VikesCentric: Vikings succeed with next man up mentality

We've heard the phrase from every coach in the NFL when one of his players goes out with an injury: "Next man up!" It explains their one, if only, recourse when faced with a long-term injury—the backup has to step in and perform. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has faced that situation often this season and his team has responded.

The list of "next men up" for the Vikings this season has been long. And while the Vikings may be out of the playoffs at 6-8, they haven't been out of many games, and that is primarily due to the next man up philosophy paying off.

Before the season, I wouldn't have said the Vikings are loaded with depth. The new coaching regime came in and certainly added a number of players—both as starters and as backups. But I will say they have done well with the adversity they have faced.

As stated earlier, every team and head coach goes through it, and certainly we have seen times when next man up hasn't worked so well. Just thinking back to the difficulties the Vikings had in their oft-injured secondary the past two seasons, we can see evidence of it not working. But 2014 season has been different, and there is a decent sample size to back it up. Let's take a look at how it has gone.

Adrian Peterson was the first player out (due to off-the-field issues), and Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon became his replacement (Peterson's big shoes required two players to replace him). In 13 games, Asiata hasn't ripped up the league in yards per carry (3.3), but he does have seven touchdowns, 39 receptions and has done well pass protection. McKinnon, before he injured his back, played in 11 games and amassed an average of 4.8 yards per carry and an average of 5.0 yards per reception. Again, no great shakes, but together, the pair of running backs gave the Vikings some options at running back while waiting for Peterson to return.

Tight end Kyle Rudolph hobbled through three games with a sports hernia before missing seven games, and his replacement Chase Ford filled in quite well. In nine games, he had 22 receptions, a 10.7 yards per catch average and a touchdown. Many of his plays came in big moments. Unfortunately, his has almost disappeared since the return of Rudolph, but with Rudolph's injury history, it is good to have a decent backup.

The Vikings offensive line has decimated this season with left tackle Matt Kalil and center John Sullivan the only two starters still on the field. Brandon Fusco, Phil Loadholt and Charlie Johnson are all out with injury (Fusco since game three) and Joe Berger, Vladimir Ducasse and Mike Harris have been the replacement starters.

Quarterback Matt Cassel went down in Game 3 and was replaced by Teddy Bridgewater (with Christian Ponder starting one game for the injured Bridgewater). It was not ideal to bring in the rookie so soon, but Bridgewater has performed well and only looked like a rookie in moments (two picks on Sunday) rather than for entire games. Head coach Mike Zimmer wasn't excited about starting him so soon, but he does believe you develop by playing. He said the following on the subject:

"I really think you learn best from playing. That's what I believe," Zimmer told the Star Tribune. "I'm glad that he's playing. What I was nervous about at the beginning of the year was--because I know this guy's got a chance to be the guy for a long, long time here--I didn't want to get him beat up. I didn't want to get him a bunch of bad outings where he didn't have that confidence and that attitude that he was going to do the things that he's doing.

"I'm really glad that he's playing; I'm glad that we're keeping him upright. You can think back on some of the quarterbacks that had to play as rookies or have been playing as rookies and got the heck beat out of them and they haven't made it. That was the most important thing to start the season is that we take care of him and when it's time it's time."

The only thing worth saying about Bridgewater as a backup—he no longer is one.

Second-year linebacker Gerald Hodges has seen plenty of action this season (played in 12 games and started five), filling in for an injured Chad Greenway and now Anthony Barr. Not yet a finished product, Hodges has made definite strides this season under the tutelage of Zimmer and the other coaches. Hodges has 39 tackles, plus a big interception pick-six against the Jets. He had another decent game against Lions, leading the team in tackles with nine and collecting two passes defended. Hodges will be pushing for a starting role next season, and Greenway, who will be 32 next season, had better be on alert.

Wide receiver Charles Johnson says that is the mentality you have to have—be ready to go when you are called upon—and he has done that in spades. Jerome Simpson was let go after being suspended and Cordarrelle Patterson has been slow in grasping the starting wide receiver role this season. In comes Johnson, who missed last season recovering from ACL injury and was signed off the Cleveland Browns practice squad in mid-September, and he has performed beyond expectations. He became the starter and lately has become Bridgewater's number one target. He was ready for the opportunity.

"That's the NFL, people are going to be injured and you've got to be ready when your number is called," Johnson told the Star Tribune. "I'm always prepared—even if I am not playing, I am preparing like I am starting. I wasn't surprised; I knew I would get a chance once I became healthy. I know my ability; I know what I can do. It's all about the opportunity."

Many of the next men up have made their most of their opportunity with the Vikings this season. But they can only do so if they get a chance. The team has had more than a few opportunities, and it hasn't fallen apart as a result. That is attributable to a coaching staff that is able to recognize talent (six of the 11 players mentioned above were brought in by Zimmer and his staff), prepare those players well and be able to roll with the punches. In his first season as head coach, Zimmer's team has taken plenty of punches.

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