That was at a time when he wasn’t getting first-team reps, but even after
Sam Bradford went down and the Vikings turned to Keenum, the quarterback chose to stick with VR.
“A lot of guys who are starters don’t think they need it anymore because they’re getting reps on the field,” Belch said. “[Keenum] said, ‘No, I think this is something that would be even more valuable as a starter as a supplemental preparation tool.’”
As a result, Keenum has had thousands of additional mental reps. In total since he took over starting duties in Week 2, Keenum has viewed 2,647 plays through virtual reality, which translated to him getting to review every play the Vikings have run this season two to three times from a mental standpoint over the course of the year, according to STRIVR’s tracking data.
All of that has added up to hours of cumulative mental practice on top of what he’s doing physically.
Belch is quick to note that STRIVR can’t be credited for a player’s performance, but he points to compelling data the company has tracked on players who have used the technology and had the best years of their career.
Take, for example, how well Keenum has performed under pressure this season. His 59 QBR when pressured was the highest in the NFL, as was his 88 QBR when facing a blitz, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Could that be the result of his VR training?
below but would this surprise anyone?
