(08-08-2025, 01:48 PM)greediron Wrote: Yeah, not expecting it.  But he has missed time with a hammy before, so this gets a bit more concerning.  Have no idea if it is part of the issue, but hopefully diet/stretching/workout gets figured out so this doesn't crop up again.

(08-07-2025, 11:16 AM)hogjowlsjohnny Wrote: What are your main concerns about the Vikings ?
These concerns may change after the pre-season but I have 3 current concerns. I would like to hear yours.

1. The offensive line.

On paper the offensive line should be greatly improved. But due to injury the starters have had very little time to practice  together. The line that has practiced has been dominated by Flo's defense.
One could say the defense is ahead and special, but will the starters be able to all play and gel by the start of the season?

2. JJ arm talent.

JJ has a strong arm and can make all the throws. A strong arm doesn't equal accuracy. Will he be accurate. His accuracy was pretty good in college, but will it be in the NFL?

3. Defensive back play.

Will they be able to cover anyone. Who will be the man cover corner? Having a great front seven should help the backs, but there are times the front seven won't be able to get pressure.

(09-02-2025, 05:17 PM)purplefaithful Wrote: U have more faith in JJM than I do this early on...I think its going to be very un-even the 1st 1/2 of the season. I wont fall in luv with the kid, till I have no choice.

Too old, too scarred to have teen crushes anymore.

Evidently, I'm the only one gob-smacked with 4 corners on the 53 too. I dont care how much heavy nickel they play.

(08-07-2025, 02:35 PM)pattersaur Wrote: 1. Injuries. Future ones of course but we have quite a few big names already banged up on offense. Hopefully it's minor stuff.

2. JJ McCarthy

3. Cornerbacks/Secondary
Harry is a year older, Metellus and Murphy just got fat contracts, and Mekhi Blackmon is maybe our CB2? Or some other guys I've barely heard of? I know we're all counting on the front 7 to shoulder the load for the defense, but I was there (Gandalf, 3,000 years ago) when Rodgers and every other QB in the league would pick on Josh Robinson or whoever our CB weak link of the week was. Hopefully the current group can gel and excel, but I have questions.

Honorable Mention Will Reichard. He's got the game. Let's see it for a full season.

(09-02-2025, 05:44 PM)PurplePorsche Wrote: I'll keep it to Vikings-specific concerns -- every team is concerned about injuries.

1.  JJ McCarthy -- can he be the guy?  Until you see it at this level, you never know.  You can't get to where we want to go in today's NFL without competent QB play.  I also have concern that we exit the year still not knowing whether JJ will make it.  There are plenty of guys that kick around for a few years with their teams still not sure whether they have what they want or need to move on -- in some ways the pain of that limbo period is worse than outright failure.

2.  Defensive Backfield -- Slightly more of a CB concern than a safety concern, but the backend of the defense has me worried.  We are thin in numbers at CB (4!), and given the resumes of the guys we have, one has to be concerned that we are thin on talent as well.  Way too much riding on a renaissance from Jeff Okudah, and there has to be an emergency plan here -- I've seen teams lose 3 CBs to injury in a single game.  At safety, love Harrison Smith but I thought he looked like he was barely hanging on last year.  Theo Jackson needs a strong season.

3.  Special Teams -- No one seems to talk about it, but our special teams suck.  Pretty much across the board last year, our best special teamer left the team, and the one guy we brought in who looked like he could provide a lift to special teams is out for the season after one pre-season punt return.  From a previous post of mine commenting on 2024 special teams:

As a team, the Vikings were:

-- #31 in the NFL in kick return average
-- #32 in the NFL in punt return average

Will Reichard was:

-- #32 in FG percentage

Ryan Wright was:

-- #25 in gross punting average
-- #22 in net punting average
-- tied for the 7th worst touchback percentage
-- #30 in punts inside the 10

(09-02-2025, 06:29 PM)JR44 Wrote: Top 3
1. CBs
2. CBs
3. CBs

Not only do we only have one CB who has been a #1 or #2 CB, the other 3 are huge question marks and we only have 4 on the roster, so if we have an injury we are playing a safety at CB.  Just don't really get the plan here.  It was by far the weak link of the defense last year and in response to that we let go of our #2 and #3 guys and replaced them with a guy who was a #5 last year and another guy who has never been any kind of consistent performer.