Minnesota Vikings Team Thread (1 Viewer)

[Donnybrook]

I am all aboard the Clayton Tune bandwagon. I find it funny the way he seems to have a lack a buzz around him despite him having a great post season performance. His combine performance is on par with Jake Locker's or, if you prefer, Deshaun Watson's. I think he has some really good traits that a team could develop.

I wonder if the lack of buzz is because teams are looking at him as the Travaros Jackson of this draft. Remember when Brad Childress shocked the world when he used a 2nd round pick on him. I am not predicting he goes that high but I won't be shocked if he goes before DTR.

 

[Donnybrook]

KOC has stated that the Vikings offense is going to feature 12 personnel (le one running back, two tight ends, and two wide receivers). Why are mockers and analyst insisting that wide receiver is a need? Especially in a draft year with a lack of elite wide receivers. Knowing that the defense has been the achilles heal of the Vikings the last several years, does a rookie WR actually move the needle as much as defensive player in a position of actual need. I, also, get that DT and LB aren't really value picks at 23 whereas CB possibly could be. I would be favor a trade down to see if we can find some defensive draft gems. Not a high percentage play but Kwesi lack of action last season got us into this position.

Every mock that has the Vikings trading up for a questionable QB, or sticking and picking a WR is a major disappointment to me. This says to me that the mockers actually believe that Vikings were as good as their record last year. I believe that the offense pulled the defense's *** out of the fire too many times last year. When the Vikings played teams with better linemen, (like Dallas, Philly and Giants), they got destroyed. I am skeptical that Flores is a miracle worker with minimal upgrades on the D. If Kwesi drafts the way the mockers do, I suspect we will be giving up a top 10 draft pick for a questionable trade up. Not to mention that Vikings fans will want to fire the DC for the 3rd straight year.

 

[Zow]

KOC has stated that the Vikings offense is going to feature 12 personnel (le one running back, two tight ends, and two wide receivers). Why are mockers and analyst insisting that wide receiver is a need? Especially in a draft year with a lack of elite wide receivers. Knowing that the defense has been the achilles heal of the Vikings the last several years, does a rookie WR actually move the needle as much as defensive player in a position of actual need. I, also, get that DT and LB aren't really value picks at 23 whereas CB possibly could be. I would be favor a trade down to see if we can find some defensive draft gems. Not a high percentage play but Kwesi lack of action last season got us into this position.

Every mock that has the Vikings trading up for a questionable QB, or sticking and picking a WR is a major disappointment to me. This says to me that the mockers actually believe that Vikings were as good as their record last year. I believe that the offense pulled the defense's *** out of the fire too many times last year. When the Vikings played teams with better linemen, (like Dallas, Philly and Giants), they got destroyed. I am skeptical that Flores is a miracle worker with minimal upgrades on the D. If Kwesi drafts the way the mockers do, I suspect we will be giving up a top 10 draft pick for a questionable trade up. Not to mention that Vikings fans will want to fire the DC for the 3rd straight year.

While my thoughts may not be as extreme as yours, but nonetheless I tend to agree. I'd much prefer to load up with draft picks and throw darts at defensive talent (unless, of course, some guy falls to 23 we can't pass up).

 

[FunkyPlutos]

KOC has stated that the Vikings offense is going to feature 12 personnel (le one running back, two tight ends, and two wide receivers). Why are mockers and analyst insisting that wide receiver is a need? Especially in a draft year with a lack of elite wide receivers. Knowing that the defense has been the achilles heal of the Vikings the last several years, does a rookie WR actually move the needle as much as defensive player in a position of actual need. I, also, get that DT and LB aren't really value picks at 23 whereas CB possibly could be. I would be favor a trade down to see if we can find some defensive draft gems. Not a high percentage play but Kwesi lack of action last season got us into this position.

