Minnesota Vikings faithful! This week, in honor of Jim Cramer (!), Mad Money host, and exclamation-point enthusiast, I’ll be telling you what you should:
- Buy! Or what I think is on a positive trajectory
- Sell! what I see that could be on a downward trend
- And hold! something I think you should have already bought into and should continue to believe in.
Additionally, I will provide something to watch out for that could develop in the coming weeks.
Buy
Akayleb Evans: With Cameron Dantzler unable to return to the game after getting injured, fourth-round rookie Akayleb Evans saw his first considerable action. Evans did very well, allowing negative-two receiving yards and a passer rating of just 42.4. On fourth-and-one, with five minutes left in the third quarter, he came up with a crucial pass breakup on Terry McLaurin. Evans also came down from his spot to make some big tackles against the run whenever running backs looked to bounce the ball to the outside. It was an impressive performance for his first game, and he should only get better as the season continues. Look for him to get more snaps in the coming weeks.
T.J. Hockenson’s role: After coming to a new team in the middle of the week, you would have thought Hockenson might not be too involved in the game plan. You would have been wrong. The former Iowa tight end caught all nine of his targets for 70 yards, finishing as the Vikings’ second-best pass catcher in terms of yards. His ability to work over the middle and be the safety blanket for Cousins is something the offense didn’t have. He can also create more space for Jefferson to operate on the sideline and in the middle of the field.
Harrison Smith’s new role: Harrison Smith is still an integral part of the defense, but he has played a much different role this season than in the past. He hasn’t played near the line of scrimmage as often and has been playing more coverage than usual. Despite the change, Smith has been just as impactful, recording his fourth interception of the season and his third in three weeks against the Commanders.
Danielle Hunter in a 3-4: Danielle Hunter hasn’t had the smoothest transition into this new defensive scheme. His early struggles led some fans to suggest that he be cut next season to save money or included in a trade package at the deadline. Despite these suggestions, Hunter has strung together a few solid performances and returned to form. When the Commanders’ offensive line emphasized doubling Za’Darius Smith, Hunter was able to get one-on-one matchups and dominate the opposing tackle. Hunter recorded seven pressures and two sacks in what might have been his best game of the season. As offensive lines continue to lock in on Smith, expect Hunter to produce more as he gets acclimated with the scheme.
Hold
Kevin O’Connell’s Scripted Play-calling: O’Connell’s scripted first drive yet again resulted in a touchdown. Since week one, O’Connell’s script to start the game has been the key for the offense to get ahead early and allow the defense to play with the lead. The scripted plays have allowed the offense to get into a rhythm early on and let Cousins plan out his reactions to the defense well in advance, staying one step ahead of them.
Za’Darius Smith’s Impact: Not enough can be said about Za’Darius Smith and his impact on the defense. He leads the NFL in pressures and sacks — 46 and 8.5, respectively — and his constant threat frees up other players to take advantage of their matchups. He didn’t record a sack against Washington, but he still had nine pressures and was able to deflect a pass. The Commanders’ offensive line prioritized double-teaming him, freeing up Hunter and D.J. Wonnum and allowing them to get in Taylor Heinicke‘s face. With the Vikings heading into the toughest part of their schedule, they will need to rely on Smith to get pressure and draw double teams like he did this week.
Team Culture: It doesn’t matter if it is Zygi Wilf dancing in the locker room, Brian Asamoah and his customized boombox, or Kirk Cousins wearing what could very well be over a million dollars around his neck, the team culture has never been better. This season, you can see that the team is enjoying themselves. Winning improves everything, but this team, specifically these coaches, are holding themselves accountable. The vibe is different than those of the years past. We’ll see how far it takes them.
Sell
Tight-End Screens: Though O’Connell has drawn up some amazing concepts to scheme players open, the tight-end screen is not his finest work. The Vikings have tried this play with Hockenson, Johnny Mundt, and Irv Smith, and none of the three have turned the play into a substantial gain. Hockenson caught two such screens for a total of negative-six yards against the Commanders. While I understand the idea of wanting to keep a defense honest and not allow them to work downfield immediately after play action, the play hasn’t worked yet. It is almost like the Vikings are forfeiting a down.
Adam Thielen and K.J. Osborn: As much as it pains me to say it, I don’t think Thielen or Osborn will be able to recapture their form from last season. Osborn hasn’t been as involved in the passing game, and it looks like there is a lack of chemistry between him and Cousins. Thielen is still producing some big plays, but he hasn’t been at the same level as in the past. He struggles to make catches that were once routine for him, and the defensive backs seem to be reading his routes much better than before. I am not saying he is washed, but he certainly isn’t the same guy that he was in the past few seasons.
Ezra Cleveland: Cleveland had the worst day for any Vikings offensive lineman in recent memory, allowing nine pressures and recording a PFF pass-blocking grade of 0.0. Washington’s five-lineman defense was a challenge for the entirety of the offensive line, but Cleveland specifically was unable to keep Cousins upright. With the Vikings playing defensive tackles like Ed Oliver, Quinnen Williams, and Christian Barmore soon, the interior offensive line – and Cleveland and Ed Ingram, specifically – will need to be much better.
Watch
OBJ To the Vikings: With Thielen and Osborn not playing up to par, it may be worth monitoring any rumors about Odell Beckham Jr. to the Vikings. OBJ has said that he is looking to join a contender and a team that he has some familiarity with in terms of players and coaching. With the Vikings, he gets a contending team that features fellow LSU players Hunter, Patrick Peterson, and Justin Jefferson. He also would have O’Connell, his old offensive coordinator, as the head coach using a scheme he is already familiar with.
He would be surrounded by a load of other weapons in Dalvin Cook, Hockenson, Jefferson, Thielen, and Osborn, who could take the pressure off of him while he eases into the team and gets ready for the postseason. If the Vikings take down the Bills next week, they could be the perfect fit.
