Dein erstes Forum » There’s going to be a lot of analysis and HAWT TAEKS ab

out the 2018 Minnesota Vikings season over the upcoming days and weeks Rashod Hill Jersey , but we’ve managed to find one that goes beyond simply placing everything on the shoulders of quarterback Kirk Cousins.Steve Palazzolo and Sam Monson from Pro Football Focus have their look back at the 2018 Vikings’ season, and while they put some of the blame on Cousins’ shoulders. . .as they should. . .it would appear that they’ve correctly identified the primary reasons for the Vikings’ failure to make the 2018 postseason.The video is 18 minutes long, and it’s worth your time to watch the whole thing, but I’ll throw in my tree fiddy on their three main points.Reason #1 - The offensive line, particularly the interior offensive line, was awfulThis isn’t anything different from what we’ve been hammering on all season, but the trio of Tom Compton, Pat Elflein, and Mike Remmers were all pretty awful for the entirety of the 2018 season. As I said in my offensive line post earlier today, I certainly think that Elflein is salvageable, particularly if he doesn’t have to spend his entire offseason rehabbing from injuries. Remmers and Compton, though, I don’t think you can do anything with. . .particularly if the Vikings continue to insist on playing Remmers at guard, where he’s awful.Only one team in the NFL gave up more quarterback pressures than the Vikings did this season, and that was the Houston Texans. Their quarterback, Deshaun Watson, set the record this season for most times sacked for a quarterback that led their team to the playoffs. The Vikings, as we’ve stated, didn’t do nearly enough to shore up their offensive line during the offseason http://www.thevikingslockerroom.com/authentic-jalyn-holmes-jersey , and it came back to bite them when the games counted.Reason #2 - The defense regressed from the incredibly high level they played at in 2017The 2017 Vikings’ defense was great at pretty much everything. . .they stopped the run, they stopped the pass, and they were historically great on third downs. In all of those categories this season, they were merely “good.” They dropped off considerably against the run for reasons I’m not entirely sure of, but they were still solid against the pass. However, there were times when they just couldn’t get a stop when they needed one, and even their third down defense failed at the most inopportune times.Out of 16 games this season, only three times did the Vikings allow opponents to convert more than 50% of their third down opportunities. Two of those games were against the Bears. On Sunday, after getting a touchdown to close the score gap to 13-10, the Vikings gave the ball back to the Bears at their own 25-yard line with their season hanging in the balance. The Bears faced six third downs on that drive, and here’s how they went:3-5-CHI 30 (:57) (Shotgun) M.Trubisky scrambles left end to CHI 42 for 12 yards (H.Smith).3-6-CHI 46 (14:54) (Shotgun) M.Trubisky pass short right to J.Wims to MIN 38 for 16 yards (T.Waynes).3-10-MIN 38 (13:31) (Shotgun) M.Trubisky sacked at MIN 45 for -7 yards (A.Barr). PENALTY on MIN-J.Kearse, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at MIN 38 - No Play3-6-MIN 29 (11:32) (Shotgun) M.Trubisky pass short left to T.Burton ran ob at MIN 20 for 9 yards.3-2-MIN 12 (9:31) (Shotgun) B.Sowell reported in as eligible. Direct snap to J.Howard. J.Howard left tackle to MIN 9 for 3 yards (J.Johnson; T.Johnson). PENALTY on CHI-M.Trubisky, Illegal Motion, 5 yards, enforced at MIN 12 - No Play.3-7-MIN 17 (9:07) (Shotgun) M.Trubisky pass short left to J.Wims pushed ob at MIN 8 for 9 yards (H.Hill)The Bears scored a touchdown, and essentially ended the Vikings’ season. They went 5-for-5 on third down (they converted one third down twice thanks to a penalty) against the best third-down defense in the NFL facing their biggest test of the season. That seemed to happen a lot throughout the season, but this one was the most egregious case of it.Reason #3 - And now we finally get to Kirk CousinsI am Womens Laquon Treadwell Jersey , by no means, suggesting that we absolve Kirk Cousins of all of the blame for the way this season went. But the “everything bad is because of Kirk Cousins” takes that have overrun social media today are so lazy and so utterly devoid of anything resembling a basis in reality that they don’t even rise to the level of “bad analysis.” They’re just “bad.” And lazy, if I didn’t already mention that, which is why they come largely from people that probably didn’t even watch a single Minnesota Vikings game this season.Cousins’ contract is going to magnify everything he does on the field, for better or for worse, and that’s fine. But I’m going to ask the same question that I’m pretty sure I’ve asked before. . .what were the other options?Case Keenum - Went to Denver and was. . .well. . .not great. Despite having a better run game and a better offensive line (because everyone has a better offensive line than Minnesota), Keenum took a pretty significant step back from his magical 2017 season. He also fell apart in games late in the year, and will be the starter next year in Denver only to caddy for his replacement that will be selected by Denver’s next head coach.Sam Bradford - Out of football. Don’t need to say much more than that.Teddy Bridgewater - Look, I know that everyone loves Teddy Bridgewater. Hell, I love Teddy Bridgewater, and who knows how much different things would have been if not for that one drop back in August of 2016? But there’s still no guarantee that he’s going to be even what he was. If you’re convinced that the Vikings were in a “short window” to win a championship, they weren’t going to take a chance on that without being completely sure about it.Others (like, I don’t know, A.J. McCarron or something) - You serious, Clark?The Vikings were too low in the draft to take a younger guy, and the only one that was available at the point that the Vikings