5 wild predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions

Patterson gets 100+ yards

Norv Turner’s Air Coryell offensive scheme, which heavily emphasized downfield passing, has simply not been working. Without the personnel on the offensive line to protect the quarterback and make time for seven-step dropbacks and long-developing routes, the scheme has resulted in a lot of sacks and throwaways.

Unfortunately, given the lack of time that interim offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has had to prepare for this week’s game, the Vikings are unlikely to deviate too substantially from that system. However, Shurmur is likely to do something to ease the pressure that Norv Turner never did enough of: let his playmakers make plays.

To ease the pressure on a struggling offensive line and add a spark to an unproductive offensive scheme, Shurmur will likely work in a number of quick passing concepts into the gameplan, putting the ball into the hands of his playmakers on the perimeter and allowing them to make plays.

Everyone who has watched the Vikings play knows that there is nobody more dangerous with the ball in their hands than Cordarrelle Patterson. With an absurd combination of speed, power, and cutback ability, Patterson is an explosive weapon from anywhere on the field.

Thus, Shurmur will likely feature Patterson heavily in this week’s gameplan, giving him the ball frequently on screens and short routes and putting him in the position to generate YAC and move the offense downfield.

Shurmur doesn’t have the time to overhaul the offensive scheme, but he will likely place a greater emphasis on the short, west coast passing concepts that he has been known for in the past. Patterson should thrive in this gameplan, turning the extra touches thrown his way into over a hundred yards of offense.