With Michael Vick officially out for the Eagles matchup with the NFC East-leading Giants on Sunday, their fading hopes for this season ride on the shoulders of backup quarterback Vince Young, who gets his first start as an Eagle. It’s the last chance for the Eagles, who are tied for last place in the NFC East at 3-6 and probably have to win the rest of their games to make the playoffs.
Young’s story mirrors the 2011 Eagles – both are loaded with talent and both are looking for a chance at redemption. And if Young can lead them to a win this week, he helps both of them get one step closer to that goal.
“It’s not about me. It’s all about going out there and playing a game,” said Young. “I’m always staying ready. That’s one of the reasons they brought me here, to be ready to come in and lead the guys and keep the same tempo that Mike Vick had. Overall, I feel pretty good.
“But like I said, it’s not about me. I just want to go out and lead the guys to a victory.”
But that may be easier said than done. He takes the helm of a team with as much talent as any team in the league, but who have failed to deliver on the promise of that talent. They added significant free agent signings to last year’s 10-6 team, and their stated goal was nothing short of a Super Bowl.
Instead of a Super Bowl, they are quickly looking at losing any shot at the playoffs. The Eagles lost their last two games, and 6 of their last 8. In 5 of their 6 losses this season, they had the lead in the fourth quarter but couldn’t hold on to it.
Their first meeting with the Giants in week 3 was emblematic of the problems they have had this season. They took a 16-14 lead into the fourth quarter, and ended up losing that game 29-16 after two Eli Manning touchdown passes in the fourth.
Like the Eagles season, Young’s career took a couple of disappointing turns along the way. He came out of college loaded with talent, and was the third pick overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. He started his rookie season, and went 8-5 as a starter with a team that had gone 4-12 the prior year. He also notched 4 fourth quarter comebacks in his rookie year. He was named to the Pro Bowl and was the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. His numbers weren’t exceptional – he had the 30th best QB rating for the season – but he did just win.
The Titans were 8-8 in his rookie year, and 10-6 in his second season, but during his first two years, his relationship with Titans head coach Jeff Fisher was strained. In his third year, he suffered a knee injury that cost him a few games and Fisher announced that he was sticking with Kerry Collins for the remainder of the season.
Young re-earned his job in 2009, at the urging of Titans owner Bud Adams following a disappointing start by Collins. The Titans started 0-6 under Collins, but then went 8-2 with Young as the starter. He earned NFL Comeback Player of the Year (an honor which Michael Vick earned last season), and his second Pro Bowl appearance.
He was released after the 2010 season, as his relationship with the coaching staff and management continued to deteriorate. During his five years in Tennessee, he had a disappointing passer rating of 75.4, but he compiled a record of 30-17 as a starter. The Titans were 15-18 during that span in games he didn’t start.
But despite his excellent winning percentage, there were no offers for a good starting QB job through free agency, and Young signed a 1-year contract with the Eagles to back up Vick. Now that he’s starting this week, he is hoping for a chance to show that he still has that knack for winning games. And he seems to have a good relationship with head coach Andy Reid.
“He’s worked very hard at learning the offense,” said Reid. “He spent a lot of time with [Quarterbacks Coach] Doug [Pederson] and [Offensive Coordinator] Marty [Mornhinweg]. They’ve done a good job with him, teaching him the offense. Most of all he’s been willing to spend the time. So, he gets in here early, leaves late, and comes back after dinner and hits it a little longer, so he’s doing some good things.”
And he’s got some very talented pieces around him, as the Eagles are first in the league in running the ball averaging 171 yards per game. While Vick accounted for 535 of those yards, they are led by LeSean McCoy, who has 906 yards rushing this season, averaging over 100 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry. And even with Jeremy Maclin out for the game, they still have DeSean Jackson and Jason Avant at receiver and tight end Brent Celek.
And although their defense has struggled at times, particularly in the fourth quarter, they are loaded with talent and 12th in the league overall in total defense.
The individual pieces are there, but the Eagles need a rallying point and need to play four strong quarters. Perhaps Young can provide that for them, as he did for the Titans.
“I’m excited to get out and play and help the team,” said Young. “That’s what it’s about. We need the win. It’s about the team.”
