This season if nothing else has proved to be one that shows the Minnesota Vikings moving on from the past. Very few players are left from the Denny Green era with another two possibly going next season. Chris Hovan who was benched last week is unhappy and from all indications is not expected to return next season. His production over the last two seasons has dropped off (though some might suugest he never really had outstanding numbers to begin with) and Mike Tice finally benched him after already considerably cutting his playing time. His days in a Viking uniform are numbered. He’s sold his home in Minneapolis which is always a sure sign he plans on moving on.
Michael Bennett is in a similiar situation although his production drop-off has more to do with him being often injured. He now appears to be fully healthy but can’t seem to work his way back to the starting position. Onterio Smith is now the fulltime starter. Though Scott Linehan the offensive coordinator insists Bennett will still get carries this may be more a tactful way of saying “thanks for the memories.”
The question here unlike Hovan is has Bennett really been given a chance to take the starting job fairly? Tice hasn’t let him carry the ball more than six times since he returned. Onterio Smith when given similiar carries did no better. Last week against Jacksonville, Smith had 20 carries for a very unimpressive 72 yards. hardly what one would call qualifications to start. Now I realize that you have to stick with a featured back. This is just the way it is. But is it fair that the job now is given to Smith after that? He looked like an ordinary back. Not one i would consider “the horse to ride” as Mike Tice likes to say.
Perhaps a trade would be the best thing for Bennett. He is very underappreciated in Minnesota. He really doesn’t deserve it. What has he done that is so bad? He got hurt and loses his job. Smith gets suspended for a drug violation and Tice awards him the starting spot. It’s almost laughable especially since Tice praised Bennett highly as being more explosive in practice right up to the game he gives Smith the role of featured back.
Whatever they decide to do I think trading Benntt would be a huge mistake. Smith is one puff away from being out a year which would probably end his tenure in Minnesota. Mewelde Moore who looked good when he had his chance now appears to be a very slow healer. Moe Williams is not getting any younger.
Unless Mike Tice is going to keep drafting running backs every season the best thing would be to keep Bennett. Smith will eventually have some type of injury as all RBs do. It’s inevitable nowadays. Or (Let’s hope not) possibly violate the NFL drug policy again. Mewelde Moore while showing himself to be good in his short stint is not proven yet despite how hard we Viking fans want to fool ourselves in to believing. Moe is not going to be around much longer. Bennett is in his prime and if he isn’t going to cost a lot to them then it’s better to use him as a backup until he can get his chance again. So the question remains. Is bennett getting the short end of the stick? This writer feels that may be the case.
3 replies on “Is Bennett getting a raw deal?”
It’s a little short Good points but you need more juice in the article. It has potential.
Also, I did not even know Mike Tice was still their coach. That shows you how much attention I’ve been paying recently. He should have been canned last year.
short but good ideas its a little short but im being kind of hypocritical. i like your views about how smith got the job when Bennett has shown himself but i dont think that Bennett should get the job because he is unreliable. I think that if Mewelde moore proves himself a little more, that the Vikes should start him. But overall it was good
I agree a little short I am not sure exactly what the answer is. I like Bennett and I like Smith. Still I would like to see what a healthy Bennett could do with more than a handful of carries.