My opinion is continuity is going to get you where your going to be, in order successful. The loss of Shurmur, timing of Sparano death, Flip and the qb decisions got us here. Best hope this off-season gives our TEAM a really good shot for 19. I am not ready to give up on the potential for a team lead by Spielman, Zimmer just yet. They are intelligent folks, this ain't a team funded by Red, coached by bargain value, simple solution coaches, looking for me too solutions. Success is just trying one more time than you fail, and knowing when to adapt.
Quote: @TBro said:
The Bears dominated on both sides of the ball. They punched us in the mouth and we never responded. You are not going to win too many games if your OLine is below average at best. If you can't protect your QB in a pass first league, you have no chance. Our defensive line was exposed all year by teams that could run the ball effectively. Richardson and Joseph did not create the force in the middle I thought they would and once again we could not get off the field on 3rd down letting Trubisky escape time after time only to find an open receiver. Something is just off with this team. They have never been in sync all year.
Its this simple- 1) We brought in a premium pocket passer and seldom provided clean pockets due to is totally ignoring the interior line.
2) We whiffed hard on hiring flip over Stef. in Flips defense our interior line cannot run block or protect. We lost a great coach in Shurmer and that is hard to replace
3). We totally overestimated the value of kicker with experience. Carlson was a good draft pick value but you cannot trust a rookie kicker for a super bowl run. If we dont blow all the kicks at green bay, we win that game and are in the playoffs.
Time to evaluate our personnel people starting with Spielman. i would give him one more year. I still feel pretty good about Zimmer as our leader but he can improve
Quote: @1VikesFan said:
Getting real tired of hearing about the loaded roster when they have the worst offensive line in the NFL. If it isn't the worst it is close.
Preaching to this one man choir, my friend.
You CAN NOT claim to have the best roster in the NFL without the commenserate PLAYOFF WINS to back up that statement.
It's pretty apparent to me that this "great" TEAM is actually incredibly mediocre, but at least capable of USUALLY beating inferior teams. When this team NEEDS to beat a good or great team, they require a miraculous, once-in-a-lifetime play to squeak out a win. Otherwise, they shit the bed. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
I grew tired of this repetitive script in January, 1999.
I'm pleased to see other fans finally expressing the "enough is enough" attitude that might force some REAL changes in the organization. The only thing blind allegiance to mediocrity gets you is......continued mediocrity.
Quote: @ArizonaViking said:e
From Pop Warner football to the NFL pros...you build a team from the inside (offensive & defensive lines) out and games are won or lost in the trenches.
AZ, I agree wholeheartedly. All the talk about the new "offensive gurus" in the league never involves them featuring saloon door guards and tackles.
Excuses? No...reasons:
1. The OGs are basically shit, and that didn't change. Most playoff QBs don't deal with the interior pressure ours have had all decade.
2. Cousins...I just don't know. The arm talent isn't the issue, and he dealt with a lot that wasn't squarely on him. That said, great QBs find ways to overcome issues. He's good, but not great.
3. The team just isn't...clutch. Take away Thielen and Diggs (which defenses learned to do) and you haven't got enough to win with. Cook, Robinson, and Diggs all had drops/mistakes today.
4. Intensity. Where is it? The teams that are in the playoffs have an edge that the Vikings haven't shown much all season. Coming out of the tunnel seems to be all the aggression we have until well into the 2nd quarter.
5. Coaching...is a huge part of the problem. I prefer Zimmer over his last few predecessors by miles, but he's not getting better as younger HCs are coming on. He can coach DBs, not argument, but his game planning seems completely decoded by most of our opponents.
6. Team personality is maybe the single biggest issue, as I couldn't begin to tell anyone what ours is. We're not a typical NFCN team, as those are built around toughness and invoking their will against opponents; the Vikings were essentially timid this season. OK, fine, maybe more about poise and finesse, like 1998? Errr...no. The offense has been a mess despite some magnificent players and the defense took a definite step back this year.
With all considered, at this moment, I consider #6 to be the biggest problem. A team is built around a set of priorities and desires, a central theme that guides them into and through their season. I couldn't begin to tell anyone what that was for the Vikings this season.
I'm pissed and disappointed right now, and likely will be for weeks...but I'm also aware that many very solid pieces of this team are guaranteed to return, so I'm not dealing with Frazier-era negativity. I just hope that Zimmer and Spielman find the philosophical changes they need to make within themselves to truly lead the 2019 Minnesota Vikings to greatness.
Not an excuse but the truth is that this OL sucks ginormous ass. That's on the coaches and the front office. Let them sit and spin with how much of a negative impact that has had on the team as a whole year after year. Until that is addressed, nothing else matters.
