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12-17-2023, 09:40 PM

Agree with Sticky. Pissed about some singular calls, but to think about where we have come from Zimmer, I do not want to go back to that. Like how he rallies the team. Hopefully he is learning some lessons for future games.

12-17-2023, 10:06 PM

Quote: @Bullazin said:

@StickyBun said:
Just putting it out there. While I cursed his name on the 3rd and 4th down stuff with the stupid QB sneaks, I think he does a ton of strong coaching and planning. I can separate moments of suspect play calling with the rest of what he does, including some pretty damn good play calling. I think he has the respect of the players, coaches and ownership. He's a culture fit. I sincerely think he's going to do great things with the Vikings. He's set up to succeed and he will.

JMO. I think the future is bright. He's going to be the dude that gets us there.

The calls were fine it was the execution that was the issue. Details. that DT should never have been able to time the snap. you slow that down with cadence.

I think the design of the two tush push plays were horrible. I am sure there are 31 teams in the league who are using that film to show how not to do the tush push, from design, personnel to execution.

12-17-2023, 11:50 PM

I thought he was a good hire at the time and I have given him the benefit of the doubt through many of his bonehead moves, because he is so likable, but I have seen enough of him, he is by far the dumbest coach I have ever seen on the Viking sideline. I can't remember a coach being more directly responsible for losses than him. If you remove him from the game in the last 3 losses and put anyone else on the sidelines, we win all 3 games. Great speaker, decent motivator, excellent QB coach, but the worst game manager in the game by far.

12-18-2023, 12:19 AM

Quote: @JR44 said:
I thought he was a good hire at the time and I have given him the benefit of the doubt through many of his bonehead moves, because he is so likable, but I have seen enough of him, he is by far the dumbest coach I have ever seen on the Viking sideline. I can't remember a coach being more directly responsible for losses than him. If you remove him from the game in the last 3 losses and put anyone else on the sidelines, we win all 3 games. Great speaker, decent motivator, excellent QB coach, but the worst game manager in the game by far.

Game management seems to be a problem league-wide from head coaching spot and has been for a while. That was a huge issue many had with Zimmer. When was the last time the Vikings had a good "game managing" head coach? Frazier- nope, Tice- nope, Childress- nope. Denny maybe? Been a loooong stretch

12-18-2023, 04:47 AM

I really question how many HC's call plays whether it be defense or offense. I think sometimes a head coach needs to keep the 30,000 foot view with the right to veto play calls based on managing the overall game. It seems that way too many HC's in today's league have their specialty and lose sight of the game. I have no idea what Wes Phillips is actually doing on game day besides sending pictures to QB's on the sidelines, just like KOC did in L.A.

Maybe hire an OC that has more than the title, and let him do his job. Of course that requires making quality hires.

12-18-2023, 12:09 PM

The best HC in the NFL is about to be let go in New England.....is it because he can't coach? lol. That's rhetorical, its obvious he can. But also even a great football mind needs the conduit of a very good QB. The Vikings have started 4 different ones this year AND have a -6 turnover differential. That's the story of this season.

Like I've said many times, watch the Redzone Channel and you'll see all kinds of 'curious' play calling.

12-18-2023, 01:23 PM

Quote: @StickyBun said:
The best HC in the NFL is about to be let go in New England.....is it because he can't coach? lol. That's rhetorical, its obvious he can. But also even a great football mind needs the conduit of a very good QB. The Vikings have started 4 different ones this year AND have a -6 turnover differential. That's the story of this season.

Like I've said many times, watch the Redzone Channel and you'll see all kinds of 'curious' play calling.

While I agree that he has been dealt a bad hand with the QB situation, I still have major concerns about his in game decision making. Who is going to hold him accountable for these head scratching decisions? Kwesi? It's not just play calling but also on the field personnel decisions and play design just like Warner pointed out.

KOC seems only focused on the Offensive side of the ball which is also concerning. He let Donatell steer the ship into an Iceberg last year and sunk it. He did nothing to stop the bleeding when he should have been fired at the Bye Week and let Pettine take over for the rest of the year. Nothing has changed. Flores runs the defense and KOC runs the offense. When Flores leaves this offseason for a Head Coaching job, we will be back to square one praying that KOC can find a suitable replacement which will once again test his judgement which has come into question this year IMO and from several others in the Media. Even Flores was screaming at him to call a timeout instead of running a second boneheaded QB Sneak with a Center who has a history of back problems and a lack of lower body strength. KOC can't get out of his own way at times. Maybe it's been Cousins all along that has been making KOC look like a great offensive mind.

I agree with all of you that he is a breath of fresh air compared to Zimmer and he is definitely a great culture builder but so is PJ Fleck. There are some eerily similar traits with these two. Both are struggling with in game decision making.

Reckless Speculation: Brandon Staley will be our next Defensive Coordinator who was also KOC's coaching buddy with the Rams and strongly recommended he hire Donatell.

12-18-2023, 02:53 PM

KOC needs to take the off-season and reevaluate his play calling late in games and figure out how to get more of a killer instinct.

However I believe a lot of the issue stems from having no Cousins. Considering losing him, JJ for more than half the season, Hall getting concussed in his first start while Mullens was out with his back injury along with Hicks being out has really handcuffed this team.

12-18-2023, 03:06 PM

I was thinking about the definition of insanity last night in relation to the last two play calls.

Also, as I understand it, KOC used Powell in the final two plays to keep the Bengals out of their gol line defense (BTW, the only two plays Powell played on offense the entire game). If so, why didn't he call a time out when the Bengals rolled out a goal line defense?

12-18-2023, 03:56 PM

Quote: @1VikesFan said:
KOC needs to take the off-season and reevaluate his play calling late in games and figure out how to get more of a killer instinct.

However I believe a lot of the issue stems from having no Cousins. Considering losing him, JJ for more than half the season, Hall getting concussed in his first start while Mullens was out with his back injury along with Hicks being out has really handcuffed this team.

Yep, and this is why KOC has been more conservative than normal.