Questions Answered: The One Bad Thing on the Roster, More Playaction from O’Connell, George Iloka
Dustin Baker
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The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the May 19th 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: I was looking at the whole depth chart, and the only thing that jumps out as bad is Garrett Bradbury. Do you agree?
A: Bradbury is “bad” with pass protection but good with run-blocking, yes.
It feels abject that the new coaching staff wants to give him another whirl, but they must know something the world does not. We’ll maintain signing a healthy JC Tretter from Cleveland is a more sure thing than Year Four of Bradbury. The front office hasn’t obliged, though.
The other bad part is tight end depth. If something happens to Irv Smith Jr. [again], the outlook for the position is grim.
Q: The Vikings didn’t use enough playaction last year. Will that change in 2022?
A: Yes, it will.
The Vikings — for some God-forsaken reason — used an unholy low amount of playaction in 2021. And guess what? Cousins is one of the best playaction passers in the world.
The Vikings hired Kevin O’Connell to maximize Cousins. Maximizing Cousins involves tapping his best talents. Playaction is one of Cousins’ best assets.
The writing is on the wall. More playaction is on the way.
Q: I hear George Iloka is making a comeback. Anything to that?
A: Yes, he tried out for the Seattle Seahawks.
In fact, he hasn’t played football since he tore his ACL as a member of the Vikings in October of 2020. Yes, 19 months ago.
Iloka wasn’t very good for Minnesota, but his career was promising in Cincinnati. Perhaps he’ll reemerge with the Seahawks and do something positive.
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).