Quote: @purplefaithful said:
@ comet52 said:
A healthy Sam Bradford has the most talent and upside of the 4. But, is he healthy or will he ever be?
I agree Bradford is the best of the 3.
But Bone on Bone...Probably not ever going to be healthy....Not sure you could even count on him as a #2.
Hasn't that concern been debunked/refuted several times by the team officials since it was hatched?
Quote: @"Geoff Nichols" said:
@ JimmyinSD said:
@ FSUVike said:
But still crappy compared to Thielen/Diggs/Rudolph. With a poor running game and perpetually dinged Line.
But Ralphie hit on something Jimmy also mentioned. The money spent on Cousins could be used to fix holes.
I get that idea in a vacuum but would like to hear who some of these players are as I've only looked at 3T so far and am not seeing a smart upgrade there.
You guys all get tired of me talking about opportunity vs.cost. But if the opportunity is there to upgrade multiple spots in FA that would be lost by the cost of signing Kirk I can certainly support that.
So let's hear some names!
Really pointless to try until we get a better idea of what the pool will look like. Still weeks away from looking for the who's among a lot of guys that won't see free agency.
Waiting to get an idea on O-coordinator makes a difference as well. As I mentioned a few days ago the Vikings are waiting to see if they have a shot a DeFilippo. Whoever gets the job will have a voice at the table.
Ultimately the Vikings QB domino is going to fall first before they can do anything else. So regardless of who ends up making it to the market they need to find someone to drive the bus before adding any more passengers.
I have read Spielman's comments about wanting to get the OC so that person can help them find a QB.
I just think it is unnecessary.
They did that with Norv Turner who helped them get Teddy.
When Teddy got hurt they got Sam and then Norv no longer fit.
If I am GM, I would pick my own QB and then find an OC that can work with that QB.
Not the other way around.
The OC can leave or his own or get promoted (as we have seen) and you still have those QBs.
Spielman needs to make his own decision at QB.
Quote: @JimmyinSD said:
@ purplefaithful said:
@ comet52 said:
A healthy Sam Bradford has the most talent and upside of the 4. But, is he healthy or will he ever be?
I agree Bradford is the best of the 3.
But Bone on Bone...Probably not ever going to be healthy....Not sure you could even count on him as a #2.
Hasn't that concern been debunked/refuted several times by the team officials since it was hatched?
Could be Jimmy, that's the last I recall so if there is hard, other news post it up...
Quote: @purplefaithful said:
@ JimmyinSD said:
@ purplefaithful said:
@ comet52 said:
A healthy Sam Bradford has the most talent and upside of the 4. But, is he healthy or will he ever be?
I agree Bradford is the best of the 3.
But Bone on Bone...Probably not ever going to be healthy....Not sure you could even count on him as a #2.
Hasn't that concern been debunked/refuted several times by the team officials since it was hatched?
Could be Jimmy, that's the last I recall so if there is hard, other news post it up...
Pretty sure they decided it was a bone spur. Something like bone on bone would be permanent and Zim said he didn't believe that Sams ailment would be something long term.
It's the trenches. It's always the trenches.
The game against the Eagles was lost on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Our two OTs are each responsible for a turnover that led to 14 points for the other team.
Our D is predicated on getting pressure with our front four, and making the ball come out quick. This allows the D to play extremely sticky early coverage. Against the Eagles, Foles had all day in the pocket to read the field, which allowed their WRs to run around until they got open deep. Flea flicker, and the long TD against Newman are the fault of the D-Line.
We need to get better in the trenches. And that's how I think about this QB discussion.
I don't want to give up too many resources -- picks or cap room -- to get a QB. This team needs a 3-Tech, a pass-rushing DE, and an OG. If we have these things, we make life infinitely easier for any QB we choose.
I'd love to start the season with a competition between Bradford and Bridgewater on short-term contracts. Or, if they like Sloter, then maybe Keenum on a contract with two years of guarantees, with the idea that Sloter will be ready to compete for the starter's spot in 2019.
