Zulgad: Keenum deserves credit, but all signs point to Teddy Bridgewater taking over
Case Keenum has earned accolades at Winter Park for helping to guide the Vikings to five of the six victories they posses entering the bye week. That includes a 33-16 victory over Cleveland on Sunday in London that improved Minnesota to 6-2 and will put it atop the NFC North during the week of rest.
It appears likely that Bridgewater soon will be back on the 53-man roster – the 21-day window to make a decision will expire next week – and an NFL Network report Sunday indicated that he could challenge Keenum for the starting job for the Vikings’ first game out of the bye, Nov. 12 at Washington.
Zimmer did nothing to quiet this speculation after Sunday’s game when asked about having to make a decision on his starting quarterback.
“Hopefully, I have a decision to make,” he said. “I don’t know that yet. We’ve got two days of practice next week, got another day of practice (the following) Monday. We’ll sit down, we’ll evaluate everything. Case has done an unbelievable job. He’s done what we’ve asked him to do. He’s come out and kept things rolling and we’ll just figure it out as we go. I don’t know, we’ll see. I hope I have to make a decision.”
If Zimmer does have a decision to make, meaning Bridgewater doesn’t suffer a setback, it’s hard to believe that the coach won’t make the switch to a guy who was seen as the Vikings’ long-term solution at quarterback before he crumpled to the practice field in late August of last year at Winter Park. Bridgewater, whom the Vikings took with the final pick of the first round in 2014, led Minnesota to an 11-5 finish and an NFC North title in only his second season.
http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2017/10/zulgad-case-keenum-deserves-credit-signs-point-teddy-bridgewater-taking/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
As for Keenum, the 29-year-old deserves a ton of credit for stepping in for Bradford and being good enough to help his team win games. The decision to give Keenum a one-year, $2 million contract was a wise one by general manager Rick Spielman.
So why not stick with Keenum?
The first half of the past two games have answered that question. Keenum was 12 of 21 for 86 yards with an interception and a horrible 46.9 passer rating at halftime of last week’s victory over Baltimore. His halftime stats Sunday against Cleveland were better – 18 of 28 for 196 yards with a touchdown, interception (off a tipped pass) and an 81.8 passer rating – but his play was sporadic.
“Early it was a little spotty, I thought,” Zimmer said in assessing Keenum’s day. “Kind of like last week. But he played great in the second (half), made some great throws, took care of the football.”
Keenum finished 27 of 43 for 288 yards with two touchdowns, the one interception and an 88.1 rating.
This is Keenum’s fifth NFL season, his third team and not the first time he’s dealt with uncertainty.
I just hope that when/if Teddy starts... it's because he looks better than Keenum in practice and he earns it. I don't want to see us make the switch because we "hope" Teddy is ready...
And this is coming from a guy that is a HUGE Teddy fan.
Eventually they HAVE to see what they have in #5, but yah Wet...He's gotta earn the start over Case I would think (hope)
Case should be the starter. Teddy can replace him if and immediately when Case shits the bed in a game AND Teddy demonstrates he is better in practice.
Case deserves a longer leash imo.
@"Wetlander" said: I just hope that when/if Teddy starts... it's because he looks better than Keenum in practice and he earns it. I don't want to see us make the switch because we "hope" Teddy is ready...And this is coming from a guy that is a HUGE Teddy fan.
I really don't see him getting the opportunity and not earning it. Coach Zimmer loves and respects his players too much to do something like that.
The pick against the Ravens shouldn't be all on Keenum, it wasn't a great ball, but I t was catchable if there hadnt been obvious interference, however yesterdays pick and several batted balls were definitely on him as a result of him starring down his target and that's the shit we can't have. As far as slow starts, IIRC the O didn't come out blazing with Teddy but was that a result of Teddy being hesitant or the play calling. I think it was the latter and we need to see what we have with Teddy in this offense before we can make any real determinations on who will give us our best shot in the playoffs.
IMO give Teddy a few games and if there isn't better play then you have a real QB controversy, but as of right now if the team wasn't winning with the QB play we've seen then we would be calling for a change. The final outcome should not necessarily be the deciding factor for when the switch is made, the overall level of play should be.
I know it's tempting to just look at the wins and say that Case deserves to keep going, but this team is stacked with talent on both sides of the ball and that's why we're winning. We're winning despite Case Keenum, not because of him.
Here's my final take on it: very happy the team is 6-2 and the potential QB debate is a good problem to have. Keep winning!
@"MaroonBells" said: I know it's tempting to just look at the wins and say that Case deserves to keep going, but this team is stacked with talent on both sides of the ball and that's why we're winning. We're winning despite Case Keenum, not because of him.
The team has as much tallent as last year and that didnt get them to 6-2 then.
@"AGRforever" said:@"MaroonBells" said: I know it's tempting to just look at the wins and say that Case deserves to keep going, but this team is stacked with talent on both sides of the ball and that's why we're winning. We're winning despite Case Keenum, not because of him.
The team has as much tallent as last year and that didnt get them to 6-2 then.
Yes and no. They had a lot of talent, except at OL wherr not only did they have little talent, but that talent was hurting the last 3 months of the season.This OL with last years team, we are a deep playoff run team. This team is primed for a real shot with quality, consistent QB play
@"AGRforever" said:@"MaroonBells" said: I know it's tempting to just look at the wins and say that Case deserves to keep going, but this team is stacked with talent on both sides of the ball and that's why we're winning. We're winning despite Case Keenum, not because of him.
The team has as much tallent as last year and that didnt get them to 6-2 then.
