Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick celebrated his 31st birthday on June 26 and his offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg gave him a surprising, but realistic compliment. Recently, the former NFL head coach told the Philadelphia Daily News: “Mike’s got a long way to go, but, you know what? I think he can be better than Steve.” The perception of this comment in the eyes of many football fans is that it’s a joke because this bold prediction seems to be impossible.
However, is Mornhinweg’s comment laughable because of Vick’s style of play and his past trouble with the law (many in society, mainly outside of Philly, have not and will not forgive him)? Is it because of who the person of Mornhinweg is? Or is it because Young was so great that Vick could never achieve the Hall of Famer’s success?
According to circumstances and numbers, Mornhinweg’s comment is not far-fetched.
“Here is the situation Mike is in,” said Mornhinweg. “He’s got uncommon athleticism, so he can get away, on occasion, back-dooring it. There’s that fine line when you need to throw it away or get it out to a hot receiver or use that athleticism to make that great play.”
Mornhinweg is an established, well-respected coach in the NFL community for his ability to develop talent, especially quarterbacks. Through his tutelage, future Hall of Fame quarterbacks Brett Favre and Donovan McNabb were able to lead their teams to a Super Bowl (Favre went twice and won it all in 1996). However, someone’s last impression is usually the most critical and Mornhinweg’s first shot as the head man on the sideline was a dumper fire which continues to smell and burn in Detroit.
In two seasons as the Lions head coach, Mornhinweg led them to a 5-27 record. When he is mentioned, his outing with the Lions is the first thing that comes to mind. He is not remembered for standing in to help develop Favre and McNabb or for his ability to rejuvenate Young’s career when many critics believed the quarterback was washed up. In Mornhinweg’s first season with the San Francisco 49ers in 1997, he helped Young finish his final two years as a Pro Bowl quarterback.
If there’s anyone who can speak on a quarterback’s potential and ability, it is Mornhinweg. His words should be heard loud and clear and be taken seriously.
“Absolutely,” said Mornhinweg, discussing the potential greatness of Vick. “Here was a man who hasn’t played for a couple of years. However, if he did it the right way, I thought he could be a Steve Young-type player.”
Young is one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. He was the first left-handed signal-caller to be elected to the Hall of Fame and the third all-time in NFL history for his passer rating of 96.8. With his six passing titles and as a three-time Super Bowl champion, he capped with a record-setting six touchdown passing performance in 1995 during Super Bowl XXIX.
To top off Young’s remarkable NFL career with many NFL records including 43 rushing touchdowns – the most for a quarterback, his number 8 jersey was retired in 2008.
So how can Vick compete against that?
Both players are very similar in terms of their scrambling and playmaking ability. Young’s numbers are impressive. The former player started to compile his Hall of Fame numbers when he turned 30, the same age as Vick now and the latter is not far off from Young in his numbers.
Young’s first seven years as a professional quarterback were garage seasons as he played for the Los Angeles Express of the USFL (where he received some success before the league ceased operations in 1986) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (where he struggled mightily).
Eventually Young, currently a NFL analyst for ESPN, journeyed to the 49ers where his life and career changed as he learned from the best in Hall of Fame head coach Bill Walsh. He also watched (to be nice) Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and played with a load of talent around him.
It’s not Young’s fault that there were no salary cap issues and that he was surrounded by first class talent. Those factors contributed to Young’s numbers and masterful NFL career.
“Marty got to see Young grow into an elite quarterback,” said legendary Green Bay Packers’ Hall of Famer wide receiver Antonio Freeman via text, who also benefited from Mornhinweg’s tutelage. “A lot of what Young could do is run and he had to evolve into a complete quarterback with guidance from experts of the West Coast like Holmgren and Walsh; all while Mornhinweg was an assistant working his way up the ladder.
“He (Mornhinweg) obviously sees that Vick has that same stunning potential under the guidance of he and coach (Andy) Reid,” he continued. “You see what Reid did for Donovan’s career in Philly. Vick has the potential to for 4,000 yards and rushing for another 650. Those are Steve Young-type numbers and Vick can certainly flirt with [them].”
From the first time Vick stepped on a NFL field, he has been electric and breath-taking. Countless highlights of his play will last as long as football in played in America. Unfortunately, there are things that haunt Vick in the general public’s eye that many in society will hold over his head. There are some who do not want to see him succeed.
Vick spend six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and led them to a NFC Championship game but he is knocked as a running quarterback, relying on his legs rather than his arm. During Vick’s stint with the Falcons, he had talent around him, just not at the level that Young did. Although tight end Alge Crumpler was his favorite talent, other teammates Peerless Price, Dez White, Michael Jenkins, and a young Roddy White did not quite fit the bill.
Atlanta was more highly respected as a running team than a passing squad with the likes of Vick and running back T.J. Duckett and Warren Dunn on the team. Jim Mora, Jr. was Vick’s young head coach and his system could not compare to the legendary West Coast offense of Walsh, in which Young exceled.
Unfortunately, due to Vick’s conviction of having a dogfighting ring, which caused him to serve close to two years in federal prison in 2007 and 2008, many in society cannot get past his crimes and will forever bet against him.
So comparing him to Young is laughable to many in society – but don’t laugh yet.
Comparing Young’s and Vick’s first seasons as starters (where their careers took turns for the better), Vick had a much better year.
In 1991 when Young took over, he finished that season with 2,517 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 101.8 passer rating while missing five games. Last season as a starter for the Eagles, Vick (30 at the time) finished with 3,018 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 100.2 passing rating while missing four games.
Like it or not, Vick is right there with Young at the same point in the Hall of Famer’s career.
“I have the utmost respect for Steve Young and his body of work and he’s one of the best QBs to play the game, hands down,” said former NFL safety Keion Carpenter, who played for the Buffalo Bills and the Falcons and is a close friend and mentor of Vick, via text. “I think Mike has a long career ahead of him and more work to do and; given his continued improvements, I think he has a real good chance to be as good as Steve or even better.
“Some championships for Mike would definitely help, but if I had to put my money on any player being close to Steve, via the same style of quarterback, then I’m riding with my boy, number 7, 100 percent hands down.”
Vick finally has a great staff to provide him with the instruction to lead and he has the right talent around him to execute effectively.
Young finished with 33,124 passing yards. Vick currently has 14, 609 under his belt. With 4,640 rushing yards, Vick has surpassed Young’s total, who finished with 4,239. Vick may not eclipse Young’s passer rating of 96.8 and probably will not win as many Super Bowls. But with one championship win, if he averages at least 3,000 yards per season for the next seven years, number 7 will have more passing yards and Mornhinweg’s word will have been prophetic.