At 4-7, It’s Time for Vikings to Focus on Development

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Nov 23, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback

(5) and Green Bay Packers quarterback

(12) talk after the game at TCF Bank Stadium. The Green Bay Packers win 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Here we are again, pushing December and trying to find silver linings for our non-playoff bound Minnesota Vikings. Injuries and legal issues have left the team undermanned and irrelevant. After a 24-21 loss to the Packers, it’s time for the Vikings to take a hard look in the mirror and figure out how to contend next year.

You just can’t win games with an offense as stagnant as the Vikings has been. They’ve scored under 20 points in 7 of 11 games this season. That just puts too much pressure on a defense that has done the best it can.

Let’s not forget, Teddy is only 21. You can’t expect him to be Drew Brees yet. I have all the faith in the world that Teddy can lead this team long term. But first and foremost, the guy needs better weapons. Without Adrian Peterson carrying the load, it’s easy to tell how desolate our WR corps are. Cordarrelle Patterson can’t get off the line. Kyle Rudolph has been injured and looks slow right now. Jarius Wright hasn’t been the downfield threat we’d hoped he’d be. Greg Jennings has been good, but he’s not getting any younger. For these reasons, I wouldn’t mind picking up a big-name WR in the first round of the coming draft.

Not only does Teddy need time to improve, he needs more time in the pocket. The Vikings offensive line was a supposed to be a strength this season. Well, it hasn’t been. Losing Brandon Fusco was a HUGE disappointment and while I don’t think Kalil has been quite as horrific as everyone else does, he’s taken a major step back. That’s not what you want to see from your left tackle. I don’t believe the Vikings will give up on him, but things have to turn around for 75 or Teddy is going to get injured before he gets going.

As far as defense is concerned, stay the course. Their improvement from last season can not be understated. The biggest improvement has been pass coverage. Xavier Rhodes looks like he’s rounding into form, Josh Robinson is much improved from last season and Harrison Smith hasn’t taken a step back from his elite play. If Anthony Barr is as good as we think he is, we’re set at outside linebacker. It hasn’t always been pretty, but under Mike Zimmer this defense is on the right track.

With a new coaching staff and an extremely young team, it’s important that Vikings fans see the big picture. Things have not gone as planned this year for many reasons. Hopefully, with a few positions sured up there is a light at the end of what has been a very dark, depressing tunnel.