Josh Dobbs' run as Vikings QB may be over
The 2023 story of Josh Dobbs will be one that's remembered for a long time, but it's run may be over after the Minnesota Vikings' tough loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.Dobbs completed over 68% of his passes on Monday night, but he totaled just 185 passing yards and a passing touchdown […]
The 2023 story of Josh Dobbs will be one that's remembered for a long time, but it's run may be over after the Minnesota Vikings' tough loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.
Dobbs completed over 68% of his passes on Monday night, but he totaled just 185 passing yards and a passing touchdown compared to four interceptions. Three of the four picks can be placed at Dobbs' feet, as well. It's not like the majority of them were tipped balls that should've been caught but landed into the arms of a defender, or anything like that.
Regardless, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said after the game that not only did he think about putting Nick Mullens in at one point, but the team will also look into its QB options during the bye week. Meaning, Dobbs could find himself a bit lower on the depth chart when the team returns to work in Week 14.
"We're going to take a look, really evaluate the inventory of plays now we have of Josh," O'Connell told reporters. "We got healthy, got Jaren back available to us, and Nick Mullens is available to us, as well… We are going to evaluate what we've been able to do, things we need to get better is at, and look at what that looks like… We got a lot of work to do during the bye…
"When they come back off this bye we'll make sure we got a great plan fore going to Vegas, and whatever that looks like, we'll be ready to go."
Dobbs was always more the emergency plan, than anything
Mullens was on IR with a back injury when the Vikings traded for Dobbs and he returned from that stint before Week 11's Sunday Night Football game against the Denver Broncos. Mullens, a journeyman QB himself, has started 17 games over the course of his career as a backup and has some familiarity with O'Connell's system after spending three seasons under Kyle Shanahan.
Hall has cleared concussion protocol since Dobbs became the starter, as well. And let's not forget the chances of Dobbs even playing are tied into Hall's concussion. We don't know if Dobbs ever steps on the field without that development. With both quarterbacks back in the picture, it makes sense for Dobbs to get taken down a notch so he can continue to familiarize himself with the Vikings offense.
Regardless, it sounded like O'Connell was saying his "goodbyes" to Dobbs as the team's starter during the postgame presser.
"We definitely — it started to get to the point where I was just trying to think almost what would give us a spark," O'Connell said when referencing his thoughts about putting Mullens in the Bears game.
"Maybe throughout the game we got the sudden change on that turnover and then Josh took us down the field for a touchdown. As much as the turnovers absolutely cripple you offensively, I still thought Josh battled. No flinch. Just kept playing and competing to try to help us win. I really credit him [for] that. It's tough to do on a night where you've turned the football over with some interceptions here and there just to keep playing. This guy is a competitor. Really proud of the way he went out there on that drive… Once again, I mean, just not enough as across the board. We'll take a look at everything."
Any time coaches go the "this guy competes" route during a moment like this is typically when the team goes another direction. It's kind of how they tell themselves to move on. "We know we've got a guy with the right attitude and mentality that we can lean on if we need him – but let's see what the others can do, first" – is basically how it goes.
O'Connell went on to mention a couple of times how the Vikings offense needs to develop more rhythm in the passing game and specifically mentioned tying the eyes and feet together, which is obviously central to the quarterback position and the position, only.
At 6-6, the Vikings better make sure they get this decision right. Fortunately, there's enough game tape on Dobbs to make a proper evaluation, like O'Connell stated. They've also been with Mullens and Hall throughout the offseason, so it's not like they have unknowns involved in the equation.
O'Connell has already done an admirable job, even after back-to-back losses. If he can find yet another way to spark the Vikings, then he'll be right back at the top of the list for Coach of the Year consideration.
