Give me Jaren Hall — or anyone other than Nick Mullens — as Vikings QB
View AttachmentGive me Jaren Hall — or anyone other than Nick Mullens — as Vikings QB
After watching Nick Mullens throw the ball to some Bengals, I asked Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell to bench Mullens in favor of rookie Jaren Hall.
After watching Mullens throw the ball to every available Lion on Sunday, I have to insist.
Mullens threw for 411 yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings’ 30-24 loss to Detroit at US Bank Stadium. He also threw four more interceptions and then called himself a “very good quarterback.”
This is just a case of mistaken identity. Mullens mistakes himself for someone else.
I can’t guarantee that Hall would play better than Mullens, but O’Connell can’t in good conscience put Mullens on the first offense of a game after his careless passes cost the Vikings two crucial games in a row.
In Cincinnati, Mullens threw two interceptions within field goal range with the Vikings, one of them lying down. He also threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown, although that play was negated by a penalty.
On Sunday against Detroit, Mullens threw four interceptions, another would-be interception was dropped by a Lion in the end zone, and a fumble was recovered after he was thrown to the ground for a sack.
The most remarkable thing about Mullens is that even his “good” passes seem suspect. He poses a risk to the health of his receivers. He threw a series of passes known in the NFL as “hospital balls” – catching them may land you in the emergency room because they hang in the air for so long, that the defenders can have a few planning meetings and check your balls insurance coverage before attempting to knock you out.
Mullens even threw a long pass down the right sideline to Johnny Mundt that could have been a touchdown. Imagine overthrowing Johnny Mundt.
Kirk Cousins started eight games for the Vikings this season. He threw five interceptions.
Joshua Dobbs played in five games for the Vikings. He threw five interceptions.
Nick “The Pick” Mullens has started two games for the Vikings this season. He threw six interceptions and canceled another.
The Vikings’ quarterback position shift was obvious and dramatic.
Hall produced what is now known as a small sample – he threw 10 NFL passes, completed eight and threw zero interceptions – but at least the sample doesn’t smell like rotten eggs.
If the NFL debate in your city involves two backup quarterbacks, there may be no right answer. Maybe if Hall started against the Packers on Sunday, he would throw four interceptions.
It’s time to find out.
The Vikings now have a good chance of reaching the playoffs. If they make the playoffs, they would be without their starting quarterback and a few other key players against a formidable away team. Mullens is unlikely to get this team into the playoffs, and if he did, he would have little chance of winning a game like this.
Hall is relatively unknown, but he has to be better than Mullens, and if not, the Vikings should use this time to find out so they can make informed decisions this offseason.
Mullens is eager to throw the ball downfield and he has great receivers, so he is capable of racking up yards. This relative strength is more than offset by his willingness to rush the ball in ways that can lead to receiver injuries and messy turnovers.
In his NFL career, Mullens has thrown 31 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. In modern football this is a pathetic ratio.
After the game, Mullens didn’t sound upset. He praised himself and spoke in the persistent clichés of starting quarterbacks.
But he’s not a starting quarterback; he could be the fourth-best quarterback on his own roster.
While O’Connell has reason to believe Mullens is better than Hall, the coach owes it to his franchise to test that theory.
One of Mullens’ problems is that he is not athletic. If the pocket collapses, he must either throw the ball up or take a sack.
Hall is a far better athlete and it’s hard to imagine him being anywhere near as ruthless as Nick “The Pick” Mullens.
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