Thread: Is AD a benefit or liability in Free Agency?

I was wondering... Now that we have AD forcing 8 an d9 man fronts, does that make the Vikings more or less attractive to WRs in free agency?

On one hand, you are almost guaranteed one on one matchups in the secondary because every player on the opposing team looks for AD first.
It also makes it easier for WRs to make a move and get open.
That means that even an average WR should be able to have a high catch % here.

But on the other hand, we are a run first team, and as AD gets better in his second year, that is only going to be more pronounced.
That means that WRs will have less opportunity to get the ball.

If I was a WR in free agency, I don't know what I would think about it.
Your thoughts?

I would say the first. For three reasons.

1. A receiver would have an easier time getting open as you say.

2. It should be easier with us to get a good position on the depth chart.

3. We showed more promise last year than many expected, equating to an attractive team on the rice for any FA. Which is the opposite of what drew Kevin Curtis in the arms of Philly last offseason.

I don't think SD has to much of a problem getting the ball to their WRs despite the fact that they have the current best RB on their team. I think it should help our case.

"NodakPaul" wrote:

I was wondering... Now that we have AD forcing 8 an d9 man fronts, does that make the Vikings more or less attractive to WRs in free agency?

On one hand, you are almost guaranteed one on one matchups in the secondary because every player on the opposing team looks for AD first.
It also makes it easier for WRs to make a move and get open.
That means that even an average WR should be able to have a high catch % here.

But on the other hand, we are a run first team, and as AD gets better in his second year, that is only going to be more pronounced.
That means that WRs will have less opportunity to get the ball.

If I was a WR in free agency, I don't know what I would think about it.
Your thoughts?

I'm not sure we will always be a run first team... I don't think you achieve a KAO by running the ball entirely... it is old school offense where you want to be able to establish the run to open up the pass.
I really expect as TJack matures and the % completion numbers go up we'll see a normal blend of run and pass.
If you can get an offense that racks up 6000 or 7000 yards of offense in a year there will be plenty of yards to go around for everyone.

Too me, any gamebreaking WR would want to play in that offense with AP.. the opportunity for the big play will be there with the threat up front. Less catches, however bigger gains and impact "highlight" plays.


The bigger question is how does TJ play in the free agents minds.. ready to take the next step or "I won't get the opportunities because the QB is a liability".

"BleedinPandG" wrote:

"NodakPaul" wrote:

I was wondering... Now that we have AD forcing 8 an d9 man fronts, does that make the Vikings more or less attractive to WRs in free agency?

On one hand, you are almost guaranteed one on one matchups in the secondary because every player on the opposing team looks for AD first.
It also makes it easier for WRs to make a move and get open.
That means that even an average WR should be able to have a high catch % here.

But on the other hand, we are a run first team, and as AD gets better in his second year, that is only going to be more pronounced.
That means that WRs will have less opportunity to get the ball.

If I was a WR in free agency, I don't know what I would think about it.
Your thoughts?

I'm not sure we will always be a run first team... I don't think you achieve a KAO by running the ball entirely... it is old school offense where you want to be able to establish the run to open up the pass.
I really expect as TJack matures and the % completion numbers go up we'll see a normal blend of run and pass.
If you can get an offense that racks up 6000 or 7000 yards of offense in a year there will be plenty of yards to go around for everyone.

Ok, I have seen KAO on PP.O many many times, and I feel like an idiot asking this, but what does it mean?

"pack93z" wrote:

Too me, any gamebreaking WR would want to play in that offense with AP.. the opportunity for the big play will be there with the threat up front. Less catches, however bigger gains and impact "highlight" plays.


The bigger question is how does TJ play in the free agents minds.. ready to take the next step or "I won't get the opportunities because the QB is a liability".

Exactly. TJ is the main consideration. But adding a gifted receiver would likely speed TJ's progress.
So it's a double edged sword.

"funkyasflea" wrote:

"BleedinPandG" wrote:

"NodakPaul" wrote:

I was wondering... Now that we have AD forcing 8 an d9 man fronts, does that make the Vikings more or less attractive to WRs in free agency?

On one hand, you are almost guaranteed one on one matchups in the secondary because every player on the opposing team looks for AD first.
It also makes it easier for WRs to make a move and get open.
That means that even an average WR should be able to have a high catch % here.

But on the other hand, we are a run first team, and as AD gets better in his second year, that is only going to be more pronounced.
That means that WRs will have less opportunity to get the ball.

If I was a WR in free agency, I don't know what I would think about it.
Your thoughts?

I'm not sure we will always be a run first team... I don't think you achieve a KAO by running the ball entirely... it is old school offense where you want to be able to establish the run to open up the pass.
I really expect as TJack matures and the % completion numbers go up we'll see a normal blend of run and pass.
If you can get an offense that racks up 6000 or 7000 yards of offense in a year there will be plenty of yards to go around for everyone.

Ok, I have seen KAO on PP.O many many times, and I feel like an idiot asking this, but what does it mean?

Kick ass offense

Its a Childress term for his offense when it starts rolling. Came up like the first few weeks of his first season. Was a pretty big joke for most of that season as you can understand. Now we have seen that he may be capable of running one of those.

funkyasflea .. KAO= Kick Ass Offense

As for the original question, the main thing that AD brings to the team is the ability to be a genuine playoff team and SB contender - of course he can't do it all himself but he's a big part of it. If that aspect of the team alone doesn't interest a WR or any other position then they're really not the type of player that we want.

"NodakPaul" wrote:

I was wondering... Now that we have AD forcing 8 an d9 man fronts, does that make the Vikings more or less attractive to WRs in free agency?

On one hand, you are almost guaranteed one on one matchups in the secondary because every player on the opposing team looks for AD first.
It also makes it easier for WRs to make a move and get open.
That means that even an average WR should be able to have a high catch % here.

But on the other hand, we are a run first team, and as AD gets better in his second year, that is only going to be more pronounced.
That means that WRs will have less opportunity to get the ball.

If I was a WR in free agency, I don't know what I would think about it.
Your thoughts?

Like cogitans said, it will help mainly because whoever signs with us will have a very good chance at playing a lot.
Somebody that has been stuck behind great receivers (like Bryant Johnson from the Cards) would probably want to come here to a team that looks like a playoff contender where he could get substantial playing time.
AD and Chester open up the passing game by bringing those players inside.
As a WR I would be licking my chops to go one-on-one with some of these DBs.