Every mock that has the Vikings trading up for a questionable QB, or sticking and picking a WR is a major disappointment to me. This says to me that the mockers actually believe that Vikings were as good as their record last year. I believe that the offense pulled the defense's *** out of the fire too many times last year. When the Vikings played teams with better linemen, (like Dallas, Philly and Giants), they got destroyed. I am skeptical that Flores is a miracle worker with minimal upgrades on the D. If Kwesi drafts the way the mockers do, I suspect we will be giving up a top 10 draft pick for a questionable trade up. Not to mention that Vikings fans will want to fire the DC for the 3rd straight year.

I would really like to trade back and pick up Trenton Simpson or Drew Sanders with the top pick and take a DT and CB with 2nd/3rd round picks...I am a huge Marvin Mims fan so if he is available in the 3rd, I would like him even though I'm not sure WR is a huge priority but I think he is a solid prospect that could be just as good as any 1st round WR.

 

[Donnybrook]

KOC has stated that the Vikings offense is going to feature 12 personnel (le one running back, two tight ends, and two wide receivers). Why are mockers and analyst insisting that wide receiver is a need? Especially in a draft year with a lack of elite wide receivers. Knowing that the defense has been the achilles heal of the Vikings the last several years, does a rookie WR actually move the needle as much as defensive player in a position of actual need. I, also, get that DT and LB aren't really value picks at 23 whereas CB possibly could be. I would be favor a trade down to see if we can find some defensive draft gems. Not a high percentage play but Kwesi lack of action last season got us into this position.

Every mock that has the Vikings trading up for a questionable QB, or sticking and picking a WR is a major disappointment to me. This says to me that the mockers actually believe that Vikings were as good as their record last year. I believe that the offense pulled the defense's *** out of the fire too many times last year. When the Vikings played teams with better linemen, (like Dallas, Philly and Giants), they got destroyed. I am skeptical that Flores is a miracle worker with minimal upgrades on the D. If Kwesi drafts the way the mockers do, I suspect we will be giving up a top 10 draft pick for a questionable trade up. Not to mention that Vikings fans will want to fire the DC for the 3rd straight year.

I would really like to trade back and pick up Trenton Simpson or Drew Sanders with the top pick and take a DT and CB with 2nd/3rd round picks...I am a huge Marvin Mims fan so if he is available in the 3rd, I would like him even though I'm not sure WR is a huge priority but I think he is a solid prospect that could be just as good as any 1st round WR.

The player that intrigues me most is Mazi Smith. He could be everything that Dalvin Tomlinson was, at a younger age. PFF mocks have him going in the 40s but I suspect he will go in the 30s. Harrison Phillips took 692 defensive snaps last season, the most in his career. Tonga only had 126 snaps,

 

[snogger]

Hopefully my feelings that the defense has talent, just needed better coaching is true as they certainly thought so based on the off season and draft.

At least the offense should be lighting up the scoreboard as it looks explosive!!

 

[Bracie Smathers]

you just hired a very-good GM in Kwesi

Peter Schrager
@PSchrags
Back in 2013, @Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah left a high-paying Wall Street job as a trader to take an entry level position with the ⁦@49ers⁩ .
He made 1/20th the salary.
His colleagues thought he was crazy.
So did his friends. But he followed his dream.
He explains.

---

LINK to video

 

[BobbyLayne]

Hopefully my feelings that the defense has talent, just needed better coaching is true as they certainly thought so based on the off season and draft.

At least the offense should be lighting up the scoreboard as it looks explosive!!

I'd agree with this. Schematically they'll be running coverages that match their personnel a lot better. They'll be a more aggressive defense, higher blitz percentage, and will play man occasional instead of the endless quarters/quarter-half Donatell favored. EPA wise I think they'll be a top 15 defense under Flores.

Good chance they may win less games (say 11? who knows) but they'll probably be a better team. Still gonna have to keep up with their offense.

 

[Gally]

Hopefully my feelings that the defense has talent, just needed better coaching is true as they certainly thought so based on the off season and draft.

I am in complete agreement here. Their defense wasn't as bad as the numbers personnel wise. I thought they were criminally misused. Bend don't Break doesn't work. Pressure, pressure, pressure and with their offense they don't have to worry about getting behind and not being able to keep pace. It should allow the defense to play loose without the fear of a big play ending the game. I am looking forward to how Flores is going to put this together. I am not happy about Smith being let go and now Hunter being unhappy though. That puts a wrench into the works if Hunter isn't on board.

