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He can't start fresh though. The fact is what really needs to happen is he needs a coach to come in and break him down and build him back up again. But he can't go back to being a rookie for 1 or 2 seasons. Again, it's part of all of the "baggage" that surrounds him. He's in an untenable position.
I don't think it's inherently the WCO that's the problem (they don't really borrow anything philosophically from the WCO this year. In fact, they don't seem to have ANY coherent offensive philosophy at all).
I DO think if he grew up within a real system, he would be much more succesful. Instead Dan Reeves, in the twlight of his career, rather then suffering growing pains with Vick having to depress part of his game (running around) in order to develop at a slower pace other parts of his game (distributing the ball, setting things up, etc), he just let Vick run around like he was in college still.
Then Mora came in and didn't have the slightest clue what he was doing (3-4 defense, oops no it's the 4-3. WCO offense, no we'll run the shotgun zone-read option, no maybe we're an I formation team...), it's just a disaster. At this point Vick should be competeing for a Super Bowl, instead he still doesn't have a clear idea what it means to be a QB.
Brees is the best demonstration of this. Look, sometimes, being a QB, it isn't chucking it to Plaxico Burress every play and hoping one of the passes stick or running 20 yards, even if those result in big plays. Sometimes it's getting Terrence Copper involved or checking down to Ernie Conwell, even if you leave potentially bigger gains out on the field on any given play. Because football isn't one play, it isn't even one game, and a QB has to think bigger picture then any other player. (think Steve Nash vs Stephon Maybury) And Vick just doesn't "get it".
I think that much like T.O., there is some baggage there, but not nearly as much as people seem to think. Vick at least is a competitor. He played his butt off yesterday and his team let him down.
As far as the Brees comparison, you're comparing Vick to possibly the smartest QB in football. I have never seen a QB distribute like Brees is doing this year. He is unreal. But there are things that Vick can do that Brees can't. Brees can't make a defense pay for edge rushing too hard by breaking off a 20 yard scramble up the middle. Brees can't roll out on a bootleg and throw a frozen rope 40 yards downfield.
There's more than one way to skin a cat. Had Vick's receivers actually done their job, his total yardage would have been right there with Drew's.
And I totally agree with you regarding his coaching. I just don't think he's too far gone to be a huge success like you do.