Michael Vick vs. Kevin Kolb: Who should start for Philadelphia?
Michael Vick has been named starting QB for the Eagles this Sunday against the Jaguars. But if Kevin Kolb is healthy, should he get the nod over Michael Vick? Let's check the numbers.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick runs with the ball against the Detroit Lions during the first half of their NFL home opening football game in Detroit, Michigan, September 19.
Rebecca Cook/Reuters
Eagles head coach Andy Reid announced Tuesday that Michael Vick will be Philly's starting quarterback this Sunday against Jacksonville. Game 1 starter Kevin Kolb, who suffered a head injury in the loss to Green Bay, has recovered and is expected back at practice Wednesday.
This begs the age-old sports question: should a starter regain his job after returning from injury or do you go with the back-up who's producing on the field? At his press conference Tuesday, Reid made a point of saying what a bright future Kolb has.
But, based on the numbers, Reid has made the right choice.
Kolb, drafted out of the University of Houston in 2007, has thrown for just over 909 yards in 13 career NFL regular season games. Vick, in 88 games, has thrown for over 10 thousand yards. His best season was 2002, when Vick threw for almost three thousand yards with 16 TDs and only 8 interceptions.
Of course, Vick's running ability is well-documented. He has rushed for over four thousand yards in his career. Some of the 37 yards Vick gained last week against the Lions helped keep him upright while his offensive line was having problems picking up Detroit defenders. Kolb, on the other hand, couldn't outrun Packer linebacker Clay Matthews in Week 1, leading to his injury.
In the end, Reid made the choice of Vick based on performance: past, present, and hopefully for the Eagles, future.