 

[snogger]

Hopefully my feelings that the defense has talent, just needed better coaching is true as they certainly thought so based on the off season and draft.

I am in complete agreement here. Their defense wasn't as bad as the numbers personnel wise. I thought they were criminally misused. Bend don't Break doesn't work. Pressure, pressure, pressure and with their offense they don't have to worry about getting behind and not being able to keep pace. It should allow the defense to play loose without the fear of a big play ending the game. I am looking forward to how Flores is going to put this together. I am not happy about Smith being let go and now Hunter being unhappy though. That puts a wrench into the works if Hunter isn't on board.

Based on letting Cook go, and drafting a wr tells me this offense will be 65/35 pass vs. Run..
Heck, might be 75/25.

 

[Biabreakable]

I sincerely hope you guys are correct as far as the change in coaching bringing about improvement to the defense. I do think it would be hard for it to be worse because of how bad its been.

Maybe Davenport can provide similar pass rush as Smith did. That remains to be seen.

Top 15 seems optimistic to me and I mainly question the quality of the corner backs I think neccessary for a more aggressive style to actually work, or if the DC will have to adjust what he wants to do because of what they are capable of. I think thats a huge unknown.

I feel like things have gone back towards Denny Green coached Vikings which had explosive offense but the defense just kept getting worse. Or at least that is my fear.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Is this now the 2023 Vikings' thread?
You all don't talk back and forth much

Just wanted to congratulate you on signing Myles Gaskin
2020-970/5Td, 41 catches
2021-850/7Td, 49 catches

He's kinda slow but he has decent vision and finds holes, he just doesn't move thru them with as much speed as you'd hope.
Over 400 touches for Miami in '20 and '21 combined, again he's not flashy and none of the fans here really thought he was above average but maybe a new team will inspire more.
Nothing negative to say about him, definitely a team player, not all about him.

 

[VikingFrog]

Is this now the 2023 Vikings' thread?
You all don't talk back and forth much

We are still in shock that we came back and beat the Colts.

 

[need2know]

You guys don't get any respect.
I think you win the division. Lions will fail as usual

 

[Biabreakable]

Is this now the 2023 Vikings' thread?
You all don't talk back and forth much.

It might as well be.

I have talked about different players of the Vikings in their respective threads.

When I dont have nice things to say I tend to say less. From my perspective the Vikings have traditionally been a defensive team except for the later years of Dennis Green and a couple bad years before the hiring of Mike Zimmer. This team is not this. I dont know who they are now. They are hyper focused on offense, which is pretty good. But it reminds me of the Vikings teams before Green got fired more than any past Vikings teams.

i do not like this.

At least some of my fellow Vikings fans may disagree. I would love to be wrong and their defense improves as I know some hope it will. Just hard for me to root for a team that cant stop anything.

I do note that the Vikings have kept 6 safeties on their roster after cut down to 53. I dont think thats good, but its interesting.

We used to be united about the offensive line being the biggest problem of the team and while I think there is a lot of room for improvement there, it isnt the biggest weakness of the team right now.

Just wanted to congratulate you on signing Myles Gaskin
2020-970/5Td, 41 catches
2021-850/7Td, 49 catches

He's kinda slow but he has decent vision and finds holes, he just doesn't move thru them with as much speed as you'd hope.
Over 400 touches for Miami in '20 and '21 combined, again he's not flashy and none of the fans here really thought he was above average but maybe a new team will inspire more.
Nothing negative to say about him, definitely a team player, not all about him.

I noticed this as well and he may play a fair amount. He seems to fit what the Vikings are looking for at RB. A guy who can catch the ball but is just ok.

Im not happy about losing Dalvin Cook although it was bound to happen.

In general Im not happy about the decisions the GM is making to shape this team. Just another example.

