Questions Answered: Containing Hurts, the Irv Ease Back, Cine’s Usage
Dustin Baker
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The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the September 17th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
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Q: Will the Vikings be able to contain Jalen Hurts, a mobile quarterback, on Monday?
A: Well, Hurts and the Eagles cleaned Ed Donatell’s clock last year against the Denver Broncos, 30-13.
Not a good omen.
On his watch in Denver, the Broncos lost to Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Taysom Hill, the 2019 version of Josh Allen, and Jacoby Brissett. Donatell does not have a sterling history against running quarterbacks.
Hurts will likely do his thing against the Vikings. It will come down to how Minnesota’s offense responds — and if it’s enough.
Q: Do you think Irv Smith is being gradually eased back into action?
A: No.
His thumb should be fine by now. The Vikings told the world that Johnny Mundt was a better scheme fit against the Packers last weekend. Folks must face the reality that a Kevin O’Connell offense doesn’t require a big-name TE to tick.
Smith will probably find his groove soon, but O’Connell’s Los Angeles Rams won a Super Bowl with Tyler Higbee and the aforementioned Mundt as TE1 and TE2.
Employing a Travis Kelce-like tight end is not a requirement.
Q: How do you think the Vikings will use Lewis Cine on Monday, and how much?
A: Cine should get a handful of snaps on defense and even more on special teams.
Camryn Bynum is still the starter opposite Harrison Smith, so Cine can be worked in slowly and not emergently. Cine was drafted an afterlife plan for Harrison Smith. Anything he can do for the 2022 Vikings is gravy.
It will be neat to see his debut, though.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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