09-18-2017, 04:51 PM
http://vikefans.com/vikefans-recap-of-st...inz-field/
A View from the Heinz Field
When the final gun sounded to end the game in Pittsburgh, Viking
fans were left wondering, “how did we get blown-out so badly, after looking
like a Super Bowl contender against the Saints”?
Well, there are two answers to that:
1)
The Vikings were in the game vs the Steelers the
entire way, until, eventually, in the fourth quarter, they simply could not
overcome their own penalty-filled ways to steal a win with a backup QB, and
2)
The Saints are not that good – especially on
defense.
So, does that mean Viking fans should pack-it-in and start preparing
for hockey season? Hardly.
For those wondering, Sam Bradford was really injured. He moved very gingerly on the field, and when
he walked out of the player’s tunnel onto the field in street clothing. But, he was not on crutches, was not wearing
a brace, and was not being constantly iced.
He will be back, the question is, whether it is next week, or sometime
thereafter.
It is frustrating to be a Minnesota fan, for a team that constantly
teases with potential, and then reminds us that Viking fans seem to not be
worthy of having nice things.
However, this 2017 squad does have potential. The defense is the real deal. They gave up just 180 yards of offense
through three quarters yesterday, and did not break until they had been on the
field for 33 minutes and got worn out.
All will talk about the loss of Sam Bradford being the reason we
lost. It wasn’t. The Steelers scored
after Brian Robison uncharacteristically jumped offsides on a 4th
and 1 play. They scored again after a 51
yard interference penalty on Trae Waynes (who has a habit of grabbing his
receiver whenever he thinks he is beaten – the officials have pretty good
eyesight Trae).
Trailing 14-3, the Vikings forced a 51-yard FG attempt by Steelers
kicker Chris Boswell. Boswell’s kick was
wide left, so the lead would not extend.
Or would it? Unfortunately, Nick
Easton lined-up over the center on the kick, giving Boswell a second shot from
46 yards. Of course, he drilled it right
through the middle.
17 points for the Steelers, yet none were really earned.
It wasn’t until 5 minutes were left in the third quarter, that
Pittsburgh finally scored their 20th point, and their first 3 points
without an assist from Minnesota.
By that time, the Vikings were in full catch-up mode, with a
quarterback operating with a limited playbook and facing a Steeler defense that
knew the Vikings had to pass on virtually every play.
THE VIKING OFFENSE
Certainly the unexpected loss of Sam Bradford for this game hurt,
but this team could have competed and maybe stolen a loss from a very good
Steeler team, on the road, on a short week, and at the Pittsburgh home opener.
Dalvin Cook continued to show flashes that indicate he could break
it on any play (and, yes, he scored on the 25 yard run – we have no idea why
the reversed the TD and placed the ball at the one yard line, not the one inch
line). Adam Thielen always competes,
but Case Keenum could not find him.
Jarius Wright played much more yesterday, presumably to give Keenum
some comfort zone with a 2nd team receiver. Meanwhile, Laquon Treadwell played the
majority of the snaps on offense. He is
a big target, and while he did make some tough short catches, it should be
noted that he gets very little separation.
Kyle Rudolph made on miraculous catch on the 3rd and
long, showing his basketball leaping and rebound skills to keep a drive alive.
The running game was average.
Cook looks fine, but Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur had a gameplan in
the first two and half quarters that looked like he accidentally picked up Brad
Childress’s old “kick-ass” offensive playbook.
For a long period of time, he just kept running Cook up the middle of
the Steeler defense on first down, leaving his less-seasoned QB with 2nd
and 3rd and long situations.
For his own part, Case Keenum was up and down. He had some nice throws, but was wildly
inaccurate on others, and often throwing into double coverage on long distance
downs. He did not play poorly, and he
did not prove he could really be a starter in this league.
The offensive line played pretty well – give them a B-minus for the
game. Center Pat Elfein is going to be
elite, while Mike Remmers and Nick Easton struggled at times. But, in general, the line gave Keenum enough
time to throw, and will just keep getting better as a unit.
SAM BRADFORD
Some fans have already questioned Sam Bradford’s heart for not
playing. But, that is unfair, as his heart
was willing, his knee was not. Without
mobility against this Steeler defense, you put your franchise (at least for
now) QB in harms way, as a sitting duck back there to get hurt worse.
Sam tried to give it a go at around 9am eastern time, but all he could
do was throw without putting his left leg into throws. He didn’t quit, he tried. No one looked more disappointed that Bradford
looked when he walked alone out of the players tunnel onto the field.
How bad his injury really is, is unknown to anyone but the coaches
and trainers. We can tell you that he
was not on crutches, had a small limp (very small), but walked slowly. He did not wear a brace and did not ice the
knee before, during or after the game.
He simply showered after the game and left, without talking to reporters
(coach’s orders – Sam will talk when allowed, but allowing some info out might
prove a competitive advantage as Tampa Bay prepares to play the Vikings).
It’s not time to get Colin Kaepernick – imagine that if you had Sam,
Teddy and Colin. Holy smokes! But, it is also time to wonder what this
mystery injury is.
