Head coach Andy Reid thought that quarterback Michael Vick was pressing during the team's final mini-camp practice on Thursday.
Reid offered some advice in the form of three words - keep it simple.
Vick went back to work and as the team focused on its performance in the red zone. Vick said that the ball did not hit the ground for the remainder of the workout. Vick was truly appreciative of the head coach's words.
"It's the little things and those are the things that I value and I appreciate and I put in my memory bank to continue to do it over and over again," Vick said.
Much has been made about the fact that Vick got to relish in his first set of Organized Team Activities as the starting quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. Vick believes that he accomplished everything that he wanted to over the past month on the field with his teammates. He understands that the buildup to the season is a process and the next step is carrying the momentum of what was successful during the OTAs and taking that to Training Camp next month at Lehigh University.
These offseason workouts have been considered the key to Vick returning to his Pro Bowl form of 2010. Vick was stellar in the final four games of 2011 as the Eagles finished the season with a four-game win streak. The talent and coaching staff was upgraded in the offseason. The key players were taken care of with long-term contracts. Now, it's up to Vick to do his part. And he's confident he will.
"I expect a lot out of myself. I feel like I have pressure on me each and every year I play and every player does to perform well. If you don't, then you've got to figure out what you're not doing right," Vick said. "The thing is to not worry about things that you can't control. We're going to go out and have fun playing football this year. That's what's most important."
Vick has heard that he must stay healthy for the Eagles to win. He has heard that he must drastically change his style of play after missing three games in each of the past two seasons. Vick admits that he's not going to change his style of play. It goes back to the advice Reid gave him in practice.
"It's about discipline and not trying to do too much," Vick said. "If you want to go out and rush for 100 yards then you're going to take a beating."
Prior to Training Camp, Vick is set to marry his longtime fiancée, Kijafa Frink. As he exited the practice field, Vick was jokingly asked about the impact that marriage will have on his play on the field. He responded about the importance of staying strong mentally.
"You've got to stay focused, man," Vick said with a smile. You've got to stay focused in life each and every day."
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