Final Rankings and Stats

[MusicCityViking]

The Vikings finished 11th in the NFL with an average of 21.4 points per game allowed, better than seven of the 12 teams that made the playoffs. They were 14th with an average of 344.7 yards per game given up, better than five playoff teams. They tied for ninth with 41 sacks.

-The Associated Press

We are definitely showing signs of having a much improved defense under Zimmer. IMO, our team is trending in the right direction.

[Pondering Her Percy]

-The Associated Press

We are definitely showing signs of having a much improved defense under Zimmer. IMO, our team is trending in the right direction.

Wasn't someone calling Zimmer's defense a "no-sack defense" a few days ago?? ....yet we were tied for 9th in the league

[PurpleMustReign]

Wasn't someone calling Zimmer's defense a "no-sack defense" a few days ago?? ....yet we were tied for 9th in the league

Yes, but if there isn't a sack on every play, including running plays, it isn't good enough. Duh.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Yes, but if there isn't a sack on every play, including running plays, it isn't good enough. Duh.

Good point!!

[PurpleKoolaid]

Good point!!

PHP, YOU were the one calling Zimmers D a no sack defense. I was saying Robison had like 1.5 sack mid way through the season, with Griffen tearing it up, and you said, that's that way Zimmers D works.

[PurpleMustReign]

Lmao no he wasn't.. What is going on here??

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Pondering Her Percy]

Lmao no he wasn't.. What is going on here??

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Even after foeing him....I must respond to this. I never once came close to saying that and literally have no clue where he is getting that from. Either he's trolling or he's been drinking way too much tonight. Take your pick

[Purple bruise]

Even after foeing him....I must respond to this. I never once came close to saying that and literally have no clue where he is getting that from. Either he's trolling or he's been drinking way too much tonight. Take your pick

Could be the three concussions he got playing high school football

[Mothman]

Please quit picking at each other and get back on topic. Thanks.

[mmvikes]

Finished with a -1 turnover ratio and we finished with six defensive touchdowns.

Some individual player stats of note:

Teddy = 64.4% completion rate, 14 TDs to 12 INTs, 2919 yards, 85.2 rating.

McKinnon = 538 rushing yards, 135 receiving yards in only six starts.

Asiata = 10 total TDs

Greg = 742 receiving yards and six TDs (team leader in receiving).

Patterson = 33 catches for 384 yards and a two total TDs (ouch).

Everson = 12 sacks

Tom Johnson = 6.5 sacks

Harrison = 5 INTs, 3 sacks, 1FF, 93 solo tackles, 1 TD = no Pro Bowl? DAF.

Blair Walsh = 74.3% FG rate

Walsh's numbers will likely be down next year also. There is a big difference kicking indoors vs outdoors in the northlands. Colder balls, wind factor. I doubt his percentage will return to the standards he set until we move back indoors unless they begin to avoid the long FG attempts outside.

[dead_poet]

Colder balls

I hate cold balls.

[J. Kapp 11]

Walsh's numbers will likely be down next year also. There is a big difference kicking indoors vs outdoors in the northlands. Colder balls, wind factor. I doubt his percentage will return to the standards he set until we move back indoors unless they begin to avoid the long FG attempts outside.

No doubt about it.

In golf, you lose 1 yard of distance for every 2 degrees the temperature drops below 75F. I think the thumbrule in football is about 2 yards for every 10 degrees.

So if Blair Walsh can kickoff 75 yards in 75-degree weather, he'll boot the same kick about 63 yards in 15-degree weather. We saw that in Miami, where he consistently boomed kickoffs into the stands, and against the Bears, where he could barely reach the end zone. If his long range on FGs is 60 yards on a warm day, it will barely be 50 when it's really cold like it was against the Bears.

I also think there's a psychological factor. If you're a kicker like Walsh lining up for a 50-yard FG on a 70-degree day, you probably feel like you can just swing free and easy and have plenty of distance. If you're lining up the same kick on a 20-degree day, you probably feel like you have to drive it much lower, and you probably try to give it more power, which can affect your accuracy.

When Blair gets indoors again in a couple years, I'd bet money that his range will go up, as will his accuracy.

[J. Kapp 11]

Some weird stats and other things

• Andrew Sendejo averaged 48.0 yards per attempt rushing.

• The Vikings' leading rusher was Matt Asiata with a grand total of 570 yards -- the lowest total for a Vikes leading rusher since Mewelde Moore ran for 662 in 2005.

