Bye Week Musings

[PurplePorsche]

A few juicy topics for our beloved Vikings as they return to US soil for some much-needed rest and healing.

State of the Offense

• Health issues aside, the offense came out of the gate looking discombobulated with JJ at QB.  I feel like most every NFL head coach is so frightened of being criticized for pre-season injuries that getting actual game reps for guys that need the work is going by the wayside.  Need a new plan for next year.
  
• Good discussion on here about the lack of a quick game.  Was definitely better versus the Browns.
  
• Jones should be back after the bye.  Will be interesting to see how the carries get split between Jones and Mason.  I don't expect to see much of Scott after his fumble -- Akers is a safer pair of hands.  Jones had fumbling issues last year and Mason just looks better.  I expect Jones to get limited carries and probably more receptions going forward.
  
• So much talent at the receiving positions with Jettas, Addison, Nailor, Thielen.  Will Hockenson return to his old form?  They called him "one of the best route-running tight ends in the league" yesterday, but I mostly see him running flairs and stop routes with his back to the end zone and limited to no YAC potential.  KOC mentioned him as a guy who is sacrificing individually for the team -- assume this refers to him doing more blocking and chipping.  He's one to keep an eye on as his production is not equaling his paycheck.
  
• OL needs health.  One has to wonder if we made a big mistake on Ryan Kelly.  On the "pitch count" for Darrisaw, two things.  He is not playing the 2nd and 4th Q because it is too stressful on the knee to warmup, exert, rest and come back to immediate exertion.  Secondly, the narrative KOC is using around CD is very interesting.  My own reading between the lines has me wondering how much CD is dictating what he will do vs. the doctors and coaches.
  

State of the Defense

• Must clean up the run defense.  I think it will naturally improve with the return of Blake Cashman, but the penetration we hoped for to disrupt the run game in the middle from Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave has largely been absent.  Jalen Redmond has balled-out and LDR has looked great in small stretches.  Ivan Pace continues to disappoint me.  He's just too boom or bust.  He's a decent blitzer because he attacks like a torpedo.  He does the same in the run game, however, and more often than not picks the wrong gap; misses the tackle; or helps create giant cut-back and jump-cut lanes that are gashing us right now.
  
• Worried about Van Ginkel -- he's a playmaker we're missing and "neck" injury just sounds scary.
  
• Secondary has been a real pleasant surprise.  Isaiah Rodgers and Byron Murphy are playing upper-tier ball.  Theo Jackson looks solid.  Glad we re-signed Metellus.  We will see what Harry and Okudah can give us.  We are susceptible to injury here big time -- thankfully the bug has not hit this group (other than Harry's mysterious illness).
  

The Big Picture Questions

I see two fairly obvious ones, good for bye week fodder:

1. Should Wentz continue to start once JJ is fully healthy (and will JJ's ankle injury mysteriously linger...)?  No doubt Wentz has outplayed JJ.  And he appears to be getting better as he starts to get more comfortable with the offense.  Hard to dislike the guy, seeing him lay it on the line against Cleveland.  He has his obvious flaws -- slowish release and processing; not particularly agile in the pocket.  But he's been reasonably accurate, has the arm talent, experience and is improving in this offense.  (his double-clutches kill me, though!)  He seems to have that veteran calm about him that you have to love (handling the low snap on the first play of the late TD drive against the Browns may have saved the game).  All that said, I think the reigns rightly belong to JJ.  He's a captain on the team.  We need to see what we have in him.  It will just be frustrating when he plays poorly in stretches (and he will) for a team that looks like a fringe playoff contender.  The fact that Wentz has played reasonably well and seems to be improving will make this all the more dicey.  One hopes, of course, that JJ re-grabs the reigns, takes off and we never look back.  That hope at the beginning of the season seems more unrealistic now.
   
2. What do you do with Jordan Addison?  Lest we forget -- in July 2023 Addison plead guilty to a misdemeanor stemming from being caught speeding at 140 mph in his Lambo at 3 am; in July 2024, Addison was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence when he was found asleep at the wheel of his car blocking traffic lanes near LAX.  He plead no contest to a lesser charge of "wet reckless" and received a 3-game suspension from the NFL.  After both incidents, Addison played the part -- he apologized, talked about how he has matured, etc., etc.  Now, in October of 2025 he was "suspended" by the team for 1Q after missing a team walkthrough with the team in London.  Has he matured?  Is he a head case?  A walking time bomb?  No doubt he is a talented receiver who makes the team better when he is on the field.  With a strong locker room, and (supposed) mentoring from Jettas and "fathering" from KOC, he has continued to mess up.  JA will demand a contract extension following the 2025 season.  The obvious benchmarks are Jameson Williams with Detroit and Tee Higgins in Cinci.  Both "stud" #2 receivers behind elite #1s (Amon Ra and Chase).  Williams talent/production is more debatable.  Williams signed a 3-year extension with the Kitties in September for $83 million with $67 million guaranteed.  Higgins signed a 4-year extension worth $115 million with lesser guarantees -- $41 million.  Neither Higgins nor Williams has had a strong start to the 2025 season on the heels of their extensions.  Addison will no doubt expect to beat both of those extensions.
   

