Vikings' injuries and impact on this year

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

QB, RB, and LT are arguably the three most important positions on a football team, and the Vikings have lost all three to injury...likely for the season. And all three were first round draft picks...two of them, all-pros, and one a promising young QB looking at a breakout year. It's almost unfathomable to think this club can have a successful season after having lost players at these three key positions.

And yet, optimism still abounds. The Vikings beat a Packer team last week that is a popular choice to make it to the Super Bowl, and they did it with very little contribution from Kalil and Peterson (and of course none from Bridgewater). It was only a 3-point win at home, but if they could have recovered just 2 of the 3 fumbles that were there for the taking, this would have been a blowout.

As I look at the schedule, I still see 12 wins through my rose colored glasses. They don't have much of a chance to win this weekend, but the rest of the season looks promising. If they are able to win 12 games this year, what an accomplishment that will be for this coaching staff. The news has been very disappointing, but I still feel excitement for this season.

[TAFKASP]

QB is a non-issue as Bradford is the better player IMO. The throws he made in his first game with the Vikings are the throws Teddy would never attempt, or on the deep ball, would never hit. Could Teddy improve? Sure, but Sam is a natural passer, Teddy is not, and never will be. Give me a potential game breaker at QB over another 5-10 years of game management.

There is no indication AD was going to break out of his slump at 31, nor that the line would suddenly open holes for him. AD is also one dimensional, if he's in the game it simplifies the defensive coordinator's job. In years past he had the power and speed to make teams pay, last year it was clear he had lost a step, and this year it looked like he lost a few more. It may be my purple tinted glasses but I think with a quality QB and RBs who're a threat in all aspects of the game the Vikings will actually be no worse off than with AD, and the opportunity to be better is there.

Kalil, outside of his rookie season what have they lost other than a wasted high 1st round pick?

Teams are not going to stack the box on 99 out 100 plays anymore and that will impact the passing game, but it'll open up the running game which can then add that element of unpredictability back to an offense that hasn't had it since Favre was under center. I'd rather move on from AD than hold out hope that he'll somehow regain his lost form. I'd rather move forward with a QB that has all the tools, but an unimpressive track record largely due to the bad teams and constantly changing offensive coaches/systems he's played in than hope Teddy will suddenly start making passes he's not shown any inclination to even try in the past. And finally, I'd rather not even talk about Kalil, he doesn't matter, he hasn't mattered, he's far and away the worst left tackle in the NFL this season and hasn't been much better in recent years.

Edit: The injuries can stop any time now!

[bleedspeed]

Who is AD?

[bleedspeed]

Who is AD?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

You and I differ on Kalil, SP. Far from the worst LT, I actually see him as one of the best LTs in the league, when healthy...the problem is that outside of his rookie year, he has been healthy for about 2 1/2 games. I just have the greatest respect for the guy, though, because I've heard it said that he has played through injuries that no other player would. I had the binoculars on him often Sunday night, and it was painful to watch him play...and he got beat a lot. But I think replacing him with a 2nd year guy that has never played LT is going to be a big problem this week...I think a hurt Kalil (but still able to play) is better than a healthy Clemmings. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm afraid Carolina wins big this week.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Who is AD?

Peterson's preferred nickname is All Day...hence, AD. I'm more of an AP guy myself.

[Monster]

Good thread LST. The thing about the NFL is that it's more of a team game and like SP said it's very easy to say Bradford is simply the better player than Teddy. I LOVE Teddy but also like Bradford but I think Bradford is an upgrade IF healthy. We will see.

Norv said the other day Clemmings took a lot of practice reps at LT and got work during preseason when Kalil was hurt. Obviously the coaches believe in these guys but I do think they feel somewhat good about Clemmings. I think even when Kalil has been battling injuries he has probably been a little better than fans tend to give him credit for because everyone wants a top guy there. He wasn't able to be that guy but he wasn't the disaster people claimed him to be. That's still a disappointment based on his salary combined with his former draft position.

