Hope for Running Quarterbacks in the National Football League

Over the last decade or so, the quarterback position in the National Football League has evolved into a position not only for throwing the football, but also for running it. Arguably the most influential pioneer of running quarterbacks is Michael Vick, who made running his primary directive while quarterback at Virginia Tech. No quarterback has or did run the football quite like Vick, who would take off on captivating runs down the field using his blazing speed and agility to evade tackles.

However the running quarterback has not found much success in the National Football League outside of establishing quarterback rushing records and winning a few games. Not even the great Michael Vick could use his admirable skill set to outrun and juke out professional thugs, such as Ray Lewis, as a means of winning games. The quarterbacks winning the National Football League's greatest prize, the Super Bowl, continue to be quarterbacks who can throw the ball. Trent Dilfer is an exception, but he sure was not a running quarterback. For the most part quarterbacks such as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees win Super Bowls. Or you get ridiculously lucky by heaving the ball in the air like Eli Manning. Nonetheless, none of the aforementioned quarterbacks are known as running quarterbacks.

The defenses in the National Football League consist of the best of the best. These guys will kill you. Despite the lack of success in the National Football League for running quarterbacks, college football remains rife with these clowns. Coaches with running quarterbacks and National Football League teams scouting and contemplating drafting running quarterbacks must begin thinking of ways to make the running quarterback more successful where it counts: in the National Football League. Absorbing National Football League hits over the course of a National Football League season is the job of players who are not the quarterback. However, there may be one method that will revolutionize the National Football League and see running quarterbacks become legitimate threats.

Observational studies of pickup football games (whether tackle, two-hand touch, flag, or any other variation of the game played in the National Football League) have shown that quarterbacks yelling "Michael Vick, Michael Vick!" as they pull the football down to run average a great deal more yards per carry and are far less likely to get injured or suffer a concussion than counterparts who yell something else or remain silent. The theory behind this method is that yelling "Michael Vick, Michael Vick!" as the quarterback goes into a run channels the inner Virginia Tech Michael Vick, thus allowing the quarterback to pull off amazing runs, avoid injury, and even win games.

The "Michael Vick technique" is still in experimental stages, but don't be surprised if this new technique starts showing up in National Football League preseason games. Current National Football League quarterbacks considering implementing the "Michael Vick" technique into their game include Tim Tebow, Colin Kaepernick, Vince Young, and Michael Vick himself.

Michael Vick, Michael Vick!

Of course this technique is only suitable to quarterbacks who run often. Asking a quarterback of Tom Brady's stature to implement this technique would be down right silly, he can already win games and no one should assume that he even knows who Michael Vick is.

Did not call "Michael Vick, Michael Vick!"

Usually rushing is left to the running back, but if that's not working the Michael Vick technique is sure to catch fire sooner or later. Keep an eye out for the Michael Vick technique, and when it comes around watch those running National Football League quarterback's yards per carry go up and injuries go down.