Speaking about that QBOTF...
The Vikings were saying goodbye to a bittersweet season when Eric Kendricks was asked to share the pain that comes with playing the kind of quarterback who can throw 35 times for 301 yards while running 17 times for 78 yards.
"That's just the league nowadays," the inside linebacker said Monday, a day after Giants quarterback Daniel Jones used the Vikings' loose defense to boost his reputation — and likely his bank account — mightily in a 31-24 wild-card upset of the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Kendricks was still answering the question when a video of Tom Brady appeared on the television screen inside the Vikings' locker room. Brady, perhaps the last elite pure pocket-passing quarterback the game will ever see, would go on to play and get destroyed by the Cowboys in the NFL's final wild-card game Monday night.
Obviously, the league never will see another Tom Brady in terms of success and longevity. But, Eric, do you think the NFL will ever see another quarterback with the G.O.A.T.'s strictly pocket-passing style? The kind of style that saw Tom "run" 29 times for minus-1 yard this season?
"No," Kendricks laughed. "No, I don't.
"Like, man, I'm trying to think of any of the new quarterbacks in the league who are strictly a pocket quarterback, and I can't think of any. I think almost all quarterbacks today can run. I mean, even Kirk Cousins is an athlete when he gets loose. He doesn't do it very often, but he's a pocket quarterback who can run, too. When he does it."
Eight starting quarterbacks remain in the hunt for Super Bowl LVII. Four of them — Philadelphia's Jalen Hurts, 24; Buffalo's Josh Allen, 26; Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes, 27; and Jones, 25 — are the second-leading rushers on their teams. The other four — San Francisco's Brock Purdy, Dallas' Dak Prescott, Cincinnati's Joe Burrow and Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence — can move as well.
Mahomes, the likely league MVP this year, averaged 5.9 yards on 61 carries with four touchdowns. Hurts, another MVP candidate, ran for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns, one shy of the league record for a quarterback. Jones ran for 708 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season and then made his career postseason debut by becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to win a playoff game while throwing for 300 or more yards and rushing for 75 or more yards.
And then there's Allen. If defenders like the 6-0, 232-pound Kendricks thought the 6-5, 221-pound Jones was a load, here comes the 6-5, 237-pound Allen.
Allen has played the Vikings twice in his career. A win as a rookie in 2018 and an overtime loss this year. He ran 16 times for 123 yards (7.7 average) and two touchdowns in those two games.
Asked what he thought the first time he tackled the bigger and, who knows, faster quarterback, Kendricks smiled and said, "Looking at him, I felt like it wasn't sustainable. It was crazy. I've never seen anything like him.
"And," Kendricks was quick to add, "let's not forget."
What's that?
"Quarterbacks also have a halo around them," Kendricks said. "They get protected. A guy like Josh Allen can run at you full speed and at the last second slide."
https://www.startribune.com/vikings-quarterback-kirk-cousins-giants-daniel-jones-mobile-pocket-tom-brady-mark-craig/600244137/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
@"StickyBun" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"mgobluevikes" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"Skodin" said: Cousins for Lance, I would sacrifice another potential wild card round experience for a QB with promise of a brighter future. How long realistically will SF's window be open? Deebo taking a lot of shots, Kittle is slowing down, holding that defense and staff together is going to be impossible. Kyle, come get your boy.Young, fit, great legs with a big . . . arm. Could be magical and would help out a OL that won't ever be perfect.
Bring Lance home!
Cousins for Lance would never happen. Vikings are not going to saddle JJ with an unproven QB. But could the Vikings consider trading 23 for Lance and have him sit and learn for a year or two under Kirk? Yeah, I could see that.
You're crazy if you think the Vikings are giving up a 1st for a guy who can't break into the starting lineup behind Garapollo and Mr. Irrelevant. Trey Lance has 4th-5th rd. value based on his lack of development.
LOL. No, I'm not crazy, though my kids might disagree. Yes, I think teams will consider giving up a 20-50 pick for Lance. His lack of playing time actually argues both for and against a high pick. Against because you don't know yet if he can play in the NFL. For because you don't yet know if he can't.Either way, the point is likely moot. I doubt the 49ers trade him. I think they'd be fools for trading him. Because if you think Brock Purdy is now the future of the franchise in SF based on one half season, you're crazier than you think I am. :-)
I agree with both of the bolded statements. Too early to crown Purdy yet, although the media is doing it....but what else is new. There's no reason for the 49ers to trade Lance this offseason. Remember, they gave up a shit ton to get him. And honestly, if you could get Richardson at #23, or trade down and get him at like #35-40, I'd pull that trigger first before getting Lance. Not saying the Vikings are interested in any of that.49ers have to give Purdy a full blown shot as the starter next season. I don't think Lance is part of their plans but they aren't going to give him away either.
Imagine if they ignored all they gave up to get him and traded Lance this offseason...then go into next season with Brock Purdy as their QBOTF. Then Purdy turns into Mac Jones or Baker Mayfield or RGIII or Sam Bradford or Vince Young or Carson Wentz or any number of other QBs who had tremendous 1st seasons in a simplified offense, then were exposed in their 2nd.Garoppolo's a free agent and won't be back. 49ers will not trade Trey Lance. They'd be utter fools for doing so.
So many questions on Lance and Purdy...At the end of the day, the 49'ers really dont know what they have in either and that might make them feel pretty nervous going into next year w/out JG.
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