Case's Cinderella Story Ending?

all i know is that he has a short leash if he turns into a pumpkin. Zim knows what he has in this defense, the offensive threats and HFA. He’ll pull Case if he needs to

The longer he goes playing effective and smart football the more 'real' he becomes.  Like any starting QB the real test comes after they play several games and a number of good defenses.  Often times the league will figure out a how t defense a QB/offense after enough film is available/

So far he has managed to keep it going though in my eyes this is that critical time when he likely faces good teams again with a lot on the line.  His recently play has been effective but maybe unspectacular, but he hasn't needed to be spectacular.  He may be asked to be that sometime in the next 3-4 weeks, will he rise to that?

If he does he'll have earned his shot at big money and the adulation of a top tier QB, then he has to repeat it to become one of the few true franchise QB's.

I don’t know Happy, but to tell the truth I didn’t think much of Tarkenton when he was playing either!  ;)

@"HappyViking" said: I know many still don't think Case isn't a "real" starter, and he's just riding on Pat's playcalling and his "lucky horseshoe".  I thought that was mostly true up until after the bye when this team dismantled the Rams.  Now I believe he's doing his job very well, and has earned the starting QB role.  I've read quotes in news articles, posts on this board, and the talking heads on TV all wondering when Case turns back into the Pumpkin that he was before joining the Vikes.

Is this the game we find out if he's "for real" or not?  Meaning, if we get killed, or lose by having a crappy offense, then we know Case turned into that "Pumpkin" many believed he eventually would?  What about if we win, and Case has a nice game?  Do those that thought he's just living a charmed life finally believe he's actually a quality NFL QB?

Personally, I think he's a gamer; works hard getting ready for games and that's why he's having his best season.  I believe if he shows up and leads this offense to a win, he's earned everyone's respect, and we can quit with the Cinderella/Pumpkin crap.  It will take more than any lucky horseshoe to beat this Saints team.

Anyway, if we lose, the Cinderella story is over.  But, if we win, is that enough to earn the respect he should have?

I guess we'll find out...  B)

After the Washington game, I figured his run had come to an end.  But instead, he took Zimmer's criticism and has played much better since then.  He cut down on the bonehead throws and really has been a solid QB.

Now I think much of his success is due to good play calling and some good fortune.  But he is gritty, a good leader and has won me over.  I think he is a perfect fit right now for this team.

i hope case can get it done. he is a huge concern for me, the playoffs are a whole new beast. it is usually all about the qb play. hopefully this team is balanced enough to help case pull through. go vikes!

@"Kentis" said: I don’t know Happy, but to tell the truth I didn’t think much of Tarkenton when he was playing either!  ;)

Fran was a true gamer that was also was very accurate.  Yeah, he rarely threw spirals, and his deep ball was usually these high floating rainbows, but somehow he got the job done.

I agree Case is a bit like that.  He looks awkward at times, and doesn't always throw with the zip or velocity you'd like, but he's getting the job done.

Case is a leader, and hopefully his best is yet to come.

Keenum vs Brees doesn't sound like a fair fight and I'm sure thats where the Saints fans take comfort.

Frankly, as they should. Brees is 1st ballot HOF and Case still needs to prove himself on a big stage.

Football is the ultimate team game and this game like almost all of em will get decided in the trenches. That said, we'll see if Case can rise to this occasion when its really needed.

He's got the home cooking going for him, a good OL, solid running game, 2 very good WR's, a good TE in Rudy and a great D. The table is set for him.

ITs his time to shine or continue to be labeled a bridge, back-up or tier 2 guy. I think we need to score 26 to win this one. 

I hope its Cinderella time and not pumpkin time. 

@"HappyViking" said:

@"Kentis" said: I don’t know Happy, but to tell the truth I didn’t think much of Tarkenton when he was playing either!  ;)

Fran was a true gamer that was also was very accurate.  Yeah, he rarely threw spirals, and his deep ball was usually these high floating rainbows, but somehow he got the job done.

I agree Case is a bit like that.  He looks awkward at times, and doesn't always throw with the zip or velocity you'd like, but he's getting the job done.

Case is a leader, and hopefully his best is yet to come.

Honestly I think the Vikings have been playing these last three games, in which the opponents were really inferior, very conservatively on offense.  Let the defense dominate and the offense play off of that.  Usually teams really focus on the last three or four games in order to gameplan.  The Vikings are laying in the weeds and may come out of the BYE guns blazing.

Cannot believe how many here are doubting Case.

Guys gonna play great this weekend.

Vikes 27-17

@"NodakViking" said:

@"HappyViking" said:

@"Kentis" said: I don’t know Happy, but to tell the truth I didn’t think much of Tarkenton when he was playing either!  ;)

Fran was a true gamer that was also was very accurate.  Yeah, he rarely threw spirals, and his deep ball was usually these high floating rainbows, but somehow he got the job done.

I agree Case is a bit like that.  He looks awkward at times, and doesn't always throw with the zip or velocity you'd like, but he's getting the job done.

Case is a leader, and hopefully his best is yet to come.

Unfortunately Fran didn't get it done 4 times.......:#

@"purplefaithful" said: Keenum vs Brees doesn't sound like a fair fight and I'm sure thats where the Saints fans take comfort.

Frankly, as they should. Brees is 1st ballot HOF and Case still needs to prove himself on a big stage.

At the beginning of the season, if someone from the future told you that the Vikes would be the #2 seed in the playoffs, and this would be the QB matchup for the first game, you'd laugh in their face and say they were out of their mind.  On top of that, you'd think there wouldn't be a chance in hell the Vikings could complete with Case at QB.

