I’m giving this week’s poop stamp to Everson Griffen, but damn was this a hard choice.
For the record, here is what Everson Griffen did for the Vikings on Sunday:
– 5 total tackles, 3 of them solo, 2 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, 2 quarterback hits, 1 blocked punt returned for a touchdown
That’s not a bad day of work. Just for a comparison? Jared Allen has 4.5 sacks this year, while Everson has 11. NOT BAD.
Really, his selection here reflects the defense. At this point of the season it’s fair to say the Vikings defense is legit under Mike Zimmer. Aside from Everson Griffen – who has obviously blossomed under Zimmer’s teaching and a starring role – think of all the other guys who have stepped their game up? Anthony Barr, Xavier Rhodes, Harrison Smith, Josh Robinson, Sharrif Floyd, Shamar Stephen … So many people. You think any of those guys would be this good if they were still playing under Leslie Frazier? Of course not. That’s a stupid question. But it just goes to show how fantastic Zimmer and his defense has been.
On the flip side, the offense wasn’t TERRIBLE either. Teddy Bridgewater may have played his best game as a pro, IMHO. 15/21, 138 yards (meh), two touchdowns … Was better than Cam Newton, for starters. He also threw a boner of a pass to Jarius Wright for like 30 yards that gives me lots of hope. His rapport with Greg Jennings on Sunday was also nice to see, finally, after we’ve given Jennings a bunch of money to thus far behave like a second string receiver, like …. Cordarrelle Patterson. Which is a whole separate issue, by the way.
Either way, Sunday was a solid day of football. I still expect the Vikings to be able to finish anywhere between 9-7 and 7-9, all of which I think is a nice improvement for a team that bent over and took a baseball bat last year. With a year under Teddy’s belt, and more Zimmer selected and coached players, 2015 should be pretty DOPE.
PREVIOUS 2014 STAMP WINNERS:
Preseason Game 1: Mushroom Stamp of Approval – LB Gerald Hodges
Preseason Game 2: Mushroom Stamp of Approval – QB Teddy Bridgewater
Preseason Game 3: Mushroom Stamp of Approval – CB Shaun Prater
Preseason Game 4: Mushroom Stamp of Approval – QB Teddy Bridgewater
Week 1: Mushroom Stamp of Approval – CB Josh Robinson
Week 2: Mushroom Stamp of Disapproval – QB Matt Cassel
Week 3: Mushroom Stamp of Disapproval – CB Captain Munnerlyn
Week 4: Mushroom Stamp of Approval – QB Teddy Bridgewater
Week 5: Mushroom Stamp of Disapproval – QB Christian Ponder
Week 6: Mushroom Stamp of Disapproval – Entire OL
Week 7: Mushroom Stamp of Disapproval – LB Chad Greenway
Week 8: Mushroom Stamp of Approval – LB Anthony Barr
Week 9: Mushroom Stamp of Approval – CB Captain Munnerlyn
Week 10: NO ONE GOT ARRESTED!
Week 11: Mushroom Stamp of Disapproval – CB Josh Robinson
Week 12: Mushroom Stamp of Disapproval – LT Matt Kalil
Week 13: Mushroom Stamp of Approval – DE Everson Griffen
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