After starting 5-0, the Minnesota Vikings fell to 5-2 in just five short days. The team looked unbeatable throughout the first five weeks, particularly the defense, which looked otherworldly. Following two bad losses to the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams, this team suddenly has questions it must answer.
The defense has looked stagnant, and opposing defenses have moved the ball against it using chunk plays over the middle. The offense has also occasionally stalled out and hasn’t been able to produce much outside of a few deep passes to Justin Jefferson and some good Aaron Jones runs.
There’s good and bad news for the offense as they head into a Week 9 matchup against the 4-4 Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football. The good news is that they can expect T.J. Hockenson back in the lineup for the first time since tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 16 against the Detroit Lions last year.
The bad news is that Christian Darrisaw is out for the season after tearing his ACL against the Los Angeles Rams last week. The unfortunate reality of the NFL is that almost every team loses an integral player sometime throughout the season. The Vikings can’t use those losses as excuses. You have to push forward and find a way to succeed.
Minnesota took the first step by trading for veteran left tackle Cam Robinson to replace Darrisaw. Still, Robinson isn’t a one-for-one replacement for Darrisaw. Robinson has started 91 games in the NFL, so he’s a qualified left tackle. However, the Vikings must change the scheme to ensure they protect Sam Darnold.
Kevin O’Connell appears willing to make the necessary change:
I think they mix that in with a little bit more of a transition-type, fast-break offense, where they can get the ball out, get it in space to the playmakers, and not ask Darnold to hold it in that pocket. Play with that rhythm, timing, and decision-making that has gotten him to a unique place. He’s near the top of the league in quarterback rating and improving every single week. And my expectation is that’s gonna continue to happen throughout the season. I’ve been really proud of Sam.
Almost every QB aside from Patrick Mahomes has had more success when getting the ball out sooner rather than later. So O’Connell isn’t reinventing the wheel with this concept, but he can use it to help turn around the offense.
According to PFF, Darnold is actually the third-fastest QB when getting the ball out of his hands, with an average release time of 3.12 seconds. PFF also reveals that when Darnold gets the ball out of his hands in less than 2.5 seconds, he’s had an 81.4% completion rate while throwing for 502 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception.
So why is O’Connell trying to implement aspects of a fast-break offense when it’s already pretty fast? Because he realized that’s how Darnold thrives. We tend to forget that Darnold and KOC have been together for less than a year and that it takes time to learn strengths and weaknesses. With O’Connell’s realization of this and the unleashing of the new fast-break offense. The hope is that this unit — and this team — can get back on track.