Quote: @Vikergirl said:
Not an excuse but the truth is that this OL sucks ginormous ass. That's on the coaches and the front office. Let them sit and spin with how much of a negative impact that has had on the team as a whole year after year. Until that is addressed, nothing else matters.
Exactly what I've been saying. Fix the fuckin OL.
Quote: @Zanary said:
Excuses? No...reasons:
1. The OGs are basically shit, and that didn't change. Most playoff QBs don't deal with the interior pressure ours have had all decade.
2. Cousins...I just don't know. The arm talent isn't the issue, and he dealt with a lot that wasn't squarely on him. That said, great QBs find ways to overcome issues. He's good, but not great.
3. The team just isn't...clutch. Take away Thielen and Diggs (which defenses learned to do) and you haven't got enough to win with. Cook, Robinson, and Diggs all had drops/mistakes today.
4. Intensity. Where is it? The teams that are in the playoffs have an edge that the Vikings haven't shown much all season. Coming out of the tunnel seems to be all the aggression we have until well into the 2nd quarter.
5. Coaching...is a huge part of the problem. I prefer Zimmer over his last few predecessors by miles, but he's not getting better as younger HCs are coming on. He can coach DBs, not argument, but his game planning seems completely decoded by most of our opponents.
6. Team personality is maybe the single biggest issue, as I couldn't being to tell anyone what ours is. We're not a typical NFCN team, as those are built around toughness and invoking their will against opponents; the Vikings were essentially timid this season. OK, fine, maybe more about poise and finesse, like 1998? Errr...no. The offense has been a mess despite some magnificent players and the defense took a definite step back this year.
With all considered, at this moment, I consider #6 to be the biggest problem. A team is built around a set of priorities and desires, a central theme that guides them into and through their season. I couldn't begin to tell anyone what that was for the Vikings this season.
I'm pissed and disappointed right now, and likely will be for weeks...but I'm also aware that many very solid pieces of this team are guaranteed to return, so I'm not dealing with Frazier-era negativity. I just hope that Zimmer and Spielman find the philosophical changes they need to make within themselves to truly lead the 2019 Minnesota Vikings to greatness.
Z, you are right on. I know the premiere pass rushers in the league are going to get theirs. Mack is a beast but we've had our own over the years. It's that constant pressure up the gut that our less-than-mobile QB gets week in, week out that has to be addressed.
Quote: @purplefaithful said:
@ FSUVike said:
Let's hear what you got. Me personally, can't defend anything or anyone. Loaded roster. All In moves early in the season. No Playoffs. I can't possibly figure out why I should trust Rick, Mike or Kirk. There's a foulness in Denmark,.and the stench is sticking to the entire organization.
Yup - something very wrong with the chemistry, schemes etc. I'm trying to come-up with 10 things I liked about the 2018 season or team, and I can't.
My thoughts exactly. ALL TALK, no action.
These losers need to STFU and PROVE it on the field NEXT YEAR (sound familiar?).
I would also add that fans on this board need to STOP with the "most talented roster" shit. It has been proven to be FALSE.
Until PROVEN otherwise, Mikey, Kirky and ESPECIALLY Ricky are documented, 100% choking losers. Prove me wrong next year, because unfortunately all your sorry losing asses will be back next year.
PROVE IT. No more talk.
What was that expression again? Oh yeah, "DON'T TELL ME ABOUT THE LABOR, SHOW ME THE BABY".
Ummmm, 13 years is a fucking loooong gestation period without a birth, just sayin'.
Gonna be tough going forward. They have about 7.3 mil in cap space (according to spotrac) next year right now and have Barr, Richardson, Murray, Harris, Easton, Compton, Jones, Bailey, Wile, and some others as free agents.
They could cut Sendejo, Remmers, and maybe Griffen to get an extra 20.75 mil in cap space bringing them to 28 mil.
Who do they try to extend? Defensive line class in this next draft is loaded. Offensive line free agent guards are not too attractive to say the least but maybe they can sign a Andy Levitre for 3 mil or so.
I really cannot see improvements coming next year and even if they reach for a guard in the first round (I think it would be), then the hope is that guard comes out the gate red to go.
I think some continuity is in order but Stefanski has only 3 games experience calling plays and he has Zimmer looking over his shoulder. He knows if he does not call enough runs he could get fired.
Which brings me to what OC would want to come work for Zimmer? Vikings fans will tell me it is a primo job. Maybe so.
But when you have a well respected former head coach leave you when you are 5-2 and then you fire a young OC after week 14, well it does not really make me believe candidates would feel any security.
Something is wrong when this stuff happens no matter how you slice it. At least to me. I know there will be retorts and reasons/explanations but I am not going to but those. I respect them but wont buy into them.
I always look back at who is doing the gosh dang hiring in the first place!
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