08-21-2024, 06:17 PM
I just happen to have good buddies all of whom are fans of our NFC North rivals. Each year we put together a "season preview" of sorts that gets locked away until our end of season get together, and we break them out and laugh at (usually) how wrong we were. Here is my synopsis of the Vikies (without game-to-game predictions):
Overall Talent Level
For the first time since I have been doing this, I think the Vikings have the least amount of talent across the board than any team in the North. Apparently this is a popular opinion, as power polls and betting odds almost universally place the Vikings last in the North, particularly lately as Caleb Williams has shown some pre-season competency in Chicago. Vegas currently has the Vikings over/under at 6.5 wins. I have the Vikings at 6-11, with a tough schedule and a tough division.
Offense: It starts at QB and I am not a believer in Sam Darnold. I don't think he is awful, but having seen him play a bunch (particularly in Carolina), I just don't believe that he is just a victim of poor teams and poor schemes and that he is ready to showcase why he was a high draft pick. You get one thing or another with Sam -- picks or ultra-conservative play. I do like Aaron Jones in the backfield, but worry about his age and health -- particularly because I think KOC will be frustrated by lack of production from Chandler/Gaskin/Nwangwu and Jones will end up with more than rotational carries. Outside of Jefferson, I think the Vikings struggle to find playmakers in the passing game. Between his ankle sprain and potential suspension, I expect Addison to be more frustrating than exciting this year. Jalen Nailor could be a breakout player, but our edge at WR in the division is likely gone this year. We will play the same game we always do with Hockenson -- tease that he may be back for weeks and weeks before he actually does come back. I personally do not see him coming back before the bye week. Backup tight ends don't give us much: Oliver, Muse, Mundt, Tonyan ... meh. I do think the offensive line will be improved this year, with the middle still being somewhat suspect, particularly in the run game. Darrisaw could be an All-Pro and Brian O'Neil is also at the top of his game. It remains to be seen who starts and where, as between Brandel, Risner, Bradbury and Ingrahm.
Defense: I believe in Brian Flores, but he just doesn't have the horses for a top 10 defense that would be needed this year to put the Vikings in contention for a playoff spot. The interior defensive line is particularly suspect -- strangely neglected for the most part in free agency and the draft. Harrison Phillips is probably the headliner, but we are going to need a real surprise from the likes of Jaquelin Roy, Jerry Tillery, Levi Rodriguez or other to even be average here. On the edge, I'm expecting a big first year from Dallas Turner -- but production still likely lagging what we got from D. Hunter last year. Pat Jones, Andrew Van Ginkel and Johathan Greenard should benefit from Flores' scheme to find productivity as a group. We should see improvement from Ivan Pace in the middle in his second year, with Blake Cashman the likely non-nickel linebacker. At safety, I love that Harrison Smith is back, but there is no doubt he is no longer in top form. Cam Bynum is average and Josh Metellus showed some promise in different sets last season. At corner, who knows at this point? The Gilmore signing is big, as he played well last season for the Cowboys. That said, not too many 34 year-old CBs flourish in today's NFL. If he can get off the trainer's table, Shaq Griffin looks to join Byron Murphy and Akayleb Evens as primary corners.
Special Teams: There is currently a buzz around rookie placekicker Will Reichard, though the pessimist in me (can you tell I'm a pessimist?
) noted the low trajectory on his blocked kick in the first preseason game and wonders if there is an issue. If only Mike Zimmer hadn't blown his top with Daniel Carlson we wouldn't have needed to draft a K 
Hopefully Reichard can alleviate that stomach churn I had everytime our former kicker trotted out for an extra point. The punting job is Ryan Wright's -- hopefully we get the 2022 Ryan Wright and not the sub-par 2023 version. There is really nothing to be excited about with our kick or punt return game.
I see the Vikings struggling to take more than 2 or 3 wins in the North this season -- the Lions and Packers have a clear edge on paper as we head into the year and Chicago is improving and has a high ceiling/high floor kind of year ahead, with coaches coaching for their future and a rookie QB. Strength of schedule looks daunting, at least based on current projections.