 

[need2know]

Yeah should have kept cook imo

 

[BigJim®]

Gotta agree with Bia (on everything but Cook). I still go to games and will always bleed purple, but a person can only rant so many times that trenches win in the NFL - not CBs and WRs. One and done again if they happen to make the playoffs.

 

[need2know]

Well.if the plan was to never keep cook why not trade him last year? Just a thought

 

[Biabreakable]

Gotta agree with Bia (on everything but Cook). I still go to games and will always bleed purple, but a person can only rant so many times that trenches win in the NFL - not CBs and WRs. One and done again if they happen to make the playoffs.

Yeah not saying I dont understand them letting Cook go. It was about that time anyways and they needed cap space.

Just as a fan, not business he was one of the few things left for me to root for.

I like Addison a lot maybe I can root for him. They still needed defense a lot more.

I think the Vikings only kept 4 cornerbacks? And 6 safeties? Thats not good. They have no depth and the starters havent proven anything except they are not very good either.

Kendricks looked washed last year but they certainly haven't replaced him.

Hitman is old. They were shopping Hunter.

The won a lot of games in racetrack fashion last year. Cant expect them to keep being able to do that, but what other options have they given themselves?

 

[Biabreakable]

Well.if the plan was to never keep cook why not trade him last year? Just a thought

Thats the other thing. The GM being sold to us as some wiz kid analyst who could have made much more money on Wall Street. But he gets worked over in trades.

Spielman might have been a bad person. The players seemed to not like him. Fans did not like him trading down all the time, but that guy could trade.

 

[BigJim®]

Well.if the plan was to never keep cook why not trade him last year? Just a thought

Thats the other thing. The GM being sold to us as some wiz kid analyst who could have made much more money on Wall Street. But he gets worked over in trades.

Spielman might have been a bad person. The players seemed to not like him. Fans did not like him trading down all the time, but that guy could trade.

Hard to imagine anyone would have wanted an overpaid Cook who was a rental at best unless they wanted to overpay this year as well. That last contract made him unrosterable in today’s NFL.

The trade down by Kwesi last year may have ruined my opinion permanently. Still, only difference between he and Spielman is Spielman traded a nickel for five pennies and Kwesi traded a quarter for a dime and a couple nickels. Neither is what I want from a GM.

 

[pecorino]

Who’s the presumptive backup to Mattison?

 

[sushinsky4tsar]

Who’s the presumptive backup to Mattison?

I would take Chandler. Gaskin is making me reconsider the use of that roster spot though. Feels like Chandler, Gaskin, and some other guy off the street if Mattison goes down.

**hope that I'm wrong and Chandler would get a crack at a pretty significant role, but there's potential for RBBC mess

 

[Gally]

When I dont have nice things to say I tend to say less. From my perspective the Vikings have traditionally been a defensive team except for the later years of Dennis Green and a couple bad years before the hiring of Mike Zimmer. This team is not this. I dont know who they are now. They are hyper focused on offense, which is pretty good. But it reminds me of the Vikings teams before Green got fired more than any past Vikings teams.

I think the team is building an offense that can keep up with anyone in the NFL. I also think Flores will bring a pressure philosophy to try and force sacks and turnover and not sit back with the bend and finally break defense they had the last couple years.

My guess (hope) is that the defense will increase turnovers and sacks but risk the big play. If they can get pressure and be successful most of the time the big play won't be as costly. The offense should be able to score and keep up and I think that is the plan.

I just couldn't stand the bend then break defense of the past few years. It cost us so many games and the defense wasn't good enough to do that. All it did was keep our offense off the field because they couldn't stop anybody. Very frustrating.

 

[Biabreakable]

When I dont have nice things to say I tend to say less. From my perspective the Vikings have traditionally been a defensive team except for the later years of Dennis Green and a couple bad years before the hiring of Mike Zimmer. This team is not this. I dont know who they are now. They are hyper focused on offense, which is pretty good. But it reminds me of the Vikings teams before Green got fired more than any past Vikings teams.

I think the team is building an offense that can keep up with anyone in the NFL. I also think Flores will bring a pressure philosophy to try and force sacks and turnover and not sit back with the bend and finally break defense they had the last couple years.

