So who should start at QB?
I was looking at the online poll on our web site. And currently, 65 percent of the respondents agreed with the two starters I wrote about in my story today. Remarkably, if healthy, the respondents also wanted Brooks Bollinger (19 percent) ahead of Brad Johnson (16 percent).
But here's my take. I think Bollinger is too injured to play; otherwise, he may well be the starter. I just don't see someone who needs the the help of two people to dress taking some shots against the likes of Shaun Rogers.
As for Jackson, I think he needs to play down the stretch. But I'm not sure he should start Sunday. It has nothing to do with his comments. Those are overblown; this kid believes in himself. But he does not want to disrespect Johnson or speak out of the box. It's not his style.
What would concern me is starting him at Ford Field.
It's not exactly Kansas City or Seattle. But it's still a road game.
The Vikings are just one game out of a wild-card spot, but four teams are ahead of them.
Why not rotate Jackson in for a few series, like they have with rookie center/tackle Ryan Cook? Let Johnson start, but give Jackson some playing time as the backup.
I know, I know. Quarterbacks complain that they get out of a rhythm. But let's be honest, how often have we seen Johnson and the offense clicking on all cylinders?
So why not let Jackson run the final series of the first half, and perhaps the first one or two of the second?
Any thoughts?
But here's my take. I think Bollinger is too injured to play; otherwise, he may well be the starter. I just don't see someone who needs the the help of two people to dress taking some shots against the likes of Shaun Rogers.
As for Jackson, I think he needs to play down the stretch. But I'm not sure he should start Sunday. It has nothing to do with his comments. Those are overblown; this kid believes in himself. But he does not want to disrespect Johnson or speak out of the box. It's not his style.
What would concern me is starting him at Ford Field.
It's not exactly Kansas City or Seattle. But it's still a road game.
The Vikings are just one game out of a wild-card spot, but four teams are ahead of them.
Why not rotate Jackson in for a few series, like they have with rookie center/tackle Ryan Cook? Let Johnson start, but give Jackson some playing time as the backup.
I know, I know. Quarterbacks complain that they get out of a rhythm. But let's be honest, how often have we seen Johnson and the offense clicking on all cylinders?
So why not let Jackson run the final series of the first half, and perhaps the first one or two of the second?
Any thoughts?
posted by Unknown at 7:59 AM
9 Comments:
I love the Vikings and I try not to be a fair-weather fan. I also realize that the NFL is not the easiest place to eke out wins but I wanted to point out some facts and see if we all agree:
a) We have a first-year coach who never called plays before in his previous role as the Philadelphia Eagles Offensive coordinator
b) Our new coach has better personnel that his predecessor with the additions of Chester Taylor and Steve Hutchinson, even with the loss of Koren Robinson, yet Mike Tice's offense has outperformed our current offense.
c) Our current head coach is the one calling plays on offense, not the offensive coordinator
d) Our defense has the same personnel as last years team, yet has performed significantly better under Mike Tomlin
e) Our offense's philosophy has become 'take what defenses give you'. Last time I checked, defenses in the NFL were willing to give you 1-2 yards on each plan for a 3 and out but no big plays. Are we settling for 3 and outs now coz that is what defenses are giving us?
Conlusions: Maybe our problems are with our play calling on offense as evidenced by the fact that we cannot run a no-huddle in last weekend's game with Bollinger under center and our team down by 17 in the 4th quarter? Is our head coach having trouble devising plays and needs the extra time going into a huddle affords him? We all gasped when T-Jax said he is not really ready for the NFL game. Maybe he was covering for his head coach who really does appear not to be NFL ready.
Let's assume Jackson plays like a typical rookie. Is that any worse than what we've seen from Brad Johnson? At least the kid gets some experience.
Sean, I understand your point....but I think T-Jax should get the start Sunday even though it is a road game. In my opinion, Brad Johnson has already been given too many chances this season. He has played very, very badly and the argument that he gives us the best chance to win because he is an "experienced veteran" no longer holds true, and hasn't for some time.
There is almost no way that Jackson could play as poorly as Johnson has for most of the season. So I say simplify the offense a little bit so as not to put Jackson in over his head, give him the freedom to make plays with his legs as well as his arm, and let the kid show what he can do.
Jackson may be the spark the offense needs and even if he is not, we will at least get a clue over the next 4 games what we need to do at the QB position in the offseason.
What do you think Sean? Am I way off?
I was taught in journalism school not to use anonymous sources unless the information the sources had was of heightened importance or there was a special circumstance (such as fearing for their life) which made it necessary to be anonymous.
I'm thinking who starts for the Vikes at QB doesn't fit these exceptions.
So while I am in the Tavares Jackson camp, I hope Sean gets ripped by Childress for running this story. It's Bush-league--these are grown men, either print their names or don't run with the story...otherwise you look like a gossip columnist and not a journalist.
heres my take brad johnsons stats for this season are
Att Comp Yds Comp % Yds/Att TD TD % INT INT % Long Sack/Lost Rating
Brad Johnson 399 245 2483 61.4 6.2 8 2.0 14 3.5 46 24/169 71
if i was a coach id expect this from a rookie brad is slow footed cannot make plays outside of the pocket weaked arm and is making bad reads and throws.... we have a better chance to win now with tavaris then brad..... other then the seahawk game or the cardinal game he was just stunk at the qb postion and i dont ever wanna see him take anouther snap this season
Im a Jet's fan who watched my team go (I believe) 2-7) under Brooks Bollinger last year.
This year, we are significantly improved and Chad is back behind center. So I'm about to trash BB, right? Absolutely not. I joined this forum just to do the opposite.