What a wonderfully strange season this has been.

@"OBM" said: Cannot believe how many here are doubting Case.

Guys gonna play great this weekend.

Vikes 27-17

There are reasons to doubt him.  He is getting it done but there isn't a long history of shorter weak armed QB's having success in the NFL and there is some question about his accuracy.   His play has been good and he's not making mistakes but long term does his skill set lead to long term success?  IDK

If he plays good in the playoffs more doubts will be put aside, it's not like just some rubes doubt, him everyone in the NFL front offices and coaching staffs doubted him up until about 3-4 months ago so it's not some minority off the wall opinion.  

@"HappyViking" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: Keenum vs Brees doesn't sound like a fair fight and I'm sure thats where the Saints fans take comfort.

Frankly, as they should. Brees is 1st ballot HOF and Case still needs to prove himself on a big stage.

At the beginning of the season, if someone from the future told you that the Vikes would be the #2 seed in the playoffs, and this would be the QB matchup for the first game, you'd laugh in their face and say they were out of their mind.  On top of that, you'd think there wouldn't be a chance in hell the Vikings could complete with Case at QB.

What a wonderfully strange season this has been.

@"NodakViking" said:

@"HappyViking" said:

@"Kentis" said: I don’t know Happy, but to tell the truth I didn’t think much of Tarkenton when he was playing either!  ;)

Fran was a true gamer that was also was very accurate.  Yeah, he rarely threw spirals, and his deep ball was usually these high floating rainbows, but somehow he got the job done.

I agree Case is a bit like that.  He looks awkward at times, and doesn't always throw with the zip or velocity you'd like, but he's getting the job done.

Case is a leader, and hopefully his best is yet to come.

Unfortunately Fran didn't get it done 4 times.......:#

@"PSBLAKE" said: Honestly I think the Vikings have been playing these last three games, in which the opponents were really inferior, very conservatively on offense.  Let the defense dominate and the offense play off of that.  Usually teams really focus on the last three or four games in order to gameplan.  The Vikings are laying in the weeds and may come out of the BYE guns blazing.

Agreed.  And one of the games was bitter cold out as well.  Cinci laid down, GB and the Bears weren't much threat.  So our offense plan was very conservative.  Hopefully Case and the WRs can open up and score some points this weekend.

cinderellas story ended with the prince, right?

Cases story equivliant would be ending holding a Super Bowl trophy and receiving a blank check during free agency. 

People keep wanting a definitive answer to that question and there just isn't one. I agree with Nodak: the longer he goes, the more "real" he becomes. If he wins the Super Bowl, he's even "realer." But not even a Super Bowl victory can sufficiently answer the question about whether or not he's deserving of a franchise role and the contract to go with it. 

He's a smart, fiery leader with good poise and movement in the pocket. He's even better outside the pocket. He's got some IT factor. He's a good fit for what Shurmur is doing. 

He's also a smallish QB with average field vision, below average arm strength and questionable accuracy that gets worse the deeper he throws...he would not be a fit in many NFL offenses. 

Regardless of what happens, all of those things will be taken into consideration.

It is kind of interesting that many here do not mention that Case actually had less starts than Bridgewater to begin this season.  And he NEVER was given the #1 QB duties during the off season and was groomed to be the starter.  Teddy was for one year at least.  Of course this comes with not getting drafted vs being drafted in the 1st round. 

But it still speaks to Case's development as a QB.  He now has 38 starts and has gone 20-18.  He has completed 62% of his passes with 46 TDS and 27 INTs.  Not bad really.

I think the one thing that he is not getting enough credit for this year is his ability to avoid sacks and extend plays by moving around and scrambling.  He has kept alive many plays by doing this which in turn has allowed the receivers to work themselves open.  I do not know how many but both Diggs and Thielen have made a good number of catches in these situations.  At least 10 each I would say over the course of the season and probably more.

His mobility is understated and his passer rating when outside the pocket is best in the league (if I am not mistaken).

Gonna be tough to not offer him a new deal after the season he has completed especially if they win this week and even moreso if they make the Super Bowl.

How can the Vikings not offer him the starting role if they make the Super Bowl?

That would be gutsy.

Case is clearly a starter in this league, but I think he’s a
mid level QB who needs a solid support structure around him.  I look at Cam Newton.  He looked unstoppable when everything was
perfectly in place, a great defense, always playing with a lead, etc.  It didn’t take much, Matt Kalil at LT, Ryan
Kalil taking a hiatus for a while.  Greg
Olsen being on IR for a while.  That great
defense being just a notch worse towards just being good.  All of a sudden he’s not playing with a
lead.  He’s getting unblocked rushers,
etc.  He just looks massively more
beatable.

I think if you put Case on an average team.  His mobility in the pocket starts to look
like happy feet if his receivers aren’t as good at getting open or the OLine is
letting more guys through.  If his
receivers aren’t top of the league in catching contested balls, drives
stall.  If the defense isn’t smothering
offenses, now he’s playing from behind more often, making riskier throws and
having to force the ball into coverage.

That said, I think our defense is built for the long haul.  I think our receiving group should be
available for several years.  I’m not as
confident in our OLine.  I think an
injury to Reiff or Elflein would really set us back.  We were so undisciplined in the last several
years, and this year we look pretty disciplined.  I’m not sure 
what to allocate it to.  My gut
feeling is that Reiff and Elfein are noticeable talent improvements over what
we had last year and that Shurmur’s playcalling is keeping pressure from
committing too hard with a ton of screens. 
Another Elflein would go a long way.