My guess (hope) is that the defense will increase turnovers and sacks but risk the big play. If they can get pressure and be successful most of the time the big play won't be as costly. The offense should be able to score and keep up and I think that is the plan.

I just couldn't stand the bend then break defense of the past few years. It cost us so many games and the defense wasn't good enough to do that. All it did was keep our offense off the field because they couldn't stop anybody. Very frustrating.

I agree completely.

Does the defense have the players for this to change is what I question.

Keeping 6 safeties and 4 corners does not point towards that to me. I sure hope I am wrong, but 4 corners looks like inadequate depth to me, the starters are not stars either. Where is the talent being developed behind them?

These safeties must be moving to corner then?

It suggests more zone based on the personnel.

The switch to the 3-4 has brought different skill set requiremts to the defensive line as well. They need to be bigger and able to take on double teams more to free up the edge rushers.

Will these safeties be playing LB? That might be intetesting. I just am not seeing how it wont be more of the same.

 

[SayWhat?]

$17M per year for a TE feels like an unwise usage of cap space. Don’t get me wrong, I like him as a player. I just don’t think he impacts games to the tune of $17M per year. Not many, if any, tight ends do. So I don’t at all love the extension, but the Vikes forced their own hand when they dealt a 2nd for him when he only had a year left on his contract.

 

[Biabreakable]

$17M per year for a TE feels like an unwise usage of cap space. Don’t get me wrong, I like him as a player. I just don’t think he impacts games to the tune of $17M per year. Not many, if any, tight ends do. So I don’t at all love the extension, but the Vikes forced their own hand when they dealt a 2nd for him when he only had a year left on his contract.

Yes.

This is part of why they had to get out of Cooks contract and why they were not able to allocate more resources to defensive free agents.

The trade for Hockenson to me seemed impulsive. They were winning games and wanted to do well in the first year of the new leadership, which they accomplished.

However the decision also had long term consequences that are restraining their options to improve other areas of the team.

Jefferson is going to be very expensive to extend as well. He is certainly worth it, and moreso than Hockenson is in my opinion. But these 2 cobtracts together are going to take up a large percentage of the Vikings salary cap and further sacrifices will need to be made to accomidate that.

Perhaps this is why they were already shopping Hunter around. Maybe he is the next high contract they cant maintain with their other priorities.

The way to get around this is to draft well and develop star players with cheap contracts. We have not seen much impact from their picks yet. There is still time and that could happen. But they have already released a good chunk of of their picks from the 2023 draft and 2022 draft hasnt made an impact yet. Hockenson trade is a part of that, they did not have a 2nd round pick to use in 2023 because of him.

It was a high price to pay to win more games in the short term and I have to question if they paid too much to get him which circles back to the GMs resource management ability.

 

[snogger]

Probably too much of a Homer but I'm looking forward to this season.
The offense is built to light up the scoreboard and I felt the defense had talent last year, held back by an idiot "defensive" coach who thought bend don't break was a winning formula in the NFL.

I know everyone is in love with the Lions, I'm just not seeing it so feel the Vikings win the division.. Looking at the schedule I could see them winning 13 to 14.

 

[Golden Gopher]

Probably too much of a Homer but I'm looking forward to this season.
The offense is built to light up the scoreboard and I felt the defense had talent last year, held back by an idiot "defensive" coach who thought bend don't break was a winning formula in the NFL.

I know everyone is in love with the Lions, I'm just not seeing it so feel the Vikings win the division.. Looking at the schedule I could see them winning 13 to 14.

Agree with everything you said except the schedule. I think it's going to be tough. I wouldn't be surprised if the Vikes finish 10-7, I'll be happy with 11-6, and thrilled with 12-5 or better. That said, I'm a little surprised that the odds to win the division lean so heavily in Detroit's favor.

 

[Zow]

Probably too much of a Homer but I'm looking forward to this season.
The offense is built to light up the scoreboard and I felt the defense had talent last year, held back by an idiot "defensive" coach who thought bend don't break was a winning formula in the NFL.

