DevilElias26
ALRIGHTTTT MIAMIIIII
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=joyner_kc&id=2170103&CMP=ILC-INHEAD
Much has been made of the Minnesota Vikings' offensive struggles this season, with Daunte Culpepper having the worst games of his career and frankly looking lost at times. While the trade of Randy Moss and injuries on the offensive line certainly have played a part in those struggles, it would be a mistake to overlook the loss of offensive coordinator Scott Linehan to the Miami Dolphins.
Certainly with QB Gus Frerotte ranking 21st in the NFL's passer rating system, it would be easy to assume Linehan misses the Vikings as much as they miss him. But a study of the performance metrics makes it clear there are plenty of reasons for Dolphins fans to be optimistic -- and one more place for Vikings fans to point fingers.
Linehan's specialty in Minnesota was the vertical passing game, and he has tried to implement that in Miami this year, but the compare-contrast exercise in this tale of two cities really centers on the short-passing game. Linehan's influence in Miami is being felt most in the same area in which it seems the Vikings are struggling most in his absence. If things keep going as they have in Miami, we could see an offensive resurgence much more quickly than anyone expected.
Through two games this year, Frerotte is 38 of 51 on short passes, producing 311 yards, 2 TDs and one interception. His 75 percent completion rate would have ranked fourth in the league in 2004. He is averaging 6.1 yards per short attempt, which would have placed him 11th in the league in 2004. If you prorate his short yards over 16 games, the total of 2,488 yards would have placed him in the top three in the league last season.
But there's one more point that helps illustrate just how impressive this turnaround could be. The Dolphins were probably the worst short-passing team in the league in 2004, despite the fact that they threw the second-highest total of short passes. They had the lowest short-pass completion percentage, third-lowest average yards per short attempt, and the lowest short-pass completion percentage.
Which team had the best short passing game in 2004? The Minnesota Vikings, and it wasn't even close. Culpepper led the league in short-pass attempts, and he was deadly at them. In the short-pass category, Culpepper ranked No. 1 in completion percentage, yardage and yards per attempt. His phenomenal performance in the short passing game probably helped the Vikings justify trading Moss, as they no doubt thought they would be able to focus their passing attack around Culpepper and the short routes.
Beyond the short-passing range, though, the Dolphins have had mixed results. Through two games, the team has attempted a total of 13 deep passes and 14 medium passes. If you prorate that total over the course of a 16-game season, they would end up with 104 medium and 112 deep passes, totals that would have ranked them in the top five in each category in 2004.
Examining the results of the Dolphins' vertical passes so far in 2005 reveals good news and bad news. Frerotte has completed 6 of 14 medium pass attempts for 146 yards, one TD and one interception. The bad news: His completion percentage of 43 percent on those throws would have ranked 28th in the league last season. The good news: His yards per attempt on medium passes so far is 10.4.
The news on deep passes isn't quite as good. Frerotte is 0-for-13 on deep throws this season, although the Dolphins did draw a 28-yard pass interference penalty on one of the plays. Eight of the deep passes have been thrown into good coverage, and four of them nearly have been intercepted, so it's obvious Miami needs to do some work at this level. The Dolphins' short passing success makes it clear that the Vikings underestimated Linehan's value when they made the Moss trade. The history of the NFL is littered with examples of the impact losing a top-level coordinator can have on a team. Bill Arnsparger, George Allen and Buddy Ryan are but three examples. If Linehan keeps improving the Miami offense, and if the Minnesota offense keeps struggling in his absence, we might be able to add his name to this list
Much has been made of the Minnesota Vikings' offensive struggles this season, with Daunte Culpepper having the worst games of his career and frankly looking lost at times. While the trade of Randy Moss and injuries on the offensive line certainly have played a part in those struggles, it would be a mistake to overlook the loss of offensive coordinator Scott Linehan to the Miami Dolphins.
Certainly with QB Gus Frerotte ranking 21st in the NFL's passer rating system, it would be easy to assume Linehan misses the Vikings as much as they miss him. But a study of the performance metrics makes it clear there are plenty of reasons for Dolphins fans to be optimistic -- and one more place for Vikings fans to point fingers.
Linehan's specialty in Minnesota was the vertical passing game, and he has tried to implement that in Miami this year, but the compare-contrast exercise in this tale of two cities really centers on the short-passing game. Linehan's influence in Miami is being felt most in the same area in which it seems the Vikings are struggling most in his absence. If things keep going as they have in Miami, we could see an offensive resurgence much more quickly than anyone expected.
Through two games this year, Frerotte is 38 of 51 on short passes, producing 311 yards, 2 TDs and one interception. His 75 percent completion rate would have ranked fourth in the league in 2004. He is averaging 6.1 yards per short attempt, which would have placed him 11th in the league in 2004. If you prorate his short yards over 16 games, the total of 2,488 yards would have placed him in the top three in the league last season.
But there's one more point that helps illustrate just how impressive this turnaround could be. The Dolphins were probably the worst short-passing team in the league in 2004, despite the fact that they threw the second-highest total of short passes. They had the lowest short-pass completion percentage, third-lowest average yards per short attempt, and the lowest short-pass completion percentage.
Which team had the best short passing game in 2004? The Minnesota Vikings, and it wasn't even close. Culpepper led the league in short-pass attempts, and he was deadly at them. In the short-pass category, Culpepper ranked No. 1 in completion percentage, yardage and yards per attempt. His phenomenal performance in the short passing game probably helped the Vikings justify trading Moss, as they no doubt thought they would be able to focus their passing attack around Culpepper and the short routes.
Beyond the short-passing range, though, the Dolphins have had mixed results. Through two games, the team has attempted a total of 13 deep passes and 14 medium passes. If you prorate that total over the course of a 16-game season, they would end up with 104 medium and 112 deep passes, totals that would have ranked them in the top five in each category in 2004.
Examining the results of the Dolphins' vertical passes so far in 2005 reveals good news and bad news. Frerotte has completed 6 of 14 medium pass attempts for 146 yards, one TD and one interception. The bad news: His completion percentage of 43 percent on those throws would have ranked 28th in the league last season. The good news: His yards per attempt on medium passes so far is 10.4.
The news on deep passes isn't quite as good. Frerotte is 0-for-13 on deep throws this season, although the Dolphins did draw a 28-yard pass interference penalty on one of the plays. Eight of the deep passes have been thrown into good coverage, and four of them nearly have been intercepted, so it's obvious Miami needs to do some work at this level. The Dolphins' short passing success makes it clear that the Vikings underestimated Linehan's value when they made the Moss trade. The history of the NFL is littered with examples of the impact losing a top-level coordinator can have on a team. Bill Arnsparger, George Allen and Buddy Ryan are but three examples. If Linehan keeps improving the Miami offense, and if the Minnesota offense keeps struggling in his absence, we might be able to add his name to this list
