purplePTSD Round-Table: 2017’s Break-Out Player [Part I – The OG’s]

As some of our long-term readers may have noticed, we’ve got a ton of new writers here on the old purplePTSD machine. It’s a very exciting time to be around our offices (and by offices I mean a Skype chat group) and I figured that we’ve finally reached the level to be able to do a semi-regular Round-Table. The great thing about round-tables is that it reflects the diversity of opinion that exists in Vikings-land, and that’s really been our goal since Day One with the site, reflecting all the craziness that exists out there. I do think that we do a better job than most with that, especially with some of the more zany theories or lines of reasoning (courtesy of yours truly), so, I’d love to hear which writer(s) you agree with, to see if your crazy lines up with my/our own!

Oh yeah, I should probably also let you know what the premise for today’s round-table is! We wanted to know what player/part of the Vikings organization was going to have a break-out year in 2017… The answers varied wildly… So, without further ado, let’s jump into things!

Oh, and another thing, because of the amount of writers that we do have, we actually needed to split this into two separate pieces. The first part is comprised of the writers that have been with the site the longest, the second are more recent additions. So, if you’d like to read part II, click here.

AJ Mansour

When I think of players on the verge of a breakout year for the Minnesota Vikings, one name sticks out above the rest and it’s probably not one that commonly comes up. I’m looking right at you Jarius Wright.
Wright had a bit of a breakout year back in 2014 before dropping off slightly in ’15 and then dramatically warming the bench last season. That said, I think the table is set for Wright to showcase why he wasn’t a cap casualty like people projected this off season. Before you go to crazy, here’s the logic behind this one.
It’s been a long process but getting rid of Adrian Peterson and [hopefully] shoring up the offensive line will push the Vikings offensive attack to a more balanced state. That means that teams will be forced to play straight up, showing equal enough respect to the run game, the short pass game and the deep passing game. You have a quarterback who is capable of that and adding Murray into the mix in the backfield should help to protect Bradford and mix in a dump off pass here or there. Additionally the loss of Cordarrelle Patterson will directly open up a role for Jarius Wright to fill in at the slot. We saw last year as Kyle Rudolph was the beneficiary of the dump downs and across the middle routes, that could be a spot for Wright to shine in for 2017. Even some of the gimmicky bubble screens, reverses and such that would have gone to Patterson can go the way of Jarius Wright this season.

There’s no doubt in my mind that the opportunities will be there for him this year and I think that he’s done enough to prove that with a shot he can step up to the challenge.

Joe Oberle:

TE David Morgan

The table is set for David Morgan (and not necessarily with Mogen David wine) for him to have a breakout year in 2017. Tight end Rhett Ellison left via free agency and his backup, second-year tight end Morgan, has the opportunity to step into the breech and excel.

Morgan played in 12 games last season and caught just one pass for four yards, so the bar is set pretty low for him to improve this season. Morgan only had one target last year, as he was primarily drafted and used as a blocking tight end in 2016, but that should change this season with the departure of Ellison.

In addition to his ability as a blocker, Morgan showed plenty of pass-catching ability in camp and the preseason. He was just getting his legs under him in the offense when he suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for four games. So, plenty is expected of him this season taking over for Ellison, who average more than 15 targets and 10 receptions per season. The 2017 season will be a big one for David, and a like a fine win, it should be his time to mature.

Luke Braun:

Let me preface this by saying I don’t think the “breakout” player for the Vikings was on the roster in 2016, unless you can forecast a Teddy Bridgewater comeback. My true pick would be Datone Jones, but we’ll stick to returning faces officially. 
So beyond Jones, I’ll take the single player I think can achieve the greatest margin for improvement, Laquon Treadwell.
The choice may be controversial – the numbers certainly say so – as Treadwell’s rookie season was a catastrophe. No two ways about it. With only three (official) targets and one catch, the first round pick was a nonfactor. There’s a lot of room to grow, however, and by examining the reason for Treadwell’s issue, we can better predict his growth. Treadwell’s disappearance from the field had nothing to do with his abilities or potential. They’re limited, but limited in a way we all knew about when we graded him as a first round prospect last April. It was mental. He had a limited route tree in college, and the now-exited George Stewart tried to expand that versatility. Treadwell struggled to chew on all that new information, but with an un-indoctrinated fresh face in Darrell Hazell as a WR coach, he’ll be able to better define Treadwell’s role. Further, Treadwell will only be 22 years old, and so mental issues can be expected. With age comes wisdom. Treadwell didn’t miss the field because the coaches thought he couldn’t get open, it was because they were worried he’d run to the wrong spot on the field (this causes interceptions). Treadwell did flash ability in his limited opportunities, getting separation, winning at the line of scrimmage, and at the catch point on three of his five total targets (two unofficial targets where he won the positioning battle, forcing key pass interference penalties). Too small a sample to say anything definitive, but there’s something to build on.