drafted at was Lamar Jackson. Seriously. . .does John DeFilippo strike you as the kind of guy that would have had a decent plan in place for Lamar Jackson if it became necessary the way that Baltimore did? Hell, he didn’t even have a decent plan for Cousins, and he picked Cousins.The Vikings paid what they needed to for a quarterback that, quite frankly Linval Joseph Jersey , was still the best available option. Unless you’re able to draft and develop a quarterback, that’s going to happen sometimes. Does Kirk Cousins need to be better? He most certainly does, particularly in big situations. But if you’re doing an autopsy of everything that went wrong with the Vikings’ 2018 season, he’s not at the top of the list. Or second, for that matter.So, I’ve wound up going on for much longer than I had anticipated, but that’s how I see it. Again, you should watch the entire video, because the PFF folks do a much better job of explaining all of it than I do. The Vikings selected 20 year-old tight-end Irv Smith Jr. out of Alabama with their 2nd round, 50th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.They had the opportunity to trade down with this pick, per..."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Vikings 2018 SeasonVikings 2019 OffseasonU.S. Bank StadiumMinnesota Vikings PodcastsMinnesota Vikings 2019 NFL DraftBreaking Down Irv Smith Jr.New,78commentsCDTShareTweetShareShareBreaking Down Irv Smith Jr.Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY SportsThe Vikings selected 20 year-old tight-end Irv Smith Jr. out of Alabama with their 2nd round, 50th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.They had the opportunity to trade down with this pick, per Rick Spielman, but decided Smith was worth making their pick then and there.So let’s take a look at what Smith brings to the Vikings’ table.Versatile Tight-End With Complete Skill SetIrv Smith Jr. MeasurablesIrv Smith brings a full complement of desired skills at the tight end position to the Vikings.He’s a legitimate receiving threat with good speed for a tight end, with after the catch ability as well.He’s also a good blocker, both run and pass.But where he differs some from the prototypical tight end is his build.He’s a smaller tight-end, going about 242 lbs., and is only about 6’2 3/8”. He lined up in 11 different spots at Alabama http://www.thevikingslockerroom.com/authentic-jarius-wright-jersey , and is more of an H-back in this way - and a good compliment to the other tight ends on the Vikings roster.Overall, apart from his 40 time, Smith didn’t test all that well in agility drills.But the surprising thing is you don’t see that show up on tape very much at all.He may not always have tremendous burst to begin his routes, but he’s not the lumbering type of tight-end you often see - his routes are crisp, speedy, and he seems very fluid and with good balance.As a receiver, Smith’s production efficiency at Alabama compares favorably to both Iowa tight ends Fant and Hockenson.His catch rate percentage, yards per route run, and average yards per target were all better, per Pro Football Focus (PFF).In fact, Smith’s yards per route run was tied for best in this year’s tight end class.And last season, Smith was money when targeted.His passer rating when targeted was a whopping 157.7 - best in this year’s TE draft class.Also, for a move or receiving tight-end, Smith grades pretty well.He's down the list overall among tight ends in this draft class, but this includes all the blocking tight ends as well.He has the skill set and promise to improve in this area as well - both pass and run blocking - and most scouting reports commend his blocking ability.Smith is still green in terms of overall experience, which shows up in run-blocking and route-running, but he has plenty of talent and is likely to get much better in both areas. He has combination tight end talent but really flashes as a move blocker at fullback or wingback spots. His buildup speed sets him apart as a big, field-stretching option and once he gets rolling after the catch....Smith offers Pro Bowl potential as a well-rounded tight end prospect.- Lance ZierleinTremendous Scheme FitAs it stands now, Smith is very effective as a move or lead blocker from the fullback or wingback position - which is a little unusual in a receiving tight end.Alabama didn’t run a lot of outside zone plays Womens Matt Wile Jersey , but you can see in the game films at the end of this piece that Smith is very effective as a blocker in a variety of situations, but particularly as a run blocker, whether a lead blocker or just handling his assignment in-line or from a wingback spot.A versatile tight-end like Irv Smith is an asset in any scheme, but his ability to lead block from the backfield while also being a legitimate receiving threat present real difficulties for a defense in Gary Kubiak’s scheme with Vikings personnel.It would not be a surprise to see the Vikings run a lot of double TE sets with Rudolph in-line and Irv Smith lined up as wing-back just off the line of scrimmage, with Dalvin Cook at tailback and Diggs and Thielen outside.With Smith equally adept as a blocker and receiver, the Vikings can run or pass, take advantage of match-up issues, audible, and keep defenses off-balance by effectively disguising the play.At Alabama, Smith lined up in 11 different spots on offense, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Vikings use him in a similar way.Scouting ReportsHere are some summaries of scouting reports on Smith:Scouting FilmAfter Smith’s highlight reel showing off his receiving ability, there are several game tapes of Smith to give you a better idea of his complete skill set, along with how he was used at Alabama. Overall, I didn’t notice many miscues from Smith, apart from one drop and maybe a couple not so great - but not horrible - blocks.On the other hand, you see him make many key blocks consistently throughout the game films, and generally do very well after the catch.