"The numbers don't reflect it, but Michael Vick made more strides as a pocket passer this year than he did during his breakout 2010 season.

Despite the absence of minicamps, some of Vick's most glaring areas of weakness from last year turned into strengths in his first full season as the Eagles' starting quarterback.

Those blitz recognition problems at the end of last season? Go ask Rob and Rex Ryan about them.

His accuracy across the middle? Go ask tight end Brent Celek if that's still an issue.

Command of the huddle and the responsibility to audible? The Eagles have compiled the NFL's third-most offensive yards, and not because Vince Young started three games.

"You've seen how he's grown in this offense and against the blitz," coach Andy Reid said Friday. "I think there's been great improvement this year with changing things and seeing things at the line, making the throws into tight holes, and knowing the receivers better and having time to work with the receivers more than the time he had when he came in last year."

But the lingering issues with Vick are self-preservation — and his apparent distaste for it — and harnessing his gunslinger mentality to avoid the momentum-changing turnovers remain works in progress.

Even behind an improved offensive line, Vick took too many hits and left himself vulnerable to injury at times with his reckless style.

Instead of throwing the ball away or sliding at the end of runs, Vick too often tried to extend plays, which led to an increase in interceptions — from six last year to 13 going into Sunday's season finale against the Redskins — and to another rib injury that sidelined him for three straight games."