Quite the exciting season coming up in Minnesota

[greediron]

Ha at the bold...

GL with that with KOC...

Over/Under for # of JJM pass attempts at Chicago? 

I put it at 30

Been harping on that for years now with KOC.  We shall see if the Detroit/Rams games were truly a watershed moment for him.  Did he finally understand you need an o-line and ability to run the ball?  I think he is smart enough to understand it.  Will he be able to stick to the plan on game day?  That is the question.

[StickierBuns]

Been harping on that for years now with KOC.  We shall see if the Detroit/Rams games were truly a watershed moment for him.  Did he finally understand you need an o-line and ability to run the ball?  I think he is smart enough to understand it.  Will he be able to stick to the plan on game day?  That is the question.

Well KOC has only been here 3 years, so its taken that time to get the team the way he wants it personnel-wise with KAM. They needed to shed some cap and reorganize so that they could hit it hard this year in FA with a rookie QB's salary: that was always the plan. He didn't run as often as he'd like because they couldn't, didn't have the horses. I mean, they replaced both their starting guards and the center this offseason. I have zero doubt the strategy was always to be more balanced offensively. The competitive rebuild has been successful, not sure anyone can say otherwise. KOC has won 13 and 14 games in two seasons, and without the avalanche of injuries two years ago would have definitely gotten to at least 10 wins. 

All roads and strategy has led to this season: if they can hit on McCarthy and the run game becomes more of a reliable part of the offense, watch out.

[MaroonBells]

Been harping on that for years now with KOC.  We shall see if the Detroit/Rams games were truly a watershed moment for him.  Did he finally understand you need an o-line and ability to run the ball?  I think he is smart enough to understand it.  Will he be able to stick to the plan on game day?  That is the question.

I think it's just the soup du jour with the success of the Lions and Eagles, further spotlighted by our own total OL collapse against the Rams. But there's a big difference between those two teams and us: they have Gibbs and Barkley. Jones and Mason run hard and will be successful closing out games with this new line, but they aren't going to keep DC's up at night like those two. 

A few years ago, the Chiefs and 49ers played in the Super Bowl with two of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. About 10 years ago the Cowboys had the best OL in the NFL for several years running (nobody was even close)....and did nothing with it. 

My point is you need other pieces too. The exciting thing about the Vikings is that it looks like we might have the other pieces.

[purplefaithful]

Well KOC has only been here 3 years, so its taken that time to get the team the way he wants it personnel-wise with KAM. They needed to shed some cap and reorganize so that they could hit it hard this year in FA with a rookie QB's salary: that was always the plan. He didn't run as often as he'd like because they couldn't, didn't have the horses. I mean, they replaced both their starting guards and the center this offseason. I have zero doubt the strategy was always to be more balanced offensively. The competitive rebuild has been successful, not sure anyone can say otherwise. KOC has won 13 and 14 games in two seasons, and without the avalanche of injuries two years ago would have definitely gotten to at least 10 wins. 

All roads and strategy has led to this season: if they can hit on McCarthy and the run game becomes more of a reliable part of the offense, watch out.

^^^ 

At the bold....

Hard to believe KOC has been here just 3 seasons, seems longer to me.

A crazy good record, I think they really made a smart decision hiring then extending him. He is a very well compensated coach, especially for just 3 seasons in. 

They dont have an elite runner yet. RBBC will have to work in 2025.

[JustInTime]

First year under KO we threw 64% of the time. Next year was 63%. Last year was 57%. I’m going to guess this year we move to 52-54%. Even with a tougher schedule we’ve made drastic improvements to both lines. We’ll be closing out games with our OL being able to sustain those 4 minute drives to snuff out any hopes of opponents comeback hopes. We’re set up to put JJ in the perfect position.

[StickierBuns]

[pattersaur]

I'm feeling the hype for sure while also trying to be fair to McCarthy. He's missed a ton of time and was young to begin with. I love his surroundings but that doesn't automatically mean he'll succeed. I have the utmost faith in him long term but I hope fans can stay chill if we start out slowly.

15 wins is not out of the realm of possibility for this team. But neither is 5 wins. I'm excited for the ride.

[greediron]

Well KOC has only been here 3 years, so its taken that time to get the team the way he wants it personnel-wise with KAM. They needed to shed some cap and reorganize so that they could hit it hard this year in FA with a rookie QB's salary: that was always the plan. He didn't run as often as he'd like because they couldn't, didn't have the horses. I mean, they replaced both their starting guards and the center this offseason. I have zero doubt the strategy was always to be more balanced offensively. The competitive rebuild has been successful, not sure anyone can say otherwise. KOC has won 13 and 14 games in two seasons, and without the avalanche of injuries two years ago would have definitely gotten to at least 10 wins. 

All roads and strategy has led to this season: if they can hit on McCarthy and the run game becomes more of a reliable part of the offense, watch out.

That is possible, but there is also the in game play calling factor.  We didn't have the horses, but KOC was also unwilling to stick to any sort of run game.  

We shall see this year.  I am hopeful as well, but he has said the right things in the past and then when the game was on, the run game was no where to be found.  Hopefully he rides the horses all the way to the finish line this year.

[purplefaithful]

Matt LaFleur is massively under-rated imo...