Third-year pro Sydney Rice was drafted with the mindset of providing the Vikings with a deep threat down the field. Through two years, poor production and injuries have hampered Rice’s progression. In 2009, Rice has emerged as the Vikings’ most dynamic down field threat and he seems to be getting better by the week.
Last week’s shootout against the Ravens was Rice’s coming out party. He had six catches for 176 yards, two of which were of the explosive variety.
After Ray Rice’s touchdown run in the third quarter, Sydney Rice took a short slant pattern for 63 yards. This set up a key field goal to answer the touchdown of the Ravens. The 58-yard deep fly route at the end of the game set the Vikings up for the game winning field goal. Both catches came at critical moments in the game and were major reasons why the Vikings were able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
As it stands, Rice has vaulted himself to 11th in the NFL in receiving. He has 23 catches, 409 yards and two touchdowns. His 17.8 yards per catch leads all receivers in the top 25. The yards per catch is the most important statistic, as it validates the premise upon which Rice was drafted for; to provide the Vikings with a deep threat that has been missing ever since Moss left town in 2005.
In addition to all the numbers that Rice has produced, he has won the confidence of Brett Favre. Favre has no reservation of throwing Rice the ball, even if he is covered. This sense of confidence in Rice is key, as the Vikings need a consistent threat down the field in order to stretch the defense vertically. In doing so, defenses have to remove the 8th man in the box, which leaves them vulnerable to the running game. If teams want to play with fire and bring the 8th man down in the box, Rice has proven he can beat one-on-one coverage for big plays down the field.
There is one aspect, however, that needs to be cleaned up between Favre and Rice: the jumpball in the endzone. The Vikings have tried this play twice this season, once against the Browns and the other last week versus the Ravens. Both plays were unsuccessful, as Favre overthrew the big-body Rice, who was posted up in the endzone against the smaller defender. This play must be made, as it provides the Vikings with an easy touchdown in instances where defenses are stopping the run from the five-yard line.
Rice’s size and basketball background make him a match-up nightmare, which should produce several touchdowns going forward.
[Shahaab Tehrani can be reached at: shahaabt@yahoo.com]