I know everyone is in love with the Lions, I'm just not seeing it so feel the Vikings win the division.. Looking at the schedule I could see them winning 13 to 14.

Haha love your enthusiasm.

Where, just statistically speaking, we have to regress is in close games as we won them at a historic pace last year. So, in that "luck" department, we probably lose more than we win this year so I'm preparing myself for that. That said, I would bet on us making the playoffs and I do think we should be the favorites in the division. I do get the Lions love but I think we're actually slightly better than them on offense as well as slightly better than them on defense.

ETA: I have us in the 10-11 win range.

 

[J Giles Band]

Vikings fan as well... but it appears some of our brethren have forgotten how many close games we won last year. I don't have the stat in front of me, but I want to say 10 or more of our wins were by a single score (I think a FG or less).

Only point this out to say, we can be better this year and have less wins. Statistically speaking, it is almost a certainty. Last year was the epitome of good fortune.

Go Vikes!

 

[Biabreakable]

I do think the offense could actually be better this season if Addison comes out of the gates strong.

Its the 2nd year with the system and all of the players should be more familiar with it. The loss of Cook may mean defenses focus on stopping the run less though.

Its the defense I am most concerned about.

The schedule will be harder and as others have said the Vikings were fortunite to win some close games last year that may not go their way this year.

Winning the division is possible though as is making the playoffs. I just dont see this team advancing in the playoffs unless the defense improves a lot. I dont see any reason why we should expect it to.

 

[Snotbubbles]

Probably too much of a Homer but I'm looking forward to this season.
The offense is built to light up the scoreboard and I felt the defense had talent last year, held back by an idiot "defensive" coach who thought bend don't break was a winning formula in the NFL.

I know everyone is in love with the Lions, I'm just not seeing it so feel the Vikings win the division.. Looking at the schedule I could see them winning 13 to 14.

Haha love your enthusiasm.

Where, just statistically speaking, we have to regress is in close games as we won them at a historic pace last year. So, in that "luck" department, we probably lose more than we win this year so I'm preparing myself for that. That said, I would bet on us making the playoffs and I do think we should be the favorites in the division. I do get the Lions love but I think we're actually slightly better than them on offense as well as slightly better than them on defense.

ETA: I have us in the 10-11 win range.

13 wins seems like a stretch.

First you got the Kirk Cousins primetime jinx. So @PHI, SF, @Den, CHI and GB are in primetime.

Then you got some other tough games KC, @CIN, LAC, DET x 2.

If the Vegas line was set at 13, I'd be taking the under all day long.

 

[Donnybrook]

For me the greatest question is can the interior of defensive line hold up when the Vikings have invested the bare minimum at the position. If they stop Tampa run game this week, I may be come a believer.

 

[Biabreakable]

For me the greatest question is can the interior of defensive line hold up when the Vikings have invested the bare minimum at the position. If they stop Tampa run game this week, I may be come a believer.

Exactly.

Phillips is a nice player but they lost Tomlinson and replaced him with Dean Lowry who has been a career back up/rotational player not a starter.

As bad as this defense has been the personnel might be worse than that now.

 

[Donnybrook]

Exactly.

Phillips is a nice player but they lost Tomlinson and replaced him with Dean Lowry who has been a career back up/rotational player not a starter.

As bad as this defense has been the personnel might be worse than that now.

Phillips is the only DT that actually getting paid. If you subtracted his contract, the Vikings have invested the lowest amount of cap on the DTs and line backers. If the Vikings can get away with just by bringing in Flores, I will be impressed. I do like that he immediately identified Cameron Dantzler as a liability. Correct desicion based on the fact he been cut 4 times by various teams.

At least from training camp reports, Brian Murphy seems to be holding his own vs. the likes of Jefferson etc. This means he will be a upgrade over Patrick Peterson. It could be Kwesi best signing as the Vikings GM.

My new favourite Vikings Pod-caster is Matthew Coller. I hate "the defense can't be any worse" as a valid premise so lets just assume the D will be better argument. It is lazy analysis. I get that constantly from Florio, as well as, from the Purple Daily crew.

