It’s no marvel that journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs re-entered the ambience. Avid gamers are backups for a reason why, and it was once just a subject of time ahead of Dobbs reminded other people why he was once to be had more than one occasions this season. What’s a marvel about this present quandary is after the Vikings used property for the non permanent loaner, trainer Kevin O’Connell is already non-committal after 3 begins.
That most definitely says extra about Minnesota GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah than O’Connell, however let’s stick to the trainer for a tick.
With All-Professional receiver Jordan Jefferson set to go back after the bye week, O’Connell mentioned who begins underneath heart depends upon their skill to maximise Jefferson.
“Justin’s function in our offense, in point of fact from Day 1 since we arrived right here, has all the time been very, very important,” O’Connell mentioned. “Anytime you’ll be able to infuse the most productive receiver in soccer again into your offense, there’s going to be techniques not to best get Justin going and ensure he has a important have an effect on at the soccer sport … [and] the quarterback place completely performs into that.
“We’re going to make certain that whoever is taking part in quarterback is mindful and understands the intent at the back of performs the place both Justin is the principle [target], or primarily based upon protection, primarily based upon the defensive glance, tips on how to briefly and successfully get to the fitting position to head with the soccer. In spite of everything that’s what the NFL passing sport is ready: rhythm, timing, figuring out that the protection can and can take some issues away, however progressing in rhythm.”
Even with context, it’s exhausting to inform what the hell O’Connell is doing. The second one-year head trainer’s follow-up to his inaugural marketing campaign wasn’t going neatly even ahead of Kirk Cousins’ season-ending achilles damage, and now it’s in jeopardy of going off the rails utterly.
Fellow backup QBs Nick Mullens and Jaren Corridor will sign up for Jefferson in coming back from damage after the off week, but there’s no method of figuring out which sign caller can maximize the big name receiver, as a result of nobody’s thrown him a cross. It looks like O’Connell rattled off a host of soccer buzzwords to sound good.
Normally, soundbytes like that precede a shockingly silly choice, so let’s see the way it pans out. You’d assume a trainer would get started the QB who provides them the most productive likelihood to win, and despite the fact that that particular person is probably not what’s very best for Jefferson’s statline, successful is what’s very best for the staff, proper?
Whilst so much has been made (through Jefferson) about his contract extension, would the staff in point of fact contort its means simply to stay him glad going into negotiations? That feels over the top.
The underlying factor in Minnesota is that Adofo-Mensah has been looking to jettison Cousins through attrition since arriving within the Dual Towns. Prior to the 12 months, I wrote that the GM rigged this roster to be utterly depending on Cousins; that’s why he let Dalvin Cook dinner pass and drafted Jordan Addisson. Smartly, the damage to the staff’s beginning QB averted that plan from coming to fruition this season and perhaps set it again indefinitely.
The previous two weeks reminded Skol fanatics that you’ll be able to do so much worse than Captain Kirk, so I’m no longer positive what Adofo-Mansah’s concept procedure was once when he traded for Dobbs. Used to be it to turn critics that Cousins was once retaining again the staff ? Dobbs did lead the Vikes to wins in his first two appearances ahead of imploding in an explosion of turnovers.
Or did the GM assume a playoff run was once nonetheless conceivable even with out Cousins? If that had been true, then why overlook to strengthen, and even care for, the working sport within the offseason? The protection is way progressed over 2022 and evidence that a few of Adofo-Mensah’s strikes labored, however I’m so perplexed through what’s happening in Minnesota.
Taking into consideration the numerous questions waiting for this franchise following the season — that is Cousins final 12 months underneath contract, and I’m no longer positive Jefferson presentations up with no new one — some semblance of a plan could be preferable.
