Post Mortems re:2023

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 Only a Vikings beat writer would do a post-mortem and list only the negatives. 

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@StickyBun said:

@JimmyinSD said:

@StickyBun said:

@JimmyinSD said:

@StickyBun said:
Mark Craig, lol. I tell you, the Twin Cities sure has some winners as sportswriters. 

Almost everything offensively went into the toilet when Cousins went down. People forgetting that Minnesota handled the 49ers? If you can't pass, you can't run. You turn the ball over, you can't win. Where does he talk about the onslaught of injuries the team endured? IMO, just knee jerk garbage writing.

werent the 9ers a mash unit when we played them?  Seems they were down some pretty big names on both sides of the ball IIRC. a win is a win,  but maybe that one should have had an asterisk next to it.  kind of like our 22 season where we caught several decent teams on back up QBs,  the wins still counted,  but we certainly werent as good as our record indicated.

Mash unit? They were without Deebo Samuel. Vikings were without JJ. Trent Williams didn't play and neither did Ezra Cleveland for Minnesota. 

wasnt McCaffrey out or limited as well?  Seems there was 2 regulars on both sides of the ball that were out or extremely limited at that time.  and did we really miss Ezra?

https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401547495

yep he played, but had left the previous weeks game with an oblique injury that was obviously still an issue for him as he was pedestrian for the following game as well,  then they had a bye and his production returned to normal after that.  I am sure Flores game planned for him and that was part of the equation,  but we didnt see a healthy CM,  and them not having Deebo out there was a saving grace for a team that really struggled in pass defense at times this year when opposing teams had multiple weapons to account for.

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I just wish they could compete in the playoffs, not win regular season Super Bowl games once a year. Need to start drafting and developing better or nothing will matter, especially if you are going to keep running it back with Kirk forever and ever.

[Guest]

Spot on analysis by Craig.  They need to draft a QB and run with him next year, that will give KAM/KOC cover to keep their jobs into year 4.  They need to hit a home run this off-season or the team is going to dwell in the cellar until the next coach/g.m. change.

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@comet52 said:
Spot on analysis by Craig.  They need to draft a QB and run with him next year, that will give KAM/KOC cover to keep their jobs into year 4.  They need to hit a home run this off-season or the team is going to dwell in the cellar until the next coach/g.m. change.

this offseason IMO is going to write the book on KAM,  not just the draft, but filling holes in the coaching ranks, filling holes in the roster through FA and draft.  this year could be a career defining moment for KAM.  for the most part any cap issues he has this year are his own doing,  so how he is able to fill the cupboard is now entirely on him.

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Davenport was certainly a bust as a free agent but don't forget about Dean Lowery.  He signed a two year contract for $8.5 million plus a $3 million signing bonus.  I think its a tie between those two.

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Did I read that right that Bradbury had a pff pass blocking grade of “0” vs the FudgePackers…? Is that even posssible? Put him on the first thing smokin’ immediately!!!   

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@Kentis said:


Did I read that right that Bradbury had a pff pass blocking grade of “0” vs the FudgePackers…? Is that even posssible? Put him on the first thing smokin’ immediately!!!   

I havent seen the growth that others see,  when I focus on him it seems he is either part of a double team,  or he is getting worked.  and when he is part of a double team its often the OGs whole that we see a free runner come through.

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@JimmyinSD said:

@Kentis said:


Did I read that right that Bradbury had a pff pass blocking grade of “0” vs the FudgePackers…? Is that even posssible? Put him on the first thing smokin’ immediately!!!   

I havent seen the growth that others see,  when I focus on him it seems he is either part of a double team,  or he is getting work.  and when he is part of a double team its often the OGs whole that we see a free runner come through.

Well I think said growth evaporated when the ink dried on that ill advised extension…! I believe they did however leave an out, & they’d better exercise it currently!

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@Kentis said:


Did I read that right that Bradbury had a pff pass blocking grade of “0” vs the FudgePackers…? Is that even posssible? Put him on the first thing smokin’ immediately!!!   

I don't think it was 0. I think it was 5 or something. But yeah, it was horrible.

He started well. Before Cousins went down (week 8) there was only one offensive lineman in the NFL with 100+ pass pro snaps to not allow a single pressure. Bradbury. His PFF grade at that point was above average as well. 

Guessing the switch from Cousins to a 3 QB rotation took its toll.