As for RB the Vikings did ok a couple seasons ago with Asiata who some Vikings fans say completely sucks so maybe AP isn't so valuable after all. ;)

[TAFKASP]

You and I differ on Kalil, SP. Far from the worst LT, I actually see him as one of the best LTs in the league, when healthy...the problem is that outside of his rookie year, he has been healthy for about 2 1/2 games.

We don't really differ then as I agree with that, but I'm more Zim like in that if you can't play I don't want to talk about you. He simply cannot stay healthy, he makes Rubio look like an iron man, but if he can't stay healthy then you cannot build your team around him given he plays one of the most important positions on offense.

I'd love to see Kalil play a healthy season, I'd also like to drink all the beer I want without getting a beer gut, neither is likely to happen.

I just have the greatest respect for the guy, though, because I've heard it said that he has played through injuries that no other player would. I had the binoculars on him often Sunday night, and it was painful to watch him play...and he got beat a lot. But I think replacing him with a 2nd year guy that has never played LT is going to be a big problem this week...I think a hurt Kalil (but still able to play) is better than a healthy Clemmings. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm afraid Carolina wins big this week.

I believe Clemmings played LT in college and understand he left a lot to be desired last season at RT. But given the choice between Kahlil gutting out and terrible performance and giving a healthy guy an opportunity to play, and possibly grow into that role I'll take the healthy guy... and it appears the coaching staff agree with me! :)

Regarding Kahlil being one of the best, he's currently among the lowest rated offensive tackles in the league by PFF so it's going to take an impressive effort to be worse in his current condition. Kahlil would be great if he could stay healthy, I would be an NBA All Star if only I could shoot, pass, defend, jump, run, grow 3-6" in height, and not fall flat on my face every time I attempt to do any of those things!

[TAFKASP]

As for RB the Vikings did ok a couple seasons ago with Asiata who some Vikings fans say completely sucks so maybe AP isn't so valuable after all. ;)

And don't forget they played that season with a rookie QB that even this season the fans hopes were he'd finally have a break out season. The second consideration is that that team didn't have the offensive skill position talent they posses this season so with a good veteran QB and Diggs and company the offense will struggle to not be better than that season.

[Monster]

You and I differ on Kalil, SP. Far from the worst LT, I actually see him as one of the best LTs in the league, when healthy...the problem is that outside of his rookie year, he has been healthy for about 2 1/2 games.

We don't really differ then as I agree with that, but I'm more Zim like in that if you can't play I don't want to talk about you. He simply cannot stay healthy, he makes Rubio look like an iron man, but if he can't stay healthy then you cannot build your team around him given he plays one of the most important positions on offense.

I'd love to see Kalil play a healthy season, I'd also like to drink all the beer I want without getting a beer gut, neither is likely to happen.

I just have the greatest respect for the guy, though, because I've heard it said that he has played through injuries that no other player would. I had the binoculars on him often Sunday night, and it was painful to watch him play...and he got beat a lot. But I think replacing him with a 2nd year guy that has never played LT is going to be a big problem this week...I think a hurt Kalil (but still able to play) is better than a healthy Clemmings. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm afraid Carolina wins big this week.

I believe Clemmings played LT in college and understand he left a lot to be desired last season at RT. But given the choice between Kahlil gutting out and terrible performance and giving a healthy guy an opportunity to play, and possibly grow into that role I'll take the healthy guy... and it appears the coaching staff agree with me! :)

Regarding Kahlil being one of the best, he's currently among the lowest rated offensive tackles in the league by PFF so it's going to take an impressive effort to be worse in his current condition. Kahlil would be great if he could stay healthy, I would be an NBA All Star if only I could shoot, pass, defend, jump, run, grow 3-6" in height, and not fall flat on my face every time I attempt to do any of those things!

Um it's a bit of a nitpick on your rant but I think saying Kalil isn't an iron man might be a bit unfair comparing him to Rubio. He is about to miss the first game of his entire career. He has had injury problems sure but he has played and it's probably a bit of the reason why he seems to have had support from Zimmer and his coaching staff.