I came to this blog b/c I'd heard that Brooks got some snaps the other day, and was excited to see he went 7-9 and led the Vikes downfield for a TD.
So why are the Jet's so much better without him? If you look at the other injuries we had that year on offense, Curtis Martin and his backup Derrick Blaylock, Wayne Chrebet, just to name a few skill positions; it was the multiple injuries at offensive line that killed the Jet's.
Kevin Mawae was a probowl center with the Jet's b/c he was such an important part of our offense. Besides his pass protection and runblocking, he would often pull from center to lead the rush on sweeps, and he was just the first injury on o-line that year.
In '05 BB was getting sacked on /three step drops before the 3rd step/. That's not an exageration, and even so he ended up with 140 rushing yards over the 11 games he played in (starting 9).
He was known for his toughness and got a couple of "Player of the Games" from local radio stations as a result. You can count on him to deliver at the last minute knowing he's gonna take a shot in the chops.
As for his passing, his stats 55% completion 7 td and 6 picks is not overly impressive. Bear in mind that of those 6 picks, 4 came in one bad game against a Carolina Defense(ive line) that ate us alive, the other two late in games while trying to mount hopeless comebacks, and of those 6 at least two litterally bounced of now demoted receiver Justing Macarins. If you look at his stats as you would a rookie's you'd say he managed games well, and put his team in the best position to win.
He throws a good long ball, but is just ok on 8-15 yard timing patterns. (Maybe he should play more?) Despite all his difficulties in what was really his first season, I must say I was impressed by his ability to make plays.
The Vikings situation to me is reminicent of the Bills in the late 90's with Johnson and Flutie. Flutie was the better QB then and probably still is, but because he's not as tall and statuesque as Johnson, he mostly sat.
My advice to the Vikings would be to put BB in for the rest of the season the minute he's ready to go, and next year, have an open competition with Jackson. If Jackson is special he may yet become the starter, but make no mistake about it BB is a football player.
See you guys two weeks from sunday, and both I and the Jet's D will be hoping Jackson or Johnson are behind center.
-FG
I would've thought people who went to journalism school and rip reporters for their methods would know how to spell the names of the players of which they speak....just my thoughts...
Sean, you might be on to something. Remember what the Falcons did with Vick his rookie year (2001)? They got him in a couple of series in half their games. Most of the time he was holding a clipboard for Chris Chandler, but they put him in there enough to get a feel for the pace of the game at the NFL level. And keep in mind the Falcons were actually 6-4 at one point that year. They finished 7-9, but got some valuable playing time in for Vick throughout the year. Granted, Vick is not your model QB, but the concept seem sound, nontheless. Could never understand why more teams haven't done this. Would love to see the Vikes do something like this with TJ. I am with you Sean...
Hi Sean,
This is my response as to who should start at QB:
Johnson deserves every word of praise that he has been given, and much
less complaint. Patience folks. We don`t have a Tony Romo to come in
and save the day. Not even a Jay Cutler.
It is a franchise tight-rope act to put Jackson in as the starter when
he admittedly doesn`t understand the defenses yet. He isn`t ready,
mentally or physically. He has yet to develop a sense of
timing with a group of receivers that, Wiggins aside, provide little
help to a struggling QB. He certainly has little feel for the speed of
regular season, 1st team defensive play, not to
mention the numerous reads and checks that take time to get comfortable
with.
With few exceptions, QB`s need at least a year of coddling before they
are mentally ready to be thrown to the lions, unless maybe it`s against
a team like the Lions. It is all to easy to break the
confidense of a promising and talented QB by advancing his schedule.
It`s little different than screwing up a pitcher by rushing him to fast.
Remember Adam Johnson¿ Few will in a few years. Happens
all the time. QBing is even more challenging than pitching, ergo more
perilous. For Jackson, it`s a bigger advance. He doesn`t have the
college experience against quality teams.
Bollinger doesn`t answer anything other than a chance to win a few
extra fans from North Dakota.
I`ve been saying it for 3 weeks now, the Chicago fans had better be
careful what they wish for, they might get it. It`s starting to come true.
Grossman is the most talent QB they`ve had since Sid
Luckman and they are destroying his confidence. Ruining a great natural
talent. He may never be the same. He may be out of the league in 2
years if many fools have their way. Joey Harrington is
fighting back from cranial corruption in Miami with some success.
Michael Vick still has a chance to be a complete QB, though I wouldn`t bet
on it. Young in Tennessee is growing old. Not in a good
way. Question: Do you want short-term adacuacy or long term success.
Tavaris is a baby in NFL QB terms. Let him take baby steps. He isn`t Matt
Leinart, Chalie Frye, Jay Cutler, or Peyton
Manning. He is more like Phillip Rivers, Matt Shaub, or Tom Brady.
Get B.J. some better protection from his tackles and some WR`s who can
play in the clutch and you`ll see a whole different animal out there.
Even the old man needs support to play his best, from
both his teammates and the fans.
While on the subject, Troy Williamson has been pretty bad, but the same
thinking applies. Don`t make final judgements on an otherwise receiver
for 3 years. Williamson is in his second year, he came
out as a junior, and he was never the go-to at South Carolina. Coming
out of college, Pro Football Weekly had him a 1st rounder, rated #4
behind Mike Williams in March.His stock rose
everywhere in April. They said that he lacked polish and would need
extra time to learn the game. He had never played in a pro style offense.
I don`t know his Wonderlik score, but maybe he isn`t the
brightest bulb in the brain garden. Give the kid a break, he could make
you all very happy down the line.
That is all
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