Bernard Berrian and other thoughts
by mjschaefer on Aug 24, 2010 3:57 PM CDT
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PrintThe Sidney Rice news doesn't come as a complete shock. This hip injury didn't feel right a month ago and at this point it was either a passive contract hold out or far more serious. Unfortunately, surgery is needed. I wish Rice the best with the recovery and rehab.
This brings me to the Minnesota Vikings current best wide receiver and that is Bernard Berrian. This guy has been thrown under the bus or just completely ignored all season. Last year, I felt like he was going to have a huge season but he wasn't truly healthy until late in the season. The New Orleans game he showed flashes of great play that I expected earlier in the year. The Rice injury serves as a chance for Berrian to prove his talents. He's one of the elite deep threats in the game and he's also a fairly solid route runner. His quick burst should prove to be damn near unstoppable on the slant route, which happens to be Brett Favre's favorite throw.
I don't think the Vikings should panic with the loss of Sidney Rice. As others have written and I agree, Rice became a star because Favre made him one. See guys like Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Robert Brooks and Antonio Freeman. None of these guys were expected to be stud wide receivers. Rice's progression coincided with Favre's talent to create a 6'3 monster. My point here is that Favre has invented and reinvented receivers before Rice and will do it after Rice. Remember, last year Rice was a nice red zone target and that's it. He's coming out party was the one Vikings game I've ever attended, Baltimore in week five.
My point is at this time last year no one was counting on Rice, Harvin's WR ability was still unknown and Berrian was the unhealthy one. Now things have changed. Berrian looks spry and Harvin will contribute when possible. Down on the roster a fellow named Marko Mitchell lurks. I have no idea if he makes the team, but I have a feeling he could be a deep deep sleeper given his size and speed. His hands won't match Rice's, but it might be worth a look.
I know this news is unsettling and the media types will play it up as a huge loss and it is certainly an important one, but remember Rice returns in November, playoff games are played in January and that's when we need this team at full strength.
Thanks for letting me waste some of your time today.
This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.
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I agree
Every team can only have one #1 receiver. In the NFCCG, BB showed flashes of what he can do (fumble at the NO ten notwithstanding.) Don’t forget the 99 yd TD from Gus the year before, when healthy.
The D will have to step up (a few more takeaways maybe?), and time of possession will be huge.
Finally, better it happen now (yes, 4 months ago would have been ideal), than after say the 3rd game of the reg. season. That would be a clusterf***.
Man, don't even bring up that 99 yard TD
that wasn’t Berrian doing well so much as it was Vasher (think it was Vasher) being a complete moron and leaving a streaking WR completely open down the sideline so he could try and cover the TE instead. And Berrian nearly got caught from behind on it to boot.
If you want to pull out a play to show how good Berrian can be, use that 70-odd yard TD he got against the Lions, when we were actually in a 4 wide set and he caught it short and made guys miss.
Fair enough
but it was the Lions doing the missing. Anywho, wasn’t it the Grossman/Orton QB tandem that turned BB into the attractive free agent he was? With health and Favre the combination, I expect big things. But, remember what the definition of an optimist is—someone who doesn’t have all the facts.
It was Tillman, but thats a non issue
Still up there in my favorite Vikings plays that I keep saved away in a hidden folder
Berrian's 99T
It was a memorable, beautiful moment, Gus Ferrotte’s shining moment as well.
Just like the amazing catch the Greg Lewis pulled in from Favre last year. Just incredible, breathtaking, jump up and down and scream stuff.
But an isolated WOW doesn’t make the case to keep the guy indefinitely.
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!
SKOL!
I like Berrian
But not having Rice and Harvin will definitely be a hindrance. Shiancoe is still a great red zone target. Rice was more than just a TD guy though, he made many great possession-type plays and some long yardage catches.
Drafted him on Sunday,
because of Sidney and Harvin’s issues. Makes my fantasy team look a lot better but I would prefer the alternative: )
by CanadianViking on Aug 24, 2010 7:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Nice points
All this negative stuff is overblown, and it is actually helping to lower expectations and take the pressure off our Vikes.
he was a great reciever before
and he still is. And lets not forget, we are only loosing sid for 6 weeks, and a bye week in there. I think that Sid will be back and at it before we notice he is gone.
I do think Berrien
Will see a nice comeback this year. I don’t think he’ll make the leap to an elite WR (Rice type numbers) but I think he’ll be back to his 1000 yards and 6-8 TD numbers that he got in the past. He’s a little older and probably a little slower…he still has the skills to be a good WR though, I grabbed him for a backup WR in one of my FF leagues. I think as long as he’ll stay healthy, he’ll be an important part of the offense in 2010
Shiancoe
Everyone is forgetting a Major fantasy breakout performer. Well, last year was a real breakout, but who else could benefit more from not having Rice as a redzone weapon?
Shank & Bernard
Our only proven targets via Favre.
Harvin may miss a few games due to Migraines, or show up and be a practical no-show for the game (See Cards game).
Rice was the #1 receiver last year, considering his yards and TDs. Shank was more of a red-zone target threat. Bernard had injuries that lingered him, but had flashes late in the season. Harvin was more of a 3rd down threat like C Taylor in the run/pass game.
We got some new fresh faces to check out & cross our fingers in hoping work out. I was just hoping we could bring our A-game to the New Orleans game.. Looks like we’ll have to ride the defense pretty hard to come out w/ a W unless we have some diamonds in the rough receivers pop out…
People keep forgetting
That Rice also attended the WR training camp with Fitzgerald & Carter one year ago. Add that this was his 3rd year in stride & the arrival of Favre, it was only destiny that this guy would have a pretty astounding season. You add that into the mix of other players and we may not see the best outcome. Luckily, Favre spreads the ball around… But, I am sure he’ll find his own #1 favorite guy and the #1 favorite guy will get a lot of yards….. My pick will be that its Berrian…. And than Rice will have the late-season flash of being good once healthy (Think of it is as a twist of 09, Rice & BB traded shoes).
But, Bernard still worries me for some reason, throw in the Harvin migraine issues and I still think we need one more proven/veteran receiver (Moss, Jackson, etc.)
Naw
getting another WR would just be overkill. Basically, we’d have given up Sapp for nothing then. I’d rather we have traded a pick for Jackson myself, but apparently his contract asking-price is ridiculous.
Either way, getting him as well means cutting somebody. Whether that’s Lewis or Walker, since I don’t see Payne making it on the final roster.
5 Recievers for now. Maybe 6 but why?
Berrian, Harvin, Lewis, Camirillo, and ( Mitchell, Walker, Payne, Biddle or Hamilton).
When Sidney returns we will have 6. Plus if we keep Reynaud as a RB we have an emergency WR.
I think a tall receiver like Mitchell will be kept but the next two preseason games should tell us the answer.
"Is it normal to wake up in the morning in a sweat because you can't wait to beat another human's guts out?"
Joe Kapp
by lifelongvike on Aug 28, 2010 7:35 AM CDT up reply actions
Recievers
I’m thinking Berrian, Harvin, Camirillo, Walker, and Mitchell, with Payne and Hamilton to the PS. I just can’t see the upside of Lewis when you have Berrian, Camirillo, and Walker as your experienced WR vets.
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!
SKOL!
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