Everything that went right and wrong for the Vikings against Seattle
Some good things happened on defense, at least
By Matthew Coller
The Minnesota Vikings lost a brutal game against the Seattle Seahawks. Let’s take a deeper look at the film and numbers…
What went wrong
Throwing to Jefferson and Addison
The hope for the Vikings offense with Brosmer under center was that he might be able to get the ball to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison within the rhythm of the offense and with improved timing than what they’ve had in previous weeks. It turns out that Carson Wentz was the only Vikings QB who could throw to them this year because Brosmer finished 7-for-16 when targeting either player.
To the QB’s credit, they did have a couple drops but the timing overall never got on point. One thing that KOC mentioned on Monday was that Brosmer was sped up in some of his reads and that was evident on several plays where he targeted Jefferson or Addison.
On this throw to Jefferson that nearly turned into an interception, you can see the young QB look to Jefferson’s side and then immediately look to the back side of the play, and then turn his head back again as the pressure starts to arrive. Had he stayed with Jefferson, he might have had a chance to box out the defensive back for a completion. Instead he has to start to roll to his right. Brosmer should have thrown the ball away but he sees a chance to put the ball up in the air for Jefferson and goes for it. The defender gets in good position and nearly picks the ball off.
This play would also be an example of KOC trying to use a quick-game concept but the execution was not there. Also, credit Seattle. They are very, very good in coverage and pass rush.
Our next example of a failed Jefferson target is a very typical Vikings concept. Jefferson runs a 10-yard dig route and Jalen Nailor has a quick hitch. The Seahawks run a zone coverage, leaving the superstar receiver on Seattle’s safety with a linebacker underneath. Brosmer tries to layer the ball over the linebacker but overthrows Jefferson.
The ball either needed to be on Jefferson as he was coming out of his break or dropped down to Nailor.
The next throw ends up being picked off. On this one, Jefferson has one-on-one coverage on the outside as the Seahawks shift from a two-high to a single-high safety look and Jefferson is breaking in. Brosmer seems to hold the ball slightly too long and, again, rather than the ball arriving right as he comes out of his break, the corner has time to break on the ball and deflect it.
There might be an argument that Jefferson could have flattened the route a little bit.
The tough thing to figure out with all of Brosmer’s tape — much like with McCarthy — is whether these things are too challenging for young QBs who haven’t spent much time with these wide receivers or if this is straight-forward stuff that they just haven’t been able to execute.
The same goes for the next play, a miss to Addison.
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