A View from the Heinz Field
When the final gun sounded to end the game in Pittsburgh, Viking
fans were left wondering, “how did we get blown-out so badly, after looking
like a Super Bowl contender against the Saints”?
Well, there are two answers to that:
1)
The Vikings were in the game vs the Steelers the
entire way, until, eventually, in the fourth quarter, they simply could not
overcome their own penalty-filled ways to steal a win with a backup QB, and
2)
The Saints are not that good – especially on
defense.
So, does that mean Viking fans should pack-it-in and start preparing
for hockey season? Hardly.
For those wondering, Sam Bradford was really injured. He moved very gingerly on the field, and when
he walked out of the player’s tunnel onto the field in street clothing. But, he was not on crutches, was not wearing
a brace, and was not being constantly iced.
He will be back, the question is, whether it is next week, or sometime
thereafter.
It is frustrating to be a Minnesota fan, for a team that constantly
teases with potential, and then reminds us that Viking fans seem to not be
worthy of having nice things.
However, this 2017 squad does have potential. The defense is the real deal. They gave up just 180 yards of offense
through three quarters yesterday, and did not break until they had been on the
field for 33 minutes and got worn out.
All will talk about the loss of Sam Bradford being the reason we
lost. It wasn’t. The Steelers scored
after Brian Robison uncharacteristically jumped offsides on a 4th
and 1 play. They scored again after a 51
yard interference penalty on Trae Waynes (who has a habit of grabbing his
receiver whenever he thinks he is beaten – the officials have pretty good
eyesight Trae).
Trailing 14-3, the Vikings forced a 51-yard FG attempt by Steelers
kicker Chris Boswell. Boswell’s kick was
wide left, so the lead would not extend.
Or would it? Unfortunately, Nick
Easton lined-up over the center on the kick, giving Boswell a second shot from
46 yards. Of course, he drilled it right
through the middle.
17 points for the Steelers, yet none were really earned.
It wasn’t until 5 minutes were left in the third quarter, that
Pittsburgh finally scored their 20th point, and their first 3 points
without an assist from Minnesota.
By that time, the Vikings were in full catch-up mode, with a
quarterback operating with a limited playbook and facing a Steeler defense that
knew the Vikings had to pass on virtually every play.
THE VIKING OFFENSE
Certainly the unexpected loss of Sam Bradford for this game hurt,
but this team could have competed and maybe stolen a loss from a very good
Steeler team, on the road, on a short week, and at the Pittsburgh home opener.
Dalvin Cook continued to show flashes that indicate he could break
it on any play (and, yes, he scored on the 25 yard run – we have no idea why
the reversed the TD and placed the ball at the one yard line, not the one inch
line). Adam Thielen always competes,
but Case Keenum could not find him.
Jarius Wright played much more yesterday, presumably to give Keenum
some comfort zone with a 2nd team receiver. Meanwhile, Laquon Treadwell played the
majority of the snaps on offense. He is
a big target, and while he did make some tough short catches, it should be
noted that he gets very little separation.
Kyle Rudolph made on miraculous catch on the 3rd and
long, showing his basketball leaping and rebound skills to keep a drive alive.
The running game was average.
Cook looks fine, but Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur had a gameplan in
the first two and half quarters that looked like he accidentally picked up Brad
Childress’s old “kick-ass” offensive playbook.
For a long period of time, he just kept running Cook up the middle of
the Steeler defense on first down, leaving his less-seasoned QB with 2nd
and 3rd and long situations.
For his own part, Case Keenum was up and down. He had some nice throws, but was wildly
inaccurate on others, and often throwing into double coverage on long distance
downs. He did not play poorly, and he
did not prove he could really be a starter in this league.
The offensive line played pretty well – give them a B-minus for the
game. Center Pat Elfein is going to be
elite, while Mike Remmers and Nick Easton struggled at times. But, in general, the line gave Keenum enough
time to throw, and will just keep getting better as a unit.
SAM BRADFORD
Some fans have already questioned Sam Bradford’s heart for not
playing. But, that is unfair, as his heart
was willing, his knee was not. Without
mobility against this Steeler defense, you put your franchise (at least for
now) QB in harms way, as a sitting duck back there to get hurt worse.
Sam tried to give it a go at around 9am eastern time, but all he could
do was throw without putting his left leg into throws. He didn’t quit, he tried. No one looked more disappointed that Bradford
looked when he walked alone out of the players tunnel onto the field.
How bad his injury really is, is unknown to anyone but the coaches
and trainers. We can tell you that he
was not on crutches, had a small limp (very small), but walked slowly. He did not wear a brace and did not ice the
knee before, during or after the game.
He simply showered after the game and left, without talking to reporters
(coach’s orders – Sam will talk when allowed, but allowing some info out might
prove a competitive advantage as Tampa Bay prepares to play the Vikings).
It’s not time to get Colin Kaepernick – imagine that if you had Sam,
Teddy and Colin. Holy smokes! But, it is also time to wonder what this
mystery injury is.