Folks, the idea with these contracts isn't just cost or performance. It's value. Cousins is perhaps a very good QB, but I don't believe he will be worth the money he will command.
Quote: @Clanzomaelan said:
@ purplefaithful said:
@ comet52 said:
A healthy Sam Bradford has the most talent and upside of the 4. But, is he healthy or will he ever be?
I agree Bradford is the best of the 3.
But Bone on Bone...Probably not ever going to be healthy....Not sure you could even count on him as a #2.
I have bone on bone in one of my big toes (I know, real attractive). It can be nearly unbearable, and big toes aren't bearing nearly as much weight as a knee (in most positions).
I absolutely cannot fathom what bone on bone in a knee feels like.
Trust me, it's extremely painful. I'm not an athlete, at least not anymore, but my jobs involves being on my feet a lot and it is almost unbearable at times. In fact I'm probably going to have to get knee replacement soon. Granted, I'm a lot older than Sam but I'm not sure how much longer he's gonna be able to play with this issue.
I'm not sure how they can put their trust in Sam's knee going forward.
Quote: @SmashmouthD said:
It's the trenches. It's always the trenches.
The game against the Eagles was lost on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Our two OTs are each responsible for a turnover that led to 14 points for the other team.
Our D is predicated on getting pressure with our front four, and making the ball come out quick. This allows the D to play extremely sticky early coverage. Against the Eagles, Foles had all day in the pocket to read the field, which allowed their WRs to run around until they got open deep. Flea flicker, and the long TD against Newman are the fault of the D-Line.
We need to get better in the trenches. And that's how I think about this QB discussion.
I don't want to give up too many resources -- picks or cap room -- to get a QB. This team needs a 3-Tech, a pass-rushing DE, and an OG. If we have these things, we make life infinitely easier for any QB we choose.
I'd love to start the season with a competition between Bradford and Bridgewater on short-term contracts. Or, if they like Sloter, then maybe Keenum on a contract with two years of guarantees, with the idea that Sloter will be ready to compete for the starter's spot in 2019.
Folks, the idea with these contracts isn't just cost or performance. It's value. Cousins is perhaps a very good QB, but I don't believe he will be worth the money he will command.
I've seen 34-28 and 41-33 the last two Super Bowls. And that 33 was against a better Front 7 than Minnesota's.
No amount of FA dollars spent this offseason on the Defense will change the fact that this is an Offense driven League right now.
Pick plays. RPO and other college staples being used with great imagination and effectiveness by OCs. So much eye candy and misdirection at the LOS pre-snap. No huddles to keep your Defense on the field and prevent substituting to keep your D-Line fresh.
All that and the good teams are also running the ball well and staying balanced.
Until the League corrects course through better DC creativity I have a hard time seeing why Minnesota should focus too much on the Defense.
Smarter move in my mind would be to upgrade the Offense to be able to stand toe to toe with other Playoff Teams when their Offenses start hitting on all cylinders.
That starts at QB. Sam and Teddy have too big of question marks with their injuries and I'm not convinced either are or will be as good as Cousins. We've already seen Keenum's ceiling and it wasn't good enough.
You can sign Kirk, grab an OT or OG in the 1st and still get a pass rusher in the 2nd. There are older CBs in FA that can be had on the cheap that Mike can perform his voodoo reclamation thing on.
Dropping big bucks on Richardson, who failed to ignite Seattle's D-Line or Poe won't do enough to offset the fact that the Offense is still one level below the Elite teams.
All I know is that we lost our last game of the season because we couldn't pressure the QB, and we couldn't stop pressure against our QB. Our D-Line wore down at the end of the season. And our OL couldn't get the job done.
Two turn-overs attributable to our OTs led to 14 points for the Eagles. And two long TDs by them were possible because our D-Line couldn't get home quickly, which allowed their receivers to run around downfield and play sandlot. That's a lotta points.
