Vikings

NOTEBOOK: Keenum's Third Act, Detroit's Knack for INTs & Jeff Locke's Return

Photo Credit: Kyle Hansen

With Sam Bradford ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions (knee), Case Keenum will get his third consecutive start as the Minnesota Vikings look to tie the Green Bay Packers for the NFC North lead with a win.

Keenum’s QBR was over 70 points higher last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers than it was the previous week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Head coach Mike Zimmer said that offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur geared last Sunday’s gameplan more toward Keenum’s strengths, which seemed to show up in the form of more roll-outs and deeper throws.

“I think a lot of it had to do with the timing of when he knew he was going to play, changing the plan,” said Zimmer. “I think he was confident going in, felt good about the plays, and then you have to give all the guys some credit, they executed.”

Perhaps Keenum’s greatest execution was a quick-snap in the third quarter that caught Tampa Bay off guard. The Vikings had a 2nd-and-9 and completed a six-yard pass to Stefon Diggs at their own 41-yard line to make it 3rd-and-3. Minnesota guessed correctly that Tampa Bay would be switching personnel in a third-down, short-yardage situation, and it didn’t hurt that the Buccaneers were preoccupied with what they thought was a potential Diggs fumble.

The Vikings got to the line quickly and Keenum snapped the ball with 31 seconds on the play clock. The Buccaneers had 13 men on the field, giving Minnesota a free play that sprung Diggs for a 59-yard touchdown.

“It was just a feel,” said Shurmur. “We were in the right part of the field, right down and distance for that play that we’ve practiced in the past. Tempo is part of my DNA, and our players have embraced it, our coaches have embraced it. It ended up being good on both ends.”

Pick-happy Lions

After having a negative turnover margin a year ago, the Lions lead the league in the take-give department through three weeks with a plus-six differential. That includes seven interceptions: three of Carson Palmer, one of Eli Manning and three of Matt Ryan.

Glover Quin and Darius Slay have two interceptions apiece, while Quin and Miles Killebrew each have a pick-six on the season.

The Lions deserve credit for being opportunistic, but they’ve been the beneficiaries of some good luck. Four of their interceptions have come on tipped balls that hit the hands of the intended receiver. In their game against the Cardinals, Palmer surrendered one interception on a bad overthrow and another on a miscommunication with a receiver.

Arguably, the only time the Lions schemed a team into an interception was in the first half against the Falcons, when Quin jumped a route and intercepted Ryan, the defending NFC champion quarterback.

The Vikings were victimized by the Lions secondary on Thanksgiving Day last year when the Lions ran a “trap” and Bradford threw a game-changing interception to Slay that resulted in a Detroit walk-off field goal.

“They do a good job of getting pressure on the quarterback,” said Zimmer. “They play tight in coverage. They are very well coached scheme-wise, fundamentally sound, and they are around the football so they end up getting a lot of picks.”

Locke comes back

When the Vikings said goodbye to punter Jeff Locke, they probably didn’t expect to see him back in their division.

He’ll be wearing Honolulu Blue on Sunday, however, after being signed by the Lions on Sept. 12 to replace the injured Kasey Redfern, who tore his ACL. Locke was previously cut by the Indianapolis Colts before the season.

The left-footed Locke punted in three different home stadiums in his four years with the Vikings and averaged a net of 39 yards in his only year punting at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The former UCLA punter has also been handling kickoffs for Detroit, something he barely did during his time in Minnesota.

“He has a good enough leg,” said special teams coordinator Mike Priefer. “He’ll try and kick touchbacks against us, try and kick them high and deep, keep us off balance. He’s done a good job for them so far.”

Locke notched five touchbacks against the Falcons in Week 3, but Atlanta did have one return of 38 yards. As a punter, he is averaging over 40 yards net through two games.


Listen to Sam Every Week on the Cold Omaha Staff Pod!

Vikings
The Vikings Are Getting Caught In the NFL Draft Silly Season Vortex
By Tom Schreier - Mar 29, 2024
Vikings
Finalizing the Roster: New Signings, Contracts, and Draft Day Rumors
By Matt Johnson - Mar 28, 2024
Vikings

Did the Vikings Ultimately Come Out Ahead In Free Agency?

Photo Credit: Kyle Hansen

The Minnesota Vikings may have had the most active and impactful free agency session in the NFL, even though they didn’t sign as many new players as […]

Continue Reading