Disagree... Our offensive line additions this off-season SIGNIFICANTLY upgraded our LT and RT starters. Add in Elflein and that alone has increased our talent level considerably at one unit.This team wouldn't be 6-2 without those additions if everything else stays the same. This offense would be bottom of the barrel with Clemmings, Kalil, and Easton (at C) starting this season.
We are winning WITH Case Keenum.
Do we want to risk a bye or home field
advantage to test Teddy for a few games? Get him ready to be the backup and hope we don't need to bring him in.
@"MaroonBells" said: I know it's tempting to just look at the wins and say that Case deserves to keep going, but this team is stacked with talent on both sides of the ball and that's why we're winning. We're winning despite Case Keenum, not because of him.
I disagree. First off, we lose the game in Chicago without him coming in for Bradford. Secondly, his stats for this season so far are 64% completion for 1610 yards with 7 TDs and 3 INTs (88.8 rating). That is not the type of QB play the rest of the team has to overcome in order to win games. He is actively helping the team win those games.
@"SFVikingFan" said:@"MaroonBells" said: I know it's tempting to just look at the wins and say that Case deserves to keep going, but this team is stacked with talent on both sides of the ball and that's why we're winning. We're winning despite Case Keenum, not because of him.
I disagree. First off, we lose the game in Chicago without him coming in for Bradford. Secondly, his stats for this season so far are 64% completion for 1610 yards with 7 TDs and 3 INTs (88.8 rating). That is not the type of QB play the rest of the team has to overcome in order to win games. He is actively helping the team win those games.
Let me clarify. Yes, clearly he is actively helping this team win games. He's been efficient. But I personally believe we'd be doing even better with either Sam or Teddy as QB.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"SFVikingFan" said:@"MaroonBells" said: I know it's tempting to just look at the wins and say that Case deserves to keep going, but this team is stacked with talent on both sides of the ball and that's why we're winning. We're winning despite Case Keenum, not because of him.
I disagree. First off, we lose the game in Chicago without him coming in for Bradford. Secondly, his stats for this season so far are 64% completion for 1610 yards with 7 TDs and 3 INTs (88.8 rating). That is not the type of QB play the rest of the team has to overcome in order to win games. He is actively helping the team win those games.
Let me clarify. Yes, clearly he is actively helping this team win games. He's been efficient. But I personally believe we'd be doing even better with either Sam or Teddy as QB.Agree, and I'll add that the Browns have a pretty darn good defense with 3 of their starters not playing yesterday (the biggest absence being Garrett) and they had Case's number I think. The batted passes to me were the biggest tell. I'm as appreciative as anybody of Case. He's clearly one of the better backups in this league. But as he himself said in the locker room after the Bucs win, "I've never had a team like this to play with before." He's having a career year and the team around him is why.
With a healthy Bradford yesterday, we would have won 44-10.
I disagree with Keenum deserving to play until he screws up. He is a BACKUP standing in temporarily for an injured STARTER. When that starter (which one is a medical issue) is healthy again, put him back in his job. If we come out of the bye and lose a couple games, this team might panic, and then inserting Bradford or Bridgewater stinks of desperation and the returning QB will be expected to save the season.
A lot of people see OL injuries as the ONLY cause for the 2016 collapse. Yes, it was huge - but we still could have beaten a couple of teams like Chicago and Indy and been 10-6. That team lost confidence or faith or something. It was probably some in-clubhouse issue (maybe Norv-related) that none of us know about, but still - they were fragile and I don't want to see them get into a possible panic situation.
Fragile last year does not equal fragile this year.
You already referenced two differences from last year: near-historically bad O-Line and abrupt change in OCs.
But don't underestimate the effect of the team seeing Teddy's horrific injury. Seeing the GM go all-in on the team and season by trading a 1st for Sam. Zimmer dealing with the eye thing much of the year. The whole "will AP stay or go" thing. No running game to keep drives alive and rest the Defense. Greenie maybe retiring.
Just a sh*tstorm of distractions both on and off the field.
What's the distraction now? Which of Minnesota's 3 QBs will be the one to lead them to the Playoffs and maybe on a deep run.
No O-Line worries. Hell, the new veterans are probably just as good in the locker room as they have been on the field. And Elf looks like a natural. Plus the depth is looking good.
No AP? No problem. One OC, and more importantly one that understands how to adapt his playcalling to his team's strengths instead of jamming his philosophy into a square hole. Mike has been healthy. Lower expectations with a journeyman backup starting most of the games so far.
I see a very different team than last year for all these reasons. Their still playing with a small margin for error on the field, but that's where the similarities end.
FSU, hope you are right and you have a very good list. I can't think of any comparable distractions this year, but they still seem a bit tenuous. I guess I want to see a game or two where they dominate, impose their will, at least on one side of the ball; the defense did it in a few games early in 2016, so the ability is certainly there.
No matter who wants to debate, go watch the game and all of the terrible play at QB case has played. Yes he has made a few plays here and there. However, he has missed a lot of open WRs running free and instead checked it down, thrown a bad ball to a WR so they had to dive when they could of had YAC, or whatever. Yes Case has played well for a backup or even better than half the QBs in the league at this point. But I don't trust him to take us into the playoffs. So I'd rather take Teddy - in this QB friendly system VS what we were doing 2 years ago for those of you trying to compare #s - who I trust and has already basically won a playoff game (thank you blair walsh). Get him ready now and see how high this team can go, because Case can only go as high as you have seen the last few weeks, but this team could win a championship if you get some consistency back there.
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