Questions Answered: Vikings’ Under-the-Radar Player, Improvement Area, a Cousins Rebound
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the September 12th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Vikings’ Under-the-Radar Player, Improvement Area, a Cousins Rebound
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.
Q: Who was your one under-the-radar guy for the Vikings in Week 1?
Answer: Jihad Ward.
Ward forced 4 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, and also played on the inside of the Vikings’ defensive line on pass-rushing downs. Some fans had Ward on the roster bubble this summer, but he arrived in Week 1 and shined.
Minnesota has lacked credible pass-rushing depth for a few seasons. With Ward, that streak may be over. It was “only one game,” but Ward played quite well, en route to a 79.9 PFF grade, which, of course, is starting-caliber production.
The Vikings don’t need Ward to start because of Jonathan Greenard, Dallas Turner, and Andrew Van Ginkel on the roster. Yet, Ward is a sweet perk on 3rd Downs, for example.
Q: How can the Vikings improve this week?
A: Two areas — and only two, really — interior offensive line pass protection and punting.
Right guard Ed Ingram and center Garrett Bradbury were thoroughly dominated by Dexter Lawrence and the interior of the Giants’ defensive line, so much so that Ingram, for instance, produced a PFF score south of 10.0. We didn’t think that was possible.
Then, Ryan Wright had a rough day at the office because of one bad punt, ranking him second-to-worst in the NFL per yards per punt net average. He can easily bounce back, so this one isn’t too panic-worthy.
On the whole, the Vikings didn’t exude too many weaknesses in the win over New York.
Q: Do you think Cousins will respond in Atlanta, or is that guy cooked?
Answer: He’ll respond — it’s just unclear if he’ll ever return to 2021 or 2022 form.
Foremost, the Falcons should stop using Cousins in pistol shotgun. Cousins is a play-action quarterback intermixed with shotgun formations. Atlanta mind-bogglingly said, “You are the pistol guy.”
Dumb.
His mobility may never be the same because of the Achilles tear — Aaron Rodgers looked significantly less mobile on Monday night, too — but the arm is still there.
We predict Cousins to bounce back but never truly reclaim his 30-touchdown status. It also stinks for his sake that Atlanta hits the road for a game with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night. Cousins-led teams don’t fare well in that building.
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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.
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