 

[Biabreakable]

Exactly.

Phillips is a nice player but they lost Tomlinson and replaced him with Dean Lowry who has been a career back up/rotational player not a starter.

As bad as this defense has been the personnel might be worse than that now.

Phillips is the only DT that actually getting paid. If you subtracted his contract, the Vikings have invested the lowest amount of cap on the DTs and line backers. If the Vikings can get away with just by bringing in Flores, I will be impressed. I do like that he immediately identified Cameron Dantzler as a liability. Correct desicion based on the fact he been cut 4 times by various teams.

At least from training camp reports, Brian Murphy seems to be holding his own vs. the likes of Jefferson etc. This means he will be a upgrade over Patrick Peterson. It could be Kwesi best signing as the Vikings GM.

My new favourite Vikings Pod-caster is Matthew Coller. I hate "the defense can't be any worse" as a valid premise so lets just assume the D will be better argument. It is lazy analysis. I get that constantly from Florio, as well as, from the Purple Daily crew.

I like Collier as well. I miss reading his stuff on ESPN but I hope he is doing well with his new platform.

Honestly I haven't been listening to him or Arif at all this year. But in my opinion they are the best voices for Vikings information out there.

I have been finding other things to do. I didn't even watch rookies this year and I was looking up who was drafted after the fact. I am about as tuned out on football as I have been for a long time.

Feeling miserable about the Vikings defense has a lot to do with that.

 

[Biabreakable]

I will say I have been impressed with Todd Bowles career. He had some amazingly stifiling run defenses with the Bucs for a few seasons there.

Of course the personnel they had on those teams was excellent though and a far cry from what he has to work with on this Vikings team.

The NFL as a whole keeps shifting advantages more and more to the offense. Its not the same game that I used to love for decades anymore.

Its just hard for me to feel inspired about any of it. What am I rooting for? The opposing offense to maybe get a holding penalty and maybe the Vikings defense getting off the field on 3rd down?

To me everything, all of it is pretty meaningless if I cant watch the Vikings defense without wearing a paper bag over my head.

 

[Donnybrook]

Well if the wheels fall off for some reason and the Vikings resist the temptation to re-sign Kirko, 2024 is a great year to draft a QB.
https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/2024-looks-like-great-year-vikings-draft-quarterback

 

[Donnybrook]

Why do I feel that Justin Jefferson will sign moments before opening kickoff just for dramatic effect?

 

[Donnybrook]

No pressure on Vikings this year if you watch Mainstream media. Just saw 4 different playoff brackets (Peter King, Chris Simms, Florio, and Albert Breer), all of them have the Packers in the playoffs. Detroit also getting disrespected only in two playoff brackets. The 13-4 Vikings are not getting in apparently.

 

[snogger]

Guess I have to stop going to Canada in September .
I think they are 2-8 since I started going in September.

Was the OL bad again?? All I saw was some lowlights of Kirk on the ground, Kirk getting hit and fumbling, Kirk on the ground, Kirk fumbling.. Same old OL and offense coordinator not changing up the game plan to get the ball out faster.

Also doesn't help that the running game was non-existent..

And now the Eagles on Thursday

 

[Donnybrook]

Eagles on Thursday. Eagles gained 486 yards last year. Let see if we can hold the under 500 this year.

 

[FunkyPlutos]

So now the Jets will cut Rodgers and he becomes a Viking next year???

 

[Gally]

So now the Jets will cut Rodgers and he becomes a Viking next year???

Only if the pattern holds

 

[Biabreakable]

As feared although the Vikings may have a better defensive coordinator they do not have the personnel to play defense well.

Many 3 safety personnel packages and too often only playing one or two defensive linemen.

This is by design. That is the plan.

No surprise the Eagles ran the ball all over the Vikings and think their offensive line is better than it is (not saying its not good) when they get to double team the few defensive linemen by default and no one covering the free offensive linemen who get to overmatch the LB or safeties responsible for those gaps.

And again this is by design. This is the plan. From the GM on down.

