With Joshua Dobbs, Vikings get a close look at what their offense could be with a mobile QB

On a third-and-6 from the Saints 7 in the second quarter on Sunday, Joshua Dobbs dropped back and read through his options, finding all four of his targets enveloped in New Orleans' two-deep coverage. He spun away from a four-man rush, picked up a block from Christian Darrisaw as he backtracked from Tanoh Kpassagnon's rush lane and broke for the left pylon, leaping for a score that put the Vikings up 17-3.

"The O-line, all day, allowed me the opportunity to go through my reads, stay in the pocket, and then when the opportunity presented itself, to be able to utilize my legs and make plays," Dobbs said. "And so, I was able to go through my entire progression, work through it, see everything was covered. And you know, from there, it's just 'Go make a play.'"

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell — once a running quarterback himself — greeted Dobbs with a shrug and a smile as he returned to the sideline, following a play that gave him the team lead in rushing touchdowns (in two games since acquiring him from the Cardinals on Oct. 31) and provided another reminder of how different the Vikings' offense will look as long as he's the quarterback.

Though their tenuous QB situation might prompt some caution with how often they want Dobbs to run, Sunday's 27-19 victory over the Saints made it clear they view the 28-year-old's mobility as an asset. O'Connell called a designed run for Dobbs that used running back Ty Chandler as a lead blocker, and lined him up at wide receiver on a direct snap that Chandler took in for his first career touchdown. Dobbs scrambled twice for 8 yards in the first quarter, had another 10-yard scramble after his touchdown in the second quarter and took off for a 4-yard gain in the third quarter where it initially appeared he'd gained a first down.

He finished with 44 rushing yards on a day when he was successful (gaining at least 40% of yards-to-go on first down, 60% of yards-to-go on second down and 100% of yards-to-go on third or fourth down) on four of his eight carries. Dobbs has 368 rushing yards this season, trailing only the Ravens' Lamar Jackson among NFL quarterbacks. He leads all quarterbacks with six runs of 20 yards or more; his 22-yard scramble against the Falcons a week ago was the Vikings' only run of 20-plus yards this season.

How the Vikings incorporate Dobbs' mobility into their offense is a multifaceted question, one that involves keeping their newfound starter healthy while maintaining their commitment to runs and passes that stress defenses by how similar they look at the snap.

"You don't want those plays to just kind of stand out on their own," O'Connell said. "You want to marry them up and have some different phases of running and pass that give you a chance to build from there."

When Dobbs' mobility helps him make something out of nothing, though, the Vikings don't seem inclined to throttle it.

"I think it's a balance when we have two quarterbacks, one of which [Sean Mannion] is a practice squad elevation, up for the game," O'Connell said. "But we've got to be smart with them, too, because those natural plays are also going to happen where he does create off-schedule or steal us a first down or two or three."

The weeks to come are where things could get particularly interesting.

Justin Jefferson is in the second week of a 21-day practice window before the Vikings have to make a decision about activating him from injured reserve. If defenses are trying to roll coverage toward the receiver while accounting for Dobbs' mobility, as the Saints did by using a linebacker as a spy, it could stress them in new ways, while defensive backs could spend more time covering Jefferson if Dobbs is able to extend plays.

O'Connell has spent time in systems that feature mobile quarterbacks, coaching Johnny Manziel in Cleveland and working in San Francisco with Chip Kelly during Colin Kaepernick's final season as the starter in 2016. He was Washington's QB coach in 2018 when the team acquired Alex Smith, who'd used some run-pass options and zone read concepts in Kansas City.

"I've been around it, and I do believe in definitely applying those things," O'Connell said. "I think there's a right time to do it."

The Vikings aren't as likely to import plays from Dobbs' past as they are to build new ideas for him.

"It's really not our philosophy to just see something on tape and copy it," O'Connell said.

They're also unlikely, at least during the season, to alter the foundation of a scheme the rest of their roster has practiced for months. At least in spots, though, they have room to make adaptations.

"It looks different to me, too, sometimes," O'Connell said. "I think that's OK. It's about what the players do best, coaching them and giving them plans to allow them to do that."

Many of the teams running the version of the West Coast offense handed down from Mike Shanahan and Gary Kubiak to Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay have emphasized timing and precision over mobility from their QBs. With Kirk Cousins as their quarterback, the Vikings built their offense around the veteran's command at the line of scrimmage and accuracy that allowed him to fit throws into tight windows even while getting hit.

"Kirk was playing as well as anybody in this league, really ripping apart coverage and attacking things and kind of running everything," O'Connell said Sunday. "Josh, in two [games], has kind of shown us what mobility, in addition to what we do offensively, can do for us in this tough time where we're trying to overcome the loss of a guy like Kirk."

Cousins led the league in passing yards when he tore his Achilles tendon on Oct. 29, and it appeared he might have been playing his way into the Vikings' future plans. That could still be true, particularly if he recovers from surgery and can agree on a contract with the Vikings.

But in light of what Dobbs' mobility has brought to the offense, it's worth thinking back to last spring, when O'Connell and General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah were sitting in the front rows of Lucas Oil Stadium watching Anthony Richardson's workout at the NFL combine. They left Indianapolis impressed with the Florida quarterback's electric performance, and though the draft's top three quarterbacks (Alabama's Bryce Young, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud and Richardson) were taken in the first four picks, the Vikings were believed to be exploring a move up to the top of the draft if one of the passers became available.

Cousins, if he returns, won't become a dynamic runner at age 35. The Vikings wouldn't expect him to be. But if they do have another QB next season, it would be shortsighted to assume their next one would have to fit the same mold.

They created space in their offense Sunday for new plays that fit Dobbs' strengths. In the next few weeks, they could do it even more.

"I thought it was a pretty outstanding day from Josh," O'Connell said. "And the best thing about it is we're all still getting to know each other and getting the comfort level where we can continue to apply layers to this thing to be the most successful we can be on offense."