OpEd: How much would a star No.3 receiver impact the Vikings’ offense?

Here’s how Cousins performed when targeted each of his receivers that year (per Pro Football Focus):
— Garcon: 110 targets, 102.9 rating
— Crowder: 92 targets, 112.9 rating
— Jackson: 89 targets, 107.2 rating
Now compare that to the 2018 Vikings receivers.
— Thielen: 149 targets, 115.4 rating
— Diggs: 141 targets, 107.9 rating
— Treadwell: 47 targets, 80.3 rating

I know the Vikings tried hard to bring in Alshon Jeffery a couple years ago, but that was before they were paying Diggs and before they knew what they had in Thielen. 

I don't know why we keep hearing all this talk about the Vikings bringing in a star free agent receiver. Doesn't make any sense. He'd likely make more money than Thielen, which would create turmoil. Even if the Vikings extend Thielen, then you have a huge imbalance of money directed to receiver that would cripple other parts of the team. 

That 3rd receiver is a need that is much more likely to be filled in the draft. Speaking of which, there is a Diggs Jr. in Deebo Samuel and a Thielen look alike in Riley Ridley. Possible both could be there in the 2nd round. 

While I do think another receiver would help the offense and Cousins, and maybe even Diggs and Thielen, as MaroonBells said, getting one in FA doesn't seem likely or logical. Two issues: how could we afford them, and why would a "star" want to play #3 receiver? Antonio Brown or Golden Tate will both want to be undeniable #1 targets where they go. Even a lower-tier WR like Tyrell Williams or Donte Moncrief will get opportunities without two receivers ahead of him. I like the Chiefs Chris Conley but he is also aiming to get more opportunities than a #3.

So we're either looking at the draft or bringing in a FA who was a disappointment elsewhere and looking for  a chance to shine in new environs - like Kevin White or Breshad Perriman (did the Vikings bring him in for a tryout last season?). Longshot gambles.

I think Beebe or Zylstra might be a decent #3 next season.  Unless we improve the pass protection, it won't matter much anyway.

Why does Kirk need the best trio of WR's?
Who was the number 3 in MN in 2017?

There is talk of getting him a better TE also.
Kyle ranked 7th and 10th in catches, yards, and TD's
Who was the TE for MN in 2017?
Just improve the O lime and stop with the excuses for this guy already.

All the experts said MN needed a better QB than they had in 2017.
So they fixed that with Kirk.

Now that it backfired, the rest of the team somehow needs improving?

@"purplefaithful" said: Here’s how Cousins performed when targeted each of his receivers that year (per Pro Football Focus): — Garcon: 110 targets, 102.9 rating — Crowder: 92 targets, 112.9 rating — Jackson: 89 targets, 107.2 rating Now compare that to the 2018 Vikings receivers. — Thielen: 149 targets, 115.4 rating — Diggs: 141 targets, 107.9 rating — Treadwell: 47 targets, 80.3 rating

This seems like a weak link. I'm pretty much done with this guy.

@"HappyViking" said: I think Beebe or Zylstra might be a decent #3 next season.  Unless we improve the pass protection, it won't matter much anyway.

The elephant in the room is Treadwell. Just terrible and his play seemed to deteriorate as the season progressed. 

Yah, one of those 2 kids need to step-up this season for sure...

I mean its an oped in the middle of no mans land in terms of the nfl. Anything and every idea no matter how unlikley is worth of an article. 

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: Here’s how Cousins performed when targeted each of his receivers that year (per Pro Football Focus): — Garcon: 110 targets, 102.9 rating — Crowder: 92 targets, 112.9 rating — Jackson: 89 targets, 107.2 rating Now compare that to the 2018 Vikings receivers. — Thielen: 149 targets, 115.4 rating — Diggs: 141 targets, 107.9 rating — Treadwell: 47 targets, 80.3 rating

This seems like a weak link. I'm pretty much done with this guy.

@"holmanjp" said:

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: Here’s how Cousins performed when targeted each of his receivers that year (per Pro Football Focus): — Garcon: 110 targets, 102.9 rating — Crowder: 92 targets, 112.9 rating — Jackson: 89 targets, 107.2 rating Now compare that to the 2018 Vikings receivers. — Thielen: 149 targets, 115.4 rating — Diggs: 141 targets, 107.9 rating — Treadwell: 47 targets, 80.3 rating

This seems like a weak link. I'm pretty much done with this guy.

Well Kirk could have targeted Adam 39 and Diggs 49 fewer times and thrown to Tread 88 more times.
Thielen: 110
Diggs: 92
Threadwell: 135

There are only so many pass attempts in a year. Kirk was right near the top.

Okay Thread is the weak link.
Point is, you can get a better 3rd, all it does is takes away from the other 2.

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"holmanjp" said:

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: Here’s how Cousins performed when targeted each of his receivers that year (per Pro Football Focus): — Garcon: 110 targets, 102.9 rating — Crowder: 92 targets, 112.9 rating — Jackson: 89 targets, 107.2 rating Now compare that to the 2018 Vikings receivers. — Thielen: 149 targets, 115.4 rating — Diggs: 141 targets, 107.9 rating — Treadwell: 47 targets, 80.3 rating

This seems like a weak link. I'm pretty much done with this guy.

Well Kirk could have targeted Adam 39 and Diggs 49 fewer times and thrown to Tread 88 more times.
Thielen: 110
Diggs: 92
Threadwell: 135

There are only so many pass attempts in a year. Kirk was right near the top.

Okay Thread is the weak link.
Point is, you can get a better 3rd, all it does is takes away from the other 2.

Not the targets that's the issue. Maybe the rating for #3 would be higher like Kirk did in Washington.

