr, and when he's dropped, it's just as often a -11 yard sack as it is a -1 yard sack. There's something definitively wrong about the offense, and while Vick might be part of the problem, he's not the sole problem.

Instead of trying to force a system on him, why not build a system around his strengths? The West Coast requires timing and accuracy, and Vick's strengths are his cannon arm and fast feet. The Titans drafted Vince Young, who had been almost exclusively a shotgun quarterback at Texas. When they inserted him into the offense, they started running many of their plays from the shotgun formation, so that he'd be more comfortable. WHAT A NOVEL CONCEPT!

While they're rethinking their offense, it might be nice if they hired someone who could actually manage a successful draft. In 2001, they drafted Vick and Alge Crumpler. Aside from those two, the only Pro-Bowler they've drafted has been DeAngelo Hall, and the best offensive player they've picked is T.J. Duckett, who never was a legitimate full time starter. Here's a list of the wide receivers they've drafted since Vick joined the team: Vinny Sutherland, Quentin McCord, Kahlil Hill, Michael Coleman, Jon Olinger, LaTarence Dunbar, Michael Jenkins, Roddy White, and Adam Jennings. When you draft nine wideouts in six years and none of them even looks like a legitimate #2 receiver, it's pretty clear someone is doing a poor job of evaluating talent.

I know that other quarterbacks have done more with less, and I think Vick's wildly overpaid, but I'm not sure that Matt Schaub is the answer either. He's been mentioned more than once as being the best backup in the league, but I remember hearing the same things about Scott Mitchell and Rob Johnson. There isn't any proof that Schaub would fare any better with the talent around him.

What I'm trying to say is that this team has more problems than just a head coach and a quarterback.

Answer 3

they will not get rid of Vick. Mora will be dropped. Unfortunately, Vick is the future of the team and the future for the falcons is 8-8 and 7-9. Vick lacks all neccesary leadership skills to lead the Falcons any higher. Vick is fast and an athlete but he is not a football player. He cant throw so QB is out and he would get hurt at HB before before the second play. And I think we all know he has a bad case of fumbletitus, too. I feel bad for the Falcons and especially for Shaub.

Answer 4

The problem is that Vick has to much of a salary cap. And that would reflect on the salary cap for the 2007 season. If I were the owner of the Falcons. I'd try to trade Vick and get whatever I could. And have Schaub as the starting qb. Than try to rebuild some of the receivers.

Answer 5

What do you want a coach or a player? The other one you have to basically get rid of. Mora shouldn't hear it anymore about Vick if he is STUCK with having him play. Yeah I think that is the TEAM and FRONT OFFICE, not him. Maybe it is him and in that case keep both or drop both. I always say get rid of the player though. Vick isn't that great. As to proof to lose the player, look at Moss. He got a few coaches fired and when they got rid of him he wasn't that great anymore. Yeah the QB-WR combination worked great BUT why put up with having everything his way. Why tell the coach you are only here if our player wants you here?

Answer 6

I don't think they should do either. And in fact there is no way they will cut Vick. Might try to trade him. And Mora will likely be sacked. Schaub should definitely get a chance to play though. He's been effective when given the chance due to injury and in the preseason.

Answer 7

And in simple terms think of three weeks in the past there grow to be all the hype appropriate to the NFL communities could be shaking of their boots simply by fact Vick is now throwing the ball with success. lots for that. yet why bench Vick. the topics with the Falcons runs deeper than the quarterback. i think of Mora could revamp his game plan to account for detrimental offensive line play.

Answer 8

There's too much money invested in Michael Vick to just get rid of him. I'm sure he's tradable but that's not going to be easy. I say get rid of Jim Mora, Jr. They've underachieved under him.

Answer 9

Mora should go he coached the team to a really bad loss to the Lions. That should get anyone fired :D

Answer 10

the answer is yes...fire mike vick..keep jim mora.Give mora one more year without vick..see what he can do with matt shabb...Vick is a coach killer....here is why..He is a great runner...not a great..or even good QB..u say..well he ran for 1000 yards this year..yes..a great runner...thats it ..not a good leader of men on this team..He has no touch on the ball..yes his receivers drop balls..but he blames his coaches this week for all to blame..mike its time for u to go...

Todd from Atlanta