Mornhinweg, Jets Hoping To See Vick Of Old Against Chiefs
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Marty Mornhinweg has seen it all before from Michael Vick.
The flicks of the wrist that rocket footballs downfield 50-plus yards with ease.
The pretty spirals.
The video game-like elusiveness.
The New York Jets offensive coordinator hopes to see it all again. At least for one more game: Sunday at Kansas City.
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With Geno Smith benched after struggling through a dismal first half of the season, Vick is getting his first start as the Jets' quarterback against the Chiefs.
"I think all of you know what I think about Geno, and I do believe he has a bright future," Mornhinweg said, according to the Jets' official website. "And I think all of you know what I think about Mike Vick as well. That whole quarterback position is important to this organization, it's important to me and it's important to them."
It will be the 34-year-old Vick's first regular-season start in just over a year, when he was still with Philadelphia. It's also the first time Mornhinweg is drawing up a game plan with Vick as his starting quarterback since the end of the 2012 season — when they were both with the Eagles.
"At this time of the season, especially in this situation, there is not too much happiness going on around here," Mornhinweg said, alluding to New York's 1-7 record and seven straight losses. "We are a little hacked off and we are looking forward to getting better every day, and so there you have it. I want all the quarterbacks to play at a high level every play."
Jets coach Rex Ryan said the focus against Kansas City will be on ball security. The free-running Vick committed three turnovers after entering the game Sunday against Buffalo for the demoted Geno Smith, who threw three interceptions.
"That's a concern," said Ryan, who has been putting Vick through drills aimed at keeping the football in his hands. "You're not going to change him. When he's escaping, he just has to sense it. Put two hands on the football. Secure it. That's the kind of thing we teach. But when he's avoiding, but it's easy to understand when you're getting ready to get hit that thing's gotta be tucked. ... He has to be conscious of 'I've gotta get that thing tucked away,' I think the focus really needs to be on it."
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