Mike Zimmer isn’t messing around when it comes to protecting his quarterback. Just ask Jeff Davidson. And now ask Andre Smith.
Smith was brought in as a free agent to stabilize the right tackle position but Friday night against Cincinnati his pass protection was anything but steadfast.
Smith showed a decided lack of quickness when on the Vikings’ first offensive drive he let the Bengals’ Carlos Dunlap blow by him.
Dunlap completed the sack on Teddy Bridgewater, sounding a painful echo of 2015 when the Vikings’ QB was brought down 44 times.
Mike Zimmer would like to see a lot less of his quarterback being hit, thank you very much.