Nov 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) shown on the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports.
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the October 28th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to DustinBakerNFL@gmail.com.
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Answer: No. Those theories are preposterous.
Addison personally squashed any trade rumors linked to his name on Instagram this week, a few days after he captioned a photo with “FREE 3,” his personal motto since his collegiate days at Pittsburgh.
Folks interpreted “FREE 3” on an Addison photo as an impending trade request or sign of disgruntlement, and they were wrong. Addison posted a picture of himself at Pittsburgh using the same phrase — Free 3 — and it would’ve been impossible for him to be traded from his college team.
It’s just the guy’s motto. Plain and simple.
Addison specifically responded to The Nightcap Show, hosted by former NFLer Shannon Sharpe, telling Sharpe to do his homework about the origin of his saying. “FREE 3,” per Addison, is a slogan to “let him loose” or get him the ball — similar to an athlete saying or tweeting LFG — not a demand to leave an organization.
He ain’t going anywhere.
Answer: Yes, a little bit.
Why? Well, the defense stopped working.
Vikings Defense,
NFL Ranking,
per EPA/Play:
Week 1-5: 1st
Week 6-8: 28th
The problem? The pass rush. A lack of pressure on Jared Goff (Detroit Lions) and Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) has caused the passing defense to plunge — from first to worst in a hurry.
Vikings Defense,
NFL Ranking,
per DEF Passing EPA/Play:
First 5 Games: 1st
Last 2 Games: 32nd
This needs immediate repair. Otherwise, yes, this season will turn out exactly like 2016.
Answer: Soon. Very soon.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said last week about Turner: “He’s a young player in a defense where the roles and responsibilities sometimes in-game can adjust based on what we’re seeing.”
“I think we’ve got a really deep outside linebacker room with Gink (Andrew Van Ginkel) and (Jonathan) Greenard, Pat Jones, and then Haddy (Jihad Ward) has got his role. We’re going to continue to see Dallas have an impact. It may be a growing thing as we go here, but trust me, I’ve got a ton of confidence in Dallas. He’s growing within a pretty high-level IQ defense.”
Turner’s time is coming. Don’t be worried at all about his utilization. Sometimes, rookies take a few games longer than fans would like.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.