Offensive coordinator pick will be offseason’s most important decision for Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have one quarterback under contract at the moment: Kyle Sloter. But the Vikings’ decision at the quarterback position isn’t as important to their success in 2018 as Mike Zimmer’s pick for offensive coordinator.
While quarterbacks drive success in the NFL, what we just witnessed this season with Case Keenum should tell us something. There are so many mid-pack QBs that scheme and personnel ultimately drive a quarterback’s success or failure unless that QB is an elite talent.
Take Derek Carr, for example. With a good system, great O-line and running game in 2016, he was a franchise quarterback with a 96.7 rating. This year his offensive coordinator changed, his line got hurt, running game faltered and receivers dropped passes left and right. His rating sunk to 86.4.
You can’t predict injuries, but otherwise you can guarantee the Vikings will have a great supporting cast for whichever quarterback they choose – whether it’s Teddy Bridgewater, Case Keenum, Alex Smith, Kirk Cousins etc.
They will get Dalvin Cook back and return two of the league’s best receivers in Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.
We witnessed Pat Shurmur get the most out of those weapons to maximize Keenum’s performance. It especially showed in the red zone, where the Vikings were one of the league’s top teams.
The similarity with all of the available QBs – save for Drew Brees – is that’s they’re not supporting cast proof. Bridgewater won 11 games and ranked 16th in points with a system that didn’t fit, a bad O-line and mediocre receivers, but he’s coming off two years of almost zero playing time. Keenum’s career success or failure has been predicated on supporting cast and Smith and Cousins have seen ups and downs depending on what’s around them.
The nightmare story comes from Atlanta, who lost Kyle Shanahan to a head coaching gig in San Francisco and saw the Falcons’ offense slide back to the pack. And that’s despite Matt Ryan playing well enough to rank toward the top of the NFL by Pro Football Focus metrics...
http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/01/offensive-coordinator-pick-will-offseasons-important-decision-vikings/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
The problem I have with this article is this ...
Bridgewater won 11 games and ranked 16th in points with a system that didn’t fit, a bad O-line and mediocre receivers
... it is amazing how so many people want to insinuate that the Vikings were holding Bridgewater back and that he had nothing to work with in 2015.
They almost all forget to mention the one very important thing that actually did help the Vikings get to that record.
ADRIAN PETERSON
Last I checked he led the league in rushing in 2015. That means that the offensive line while terrible at pass blocking was pretty effective at run blocking.
It also should signify that this was the intention of the coaching staff. They did it on purpose and it allowed Teddy to develop at the pace they felt was right. I think it worked very well and that Teddy looked ready to take the next step in his development/career before getting hurt. He still had to prove he was still developing but the signs were positive.
In the majority of the debates, many a fan will fail to mention the NFL league leading rusher when discussing the 2015 offense and it usually is in defense of Teddy. It is truly amazing.
The Shurmur offense was very diverse and showcased all of our weapons. Something we haven't seen in a long time, especially when Peterson was here. I like Stefanski because I believe it will give our offense the most continuity from what we ran this year. Assuming we sign Case or Teddy, I think he will craft a similar offense with his own wrinkles that will utilize all of our skill players which is what made us very effective. We finally removed our predictability from this offense, and Shurmur was a master at disguising plays using multiple formations to confuse the defense. Our crossing routes this year were a thing of beauty. We always seem to have receivers getting open which is something we have struggled with for years.
While I agree that supporting cast is a hugely underrated factor in evaluating a QB, I also think it's an underrated factor in evaluating an OC. So I agree with much of what he says, but I don't agree with his conclusion that the OC is a more important decision than the QB.
If the Vikings make the wrong decision at OC, they can simply replace him. They could even do it mid-year. If the Vikings make the wrong decision at QB, it could set the franchise back years.
The writer uses the Falcons as an example. Falcons lost their OC, and all hell broke loose? Not quite. They still had the NFL's 8th best offense and went to the playoffs. Take Matt Ryan away and see how they do.
