Post by Funkytown on Oct 20, 2017 21:03:33 GMT -6
Who likes the thread title?! I do! 
Here we go:
HASAN: Will Jerick McKinnon’s Stellar Running Continue? by Arif Hasan
Plenty more at the link (GIFs and analysis): zonecoverage.com/2017/vikings/hasan-will-jerick-mckinnons-stellar-running-continue/
Here we go:
HASAN: Will Jerick McKinnon’s Stellar Running Continue? by Arif Hasan
The Vikings, despite being down their starting quarterback and starting running back are still in position to make a serious playoff push. While it’s still early in the season, it’s relevant that they’re currently holding home field advantage in the playoffs as the NFC’s second team.
That kind of play — two wins in the last two games without either the passer or runner they intended to start the season with — is surprising and driven both by unexpected performances from Case Keenum and McKinnon.
We’ll see how sustainable McKinnon’s performance is, but for now his play has served as a fantastic fill-in for second-round draft pick Dalvin Cook. With 245 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns on only 44 touches, McKinnon has been a critical part of the Vikings’ success.
This is a good turnaround from the ire he was earning from Vikings fans in the first four games of the season, where he averaged 2.6 yards per attempt and was responsible for two fumbles.
It seems, however, that more people were disappointed in his kick return duties, one of which led to a fumble, and the lone snap he had as the option quarterback, where the running back-quarterback exchange led to the other fumble.
The Vikings have started drives on their own 24 after kickoffs on average, tied for 23rd in the league. While it’s not catastrophically bad, it’s certainly been questionable and has driven a lot of the antipathy Vikings fans had for McKinnon’s play.
Solely as a running back, McKinnon wasn’t lighting up the league, but with only 10 carries in the first four games, it’s kind of unusual that people were willing to give up on the Georgia Southern alum — particularly given his usefulness in the passing game. Cook only averaged 2.9 yards on his first 10 carries and no one was worried because that would have been absurd.
Now that McKinnon has averaged 5.1 yards per carry over the past two games, has he become good again? That more closely matches his 2014 and 2015 rates, as well as his end-of-season 2016 production.
That kind of play — two wins in the last two games without either the passer or runner they intended to start the season with — is surprising and driven both by unexpected performances from Case Keenum and McKinnon.
We’ll see how sustainable McKinnon’s performance is, but for now his play has served as a fantastic fill-in for second-round draft pick Dalvin Cook. With 245 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns on only 44 touches, McKinnon has been a critical part of the Vikings’ success.
This is a good turnaround from the ire he was earning from Vikings fans in the first four games of the season, where he averaged 2.6 yards per attempt and was responsible for two fumbles.
It seems, however, that more people were disappointed in his kick return duties, one of which led to a fumble, and the lone snap he had as the option quarterback, where the running back-quarterback exchange led to the other fumble.
The Vikings have started drives on their own 24 after kickoffs on average, tied for 23rd in the league. While it’s not catastrophically bad, it’s certainly been questionable and has driven a lot of the antipathy Vikings fans had for McKinnon’s play.
Solely as a running back, McKinnon wasn’t lighting up the league, but with only 10 carries in the first four games, it’s kind of unusual that people were willing to give up on the Georgia Southern alum — particularly given his usefulness in the passing game. Cook only averaged 2.9 yards on his first 10 carries and no one was worried because that would have been absurd.
Now that McKinnon has averaged 5.1 yards per carry over the past two games, has he become good again? That more closely matches his 2014 and 2015 rates, as well as his end-of-season 2016 production.
Plenty more at the link (GIFs and analysis): zonecoverage.com/2017/vikings/hasan-will-jerick-mckinnons-stellar-running-continue/
And some think he sucks? Never mind his 108yd TD in the preseason. Patterson is 3rd at 29.7.
