The curious case of Mike Wallace

[fiestavike]

Exactly!

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Yikes! Not sure why anyone would want to see that.

[Jordysghost]

Yikes! Not sure why anyone would want to see that.

Yea, I agree Fiesta, Martz results were.. mixed, to say the least.

If you guys have issues with the protection now, just imagine Bridgewater running those 7 step dropbacks that Martz seemed to love so much.

[fiestavike]

Yea, I agree Fiesta, Martz results were.. mixed, to say the least.

If you guys have issues with the protection now, just imagine Bridgewater running those 7 step dropbacks that Martz seemed to love so much.

Martz idea of Max Protection was to get a guy named Max and put him in at OT.

[PurpleMustReign]

This is where I get mad at Norv. I know on a 3rd and like 15 or something, I saw Wallace, Johnson, and Diggs all going off the field. I was like WTF??? And of course, they did a dinky little dump off to Asiata, who got about 8 yards. Why don't you let your field stretchers STRETCH THE DAMN FIELD??? Have more than one of them go deep, they can't double both of them.
I dont blame Wallace for all of this, although his drops are certainly not helping. Norv Turner is really screwing the Vikings right now.

[The Breeze]

Martz idea of Max Protection was to get a guy named Max and put him in at OT.

That's a good one~
I even have imagined Brent Favre as OC for this group.

[Jordysghost]

That's a good one~
I even have imagined Brent Favre as OC for this group.

Oh gosh i'd love to see that so much.

Brett.... coaching.... lmfao that would be so priceless.

[The Breeze]

Oh gosh i'd love to see that so much.

Brett.... coaching.... lmfao that would be so priceless.

Me too. My football fantasy landscape is like the 'island of misfit toys'
Brent would draw up each play on an etch a sketch over on the sideline and it would be awesome.

[Jordysghost]

Me too. My football fantasy landscape is like the 'island of misfit toys'
Brent would draw up each play on an etch a sketch over on the sideline and it would be awesome.

[slapnut19]

the reason wallace had success in pitt. was big ben would throw 4-5 bombs a game to him. you aren't going to hit on all of them, but if you throw more than one a game i'm willing to bet they hit on a few. i don't thinkthe's back here next year unless he takes a major pay cut. from all i've read he's been a professional, a good teammate, and none of the issues he had in miami. you aren't going to find too many players who can get deep like he can so i think they find a way to keep him around next year on a much cheaper deal.

[losperros]

At what point can we just acknowledge the elephant in the room?

The Vikings are 31st in the league in passing plays of 20+ yards. They're 23rd in passes of 40+ yards. Their longest pass play this year is 52 yards and that was a catch and run by Wright.

Wallace has been better at both of his other NFL stops. He's a proven NFL WR having his worst season since his rookie year.

There's always shared blame in these situations. The OL has issues. There are reasons to question Turner too but let's face it, the Vikes have a QB who is hurting their downfield passing game. It's obvious, even if it's an unpleasant reality. Bridgewater's deep passing accuracy isn't good. He rarely fires the ball downfield with authority, especially when conditions are less than ideal. He seems reluctant to throw some of the seams and comeback routes. I don't know with the latter if he doesn't trust his receivers, doesn't trust what he's seeing or just doesn't want to turn the ball over but the reluctance is there. How many effective passing plays have we seen over the middle over the field? I don't mean short stuff, I mean the intermediate and deep throws. I'm not saying he can't throw any of these passes or that he never does it (he obviously does) but it's a weakness in his game.

He's looking increasingly impatient and quick to check down or run.

I know people don't want to hear it but it's true. When a team has this much trouble with their downfield passing game, the first and most logical place to look is at the guy throwing the football.

First off, Jim, if you're seeing an elephant in your room, it probably means you've dipped into the cheap Thanksgiving wine a little early.

Seriously, I completely agree with what you're saying. OTOH, if we're talking about improvement right now (and I think most of us are) then we also have to admit that Bridgewater is the best QB the Vikings have right now. So how can he up his game?

I think the other posts here about Norv getting some of the other playmakers (i.e. Patterson and Johnson) involved are valid. That's mostly because I think Turner opening his mind could make a difference immediately, especially when it comes to playing the skill players (including Bridgewater) according to their skills.

[slapnut19]

i have a feeling we will see a much better bridgewater when he gets indoors again next year. i don't think he's meant for cold weather games with a lot of wind. put in a climate controlled environment with hopefully a better line and i think we will see a lot more deep balls completed. i see a lot of brees in himi

[Mothman]

[First off, Jim, if you're seeing an elephant in your room, it probably means you've dipped into the cheap Thanksgiving wine a little early.

Nah, I'm just pals with an elephant named Bill.

Seriously, I completely agree with what you're saying. OTOH, if we're talking about improvement right now (and I think most of us are) then we also have to admit that Bridgewater is the best QB the Vikings have right now. So how can he up his game?

I think one way to do it is to trust his receivers and be decisive. For example, on comeback routes, he needs to fire the ball when he gets to the top of his drop and trust Wallace and his other receivers to make their breaks when they're supposed to and be on their spot. He has to have faith in what he sees and get rid of the ball, as he did on that TD to Rudolph Sunday.

He also has to resist the urge to come off the downfield routes so quickly and check down.

I'm sure there are other things he could do but I think those are two things that would improve his game, and the Vikes passing attack, immediately. He's fine when he can drop back and throw short passes in rhythm but they have to be able to do more... consistently.

I think the other posts here about Norv getting some of the other playmakers (i.e. Patterson and Johnson) involved are valid. That's mostly because I think Turner opening his mind could make a difference immediately, especially when it comes to playing the skill players (including Bridgewater) according to their skills.

I think that's valid too. Norv has to put the players in position to be successful.

[slapnut19]

i don't think experienced coaches like turner and zimmer are holding patterson or johnson back for that matter. they play who gives them the best chance to win. they've seen patterson for a season and a half now. if he's not on the field it's because of him, not some coach holding him back.

[PurpleMustReign]

Nah, I'm just pals with an elephant named Bill.

That doesn't make you look any better, Jim...

[Mothman]

That doesn't make you look any better, Jim...

You wouldn't say that if you knew Bill...