Arizona Cardinals aim to slow Michael Vick again

With Ben Roethlisberger under center, the Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the best offenses in the NFL.

The same cannot be said for them when Michael Vick is the quarterback.

“Obviously Michael is special running around with the ball, can still do it, can still put his foot in the ground and run, can create with his feet; you see that with the Wildcat stuff they’re doing, splitting him out,” Cardinals defensive coordinator James Bettcher said. “And Ben is so smart, you see him checking and putting them in the very best possible play on every down.

“He uses that shot clock all the way down to the very last second offensively to try and steal a down on them. So there’s certainly some differences, but we know at the end of the day we know the number one thing, we’ve got to stop the run this week.”

It’s true that the Cardinals will probably devote much of their attention to stopping running back Le’Veon Bell. The third-year pro was suspended the first two games of the season, but in the last three has run for 302 yards and three touchdowns on 62 carries. He’s also an excellent receiver out of the backfield, with 18 catches for 107 yards this season.

But part of what makes Bell so dangerous is the threat of the passing attack which, without Roethlisberger, has been mostly non-existent. In two starts this season, Vick has thrown for 327 yards with two touchdowns and one interception as the Steelers’ offense has mustered four touchdowns. The Steelers’ most dynamic receiver, Antonio Brown, has been held to 87 yards on eight catches in those games.

“I think everything takes time. I’m comfortable with him. I just think he’s got to be comfortable with just making plays,” Brown said of the comfort level with Vick at QB. “I think he’s doing everything he can just to make sure he doesn’t mess up and just to make sure to put us in a position to win. As time keeps going on, I think he’s going to eventually take some shots and take some chances.”

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, when asked how much the team has had to scale back its offense for Vick, said the playbook has grown every day the veteran has been involved. There should be more in it this week than last week, and would be more next week than this week. He does think the quarterback, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, is improving.

“Just in his overall command of what it is we’re doing,” Tomlin said. “Also in that process is us bringing some of the things that we do to his skill set. I just think that from a continuity standpoint, there’s been improved communication and understanding over that time period and I think that it’s going to continue to manifest itself in how we play on the field.”

Maybe, though if Vick’s track record against Arizona is any indication, Sunday is not likely to be one of his finest outings.

In four games against Arizona — 2004, 2006, 2011 and 2012 — Vick has completed just 49.6 percent of his passes for 613 yards with four interceptions and zero touchdowns. What damage he’s done has come on the ground, with 263 yards on 31 carries.

Given how much has changed over time for both Vick and the Cardinals, it’s not unreasonable to think that his previous efforts against the team hold no bearing on what will happen Sunday. Just because he has struggled in the past — including completing a woeful 17-of-37 passes for 217 yards while being sacked five times in ’12 — does not mean he will now, and Arizona knows Vick is someone who can burn you if you’re not careful.

Monday night in a win over the San Diego Chargers, Vick struggled for much of the game before finding Markus Wheaton for a 72-yard touchdown to tie the game and then picked up 24 yards on a run during the game-winning drive.

“They’re able to not have handcuffs on Ben, as far as play-calling, versus with Michael Vick; you can tell that the offense has changed with Michael Vick under center,” Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson said. “But at the same time, Michael Vick can still get the job done so we have to make sure that we account for his legs.”

Peterson noted how Vick hasn’t been running as much as they thought he would, but that does not mean he can’t beat them with the ball in his hands “because he is one of the dangerous quarterbacks in the league when he’s outside of the pocket.”

“And he has one of the strongest arms around the league, still, so we have to make sure that we keep everything in front of us and hopefully force him into making throws that he’s not comfortable with.”

Some stories for pre-game reading

It’s true, the Arizona Cardinals have a good running game.

John Gambadoro writes on how the signing of Chris Johnson is proving to be a big steal.

Veteran DL Cory Redding talks about how the goal is to have the Cardinals play their best football in January and February.

Linebacker Kevin Minter is appreciative of adversity as well as assistant coach Larry Foote.

Newly-signed pass rusher Dwight Freeney is ready to help the Cardinals however he can.

ESPN’s Mike Sando says left tackle Jared Veldheer is the Cardinals’ most important non-QB player.

Bruce Arians downplayed facing the organization that “re-fired” him, though his players know how important this game is.

Ghosts at The Greenbrier? Some Cardinals are believers.

Miscellany 

-The Cardinals have started a season 5-1 12 times in franchise history, but have not done so in back-to-back seasons since 1947-48. With a win Sunday, they would accomplish the feat this year.

-The Cardinals are a perfect 22-for-22 in red zone possessions, coming up with 17 touchdowns and five field goals.

-QB Carson Palmer is one touchdown pass away from establishing a franchise record for TD tosses in the first six games of a season.

-The Cardinals have never won a game in Heinz Field, though to be fair they’ve only played one game there (2003).

-Calais Campbell is two sacks away from passing Eric Swann (45.5) for fifth place in the Cardinals’ all-time sacks list.

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