@"MaroonBells" said: While I agree that supporting cast is a hugely underrated factor in evaluating a QB, I also think it's an underrated factor in evaluating an OC. So I agree with much of what he says, but I don't agree with his conclusion that the OC is a more important decision than the QB.If the Vikings make the wrong decision at OC, they can simply replace him. They could even do it mid-year. If the Vikings make the wrong decision at QB, it could set the franchise back years.
The writer uses the Falcons as an example. Falcons lost their OC, and all hell broke loose? Not quite. They still had the NFL's 8th best offense and went to the playoffs. Take Matt Ryan away and see how they do.
MB,
I think they are equally important. I don't think you can have success without both the QB and OC performing at high levels. Look at the Rams. Once they got rid of the QB Killer in Jeff Fisher, Jared Goff had an amazing season under Sean McVay's guidance. And yes, the Falcons did not completely implode, but under Sarkisian, the Falcons offense struggled all year to reach any consistency and the explosiveness they had under Shanahan.
@"TBro" said:@"MaroonBells" said: While I agree that supporting cast is a hugely underrated factor in evaluating a QB, I also think it's an underrated factor in evaluating an OC. So I agree with much of what he says, but I don't agree with his conclusion that the OC is a more important decision than the QB.If the Vikings make the wrong decision at OC, they can simply replace him. They could even do it mid-year. If the Vikings make the wrong decision at QB, it could set the franchise back years.
The writer uses the Falcons as an example. Falcons lost their OC, and all hell broke loose? Not quite. They still had the NFL's 8th best offense and went to the playoffs. Take Matt Ryan away and see how they do.
MB,I think they are equally important. I don't think you can have success without both the QB and OC performing at high levels. Look at the Rams. Once they got rid of the QB Killer in Jeff Fisher, Jared Goff had an amazing season under Sean McVay's guidance. And yes, the Falcons did not completely implode, but under Sarkisian, the Falcons offense struggled all year to reach any consistency and the explosiveness they had under Shanahan.
True, but there are other contextual factors to consider with the Rams. The most important being that you're comparing Goff's rookie season to his 2nd season. That's a big difference regardless of OC. You also have to consider that the Rams brought in the ageless wonder, and 1st team all pro left tackle, Andrew Whitworth, and got a pro bowl year out of oft-injured guard Rodger Saffold. Cooper Kupp was another key addition.One area where I think McVay truly helped Goff was in how he used Todd Gurley. McVay spread him all over the field and turned him into an MVP candidate. I think that helped Goff more than anything.
@"MaroonBells" said:Wonder if we have anyone on the roster at running-back we could do that with in 2018?@"TBro" said:@"MaroonBells" said: While I agree that supporting cast is a hugely underrated factor in evaluating a QB, I also think it's an underrated factor in evaluating an OC. So I agree with much of what he says, but I don't agree with his conclusion that the OC is a more important decision than the QB.If the Vikings make the wrong decision at OC, they can simply replace him. They could even do it mid-year. If the Vikings make the wrong decision at QB, it could set the franchise back years.
The writer uses the Falcons as an example. Falcons lost their OC, and all hell broke loose? Not quite. They still had the NFL's 8th best offense and went to the playoffs. Take Matt Ryan away and see how they do.
MB,I think they are equally important. I don't think you can have success without both the QB and OC performing at high levels. Look at the Rams. Once they got rid of the QB Killer in Jeff Fisher, Jared Goff had an amazing season under Sean McVay's guidance. And yes, the Falcons did not completely implode, but under Sarkisian, the Falcons offense struggled all year to reach any consistency and the explosiveness they had under Shanahan.
