Eagles Notes: Vick shines in sole series

Michael Vick wont forget the time he didnt want to play in a preseason game against the Ravens.

I learned a lesson back in 2003never go into a preseason game not wanting to play, Vick said after the Eagles 13-6 preseason win over Baltimore. I did that and I broke my leg, and I learned from that experience. It just happened to be against Baltimore. Tonight I was prepared to go out and give it everything that I had. Play smart. Take care of the football and try to get the ball into the end zone, and I was able to do that.

Minicamps?

OTAs?

Two weeks of training camp appears to be plenty for Vick, who played one series and looked every bit as sharp as he did during last season's tour de force. He completed four of six passes for 74 yards and engineered the game's only touchdown drive.

It actually felt like the game slowed down a little bit, which is crazy, but maybe were just playing faster, which is great, Vick said. Just practicing against our defense has made us better in so many different ways.

Vick zinged a pair of passes through the Ravens defense to Jason Avant and Chad Hall for 29 yards. For his third completion, he rolled left and spun a spiral to Riley Cooper, who made a nice leaping catch for 42 yards before being yanked down by Ed Reed.

He rolled out, the corner kind of bit, I just ran and Mike put it where it needed to be, Cooper said. It was nothing special.

Then Vick finished off the series by squeezing in a three-yard dart to tight end Brent Celek for the touchdown.

I think this season is going to be a great year for Brent, Vick said. Weve been connecting a lot over the last couple of weeks. I just told him he needs to trust me and Im going to get the ball to him. Just get open and Ill find you.

Vick had neither DeSean Jackson (has yet to practice at camp) nor Jeremy Maclin (illness) to throw to, but even when he does, hes going to make a concerted effort to find Celek, who is looking to rebound from a pedestrian season.

The majority of the time last year, he was wide open, Vick said. I just failed to get the ball to himjust focusing in on DeSean and Jeremy. I went back on some of my Atlanta film and how I used Alge Crumpler. Were going to get Brent involved this yearI think he deserves that.

After making 76 receptions for 971 yards and eight scores two seasons ago, Celek's production (42 for 511 and four) was nearly cut in half last season.

"If Mike feels that way, that's great," Celek said. "But I'll tell you this: I feel better this year than I did last year, and I'm going to get open for him this year."

Vick misfired on only two passes. The first was knocked down at the line by Haloti Ngata. The second was caught in the end zone by Avant, who couldnt gain possession before being ruled out of bounds. A thirda drop by Celekwas erased by penalty.
The backup
Head coach Andy Reid wasnt sure if Vince Young should play.

Weve thrown a lot at himits like learning French in four days, Reid said.

I was a little hesitant to put him in, in the situation he had without the practice, but he wanted to get in there. He did a nice job.

Young talked him out of it.

I was like nah, because we gotta play, Young said. I felt pretty good. I just wanted to get out there and see how I did calling plays and things like that, so I give him respect for giving me the chance to see how I feel.

Looks like Young feels pretty good. Outplayed by Mike Kafka at camp so far, Young showed flashes of the skills that earned him two Pro Bowl selections. He completed three of five passes for 45 yards32 coming on a toss to Chad Hall in which Young eluded a pair of tackles.

Once the lights go on, its a totally different feel out there, Vick said. Things have been slow, but you have to understand hes new to the system, and this offense is very sophisticated.In the grand scheme of things he did well.

Hall had a nice game, finishing with five receptions for 82 yards, both game-highs.

Missing in the middle
Rookie Casey Matthews had a quietalbeit briefperformance. The Eagles starting middle linebacker played only two series and didnt receive credit for a tackle.

I felt pretty goodobviously I didnt get that many repsI think it was eight or ninebut I did my job and felt good out there. I only think I touched the ground once, said Matthews, who wished hed played more.

After two series and they say youre done, its obviously pretty tough, especially in your first NFL game. Its preseason, but its still a game. It was tough to get in a rhythm.

Once they took me out, I was a little bummed, but theres a lot of guys who need to get reps, and thats what its all about.
The Hen(e)rys
For all of their star-studded additions, the Eagles are depending on a pair of rookies in kicker Alex Henery and punter Chas Henry.

So far, so good.

Henery hit both of his field goal attempts, from 35 and 24 yards, respectively.

I snuck it in, Henery said of the former. It was good to just get started off on right foot. I was happy with how it went today.

Henrys first three punts went for touchbacks.

He pouched his first punt 38 yards, but it bounced inside the 10 and took a funky hop away from Curtis Marsh and Rod Harper, who couldnt save it from wobbling into the end zone.

It was close, Henry said. We thought we had it set up pretty goodan unfortunate bounce.

Henrys second punt was prettyit soared 52 yardsbut bounced a yard inside the end zone. His third sailed 54 yards and bounced on the goal line. He ended on a sour note, booting just a 28-yarder from the Eagles' 24.

The last one I didnt feel very good about, but I thought I played OK, Henry said.

E-mail Andy Schwartz at aschwartz@comcastsportsnet.com.