Bold predictions for the Vikings’ offense in 2016
When a writing team predicts the future as often as vikings32 seems to, it gets harder and harder to come up with bold statements, let alone bold statements that have a chance to be true. In an attempt to keep our spot on prognosticating going, the vikings32 staff put together some more bold predictions for the Minnesota Vikings’ offense this upcoming season.
Not all of our writers are in agreement with all of the predictions but that can be dealt with when the season is over and we find out who was correct.
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Our esteemed editor, Miles Dittberner, started the party by making two predictions. His first “is that Jerick McKinnon will have an increased role in the offense and vulture carries from Adrian Peterson. I think it’s going to be closer to a 60-40, 70-30 split.” After an impressive showing last year, Miles feels that McKinnon has earned an increase in touches and is poised for another breakout performance in 2016.
Miles then went on to say he thinks “The Vikings will be the NFL’s most improved offense in 2016. They are going to go from the second worst to a top ten offense. Production will increase as Teddy Bridgewater should throw for 20 plus touchdowns and around 3500 yards. The increased protection is going to pay off in spades for the Vikings. Stefon Diggs is going to lead the offense in receiving while Laquon Treadwell will have the most receiving touchdowns. ”
It turned out to be more like four or five predictions from Miles, but if even one part of the second prediction comes true, Vikings’ fans will be happy with the improved play from the Vikings’ offense. No fan should be left disappointed if Bridgewater throws for 3500 yards and 20 or more touchdowns. If the added attention given to the offensive line pays off, those numbers are absolutely within the realm of possibility.
Our youngest, but usually accurate, prognosticator Austin Erwin calls for Bridgewater to also throw for 3500 yards but more than 25 touchdowns. Austin continued his prediction by stating he thinks “the dual threat of Treadwell and Diggs will pay dividends in 2016.” Erwin believes Diggs will easily rack up “over 1000 yards and 8 touchdowns while Treadwell will have 10 touchdowns or more.”
Our newest addition to the crew, Clayton R. Brooks II, thinks “the Vikings will have a 1,000 yard receiver” for the first time since Sidney Rice in 2009 and that Treadwell will be the Vikings “biggest threat at wide receiver since Randy Moss.” He went on to say that Matt Kalil will “re-establish himself as a dominant left tackle and win comeback player of the year” in 2016. “The increased competition will be a big motivator for Kalil, who is in a contract year.”
I, Justin Ekstrom was the last to give my predictions. I tend to err on the pessimistic side when it comes to life in general but especially when prognosticating what the Vikings will do. This time though; I felt rather optimistic as I boldly predict that my favorite Vikings’ rookie, tight end David Morgan II, will not only make the team but be a major contributor throughout the 2016 season.
My second prediction stays with the tight ends as I am calling for 12 or more touchdowns from the tight end position this season. I think the addition of Tony Sparano will give the tight ends the shot in the arm they have needed the past couple of seasons. Kyle Rudolph will grab most of the scores but Morgan, MyCole Pruitt and even Rhett Ellison will also be in the mix.
The vikings32 writing team’s bold prediction for the Vikings’ offense is that Peterson will again lead the league in rushing. Peterson will defy odds and remain productive despite being a member of the 30-something club. The improvements to the offensive line and the addition of Treadwell – considered by many the best blocking wide receiver in the draft – should help Peterson find more open ground.
As a collective team, we are all in agreement that the offense will be much more productive than last year. There should be dramatic improvement from Bridgewater in the passing game now that he has a dual threat on the outsides with the physical Treadwell and resurgent Diggs. We also feel that McKinnon will touch the ball much more this season, being a major reason for the offensive improvement.
It is much too early in the season to feel overly confident in any of these predictions, but we can’t help but to be otherwise. All it takes is an injury or a run of bad luck to wipe these cheery, hopeful predictions out; ever the pessimist I am. Does this mean any or all of what we predicted will not happen? Only time will tell.
Justin Ekstrom can be followed on Twitter @thesportscrib21. What are some of your predictions? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit or in the comments section below.
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