Yes, we need a QB, but we need at least one quality free agent and one high draft pick for the OL and DL. IMO, whichever you can get in free agency, you get the other in the draft. (As of now I'd prefer Richardson or Donald or maybe Poe, then draft an OT at #30).
We have at least three good options for a starting QB (Cousins, Keenum, Bridgewater). I'm not opposed to Cousins, but if signing him means we can't afford a quality free agent for the trenches, then I'm not interested.
Quote: @FSUVike said:
@ SmashmouthD said:
It's the trenches. It's always the trenches.
The game against the Eagles was lost on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Our two OTs are each responsible for a turnover that led to 14 points for the other team.
Our D is predicated on getting pressure with our front four, and making the ball come out quick. This allows the D to play extremely sticky early coverage. Against the Eagles, Foles had all day in the pocket to read the field, which allowed their WRs to run around until they got open deep. Flea flicker, and the long TD against Newman are the fault of the D-Line.
We need to get better in the trenches. And that's how I think about this QB discussion.
I don't want to give up too many resources -- picks or cap room -- to get a QB. This team needs a 3-Tech, a pass-rushing DE, and an OG. If we have these things, we make life infinitely easier for any QB we choose.
I'd love to start the season with a competition between Bradford and Bridgewater on short-term contracts. Or, if they like Sloter, then maybe Keenum on a contract with two years of guarantees, with the idea that Sloter will be ready to compete for the starter's spot in 2019.
Folks, the idea with these contracts isn't just cost or performance. It's value. Cousins is perhaps a very good QB, but I don't believe he will be worth the money he will command.
I've seen 34-28 and 41-33 the last two Super Bowls. And that 33 was against a better Front 7 than Minnesota's.
No amount of FA dollars spent this offseason on the Defense will change the fact that this is an Offense driven League right now.
Pick plays. RPO and other college staples being used with great imagination and effectiveness by OCs. So much eye candy and misdirection at the LOS pre-snap. No huddles to keep your Defense on the field and prevent substituting to keep your D-Line fresh.
All that and the good teams are also running the ball well and staying balanced.
Until the League corrects course through better DC creativity I have a hard time seeing why Minnesota should focus too much on the Defense.
Smarter move in my mind would be to upgrade the Offense to be able to stand toe to toe with other Playoff Teams when their Offenses start hitting on all cylinders.
That starts at QB. Sam and Teddy have too big of question marks with their injuries and I'm not convinced either are or will be as good as Cousins. We've already seen Keenum's ceiling and it wasn't good enough.
You can sign Kirk, grab an OT or OG in the 1st and still get a pass rusher in the 2nd. There are older CBs in FA that can be had on the cheap that Mike can perform his voodoo reclamation thing on.
Dropping big bucks on Richardson, who failed to ignite Seattle's D-Line or Poe won't do enough to offset the fact that the Offense is still one level below the Elite teams.
what FSU viking said. That is exactly where its at. This philosophy of keeping games close and controlling the flow with the defense works at times in the regular season, not so much in the modern nfl playoffs. i have watched the Vikings field top defenses many times over the past 30 years. not even one SB appearance let alone a championship. Time for a better less predictable approach.
To me, the glaring needs in the trenches are joined by a similar need to be a more "feared" offense. Despite gains in terms of offensive ranking, our defense was the first item of conversation when analysts weren't focusing on the Case Keenum miracle. The team needs to be consistently dangerous in all facets if the Vikings are doing to get a Lombardi.
Obviously, the question marks at OC and QB are going to be the offseason stories...and I won't pretend to have any insight on how those will be addressed. I know that in my mind, Case showed an unfortunate ceiling and Teddy is still a whole basket of question marks in terms of both recovery and development. Sam may be "all better" and durable, but he's rarely shown to be reliable. Cousins is gonna be expensive and has been more expensive than impressive.
As much as I'd love the money and the input regarding my favorite football team right now, I'd kinda hate to be Rick Speilman.
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