Through first three seasons:

Williams: 83 catches; 1,396 yards, 10 touchdowns
Higgins:  215 catches; 3,028 yards, 19 touchdowns
Addison: 145 catches; 1,941 yards; 20 touchdowns (2 seasons plus 2 games in 2025)

For me, Addison is definitely not untouchable.  His latest lapse shows he has not matured and carries significant risk.  That said, if someone offered a nice package in a trade for Addison, would you pull the trigger?  At the right price, certainly.  The decision will be informed by the team's view of his maturity; his asking price and the cap implications; and potential trade options.  He does seem to have a good connection with JJ McCarthy, I'm sure that will weigh in on the decision as well.

[purplefaithful]

Good recap!

Addison is an issue we can kick the can on a little bit, but its a big one for the org to make down the road. Wish I trusted our GM more.
I think Cashman out hurts a bunch
The pass-rush hasn't been what I haD hoped on top of the run-d concerns we all have. GINK is a big concern we havent heard much detail onn.
Pace? Probably doesnt get discussed enough, but his upfront help hasn't been there either.
Ive said my peace on Turner, for the time being anyways
I dont anticipate more #1's seeing significant time in the pre-season, for the reasons you stated.

[medaille]

I guess I see neither of those two big picture questions as high priority for me over the bye. JJM is the starter when healthy. Worry about Addison in the off season or at least closer to the trade deadline. I'm skeptical that it makes sense to resign Addison to a contract he is worth. If a very solid trade package shows up, and the season looks lost, sure move him, but you can do that in the off season as well.

My big concerns are: will the better play calling last the whole season? And ... How do we fix the run defense.

[greediron]

Thanks for the thoughts.

First it is "reins" like the ones on a horse, not the "reigns" for a kingdom. But hopefully JJ has a long reign at QB.

I will add, I want to see JJ with JA on the field. Remember, JA was really the only WR that JJ practiced with in camp and preseason. His timing with Jets wasn't there, Jets also let two catchable passes slip thru his hands. I also want to see JJ with a quick game. Get him rolling, back the D off, and then take shots. Also, consider a tempo offense. It is no shock that both JJ and Carson have looked good in the 2 minute offense. That would seem to point to play calling.

Agreed on Kelly. That may be a huge bust. Hopefully Jergens can fill adequately. And Van Ginkel. Flo needs him on the field.

[MaroonBells]

Paying Jamo $30M a year was the stupidest thing the Lions have ever done. He had 1 catch for 9 yards yesterday. 2 catches the game before, 2 catches the game before that, and 2 catches the game before that. And they're paying him $30M a year? Knuckleheads. Addison was as productive in 3 quarters yesterday as Jamo has been all season. 

Speaking of knuckleheads, I guess we should be open to trading Addison, but I'd be far more interested in talking some sense into him. Some sort of financial punishment might be in order as well. He's a helluva talent, and I want to know a little bit more about our prospects this year before making that kind of a move.  I don't want to get everyone healthy and start seeing some real progress for this team, only to realize we don't have one of our best players down the stretch. We can always trade him in the offseason if he shows no sign of maturing.

[JimmyinSD]

in case anyone is wondering... the trade deadline is 4 weeks from tomorrow, November 4th.

[hogjowlsjohnny]

It has been one mixed up crazy season nobody expected so far. 3-2 keeps them in it so far. Now they get a respite and reset.
The free agency solution hasn't panned out, but some young players have been promising.
I still feel this team has the potential to be pretty good by the end of the season as they gain experience and get healthier.
The key will be what the coaching staff does during the bye, to keep the ship afloat for the next month or so.

[purplefaithful]

It has been one mixed up crazy season nobody expected so far. 3-2 keeps them in it so far. Now they get a respite and reset.
The free agency solution hasn't panned out, but some young players have been promising.
I still feel this team has the potential to be pretty good by the end of the season as they gain experience and get healthier.
The key will be what the coaching staff does during the bye, to keep the ship afloat for the next month or so.

^^^

I think the key is what the trainers will do to keep the ship afloat!

[medaille]

Other thought regarding Addison's future contract is that its hard to tell just how much "the cap is a myth" is as we approach the end of the current CBA in like 2030(?)

Maybe it's best to just go deep in debt like the current eagles and assume it gets solved in the new CBA.