On the Vikings QB situation

[Morbius]

First, let's all agree on one thing: the Vikings are a well-coached team. Kevin O'Connell knows what he's doing. His record in close games is stellar, and his overall record is enviable.

I'm looking at their quarterbacks. Sam Darnold has decent statistics, but if you watch him closely you can tell he's doing well because of the system they're running, rather than his gifts as a QB. Someone is going to pay Sam Darnold a handsome amount of money next year, and it's looking to me like that means someone other than the Vikings. They picked up Daniel Jones on the cheap after he parted ways with the Giants, and they have J.J. McCarthy recovering from a knee injury.

So what I'm expecting from the men in purple is this: they let Sam Darnold go; whichever team takes him is likely disappointed. They let J.J. watch until they're sure he's completely healthy and ready for the NFL game, and Daniel Jones suddenly looks like a real NFL QB while he fills in. Last year they had several lesser quarterbacks look good. No system is immune to bad quarterback play, but the Vikings seem to be running a system that allows poor quarterbacks to play well.

So am I crazy or am I on to something here?

[Auggie]

1. You're on to something

Steve Young floundered with Tampa Bay until he came to San Francisco. Jeff Garcia topped Young's passing records before landing in Cleveland -- where he failed miserably (in one game, against the Dallas I believe, his QB rating was 0).

I cite 49er history because it is which I am the most familiar.

A good QB can become a great one under a great system and solid roster. A great QB can become an average QB under a weak system and roster.

I feel the same way about running backs. An average back will perform well behind a good line with good blocking schemes. Put a good running back in the same situation and you get a Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Tony Dorsett, etc.