Vikings’ Irv Smith Jr. Needs More Targets–Now
Mikegreitzer
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If the Oakland Raiders game was any indication, Irv Smith Jr. is getting ready to be the future of the Vikings at the tight end position.
Sure, it was only three catches for 30 yards for Irv Smith in one game, but considering the guy lined up down the line from him has four catches for 20 yards on the year, (a simple extrapolation of 21 catches for 110 yards on the season), while being paid $9M-plus to play, somebody in the Vikings’ front office needs to make a note of it.
Diminishing Kyle Rudolph is not the point of this essay, but the advent of his rookie teammate is.
Smith showed in one play last week the type of athleticism that Rudolph has never shown, breaking away on a middle post pattern from an Oakland linebacker with surprising ease to receive a perfectly thrown ball from quarterback Kirk Cousins for a 25-yard gain.
Considering the approaching NFC North showdown in Soldier Field on Sunday and the fact that the defensive line of the Chicago Bears is the best in football, it’s essential to attack this team with the best athletes the Vikings have.
Scary Bears
The only spot in this Bears’ defense not replete with Pro Bowl and All-Pro players is the linebacker area (considering Khalil Mack to be a rush lineman), and matchups will be key on each offensive possession for the Vikings.
Minnesota will try and use its running game to set up play-action passing, of course. As long as they don’t overuse it, tight ends Smith Jr. and Rudolph will have some chances.
The Vikings’ offense will employ a solid supply of ‘12 Personnel’ (2 RB, 2 TE) formations in this one, and perhaps even plenty of ‘22 Personnel’ (2 RB, 2 TE), trying to defray the Chicago pass rush as well as hit hard and often with “push” or zone-run blocking schemes.
Either way, if it’s athletic mismatches that they’re looking for, the rookie tight end from Alabama has begun to show he’s getting ready to make a statement–and more than one play—in a game that could come down to one or two crucial moments.
Get the kid the ball.