@"holmanjp" said:

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"holmanjp" said:

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: Here’s how Cousins performed when targeted each of his receivers that year (per Pro Football Focus): — Garcon: 110 targets, 102.9 rating — Crowder: 92 targets, 112.9 rating — Jackson: 89 targets, 107.2 rating Now compare that to the 2018 Vikings receivers. — Thielen: 149 targets, 115.4 rating — Diggs: 141 targets, 107.9 rating — Treadwell: 47 targets, 80.3 rating

This seems like a weak link. I'm pretty much done with this guy.

Well Kirk could have targeted Adam 39 and Diggs 49 fewer times and thrown to Tread 88 more times.
Thielen: 110
Diggs: 92
Threadwell: 135

There are only so many pass attempts in a year. Kirk was right near the top.

Okay Thread is the weak link.
Point is, you can get a better 3rd, all it does is takes away from the other 2.

Not the targets that's the issue. Maybe the rating for #3 would be higher like Kirk did in Washington.

He caught 66% which is right there with some big names like Jones and Brown.

QB rating low is because Kirk likes to throw 3 yard passes when its 3rd and 7.
So ya the play was not successful.
He only had 1 TD also a ding on the rating.

I wonder what his rating was throwing to Robinson? 

Wanna help Cousins?

OL
TE
OL

Draft or free agency, I don't care, but it's hard to complete passes from your back

OLine is the most important upgrade, as it helps Cousins and lets us lean on the run when we need to.  That said, getting another receiving threat would go a long way.  The more receiving threats you have the better because it lets you lean a decent player against their worse coverage guys and it makes you more injury resilient.

@"medaille" said: OLine is the most important upgrade, as it helps Cousins and lets us lean on the run when we need to.  That said, getting another receiving threat would go a long way.  The more receiving threats you have the better because it lets you lean a decent player against their worse coverage guys and it makes you more injury resilient.

The Viking's passing game relies so heavily on the play-action.  This takes some time and you need linemen that can sustain the pocket in order for the quarterback to go through the motions of setting it up.  In reality, our offensive line sucks.  Addressing the offensive line in either the draft/free agency or both.  This is a priority.

@"holmanjp" said: Who was the number 3 in MN in 2017?

Good question but no one has answered it here. The #3 receiver in both seasons was Kyle Rudolph, but after that it was, both years, a RB. In 2017, that player was Jerick McKinnon with 51 catches for 421 yards. In 2018 it was Dalvin Cook with 40 for 305. Fewer catches, lower ypc. Injuries, OL, and OC all were legitimate factors, but ultimately McKinnon was a more productive outlet receiver for Keenum in 2017.
But looking at RBs points to the bigger factor - rushing production. In 2017, Murray, McKinnon, and Cook gained +1750 yards on the ground, but in 2018 Cook and Murray had <1200. Upgrading our #3 WR from Treadwell would be a nice tweak, but give Cousins the same kind of running game Keenum had if you want to compare them. Maybe people are fantasizing about the wrong former Steeler to fix the Vikings offense??
 

@"ArizonaViking" said:

@"medaille" said: OLine is the most important upgrade, as it helps Cousins and lets us lean on the run when we need to.  That said, getting another receiving threat would go a long way.  The more receiving threats you have the better because it lets you lean a decent player against their worse coverage guys and it makes you more injury resilient.

The Viking's passing game relies so heavily on the play-action.  This takes some time and you need linemen that can sustain the pocket in order for the quarterback to go through the motions of setting it up.  In reality, our offensive line sucks.  Addressing the offensive line in either the draft/free agency or both.  This is a priority.

Half of the WRs in the AAF could do a better job...

@"holmanjp" said: Why does Kirk need the best trio of WR's? Who was the number 3 in MN in 2017?

There is talk of getting him a better TE also.
Kyle ranked 7th and 10th in catches, yards, and TD's
Who was the TE for MN in 2017?
Just improve the O lime and stop with the excuses for this guy already.

All the experts said MN needed a better QB than they had in 2017.
So they fixed that with Kirk.

Now that it backfired, the rest of the team somehow needs improving?

How did it backfire?  The OL had a truly horrible season, Cook was still out much of the time, and our initial OC wasn't working well with Zimmer.

Oh, and that "3rd receiver", despite Cousins' attempts to work with him, is an undeniable bust...one that cost the Vikings dearly in some games.

Cousins has a TON to do to live up to his contract, but if the line can't keep a QB upright...any QB is toast.  The game is still won and lost in the trenches.

In the meantime, Cousins still managed numbers the Vikings hadn't seen in years...so the people determined to paint him as a failure are bizarre to me.

@"Zanary" said:

@"holmanjp" said: Why does Kirk need the best trio of WR's? Who was the number 3 in MN in 2017?

There is talk of getting him a better TE also.
Kyle ranked 7th and 10th in catches, yards, and TD's
Who was the TE for MN in 2017?
Just improve the O lime and stop with the excuses for this guy already.

All the experts said MN needed a better QB than they had in 2017.
So they fixed that with Kirk.

Now that it backfired, the rest of the team somehow needs improving?

How did it backfire?  The OL had a truly horrible season, Cook was still out much of the time, and our initial OC wasn't working well with Zimmer.

Oh, and that "3rd receiver", despite Cousins' attempts to work with him, is an undeniable bust...one that cost the Vikings dearly in some games.

Cousins has a TON to do to live up to his contract, but if the line can't keep a QB upright...any QB is toast.  The game is still won and lost in the trenches.

In the meantime, Cousins still managed numbers the Vikings hadn't seen in years...so the people determined to paint him as a failure are bizarre to me.