Vikes should start QB Jackson on Sunday

By Krupka  |   Wednesday, December 06, 2006  |  Comments( 12 )

Minnesota Vikings
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The Minnesota Vikings are mathematically still alive in the playoff picture. However, in reality, there is almost zero probability of January football in Minnesota. It is time to begin building for next season, and it should start with allowing rookie second-round pick Tarvaris Jackson to gain some valuable experience running the offense this week against the Detroit Lions.

If not this week, when?

Head coach Brad Childress spent much of Monday deflecting questions surrounding the quarterback situation. He also failed to name a starting QB for this Sunday's game against Detroit, offering that he had a few different options.

The problem is that the first option is the league's oldest starting quarterback who has played, well, frankly, like his age. The 38-year-old Brad Johnson is coming off of a forgettable four-interception game where he registered a disgusting 10.3 passer rating. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is a lackluster 8-to-14, which certainly doesn't help his cause.

Childress is very upset about his offense's ineptitude and at some point, the blame has to fall upon the shoulders of the quarterback.

"We've got lots of things that we have to clean up on offense, primarily, No. 1, taking care of the football," Childress said. "I feel like that was a good defense yesterday. I feel like we moved it at times, but you've got to have regard for the football and you can't create short fields."

And that's precisely what Johnson is doing -- not taking care of the football. The blame game can go only go so far, while just about everyone on the offense has been the problem at one point or another. The wide receivers with dropped passes, the offensive line with penalties and missed assignments, and fumbles by the running backs. Sooner or later, though, you have to look to the leader, and that's the role of the QB.

Johnson's backup, Brooks Bollinger, played extremely well in limited action Sunday, engineering a scoring drive before leaving injured. He suffered a slightly separated shoulder. It was in his non-throwing shoulder, but nonetheless his status is up in the air. That brings us to Jackson.

The stagnant play of the offense and its propensity for turnovers has the head coach weighing his options. At this point, what is there to lose by throwing your rookie into the fray?

The Lions enter this weekend with the 26th-ranked defense in the NFL, allowing 348.3 yards per game. Detroit is 25th against the pass (221.2 yards per game) and 22nd against the run (127.1). With just seven interceptions, only two teams have picked off fewer passes. Allowing Jackson to get his first taste of NFL action against a toothless defense that is bad against both the pass and run could be a great confidence booster and a good way to start off his career with some success.

In the two teams' first meeting, running back Chester Taylor ran roughshod over the Lions' defense, gaining 123 yards, and Johnson had one of his better games, completing 26 of 34 passes for 201 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

When asked about the possibility of starting, Jackson told the Minneapolis Star Tribune, "I think we're staying with Brad. We still have a chance to make the playoffs, so we're still trying to do that. So it's obvious that Brad is still our quarterback so we can stay on that (path)."

Obvious may be the wrong word choice. It's very possible that Johnson will start and that the "were still in the playoff hunt" card will be used by Childress as justification.

Unfortunately for Johnson, the writing is on the wall and it's in big, bold letters. Owner Zygi Wilf has made it known he wants to field a team that becomes a consistent winner each year. With four games left this season, and making the playoffs about as likely as seeing Bill Belichick wearing a suit on the sideline, why not see what Jackson can do?

It's time for the future, and its name is Tarvaris Jackson. Childress, if you're reading, your best move is to start the kid.

Eric Krupka is a senior writer for RealFootball365.com. He can be contacted at ekrupka@realfootball365.com

Call the plays in the huddle with Tarvaris Jackson at RealFootball365.com
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CommentsComments: 12  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
wayne		06:45 AM
12/06/2006
If bill parcell can start a rookie,(and you can see how he's doing!),we should too!!TJ is better than their rookie!! START TJ!!!!
No.2
Jerry Partin		09:45 AM
12/06/2006
Another consideration is BJ can't move well in the pocket, TJ can and that alone like Romo... could be enough to get some W's.
No.3
Belanger		10:24 AM
12/06/2006
Actually Wayne, Romo is in his 4th year. The expierence gained from a few years holding the clipboard is invaluable (see Carson...
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