Stopping The Unstoppable

Sporting News, The, Oct 30, 2000 by Tom Dienhart

Want to know the best way to shut down Michael Vick? We've got plan that makes sense. Making it work is somebody else's problem.

STOP MICHAEL VICK.

It's easy to say, but try doing it. You'll discover it's about as easy as eating soup with a fork. Vick is here, there and everywhere. How to stop him is the greatest mystery in college football.

Vick, Virginia Tech's sophomore quarter-back, hasn't been halted from harassing in his one-plus seasons, though some teams have had success slowing the game's most dangerous weapon. He was 5-for-17 for 61 yards and an interception against Boston College, 9-for-15 for 106 yards against East Carolina and 14-for-28 for 162 yards and two interceptions against Temple.

Last Saturday, Syracuse did the best job of all containing Vick, sacking him eight times and limiting him to 6-of-11 passing for 75 yards and 16 rushes for 9 yards.

But in the end, Vick managed to squirm free and make a play, racing 55 yards for a clinching touchdown late in the game. Mark up another win for the Hokies and Vick. Tech is 18-1 in his starts, with the only loss coming in the national championship game last season against Florida State.

"How do you stop Michael Vick?" says NC State coach Chuck Amato, who game-planned for Vick last season as an assistant at Florida State. "No. 1, put 12 people on the field. And if you can get someone to hit him on the knee early in the game with a baseball bat, then you have a chance.

"Seriously, if you don't have speed, you're in trouble. He is so fast, and we were extremely fast at Florida State. He's especially fast on AstroTurf. I think you have a better chance of playing him on grass. The cuts he makes on turf are unbelievable.

"And put the wishbone in to keep the ball away from him. I don't mean that facetiously. Let your defense sit down. Time of possession is vital. The best defense is a good offense."

Though keeping the ball from Vick is the sure-fire way to stop him, a defense needs a plan when he gets his turn.

TSN is ready to help. We've strapped on our helmets and are armed with our five-point plan, our must-see list of the dos and don'ts of stopping Michael Vick. OK, maybe we had a little help.

First, we chalk-talked with several defensive strategists who have faced Vick, and though they might not have pinned him down, their experience made them valuable consultants. Then, we watched videotape. Hey, it's easier to control and understand the video version of Vick than the real thing. When he's inside a TV set, we can press the pause button on the VCR and slow him down and crack his code.

You're right--we couldn't defend him even in slow motion. But at least we're willing to share our plan.

1 PLAY ZONE

Forget that macho one-on-one stuff. It has little chance of working against an athlete such as Vick. To stop Vick and to beat Virginia Tech, a defense must eliminate the big play. Playing zone is wise because it protects against the deep pass and gives more defenders a chance to make a play if Vick runs.

Make Vick beat you slowly. Make him execute a 10- or 12-play drive to score. Somewhere along the way, he might make a mistake. Or your defense might make a play.

"(A zone is) safer," says Temple defensive coordinator Raymond Monica, whose Owls defense probably did the best job on Vick this season in a 35-13 loss. "I don't know that he struggles reading defenses. But for whatever reason, this year he's not hitting the deep ball on a consistent basis.

"I just think him running the football is the best part of his game. You've got to take him out of his game. He is most dangerous when he drops back and scrambles."

A zone is good also because if a wideout gets behind coverage, help typically will arrive from a safety.

"We didn't play any man against him, and we kept him to a low total," says East Carolina defensive coordinator Tim Rose, whose Pirates lost 45-28 to the Hokies. "(To play man) is an incredible roll of the dice. If you look at the films, when a team gets out of position from playing man instead of sitting in a zone is when the pass beats you deep."

Though a zone allows a defense to limit big pass plays, you take the chance that Vick will dissect the coverage and wideout Andre Davis will make a play.

"If you play zone, you're going to have to drop guys off, and he'll be able to pick you apart," says Akron defensive coordinator Joe Palmisano.

Still, that's a gamble worth taking. Vick's arm is known more for its strength than accuracy. Just remember: Make Vick beat you throwing and not running. That means playing zone.

2 DON'T BLITZ

It's suicide against Vick. Don't give him a chance to make a big play when he drops back or rolls out. Remember, try to be secure and safe when Vick is back to pass. If there is a seam or breakdown, he will find it and exploit it with his feet.

"If you blitz him, he'll burn you if he scrambles because his feet hurt you more than any aspect of his game," Monica says. "Every once in a while, you have to bring pressure to be able to get to him. But you have to be willing to sacrifice a long run if you don't get there.