1978 Philadelphia Eagles - Mike Michel

[MAZ1963]

Was doing some research on the 1978 NFL Season and specifically the Eagles and saw that they did not attempt a field goal over the last four of the season after Mike-Mayer got hurt. Vermeil chose to go with Mike Michel as punter/place kicker and while he attempted extra points (not very well mind you) he did not attempt a field goal until the last play of the playoff game with the Falcons which he of course missed. Vermeil absolved him of blame saying they were asking him to do something outside his skill set. Anyway, I was wondering what the Eagles did when they got into "normal" field goal range over those last four games? did they punt? go for it? etc...what was Vermeil's rationale for not signing a legitimate kicker?

MZ

[Rupert Patrick]

I reviewed the game book from the week 15 game against Dallas (12/10), and the Eagles were only within field goal range in a fourth down situation one time the whole game. They had a fourth-and-10 at the Dallas 31 with less than two minutes to play in the game and Dallas was leading 31-13 so I can understand not going for a FG in that situation. They went for it and Jaworski was sacked.

[BD Sullivan]

In Week 14, Michel's low XP attempt was blocked by the Vikings' Randy Holloway, with the Eagles leading 27-14. That ended up being the difference in the 28-27 loss. In the playoff loss, another miss, coupled with a late collapse ended up being the difference.

Michel was a punter by trade and had booted a pair of long FG's during 1977 PRESEASON for the Dolphins. Vermeil was quoted late in the season as saying: "He's the best I've got. I can't pull in some guy from the streets." One Philly paper speculated that Vermeil liked the fact that Michel had played safety in college and was arrogant enough to think that Michel's athleticism could get him through the year--even though the Vikings loss should have been a tip-off.

Not surprisingly, Tony Franklin was drafted four months later.

[MAZ1963]

Thanks Guys, appreciate the feedback.

Once the Gamebooks become available again I will download the 78 Eagles and look at the last four games. Regarding the Dallas game, completely forgot the Cowboys have the gamebooks available on their site...thanks for the reminder.

MZ

[Rupert Patrick]

Thanks Guys, appreciate the feedback.

Once the Gamebooks become available again I will download the 78 Eagles and look at the last four games. Regarding the Dallas game, completely forgot the Cowboys have the gamebooks available on their site...thanks for the reminder.

MZ

Game 15 against Dallas is the only game book currently available as far as I know.

[Jay Z]

I have the gamebooks from those 4 games.

There were not that many opportunities. The two best were in the Giants game to end the season. There was 4th down where the Eagles turned down a 50 yard field goal attempt to punt. Near the end of the game, with a little more than 2 minutes to go, the Eagles had 4th and goal at the 1. Jaworski ran for a TD, but there was a holding penalty. So it was 4th and goal at the 11. Instead of trying the FG then, the Eagles ran a running play which failed.

At that point the Eagles were already ahead 20-3. Even a successful field goal would not have helped all that much.

[MAZ1963]

Due to the generosity of one member I was able to look through those last four games as well. You are absolutely right, not many opportunities for field goals in those last four games. I didn't even count the 50 yard attempt since few teams even tried those back in 78. So two opportunities in 4 games, the 4th and 11 late vs NYG (you would figure with a 20-3 lead they might actually take a shot at the FG since it didn't matter one way or the other) and the sack of Jaworski late in the game vs Dallas where they probably would have gone for it even with a good kicker. So, alas, nothing definitive.

Appreciate you checking that out and posting it here.

MZ

[Ten Minute Ticker]

How much grief did Vermeil take for this at the time? Seems like a textbook case of neglect of a key position. Not to mention expecting Michel to do a job that wasn't the reason he was on the team to begin with.

I know we weren't very far from kickers playing other positions (or the other way around), but "signing a kicker off the street" seems a better option than depending on someone you know couldn't do the job.

Seems like Michel wasn't great at his day job, though. He only averaged 35.8 yards per punt, which if he had played the whole season, would have rated him in the high 20s in average.

[LeonardRachiele]

More significant than Mike Michel in the 20 to 3 win were three plays. Setting up two touchdowns in the first were two plays, I believe each in excess of 40 yards. A Jaworski to Carmichael pass and a long run from Wilbert Montgomery. In the fourth quarter two sacks from the Eagles put the ball at the Giant six. Frank LeMaster intercepted a pass from Joe Pisarcik and returned it for a touchdown. The Eagles won with their best season in 12 years.

In the Wild Card game, the Eagles had the ball inside the Atlanta Falcons ten with three minutes to go leading 13 to 0. There were two touchdowns and a missed extra point. Mike Hogan fumbled and Steve Barkowski went to work on the Eagles secondary for two touchdowns. In the minimal time left the Eagles did get the ball to the Atlanta 27. Hank Stram erroneously called the field goal good but he spoke too soon.

There is no question that better placekicking would have won the game but too conservative play calling did not help either. With that 13 to 0 lead, the Vermeil seemed to just sit on the lead to avoid mistakes.

[Throwin_Samoan]

Vermeil was quoted late in the season as saying: "He's the best I've got. I can't pull in some guy from the streets."

Of course, what's funny is that today you can literally pull in guys from the streets. There are people who can kick working at Home Depot.

That kick was also Mike Michel's final act as a pro football player. I thought about him on Christmas Eve day, remembering 13-year-old me watching both Wild Card games that day thinking what a great day it was. (Unless you're Mike Michel.)