Analytics gone off the rails here. Running the ball is inefficient so lets just invite opposing teams to run the ball more and have the offense outscore them right?

Well the offense never gets the ball because opposing teams can run at will and control the clock.

Yes the turnovers are a contributing factor in this and I am shocked that the score was as close as it was under these circumstances.

But the Vikings are fooling themselves to think their plan is going to work. Running the ball is not inefficient against weak fronts the Vikings are putting out there and bend but dont break is taking an even bigger step backwards with these alignments.

 

[Biabreakable]

The other thing bothering me about this team is where is the new talent?

Addison looks great and I am glad the Vikings have him but where are the reinforcements for the defense and offensive line?

The Vikings are still playing Udoh due to Darrisaw being injured, and we already knew from years ago he is not the answer to fill in when these things happen.

Where is the new blood and developmental players?

As far as I can tell the Vikings are still using back ups aquired from the previous GM and have not found new talent of their own.

 

[VikingFrog]

As feared although the Vikings may have a better defensive coordinator they do not have the personnel to play defense well.

Many 3 safety personnel packages and too often only playing one or two defensive linemen.

This is by design. That is the plan.

No surprise the Eagles ran the ball all over the Vikings and think their offensive line is better than it is (not saying its not good) when they get to double team the few defensive linemen by default and no one covering the free offensive linemen who get to overmatch the LB or safeties responsible for those gaps.

And again this is by design. This is the plan. From the GM on down.

Analytics gone off the rails here. Running the ball is inefficient so lets just invite opposing teams to run the ball more and have the offense outscore them right?

Well the offense never gets the ball because opposing teams can run at will and control the clock.

Yes the turnovers are a contributing factor in this and I am shocked that the score was as close as it was under these circumstances.

But the Vikings are fooling themselves to think their plan is going to work. Running the ball is not inefficient against weak fronts the Vikings are putting out there and bend but dont break is taking an even bigger step backwards with these alignments.

There was a moment in last night’s game where the announcer said it was like a game of chicken.

The eagles kept running and the Vikings kept dropping guys back into coverage and letting them gash them for 5+ yards.

Never changed until they scored.

 

[FunkyPlutos]

I'll preface this by saying that I am a HUGE Cousins fan, but if there is any shred of possibility that they could get a first for Cousins from the Jets, they have to do it with next years QB class! Having two 1sts to possibly move up and get one of the top QBs would be too good to pass up. Extend JJ, Darrisaw and with Addison looking like a stud, it could be the start of something special!

 

[Biabreakable]

As feared although the Vikings may have a better defensive coordinator they do not have the personnel to play defense well.

Many 3 safety personnel packages and too often only playing one or two defensive linemen.

This is by design. That is the plan.

No surprise the Eagles ran the ball all over the Vikings and think their offensive line is better than it is (not saying its not good) when they get to double team the few defensive linemen by default and no one covering the free offensive linemen who get to overmatch the LB or safeties responsible for those gaps.

And again this is by design. This is the plan. From the GM on down.

Analytics gone off the rails here. Running the ball is inefficient so lets just invite opposing teams to run the ball more and have the offense outscore them right?

Well the offense never gets the ball because opposing teams can run at will and control the clock.

Yes the turnovers are a contributing factor in this and I am shocked that the score was as close as it was under these circumstances.

But the Vikings are fooling themselves to think their plan is going to work. Running the ball is not inefficient against weak fronts the Vikings are putting out there and bend but dont break is taking an even bigger step backwards with these alignments.

There was a moment in last night’s game where the announcer said it was like a game of chicken.

The eagles kept running and the Vikings kept dropping guys back into coverage and letting them gash them for 5+ yards.

Never changed until they scored.

Well yeah. This was the plan. KOC says in post game interview that they wanted the Eagles to run the ball on 1st 2nd and 3rd down.

So why wouldnt they do that when this is what you are giving them by design?

I truly hate this weak "plan" I cant believe the GM and coaches are this dumb and expect the fans to think this is a way to win football games? Saying uncle every snap? Not even trying to stop anything but explosive plays?

Whats the point?