Quote: @"purplefaithful" said:
And are the opportunity areas something that they can improve on this year? Or through FA/Draft in future years?
Offense: B-
OL so improved, maddeningly inconsistent, JJ their north star, hoping for more in the future from ISJ/KJO
Defense: C
Bend dont break
Hopefully will improve with what they got as the year progresses
S.Team: B+
Some great coverages, heads-up play, Joseph is scary as is Wright (but for totally different reasons)
Coaching: A-
I find it hard not to go with an A at 5/1, even with concerns about Donatell
Hard to disagree with these "grades"... I wouldn't change them much. I'll add...
Offense - Feel like we're scoring enough points each week, but we've hit some rough patches in games... Like a few too many for the talent we have. I think for the offense to take that next evolution we need to see Thielen, KJ, and Irv continue to get mixed in more and more. It'll make teams pay when the focus too much on stopping Jefferson... which should make him more dangerous if teams need to play it straight up a few more times per game. I still think Dalvin is being underutilized as well.
Defense - Couple weeks ago, I wouldn't have been this generous... but they aren't letting teams score a ton of points. Run defense has been much better the past couple weeks. And I'll live with giving up passing yards like it's Halloween candy if we keep forcing turnovers at this rate.
Special Teams - Wright is a revelation... From the field flipping punts to the ability to execute a long pass on a fake punt. BOOM
I'm not down on Joseph as some. He's missed 2 XPs and a couple 50 yard FGs that looked like he was trying to make it from 70. It think he finds his groove, he's been money from 49 and under and made some pressure FGs already this season.
Returners... Raegor is a weapon as a PR, not as good as my little Chinchilla (Marcus Sherels) but he's the most explosive PR we've had in awhile. Kene... Major step back from last year. Too many returns short of the 25. Not sure what his issue is this season.
Coaching - I'd give it an A, but even the most curmudgeonly Vikings fan can't seriously go any lower than a B+. And that's only if you HATE Ed Dona-shell... I mean Donatell (credit to AGR for that one lol). The complete flip of being excellent at the end of halves (check notes... #1 in the NFL) and being clutch in the 4th quarter... It all starts with Kevin O'Connell who should be Coach of the Year if the season ended today (not Daboll).