Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson started to show signs of improvement as this season progressed. The Vikings' record of 8-8 is better than most Viking fans were expecting this season.
"T-Jack" struggled to make routine throws at the start of the year, which really showed Week 2 against Detroit. Jackson threw 4 interceptions in that game and completed just 50 percent of his passes for about 160 yards.
Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor were able to help him grow as a quarterback. Minnesota posted the league's best rushing attack this year, which was able to take pressure off Jackson, and allow him to comfortably learn the offense. During the Vikings late season 5-game win streak, Jackson started to make routine throws look just that, routine.
Sidney Rice seemed to emerge as the first playmaker at the receiver position since the days of Moss. Troy Williamson proved to everyone that laser surgery doesn't make you a better receiver when you can't catch the ball.
The Vikings should really look to move him this off season. In three seasons his cumulative stats are 79 catches, 1067 yards and just THREE touchdowns. Keep in mind the Vikings drafted Williamson with the 7th overall pick in 2005.
This, after they traded Randy Moss for that pick and Napoleon Harris. Shawne Merriman and DeMarcus Ware are two notable linebackers picked past the 7th pick.
Okay. Back to Jackson.
I think with the arm strength and mobility that he showed this season, Jackson should be given at least one more year. If Minnesota is able to get him a good second option to throw to, he should be successful.
Bernard Berrian is a free agent wide receivers that could fit in well in Minnesota. Berrian’s speed would give Minnesota what they were looking for in Williamson.
Tarvaris did struggle throwing the ball in the two biggest games for Minnesota this year though. Against Washington, he had two key interceptions that helped Washington get out to that big lead. Jackson did show a fighting spirit though, rushing for two touchdowns late in the game during the Vikings’ comeback.
So looking back at the Vikings of 2007, I'd say their prospects for being competitive in the future are bright. A great running game, good defense, and improving quarterback play give us Viking fans hope for the future.
11 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago
I really think that Jackson is the QB of the future. He has the potential of McNabb, the arm of Cutler, and the heart of Favre. Bring on the criticism!
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Lee Sandler about 1 year ago
HAHAHAHA and you and Tavaris have something in common and that is the lack of knowledge of football.
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steve sabol about 1 year ago
T Jack is the future. Hey smart ass, if you have so much football knowledge, why are you a nobody armchair critic who has never achevied anything, while T Jack is a starting QB for a potential playoff team earning the big bucks.
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Gary Johnson about 1 year ago
I like the idea of bringing in Chris Simms to compete with TJ though. McNabb or Anderson would cost too much. The lefty Simms would be a good fit. But I do like TJ. He has a better record at this point in his career than Peyton Manning or McNabb did at this point of thiers.
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Marcus Hagness about 1 year ago
Great feedback guys! As far as you go Lee Tarvaris must have some knowledge of football if he's the starting quarterback on a good team in the NFL. I'd love to see you try to learn an NFL offense and make half the decisions he has to make. This was his first full season in the NFL, how many QBs could come in their second season and first year starting and play better? He didn't have much for weapons the throw too. His best receiving option was Adrian Peterson and once in a while Sidney Rice showed signs of being a great receiver but it wasn't enough.
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Lee Sandler about 1 year ago
Ok question my knowledge all you want. I never said Tavaris was bad but in know way does he compare to the likes McNabb and Favre at this point in his career in any format. Also Stever Tavaris Jackson is making less than million a year he is in a 4 year contract worth 2.9 Million dollars. Also Adrian Peterson was not his best reciever considering he only had 19 recptions the whole year and who knows if all 19 of those even cam from T-Jack i am not saying he is going to be a bad quarterback but i am not going sit and talk about him being so good and how he is going to be great like Favre and McNabb. He has a lot to prove if he even is are starting day quarterback.
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Marcus Hagness about 1 year ago
Peterson was more of a threat out of the backfield and making people miss then any of their receivers were downfield trying to make plays, that's what I meant by that. I didn't say that he'll be as good as Favre, McnNabb, etc. but I think he has the physical tools to. It all goes back to my least favorite saying in sports: Athletics are 90% mental and 10% physical. That is a total load of B.S. Sports are 50/50 on the mental and physical scale. The Vikings are a classic example of this at the QB position. Tarvaris Jackson has all the physical elements you want in a quarterback: Big arm and is mobile enough to run if need be. He however doesn't have all the mental aspects as he doesn't make the right reads when he's dropped back and makes mistakes that way. Brooks Bollinger is the exact opposite. He reads defenses like a book that he wrote but he has the body of a punter. He doesn't have a strong enough arm to stick a throw to a receiver in time before the defense reacts. If T-Jack had the mental advantage that Bollinger does he'd a perennial pro bowl candidate and vice versa for Bollinger. I know that was a little off topic but it's something that bugs me, haha.
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George Pierpont about 1 year ago
I'm willing to give t-jack another year because we had crapola receivers this year. I believe Sydney Rice is emerging as an eventual #1 but that might be another year down the road. We need to pick up a quality receiver via free agency. Something that was a galring weakness to me at the beginning of last year and we did nothing about it. Lets pick up a #1 at receiver and then see how T- Jack does. I think He did fairly well for the total lack of any threat at wideout. 1 more year.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Marcus, Uhh, Patrick Crayton signed an extension almost a month ago... I should take your job.
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Marcus Hagness about 1 year ago
haha god damn i gotta do better research i guess... i just went to a site that had a list of the free agents coming up and he was one of them
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Marcus Hagness about 1 year ago
Looks like I made a good call on getting rid of Williamson this off-season and signing Berrian. I can't believe we got a 6th round pick for that bum!
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