Going into this year, there was so much to be excited about. AP was back and ready to rumble. Teddy was fresh off a respectable rookie year and ready to make the next step. Matt Kalil was healthy and ready to improve. The defense added a few more pieces, young and old, and was ready to knock down a top 10 ranking. Mike Zimmer was feeling ever more comfortable and confident and was ready to be a big-time coach of a big-time team. And offensive guru Norv Turner had a year under his belt and was ready to knock the socks off of all of us fans and take us back to 1998 or 2010, possibly.
Fan fanaticism was at an all-time high in late August. All the pieces to the puzzle had been assembled.
But guess what, folks? Despite being 3-2 and taking Denver to a last possession in Denver, my expectations for this team have taken a dive – in particular, on the offensive side of the ball.
All the so-called experts and geniuses and long-time prognosticators out there will tell you that it’s the offensive line’s ineptness or it’s the kicker or it’s this or that and the other.
Sure, it might be all of the above, but let’s look at the stats. This Vikings offense is ranked last and has been for the entire 6 weeks of the regular season. Sixteen points against a Chiefs defense that was giving up 28 per game? That’s below average in my book. I don’t buy that it’s all the offensive line’s fault or it’s the kicker or it’s Kyle Rudolph or it’s play calling, etc.
Do you ever hear Aaron Rodgers complaining about his offensive line? Is the Packers offensive line that much better than the Vikings? Eddie Lacy is having a year not to remember – especially in fantasy football leagues – and I’m guessing some of that is probably being attributed to the fact the Packers can’t create holes large enough for Lacy to get through (side note: I think he needs to shed a few pounds during the bye week).
Let’s look at the season so far. Rodgers is playing with less than a full deck at wide receiver and for all we know, less than a full deck on the offensive line. I doubt we will find any Pro Bowlers on either the Vikes or Packers offensive lines this year.
Yet, Rodgers is having arguably an MVP year, along with Tom Brady and Cam Newton. His footwork in the pocket is amazing. He keeps his head up and can deliver a pass on a dime with tremendous velocity in traffic. He makes average wide receivers look like Pro Bowlers (see Greg Jennings). He is the reason the Packers are undefeated. And he is the reason the Packers are a favorite to at least make and possibly win the Super Bowl.
On the flip side, we have Teddy Bridgewater. I’ve always liked him. He is a great guy. Never hear anything about him in terms of personal issues or complaining about the team. Wonderful community person and super teammate. He is what you look for in a role model. A super competitor and wants to do the right thing on and off the field. I love his drop back from center and how he can survey the field quickly. Calm demeanor as well.
But, despite all of these accolades and more that I’m sure could be true of him, but were not mentioned, I’m not sold on Teddy being the guy that can get the Vikes to the next level. And come on, folks, let’s not kid ourselves. The next level is not the playoffs and it’s not the NFC championship game. We’ve been there, done that. It’s the Super Bowl and a ring. Much like I don’t believe Ricky Rubio at his point guard position can get the T-Wolves to a championship level, I’m questioning whether Teddy can be our guy.
This is not a popular sentiment with the purple faithful. It’s a little bit like talking badly about Joe Mauer with Twins faithful. You don’t go there, right? Is it reality? Do we need to give Teddy a few more years to make this sentiment go away?
We know his strengths. The Vikings know his strengths. But one of his big weaknesses, I think, from a fan’s perspective, is the velocity he can generate with tight-window throws. I think it gets him in trouble when he is not properly set – and perhaps that has happened all too often with our weak offensive line. If he doesn’t have those throws now – like Rodgers and Brady have them – then I don’t ever see him establishing those throws in the future. His arm is probably as strong now as it will be in the future.
And I believe this, more than anything, will hold the Vikings back from ever being a top-ranked offense – no matter how many top-flight play makers they put on the field.
Sure, Montana never had a rocket. Neither did Tarkenton or Phil Simms. The key the rest of this season will be how the Vikes can find a way to take advantage of Teddy’s many strengths and not expose his weaknesses. But if those one or two weaknesses become too much of a hill to climb in terms of reflecting the team’s overall success, then the Vikings will have a lot more to consider moving forward.
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