Mike Zimmer sends message: Protect Teddy or else
By Dan Zinski
Mike Zimmer sent a message to one of his veteran offensive tackles after Teddy Bridgewater took another sack.
Mike Zimmer isn’t messing around when it comes to protecting his quarterback. Just ask Jeff Davidson. And now ask Andre Smith.
Smith was brought in as a free agent to stabilize the right tackle position but Friday night against Cincinnati his pass protection was anything but steadfast.
Smith showed a decided lack of quickness when on the Vikings’ first offensive drive he let the Bengals’ Carlos Dunlap blow by him.
Dunlap completed the sack on Teddy Bridgewater, sounding a painful echo of 2015 when the Vikings’ QB was brought down 44 times.
Mike Zimmer would like to see a lot less of his quarterback being hit, thank you very much.
In case his guys weren’t getting the message, Zimmer drove the matter home by demoting Smith to second-team for Sunday’s practice.
T.J. Clemmings got to run with the ones on Sunday instead of Smith. The veteran was back out with the ones on Monday, properly chastened.
Same guys out today for Vikings except LB Emmanuel Lamur is back Other 9 from yesterday still out Also Andre Smith back 1st team rt tackle
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) August 15, 2016
Reminder: Someone around here predicted that Clemmings might ultimately challenge Smith for the starting job.
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Two things are illustrated here: One, Mike Zimmer isn’t kidding around about keeping his quarterback upright.
Zimmer knows only-too-well that the team’s fortunes will rise or fall with Bridgewater. If the offense is to improve, Bridgewater must be protected.
Now Andre Smith knows that too.
Second thing: Never assume that a player is good just because he has a little name recognition going for him.
Andre Smith was once a first-round pick, which means he has talent. He was also allowed to walk by Cincinnati, which means he is not the player he was a few years ago.
Next: Jarius Wright could be odd man out
Friday night, Smith looked like a player who might not be any better than T.J. Clemmings. Maybe the temporary demotion will light a fire under him. Or not.