So what does a “breakout” season for Treadwell look like? Not exactly a 1,000 yard fantasy football game-changer. If he can put up 400-500 yards and a handful of TDs, I think Vikings fans should be thrilled with that, and expect a similar jump in 2018. With a season to learn Shurmur’s scheme, work with Hazell, develop chemistry with Bradford and develop as a football in general, there’s a lot working in Treadwell’s favor that wasn’t true last year. Further, I think the coaches will force Treadwell into the game because of his draft stock even if it’s unwise. This will no doubt raise the floor of Treadwell’s production.

Justin Sticht:

When a player has a breakout season, there are a lot of factors in place. The experience gained from previous seasons, a workout regimen that they changed up, and even luck all have a factor in a breakout season. One very large part is the coaching. But, who coaches the coach?

Let’s start with the obvious for what we need Mike Zimmer to improve. His clock management. While we can let slide his first year’s games, like against Atlanta when the Vikings went into halftime with a failed touchdown attempt. With 13 seconds left on the clock, the Vikings still had a time out to use. The ball needed half a yard to give us 6. One play later, and they’re headed to the locker room after a failed attempt. Again, we’re going to let that go.

We are not going to let go of the first Lions game this year. Yes, it’s insane that the Lions were able to gain 21 yards in 23 seconds, and yes, it’s just as insane that they can kick a field goal from 58 yards out. Matthew Stafford and Matt Prater are insanely good in their positions. Mike Zimmer left too much time for Matthew, and it bit the Vikings in the butt.

Secondly, and even more importantly, Zimmer needs to get a better grasp of offense. Don’t get me wrong, he should not be getting Mike McCarthy on the bit, and start calling the plays on offense. What he does need to do though, is get a better grasp of the strengths and weaknesses of his own offense. Mike Zimmer is a master of his trade. And that trade is defense. Much like an electrical engineer doesn’t know a ton of mechanical engineering, and a sports writer doesn’t actually know how the game works, Mike Zimmer does not have as strong of an offensive mind as he does a defensive one. He relies on his coordinators to do what’s right, which is absolutely what he should do. The difference is, he needs to also recognize when his coordinators don’t do what’s right. Norv Turner spent his entire time on the team, trying to fit a square peg into the round hole that was his Superbowl winning offense. Speculate what you will on what lead to Norv leaving the team, but if it was Zimmer driven, it came half a season too late.

Mike Zimmer, as much as everyone would like him to be, is not flawless. No one is calling for him to be on the hot seat and no one is hoping Leslie Frazier wants to take a homecoming job. Zimmer has been fortunate enough to have and maintain a great personal coaching network. With these areas to improve on, and more so the fact that he knows he needs to improve on them, Zimmer is poised to be this year’s breakout coach.

Joe Johnson

This question ended up being a lot more difficult to answer than I thought. I really wish that the answer could be Laquon Treadwell, but I don’t think that he has the skill-set to make it in this league and never have. He’s sort of been my anti-Trae Waynes, a player that I wanted the Vikings to draft and have stuck my neck out to defend more than once (Online, anyway). So, I have to go with Waynes as my pick for a couple of reasons.

First, this season will sort of be a make or break it year for him. While Terrance Newman has returned for another (hopefully) ageless season, I doubt that he’ll end up starting the entire season (Either because age or injury catch up with him, or because the team wants to see what they’ve got in their former first round pick). I would hope that he would start Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints as the starter opposite Xavier Rhodes, because that would mean that he’s shown enough in the pre-season to win over head coach Mike Zimmer’s affections at the position that he’s notoriously difficult on/more critical of. So, I do believe that the opportunity will be there.

But, he also has to capitalize on that opportunity and I really do believe that he will. I feel like Waynes has gotten a bad rap thus far, as he hasn’t really been terrible, he’s just been a bit too hesitant and handsy (A weird combination, I’ll admit). He plays far too off the ball for any corner, let alone one with 4.2 speed and that’s something that should be corrected as he learns NFL speed and becomes more confident in his abilities to perform at that level. The same thing goes for the hands and flags, often times he was in perfect coverage but would cheat a bit anyway (Something he got away with in college thanks to differing rules) out of either again a lack of confidence or force of habit.

So, considering he does have all the skills necessary and the fact that he should mostly be covering the opposing teams number two receiver. I really do believe that Waynes will be the break-out player this season!

Click Here for Part II, or to discuss either on our Message Board!

 

 

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