• Greg Jennings again lead the Vikings in receptions, but with just 59. Jarius Wright was the second-leading wide receiver with 42 catches.

• The Vikings finished their third straight season with no one catching at least 70 passes. The last to do it was Percy Harvin, who caught 87 in 2011.

• Matt Asiata caught 44 balls out of the backfield. Imagine if those same dump-offs had been to AP.

• In the "I Doubt You'll Ever See That Again" department ... Joe Banyard rushed for more yards than Adrian Peterson.

• Think the tight end isn't important to Norv Turner's offense? Despite the prolonged absence of Kyle Rudolph, Vikings tight ends still caught 66 passes for 697 yards and 4 TDs. Jeez, I wish Rudolph could stay on the field.

• Robert Blanton led the Vikings in tackles.

• Harrison Smith can sure fill a box score: 71 tackles, 21 assists, 1 forced fumble, 3 sacks, 9 passes defended, 5 interceptions, 150 yards in returns, and 1 touchdown. Not a Pro Bowler.

• Xavier Rhodes finished 4th in the NFL with 18 passes defended. Also not a Pro Bowler.

• Vikings defensie tackles had 14 sacks.

• Blair Walsh had a down year, yet still made 5 field goals from 50+ yards.

• Adam Thielen led the Vikings in special-teams tackles. I hope he received Pro Bowl consideration as a special teamer because he deserved it. Not necessarily to make the team, but he should have at least gotten votes.

• Teddy Bridgewater was a bit of a bad-luck passer. He had two touchdown passes reversed on replay review, and another lost when Charles Johnson fumbled as he was crossing the goal line. He also had two interceptions when Vikings receivers dropped balls, and another on a hail Mary. I know we don't like to play the "If Game" ... but just for fun, if his luck had been better, he would have finished the season with an overall passer rating of 90.8.

• The Vikings finished 9th in the NFL with 41 sacks ... they gave up 51, which was 5th-worst in the league.

That's about all I've got.

[dead_poet]

Some weird stats and other things

• Andrew Sendejo averaged 48.0 yards per attempt rushing.

• The Vikings' leading rusher was Matt Asiata with a grand total of 570 yards -- the lowest total for a Vikes leading rusher since Mewelde Moore ran for 662 in 2005.

• Greg Jennings again lead the Vikings in receptions, but with just 59. Jarius Wright was the second-leading wide receiver with 42 catches.

• The Vikings finished their third straight season with no one catching at least 70 passes. The last to do it was Percy Harvin, who caught 87 in 2011.

• Matt Asiata caught 44 balls out of the backfield. Imagine if those same dump-offs had been to AP.

• In the "I Doubt You'll Ever See That Again" department ... Joe Banyard rushed for more yards than Adrian Peterson.

• Think the tight end isn't important to Norv Turner's offense? Despite the prolonged absence of Kyle Rudolph, Vikings tight ends still caught 66 passes for 697 yards and 4 TDs. Jeez, I wish Rudolph could stay on the field.

• Robert Blanton led the Vikings in tackles.

• Harrison Smith can sure fill a box score: 71 tackles, 21 assists, 1 forced fumble, 3 sacks, 9 passes defended, 5 interceptions, 150 yards in returns, and 1 touchdown. Not a Pro Bowler.

• Xavier Rhodes finished 4th in the NFL with 18 passes defended. Also not a Pro Bowler.

• Vikings defensie tackles had 14 sacks.

• Blair Walsh had a down year, yet still made 5 field goals from 50+ yards.

• Adam Thielen led the Vikings in special-teams tackles. I hope he received Pro Bowl consideration as a special teamer because he deserved it. Not necessarily to make the team, but he should have at least gotten votes.

• Teddy Bridgewater was a bit of a bad-luck passer. He had two touchdown passes reversed on replay review, and another lost when Charles Johnson fumbled as he was crossing the goal line. He also had two interceptions when Vikings receivers dropped balls, and another on a hail Mary. I know we don't like to play the "If Game" ... but just for fun, if his luck had been better, he would have finished the season with an overall passer rating of 90.8.

• The Vikings finished 9th in the NFL with 41 sacks ... they gave up 51, which was 5th-worst in the league.

That's about all I've got.

Great stuff, Kapp. Thanks for compiling.

[MusicCityViking]

The Vikings ranked 26th in time of possession this season, averaging only 28:45 of possession per game. However, in the last 3 games of the season, the Vikings ranked 16th in TOP, averaging 30:01 of possession per game.

The good news: The Vikings averaged 1:14 more TOP this season than last. We're improving!