Breaking Down the Vikings New Additions in Week 1
Jhawthorn16
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The Vikings played very well this Sunday and got their first win of the season against the 49ers 24-16. The Vikings showed off their new quarterback as he threw for 244 yards, 2 touchdowns, and had a 95.1 quarterback rating. The Vikings also showed off their elite defense forcing a fumble and picking off Jimmy Garoppolo 3 times. The Vikings made many key additions this offseason, but let’s see how the biggest of them played and how they directly affected this win.
Kirk Cousins
If this is what Kirk Cousins will be for the Vikings all season, then he is worth every penny we paid him in the offseason. Cousins didn’t turn the ball over and as I pointed out he was efficient throwing the ball on a day where the run game wasn’t very efficient. Cousins’ touchdown throw to Stefon Diggs was a pass I don’t think Case Keenum, Teddy Bridgewater, or Sam Bradford could make. Cousins put the ball in a perfect spot for Diggs to catch, and I don’t think Cousins could have handed Diggs the ball any better. Cousins made plenty of throws where the ball placement and throw power were both great. Cousins had one pass that was a potential INT, but other than that his decision making was great as well. The Vikings can win a lot of games with a “game manager” at quarterback, and if Cousins can play the role of game manager and then in the one or two games when the Vikings need a big offensive day be elite, this team can win a championship.
Sheldon Richardson
Richardson looked like a game changer on the defensive line and if it was up to me I’d work on an extension for him immediately. The Vikings defensive line has three players on it that could be considered elite pass rushers. Teams are going to have to decide who to double team and with Linval Joseph absorbing two guys on every play, it leaves Everson Griffen, Danielle Hunter, and Sheldon Richardson 1-on-1, and with all of those guys being great pass rushers, one of them is bound to get home and get a sack or force a bad pass that can be intercepted. Richardson led the NFL with 7 quarterback pressures, had half a sack, and had the 4th best PFF grade at his position with an 89.8. Richardson helped dominate the 49ers offensive line as the 49ers line finished dead last in efficiency with a 71.1 rating. Richardson helped establish this defensive line as one of the best, and with him in the lineup the Vikings used a rotation of different pass rushers and defensive tackles, but always had one of the starting four in the game to make a difference.
Mike Hughes
Mike Hughes was drafted by the Vikings at #30 and many ridiculed the pick claiming the offensive line should have been the priority. During Sunday’s game, while Trae Waynes was injured, Hughes stepped into the #2 corner role and played very well. His most notable play was the pick-six he had when he sat under a slant route during a blitz from the Vikings. This play showed me Hughes’ football IQ, as he knew that since the Vikings were blitzing from the right of Garoppolo, Garoppolo would throw a quick pass to his right, straight to Hughes with his positioning. Another notable play from Hughes’ debut was his pass breakup in the endzone against Pierre Garcon. Hughes didn’t play the ball great on this play, and Garcon made a good catch, but Hughes put a good hit on Garcon to force the ball out and prevent a touchdown. Overall on the day, Hughes looked great and on 6 targets allowed 3 catches, broke up 2 passes, and had that amazing pick-six. Hughes allowed three catches for 56 yards, but 39 of those yards were on one play. PFF graded Hughes debut with a 73.1 total defense rating, a 73.2 coverage rating, an 80.0 tackling rating and a 66.1 rush defense rating. By PFFs metrics, all these rankings are considered above average or good, so I’d say Hughes contributed to the defense on Sunday. Hughes has the potential to be an elite corner in the NFL, and he may steal Trae Waynes Job or at least steal the slot corner job from Mack Alexander.
As I watched Sunday’s game I saw all of the big-time additions the Vikings made this offseason make important contributions to the team’s win. The Vikings were one game away from the Super Bowl last season without these players, so there should be some early optimism about the team after watching the key additions play great in week 1, but there are 15 games left to be played and a lot can happen within that time. Overall these players looked great this week and there are other players we added that played well as well, such as Holton Hill who broke up a pass when he got on the field, but these three were the big names the team added, and they helped contribute to a big week one win. SKOL!