Scott Linehan, offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings is taking the same position in Miami. He saw the writing on the wall. The Vikings are for sale, head coach Mike Tice is on the hot seat, and the offensive production for the Vikes is in decline. He took the job security in Miami. And nobody in Minnesota will really care that Linehan is gone.
Mike Tice now has the opportunity to make a lot of things right for the Vikings that have been wrong. He should take a look at the most successful teams in the league right now and duplicate what their offenses are doing. The answer? Run the football!! The Steelers, Patriots, and Falcons are all top 5 rushing teams and are in the Championship games this weekend. Pass-happy teams like the Colts, Chiefs, Rams, and his own Vikings, will be home watching on TV.
Minnesota has the personnel to convert to a power running game right now. Michael Bennett, Onterrio Smith, Moe Williams, a mobile QB in Culpepper, and a big offensive line are the ingredients to power running and clock control. The Vikings averaged about 4.5 yards per rush! Their problem was that they abandoned the run this year.
Tice should NOT promote from within. He does not need more of the same. He needs to make a bold move and hire a run-first offensive coordinator with a 'ram it down their throats' mentality. Bring in one of the assistants from Pittsburgh or New England, they know how to run and they know that running is the key to winning in December and January and (most important) February.
The person Tice hires should also be very aggressive. Someone who will go for it on 4th-and-short at midfield or on the opponents' side of the 50. You will rarely see Bill Belichick punt on 4th-and-short at the opponent's 40 yard line.
Rumors are flying that Randy Moss will be traded. If that is the case, the Vikings will be forced to run more. If he is traded, he should bring a top-flight defender and two top draft picks. But keeping him makes more sense. Being run-committed doesn't mean abandoning the pass. And Moss' presence would definitely make the running game better.
In short, Tice needs a run-committed, aggressive offensive coordinator who also knows when and how to use the pass. As Mr. Miyagi always said, "Must have balance!" The people are in place offensively, they just need someone to release the hounds.
And Tice should then put his complete focus on building the defense. It was, again, among the worst in the league.
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