Viktor
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
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Notable Number
81.3 — Rudolph caught 39 of 48 targets in 2019. His reception percentage of 81.3 was second-best among qualifying tight ends in the NFL behind Jets TE Ryan Griffin (34 of 41). The next-closest was Tennessee's Jonnu Smith (79.5).
Memorable Moment(s)
Minnesota's tight ends made some highlight-reel catches throughout the season, but the position group's most-memorable moment belongs to Rudolph, who scored the game-winning touchdown in New Orleans to advance the Vikings to the Divisional round.
The game went into overtime; Minnesota won the coin toss and never looked back.
Thanks to a 43-yard dime by Kirk Cousins to Adam Thielen, the Vikings were set up with first-and-goal. After two failed attempts, Cousins on third down found Rudolph in the back corner of the paint. The tight end once again showed of his trustworthy hands and kept his feet in-bounds for the walk-off touchdown. He and Cousins received game balls from Head Coach Mike Zimmer following the game.
My honorable mention memorable moment is Rudolph's one-handed catch at Dallas for an opening drive touchdown on Sunday Night Football. Cousins threw the play-action pass to where only Rudolph could reach it, and he did so in impressive fashion.
Regular-Season Statistics
Kyle Rudolph
16 games played; 39 catches for 367 yards (9.4 average); six touchdowns
Irv Smith, Jr.
16 games played; 36 catches for 311 yards (8.6 average); two touchdowns
Tyler Conklin
15 games played; eight catches for 58 yards (7.3 average)
Highest high
1. Week 11 against the Broncos proved a big day for Minnesota tight ends.
Rudolph entered the game with 410 career catches and by the fourth quarter had increased that total to 414, surpassing Vikings Legend Jake Reed and moving into fifth all-time in franchise history.
Rudolph went on to have his best game of the season that day, making five catches for 67 yards, including a season-long 32-yard touchdown en route to Minnesota's dramatic comeback defeat of Denver. Smith's first touchdown in the pros started the charge that saw the Vikings overcome a 20-point deficit to win 27-23.
Conklin's 20-yard catch (mentioned earlier) was a key play on third-and-14 that kept alive a drive capped by a Dalvin Cook rushing touchdown.
Lowest lows
1. The Vikings were without Morgan, who had proved to be a talented blocking tight end, for the entirety of the season. Morgan, who also served as the Vikings backup long snapper, underwent offseason knee surgery and was added to Injured Reserve in August.
2. One of Minnesota's most disappointing losses occurred at Chicago in Week 4, when the Vikings offense was smothered by a talented Bears front seven and the team fell 16-6 to its division foe. Rudolph had just one catch for 12 yards, while Smith added another grab for just 5.
"I feel like each game, it's definitely a step [forward] for me. As a rookie coming in, I had a lot on my plate at first just trying to come in and learn the offense. But Coach Stefanski and [tight ends coach Brian] Pariani did an amazing job of getting me ready. Each week I just try to come with the mindset that I can't be stopped, and this offense can't be stopped. I try to have that mindset each day. And each game is more experience for me under my belt."
– Smith on growth during his rookie season
"We've had a lot of really good rooms here over the years. I think back to Rhett Ellison, Dave Morgan, and before that, John Carlson. Guys who have always been really professional and helped us win ball games. Our room is no different from that this year. Irv, Tyler and even Brandon, they're always engaged and making sure that the tight end position, aside from the quarterback, is somebody that has to know almost everything about the offense. Especially in that room, you never know what is going to happen throughout the course of a week and on game day. You can be thrown in at any position at any time and know all of your stuff. Our guys all prepare really well."
– Rudolph on the mentality of Minnesota's tight ends room