Overall Talent Level
For the first time since I have been doing this, I think the Vikings have the least amount of talent across the board than any team in the North. Apparently this is a popular opinion, as power polls and betting odds almost universally place the Vikings last in the North, particularly lately as Caleb Williams has shown some pre-season competency in Chicago. Vegas currently has the Vikings over/under at 6.5 wins. I have the Vikings at 6-11, with a tough schedule and a tough division.
Offense: It starts at QB and I am not a believer in Sam Darnold. I don't think he is awful, but having seen him play a bunch (particularly in Carolina), I just don't believe that he is just a victim of poor teams and poor schemes and that he is ready to showcase why he was a high draft pick. You get one thing or another with Sam -- picks or ultra-conservative play. I do like Aaron Jones in the backfield, but worry about his age and health -- particularly because I think KOC will be frustrated by lack of production from Chandler/Gaskin/Nwangwu and Jones will end up with more than rotational carries. Outside of Jefferson, I think the Vikings struggle to find playmakers in the passing game. Between his ankle sprain and potential suspension, I expect Addison to be more frustrating than exciting this year. Jalen Nailor could be a breakout player, but our edge at WR in the division is likely gone this year. We will play the same game we always do with Hockenson -- tease that he may be back for weeks and weeks before he actually does come back. I personally do not see him coming back before the bye week. Backup tight ends don't give us much: Oliver, Muse, Mundt, Tonyan ... meh. I do think the offensive line will be improved this year, with the middle still being somewhat suspect, particularly in the run game. Darrisaw could be an All-Pro and Brian O'Neil is also at the top of his game. It remains to be seen who starts and where, as between Brandel, Risner, Bradbury and Ingrahm.
Defense: I believe in Brian Flores, but he just doesn't have the horses for a top 10 defense that would be needed this year to put the Vikings in contention for a playoff spot. The interior defensive line is particularly suspect -- strangely neglected for the most part in free agency and the draft. Harrison Phillips is probably the headliner, but we are going to need a real surprise from the likes of Jaquelin Roy, Jerry Tillery, Levi Rodriguez or other to even be average here. On the edge, I'm expecting a big first year from Dallas Turner -- but production still likely lagging what we got from D. Hunter last year. Pat Jones, Andrew Van Ginkel and Johathan Greenard should benefit from Flores' scheme to find productivity as a group. We should see improvement from Ivan Pace in the middle in his second year, with Blake Cashman the likely non-nickel linebacker. At safety, I love that Harrison Smith is back, but there is no doubt he is no longer in top form. Cam Bynum is average and Josh Metellus showed some promise in different sets last season. At corner, who knows at this point? The Gilmore signing is big, as he played well last season for the Cowboys. That said, not too many 34 year-old CBs flourish in today's NFL. If he can get off the trainer's table, Shaq Griffin looks to join Byron Murphy and Akayleb Evens as primary corners.
Special Teams: There is currently a buzz around rookie placekicker Will Reichard, though the pessimist in me (can you tell I'm a pessimist?
) noted the low trajectory on his blocked kick in the first preseason game and wonders if there is an issue. If only Mike Zimmer hadn't blown his top with Daniel Carlson we wouldn't have needed to draft a K Hopefully Reichard can alleviate that stomach churn I had everytime our former kicker trotted out for an extra point. The punting job is Ryan Wright's -- hopefully we get the 2022 Ryan Wright and not the sub-par 2023 version. There is really nothing to be excited about with our kick or punt return game.I see the Vikings struggling to take more than 2 or 3 wins in the North this season -- the Lions and Packers have a clear edge on paper as we head into the year and Chicago is improving and has a high ceiling/high floor kind of year ahead, with coaches coaching for their future and a rookie QB. Strength of schedule looks daunting, at least based on current projections.
![[-]](https://vikefans.com/forums/images/duende_v3_local/collapse.png)
