Five numbers that stand out regarding Case Keenum's surge for Vikings

[purplefaithful]

Vikings quarterback Case Keenum has been on a roll, especially in the last three wins of Minnesota’s seven-game winning streak. Below are five numbers that stand out regarding his play:
8.9 yards: Only Philip Rivers (9.0) is averaging more yards per throw than Keenum’s 8.9 in the last three games, during which he’s posted three of the top 10 passer ratings (121.8 at DET, 100.8 vs. LA and 117.0 at WAS) of his six-year career. 

2 tipped passes: Defenses are tipping just two Keenum passes per game in the three kickoffs since the bye week. That is a big turnaround from the three games prior to the Vikings bye, when opponents were getting hands on an average of 6.6 throws per game. 
6 drops:The four targets accounting for the vast majority (75 percent) of the Vikings’ passing attack — Thielen, Diggs, tight end Kyle Rudolph and running back Jerick McKinnon — have accounted for just six drops this season. That’s a 2.1 percent drop rate that certainly is among the league’s best for an offense. 
133.9 rushing yards: Only once in the Vikings’ current seven-game winning streak has the offense not eclipsed 100 rushing yards. They’re averaging nearly 134 rushing yards per game during this stretch, which is pacing an offense that likes to create off play action. 
5.2 percent:Case Keenum’s sack rate when under duress is, by a significant margin, the league’s best. The Vikings offensive line is much improved, but Keenum should also get credit for his vision and athleticism to avoid would-be disaster scenarios and keep the next down manageable. 
http://www.startribune.com/five-numbers-...460489973/

[Guest]

Flash in the pan? He'll come back to earth soon? a back-up on a good run? 

Or dayum, we got ourselves a really, really good starting qb in Keenum? 

When does the final narrative get decided and spoken? 

[Guest]

One of the league's best backup QBs playing on one of the league's best offenses. Good things are going to happen. I don't think you can say we got ourselves a really, really good starting QB until we see what happens the rest of the year, and even into next season. Does he continue to improve? 

I sort of think in 2 or 3 years we'll look back at this time with fondness and then wonder where he ended up. 

[Guest]

Case has had 8 good (and some were very good) games this season. That is only half of a season. We still have 5 more regular season games to play. Let's see how those go.
I think Zimmer's "horseshoe" comment was right for the first few games. More recently, he has just looked like a really good QB - with an occasional regression to the (old?) mean. 
His arm will never be much better than it is. Case needs to dispense with the crazy stuff we saw in the Washington game while maintaining the brilliance from the Washington and Detroit and Rams games. He looks like he might do just that. I am hopeful.

[Guest]

@dadevike said:
Case has had 8 good (and some were very good) games this season. That is only half of a season. We still have 5 more regular season games to play. Let's see how those go.
I think Zimmer's "horseshoe" comment was right for the first few games. More recently, he has just looked like a really good QB - with an occasional regression to the (old?) mean. 
His arm will never be much better than it is. Case needs to dispense with the crazy stuff we saw in the Washington game while maintaining the brilliance from the Washington and Detroit and Rams games. He looks like he might do just that. I am hopeful.

Agreed.  That rating from the Detroit game fits with what I saw as well.

The drop rate among his top 4 receivers is pretty incredible as well.  Thielen just doesn't drop passes. 

The other stat keys off the o-line.  The running game and lack of pressure are huge for this offense.

[Guest]

A definite part of the drop rate number being so good is where Keenum is placing the ball.  They have a been a lot of really well thrown balls, especially over the last 3 games.

[Guest]

@1VikesFan said:
A definite part of the drop rate number being so good is where Keenum is placing the ball.  They have a been a lot of really well thrown balls, especially over the last 3 games.

I was thinking it was likely in large part to him not having a ton of mustard on his throws.  He has been bailed out a fair amount by AT making some damn good catches,  but he has also thrown a few spot on balls.