Bright spot: Jerome Simpson

[losperros]

I don't really care what Simpson did for the Bengals or even for the Vikings last year. I only care about what he does for the Vikings now.

On that note, Simpson made two extremely athletically inclined deep catches against the Lions. Simpson's biggest hang up is when he doesn't keep his mind in the game. It was good to see that concentration wasn't a problem for him yesterday.

[Demi]

It was good to see that concentration wasn't a problem for him yesterday.

I think if it wasn't a problem he would have managed to come down with that slant. It was a pathetic throw, but both parties were responsible.

Might have help him how much Lions focused on AD, and considering how often there was only one defender near him I'm guessing they focused a bit more on Rudolph and Jennings as well.

[losperros]

I think if it wasn't a problem he would have managed to come down with that slant. It was a pathetic throw, but both parties were responsible.

Might have help him how much Lions focused on AD, and considering how often there was only one defender near him I'm guessing they focused a bit more on Rudolph and Jennings as well.

It doesn't matter. The two deep grabs were excellent and Simpson showed great focus and athleticism coming down with the catches. As the Access Vikings guys said, had Ponder thrown the second ball a little farther, Simpson might have turned into six points.

Maybe missing the slant (which I agree that he should have caught) woke Simpson up. He sure turned it on the rest of time.

[getridofPonder]

I was really disappointed that they kept Simpson this year, after last year's abysmal performance. I was extremely impressed yesterday and will hope he keeps it up. That is what it looks like when someone just has a bad season, and shows every sign of having turned it around. Just pointing that out for contrast.

[The Breeze]

I think he's proven to be pretty lacking on slants...regardless of where the ball hits his hands. If it hits his hands he should be able to do more with it than pop it up into the air. But he really excels downfield when the ball has some air under it and he has time to track it.

[mondry]

For real, get Jennings or Patterson to run the slants! We're still learning what everyone is good at as a team so it'll take some time.

[dead_poet]

I still think it's funny how he celebrates after EVERY catch. Even if it's for a loss of two.

It's annoying.

/curmudgeon

[Mothman]

It's annoying.

/curmudgeon

I find it annoying too. I'm just laughing at the way you expressed yourself.

[losperros]

It's annoying.

/curmudgeon

Maybe, but I didn't find Simpson's 7 catches for 140 yards and a 20 yard average annoying. If he can keep doing that, then I'm fine if he keeps celebrating.

[Mothman]

Maybe, but I didn't find Simpson's 7 catches for 140 yards and a 20 yard average annoying. If he can keep doing that, then I'm fine if he keeps celebrating.

I am too. He can celebrate away if he keeps that up! It's encouraging to see him start well after such a disappointing 2012 season.

[Funkytown]

I find it annoying too. I'm just laughing at the way you expressed yourself.

If y'all were catching some of those wicked passes from Ponder, you'd be proud of yourselves, too.

Let the man celebrate! Most people counted him out and wanted him gone, and he already showed some of his worth in our first game. Just how many other players can you say that for after Sunday's outing?

I look forward to many, many more "booyah, in your face!" first down signals from Simpson. The guy is passionate and excited to be out there contributing; no harm in that! I hope he's doing it plenty in two weeks vs. the Browns, because I'll be doing it right along with him...as will thousands of others. And...that's good for a Minnesota Vikings...FIRST DOWN!

[jackal]

Simpson had a great game for us..

I was impressed hopefully he can build on it next game

[dead_poet]

Jerome Simpson playing to rectify his name to #Vikings coaches, but also for staying power in Minnesota

What held Simpson back, in finer detail, was a pinched nerve in his L5, which is the lowest vertebra that controls leg nerves from your spine. That injury caused him to lose partial feeling down his left leg. In turn, Simpson couldn't take off with the necessary push from his leg throughout last season.

Even after his rocky beginning and despite the additions of receivers Greg Jennings and Cordarrelle Patterson, Simpson feels like he'll remain a focal point in the Vikings' passing attack all season -- not just a quick fix in Week 1.

Meaning his 140-yard performance against the Lions, which is his second-highest receiving total in his six-year career, wasn't a fluke.

"I feel like I can do more," Simpson said. "I just want to stay consistent. I just want to stay consistent. I want to be a consistent target so they can count on me, Christian [Ponder] can count on me. So I can show my natural abilities and show I'm one of the top receivers in this league."

Simpson's career stats of 104 receptions, 1,418 yards and seven touchdowns look more like what a true top receiver puts up in one season, not six.

But Simpson said his upswing is anything but temporary.

"I just want to stay consistent this whole year so I can get a big contract, a long-term contract and stay here," Simpson said.

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Full ... ract091313

[dead_poet]

Good stuff.

Simpson's big game sparks questions about Vikings receivers

Now that Simpson is on pace for 112 catches for 2,240 yards, what did you think of the acrobatic catch he made on that 47-yarder on Sunday?

Stewart: “That was a play we called for that particular coverage. Man, it was like a Willie Mays catch. Jerome is like Bambi. He’s like a little deer. He has unbelievable bounding ability. That’s Jerome Simpson’s game when he’s healthy. And he’s healthy.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... um=twitter

[Mothman]

Good stuff.

Simpson's big game sparks questions about Vikings receivers
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... um=twitter

Stewart may have just given Simpson a nickname the receiver probably doesn't want: Bambi.

In football, it's not bad to be a thumper but I'm not sure you want to be Bambi. You definitely don't want to be Dumbo.