True, but there are other contextual factors to consider with the Rams. The most important being that you're comparing Goff's rookie season to his 2nd season. That's a big difference regardless of OC. You also have to consider that the Rams brought in the ageless wonder, and 1st team all pro left tackle, Andrew Whitworth, and got a pro bowl year out of oft-injured guard Rodger Saffold. Cooper Kupp was another key addition.One area where I think McVay truly helped Goff was in how he used Todd Gurley. McVay spread him all over the field and turned him into an MVP candidate. I think that helped Goff more than anything.
@"purplefaithful" said:@"MaroonBells" said:Wonder if we have anyone on the roster at running-back we could do that with in 2018?@"TBro" said:@"MaroonBells" said: While I agree that supporting cast is a hugely underrated factor in evaluating a QB, I also think it's an underrated factor in evaluating an OC. So I agree with much of what he says, but I don't agree with his conclusion that the OC is a more important decision than the QB.
MB,I think they are equally important. I don't think you can have success without both the QB and OC performing at high levels. Look at the Rams. Once they got rid of the QB Killer in Jeff Fisher, Jared Goff had an amazing season under Sean McVay's guidance. And yes, the Falcons did not completely implode, but under Sarkisian, the Falcons offense struggled all year to reach any consistency and the explosiveness they had under Shanahan.
True, but there are other contextual factors to consider with the Rams. The most important being that you're comparing Goff's rookie season to his 2nd season. That's a big difference regardless of OC. You also have to consider that the Rams brought in the ageless wonder, and 1st team all pro left tackle, Andrew Whitworth, and got a pro bowl year out of oft-injured guard Rodger Saffold. Cooper Kupp was another key addition.One area where I think McVay truly helped Goff was in how he used Todd Gurley. McVay spread him all over the field and turned him into an MVP candidate. I think that helped Goff more than anything.
I don't know ... Cook doesn't have good hands.
Sounds like the Vikings are going to wait until after the Super Bowl to announce an OC. Just speculation, but I wonder if they want to try and get an interview in with John DeFilippo.
@"MarkSP18" said: The problem I have with this article is this ...Bridgewater won 11 games and ranked 16th in points with a system that didn’t fit, a bad O-line and mediocre receivers
... it is amazing how so many people want to insinuate that the Vikings were holding Bridgewater back and that he had nothing to work with in 2015.
They almost all forget to mention the one very important thing that actually did help the Vikings get to that record.
ADRIAN PETERSON
Last I checked he led the league in rushing in 2015. That means that the offensive line while terrible at pass blocking was pretty effective at run blocking.
It also should signify that this was the intention of the coaching staff. They did it on purpose and it allowed Teddy to develop at the pace they felt was right. I think it worked very well and that Teddy looked ready to take the next step in his development/career before getting hurt. He still had to prove he was still developing but the signs were positive.
In the majority of the debates, many a fan will fail to mention the NFL league leading rusher when discussing the 2015 offense and it usually is in defense of Teddy. It is truly amazing.
How was that Oline Effective blocking for AD, and not McKinnon the following year?
The Oline had been bad since 09 and Adrian Peterson covered that up Because he was a horse.
@"Geoff Nichols" said: Sounds like the Vikings are going to wait until after the Super Bowl to announce an OC. Just speculation, but I wonder if they want to try and get an interview in with John DeFilippo.Hard to figure why they wouldn't announce unless they want to interview someone else. I hadn't thought of DeFilippo but that would make sense.
@"VikeMike52" said:DeFilippo would be the best candidate available both internally and externally. He is a Reid disciple through Peterson and they seemingly have found a way to combine both the WCO and college spread concepts. With the Vikings offensive weapons that'd be incredibly attractive. The bigger question is can he call plays? Hard to know. But Peterson is arguably the best in the game right now.@"Geoff Nichols" said: Sounds like the Vikings are going to wait until after the Super Bowl to announce an OC. Just speculation, but I wonder if they want to try and get an interview in with John DeFilippo. Hard to figure why they wouldn't announce unless they want to interview someone else. I hadn't thought of DeFilippo but that would make sense.
thatd be great with our tools and TEDDY at qb (cough cough)
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